C Spire, TekLinks combination creating unique full-stack managed IT solutions provider

Just over a month since starting the process to acquire Birmingham, Alabama-based TekLinks, C Spire has moved quickly to incorporate the highly regarded and rapidly growing cloud and IT managed and professional services company and staff into its consolidated operations.

The Mississippi-based diversified telecommunications and technology services company announced its plans to acquire TekLinks in June in a private transaction designed to help C Spire continue its aggressive growth and expansion into the lucrative sector that helps businesses manage their complex data and communications needs.

After that announcement, integration teams immediately went to work changing signage, advertising, product catalogs and other operations and business processes to reflect the consolidated company, said Keith Paglusch, C Spire’s chief integration officer who is leading the combination of both companies.

“We have worked hard to combine sales and product teams, websites and signage so that from an employee and customer perspective, we are truly operating as one team and one company,” Paglusch said. “Effective today, our team will be able to offer and support a comprehensive device-to-cloud portfolio of products, services and solutions to our existing and future customers.”

The combined C Spire features a workforce of over 1,800 employees with major locations in 12 cities and operations in three states – Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee - multiple data centers in several states and the ability to serve voice, IP/data, cloud and managed and professional services customers anywhere in the country.

“One of the things we’re really excited about is that our C Spire Business services are not limited by our geography,” said C Spire President Stephen Bye. “We can follow and work with our business customers wherever their needs are both today and into the future. Since we can support the products and services our customers need, we can manage the end-to-end solution from the device all the way to the cloud.”

Former TekLinks President Don Monistere is leading the new consolidated C Spire Business operations as general manager. “We’re excited to be part of a company that shares our long tradition of passionate focus on superior customer service, “best in class” IT expertise, and the delivery of outstanding services,” he said.

With the acquisition of TekLinks, C Spire is the nation’s first full-stack managed solutions provider, capable of offering advanced connectivity cloud, software, hardware, communications, professional services, cybersecurity, business continuity and technology support in a single, seamless managed IT solution portfolio. The company also operates the nation’s 6th largest mobile communications firm and is the largest privately-held wireless operator in the U.S.

The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves by C Spire that signal an accelerated and expanded focus on innovative voice, IP/data, IT and cloud solutions for businesses across its footprint and around the country. “Every customer is on their own unique journey to the cloud and we can meet them anywhere along that path,” Monistere said. “Whether they want to put workloads or workflows into the public or private cloud, we can help them succeed.”

From fostering smartphone adoption at twice the national rate to launching in 2013 one of the nation’s first Gigabit-speed Fiber-to-the Home initiatives, C Spire is a leader in helping spur consumer and business adoption of the latest technology. The company offers businesses availability to a myriad of value-added services through its multiple data centers.

Meanwhile, C Spire’s FTTH program, the fastest in the U.S. to connect thousands of consumers to Gigabit speed internet, digital streaming TV and home phone services, is an unqualified success. The data center business serves as a springboard for the company’s aggressive expansion into complex voice, data, dedicated internet and cloud services for firms of all sizes.

C Spire reinforced its commitment to innovation last fall by launching the C Spire Tech Movement initiative designed to leverage the company’s technology leadership and investments to help transform its service areas. A key element is the massive expansion of ultra-fast broadband and fixed wireless internet access with the goal of reaching thousands more consumers and businesses.

Other elements include leading the development of a high-tech workforce in Mississippi through education initiatives and related efforts, expanding tech innovation and education in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence and IOT and development of a state-of-the-art digital customer care platform for customers.

Bank Street Group served as the exclusive financial advisor to C Spire in connection with the acquisition, which officially closed on Tuesday.