Making Future Connections

MIAMI--On the strength of a robust condominium market and good relationships with area developers, Miami-based Future Connections is growing at a triple-digit rate. Company president David Orsham said that after just six years in business the low-voltage integrator expects to hit $10 million in revenues in 2006, "and we're expecting that to go to $25 million next year...This was the year that everything exploded." Orsham said Connections has gone from a $2 million backlog in secured jobs to $7 or $8 million, over the past year alone, has plans to move into a larger Miramar facility in March, and is in the process of hiring staff to move from roughly 40 to 60 employees in the next year. Included in the hiring will be project managers along with new chief financial officer Harvey Schuster, former-CFO of Peach Tree Software, who came on board in January to help manage the growth. Orsham and Connections owner Ray Young, who handles more of the operations and engineering side of the business, get in on the ground level with condominium and high-rise developers. They install the communications, audio/visual, and security systems, starting with the design and working with the architects and engineers. Then they also land contracts with the individual unit owners for alarms and A/V system upgrades. The company works exclusively with Sony for the A/V hardware, with Direct TV for digital television service, and with Honeywell for security products. Future Connections joined the Authorized Dealer Network for Honeywell in December. This, said Orsham, allows them to offer CCTV, access control and their own central station all with hardware from the same vendor.