Almost 175 people attended the new facility’s grand opening at 33 Commerce Way in Jupiter, Fla. on May 6.
When Jim and Faith Schultz co-founded wireless manufacturer and distributor Connect-it Wireless Components in 2003, their storage bay working area was less than 100 square feet. Growth required a move to a 500 sq. ft. building and then to a facility that would allow for future expansion for years to come – a 10,000 sq. ft. building in Jupiter, Fla.
But extraordinary business development saw Connect-it bulging at the seams and the company built a new 24,000 square-foot complex with a 1,000 sq. ft. showroom where grand opening festivities were held Friday to celebrate the state-of-the-art facility.
The company, founded in 2003, grew from a 100 sq. ft. bay to its present 24,000 sq. ft. complex.
Almost 175 people attended the three-hour celebration that featured food trucks, live music by Nashville-signed sister duo White Acres, and outdoor games and other events that drew in visitors from multiple states, according to Alisa Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
Raffle benefited the Hubble Foundation
In addition, a raffle benefitting the Hubble Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the support and assistance to families of fallen and injured telecommunications technicians, was held.
“It was wonderful to see the outpouring of support for Gette Hester, and we were thrilled that we were able raise $1,000 for her foundation,” said Reed.
A rich history of experience predates Connect-it’s founding
Jim’s earlier wireless industry experience started when he worked summers and on the weekends for his father who owned a two-way radio shop.
Connect-it offers on-site certified welding and fabrication services.
He then started working for SBA Communications Corporation as a construction manager in the early 1990’s.
With the blessing of SBA, he helped his wife, Faith, start Bracket Master in 1994, making mounts for the paging industry and then progressing into cellular applications. He left SBA in 1998 to devote his full attention to Bracket Master which was then sold to American Tower Corp.
From wagon wheels to dishes, Connect-it’s offerings are unique
Along with over 3,000 industry wireless products that are featured in their catalogue, the company has been called upon to design and fabricate a number of unique products.
“One was a giant wagon wheel mount for the top of a 500’ guyed tower that we also had to install,” Jim said. “It was unique because it was our first and only install. Also, one of our customers needed to move a bird’s nest away from some antennas on a monopole so we created a bird’s nest box that they chain mounted to the monopole to raise the nest over the antennas.”
Amongst numerous other distinctive products, Faith recalls one that required fabricating mounts for the U.S. Navy for their Patriot tracking dishes.
It’s a dedicated ‘family’ operation
Speak to any of Connect-it’s 20-plus employees and the most frequent description of the company is that they’re a dedicated ‘family’ operation with two members, Dave Lowe and Brian Millette, being there for approximately 18 years.
Their client base is throughout the nation and they now offer a fabrication shop in house with certified welding capabilities.
According to Jim, one of the biggest problems for all manufacturers/distributors today in serving the industry is that “rapid technological changes requires many products to be stocked, and the demand changes daily.”
Faith said they’ve been able to address those needs by working closely with their contractors and carriers to address the changes and come up with solutions.
“We couldn’t do it without them and their loyalty and support of our family business,” said Faith.
Heavy duty monopole platforms, V-Frames, stackable snap-ins, and jumpers are their most frequently ordered products of their thousands of other offerings, said Jim.
For additional information about the company, you can visit their website.
