Fleming Network Services pairs with Pacom

SARASOTA, Fla.--Pacom Systems, a manufacturer of integrated networked security systems, in July added Arkansas-based Fleming Network Services as an authorized value-added reseller (see interview with Pacom's Magnus Jonsson, page 1). Fleming Network Services offers security, telecom and cabling services for the commercial and industrial market."That was a long, hard look for us," said Fleming chief executive officer C. Ann Fleming of the Pacom partnership. "We're a pretty careful company about who we want to align with. We've got a lot of customers who really count on us to be right on the cutting edge of technology. When you're doing that, you want to make sure you get the right company to align with the first time." Pacom, which makes its reputation on networking security systems on large multi-location jobs, fits well with Fleming's history in the security business, having come to it from the network infrastructure installation market and installing IP-enabled systems on every job. Fleming works often in the financial market, where Pacom has a long history, plus, said Fleming, "We have a lot of other markets that we work in, industrial markets, the institutional market, and the Pacom product can make the jump into those markets easily." She said security directors in these markets want the integrated solution Pacom offers, they just don't know to ask for it yet. That fits, she said, with the Fleming Companies' history of introducing customers to new technologies. While Fleming Network Services, part of the Fleming Companies of Bryant and Springdale, Ark., that include Fleming Electric and Fleming Electronics, started in 1998. It was a direct outgrowth of Fleming Electric, an electrical contractor with 30 years in business. The Fleming Companies employ roughly 140. Customers began asking for fiber installation, network installation and security installation and Fleming obliged: "We started with just network infrastructure," said Fleming, "and we said, 'You know, we'd actually be pretty good at the security side, the cameras and the IT side of it." Network Services now employs about 30 at the home office in Bryant, Ark., with another 10 employed at a branch office in Springdale/Fayetteville. The company has two technicians that are Microsoft certified, another with Cisco certification.