History
Remarkable things can happen with imagination, hard work, and determination.
The history of ECI spans from 1993 until now and includes many milestones worth mentioning. Our success was paved by struggles, crossroads, achievement, and persistence. We are proud to share the story of how ECI started and some of our most notable successes. We are truly thankful to our employees and clients for making ECI successful and for allowing us the opportunity to build our future success together.
In 1993 Mike Halloran was working at a distributing company along with his friend and business acquaintance, Bob Genthon. The company had a controls division that did "parts and smarts" - including estimating, engineering, programming, and component sales for independent contractors who wanted to install their own control systems. Mike ran the business and Bob specialized in the technical aspects. Mike and Bob were at a crossroads because the company had decided to close their Phoenix operation leaving them without a job. Faced with having to figure out what to do in his career, Mike thought it might be the right time to start an independent controls business.
Bob had excellent skills in building controls, mechanical systems, and the application of technology. Mike was also skilled in mechanical systems and he had business experience. Starting a business sounded risky, but they ultimately convinced themselves they could succeed if they had the right financing and business plan. That's when Mike called on a long time friend and former manager, John Anderten.
John had worked many years at the same distributing company where Mike and Bob worked. John had started at the company as Sales Manager and worked his way up to become President. His mind for the "big picture" allowed him to enjoy many years of business success before his retirement a couple years prior. Mike thought John would be the best partner and financier for the new company, and he was right.
John agreed with Mike's ideas for starting ECI and subsequently pitched the plan to executives at Johnson Controls whom he knew from his previous business experience. Johnson also agreed and decided to partner with John, Mike, and Bob to form the Authorized Building Control Specialist (ABCS) program with ECI as the first participant. Because John believed in Mike and Bob, he invested the start-up capital and in early 1994 ECI Arizona was born.
It is truly astonishing to contemplate the number of talented hardworking people among our ranks today and to know that it is because of these three men Mike, Bob and John that ECI was given a chance. And although we are grateful for each of their contributions we are confident that it is because of all our hardworking employees and their service to our clients that ECI is alive, well and going strong!
ECI Milestones
- 1994 - ECI Arizona Inc. begins business in Tempe, Arizona.
- 1994 - ECI secures Chandler High School contract helping to provide enough revenue to keep ECI in business.
- 1995 - First salesman is hired
- 1996 - Revenue exceeds $1,500,000
- 1998 - ECI outgrows it original location and moves to it's present location.
- 2000 - ECI launches the Controls Service Group
- 2002 - ECI completes it's first multi-vendor integration project
- 2006 - Revenue exceeds $5,500,000
- 2007 - ECI adds Tridium and KMC controls to it's product offering
- 2008 - ECI adds Honeywell to it's product offering.
- 2008 - ECI creates the Special Projects and Integrations (SPI) Group
- 2008 - Revenues exceed $8,500,000
"Over the last several years ECI has worked to provide technology systems for M&K on many of our projects. I often turn to them because I know that no matter what, they will get the jobs done and help me to fulfill my customer's expectations"
Mike ReedM & K Air Conditioning