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It only took two years for Synergy Custom Technology Solutions to exceed its five-year business plan, in sales and employee numbers.
The company, which just celebrated its three-year anniversary, now has a staff of 16 and three offices — two in Naples and one in Ocala. Its niche, co-founder and chief technology officer Jeremy Rearden says, is home automation systems. The company works on projects involving audio, video, lighting, cameras and security systems.
Rearden and Synergy CEO Aaron Howell’s No. 1 goal is simple: service. “One of the reasons we started our own business was we had both worked at places that didn’t value service,” Rearden says.
He says an average day involves project design, project management, making sure employees know what they’re doing at job sites and ensuring customers receive what they deserve.
Rearden, who grew up working with his father in the audio-video industry, is the last person at job sites. He’s there to make sure customers understand the system and how to contact Synergy. “I want to put my quality stamp on it, make sure no corners are cut and make sure the customer is very happy with the end result,” he says.
One of the three owners — Rearden, Howell or partner Karl Fry — is involved in every project, Rearden says. They also created a division of the company called Last Mile that includes live support for customers from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays.
Through Last Mile, the company monitors services for customers remotely to make sure they’re working. If there’s a problem, it allows them to fix it without going into clients’ homes. “We understand the end of a job isn’t the end of a relationship,” Rearden says.
— Grier Ferguson
Name: Jeremy Rearden
Age: 35
City of residence: Naples
Twitter handle: @Synergy_CTS
Employer: Co-Founder/Owner of Synergy Custom Technology Solutions
Title: Chief Technology Officer
Birthplace: Panama City, Fla.
Years on the Gulf Coast: 21
Marital status/children: Married 14 years to my wife Michele. We have three children: Nicole (11), Hannah (9), Nathan (7)
Alma mater/degree: Lely High School
Best place to network: LinkedIn
Messy desk or clean workspace: Clean workspace
Eat lunch out or at your desk: Prefer out but whenever I can find time
Best business lesson ever learned: Put your best guys on your best opportunities not your biggest problems
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Sandwich Artist/Subway
A website that makes your job easier: YouTube
App you use the most: Google Apps
One thing you do everyday: Pray
Community group you’re most involved with: Harvest Bible Chapel
Favorite off-hours activity: Running half marathons and playing softball
Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Greg McKeown/Oren Klaff
What you would be doing if you could pick another career: Architect
Top item on your bucket list: Own a 1970 Chevelle SS Red/Black Stripes
Your happy place is: Anywhere with a waterfall
Your biggest fear: Not making an impact in this life
Skill you’d like to learn: Architect
Who would play you in a movie about your life: Kiefer Sutherland
Describe yourself in three words: Easy-Going, competitive and caring
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