SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 9, 2001 – Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI) announced today the formation of two new divisions which will address the growing needs of businesses in today’s energy-strapped, technology-driven economy.
The Energy Solutions division will focus on offerings that reduce customers’ energy costs, lessen reliance on the power grid, and guard against power interruption. The Technology Services division will concentrate on end-to-end systems integration solutions to ensure that customers have the IT infrastructure they need to advance their businesses.
Senior Vice President Jim Medefesser has been tapped to head Cupertino Electric’s Energy Solutions division. He will work with CEI’s teams of engineers and energy specialists to deliver -edge solutions for the total energy and power needs of CEI’s customer base.
the new Technology Services Division will be Vice President Brent Neville, RCDD. In this role, Neville will be responsible for the development of CEI’s network systems and systems integration capabilities. The division will address the growing needs of businesses to integrate fast-evolving technologies in the networking, broadband, data, and voice transmission areas.
“Businesses today have two great challenges: to find sufficient, affordable, and reliable energy resources to ensure maximum uptime – and to keep pace with the increasing complexities of new and evolving technologies,” said Jim Ryley, Cupertino Electric CEO. “We are 100 percent committed to providing solutions and support that can help our customers gain competitive advantage. Our two new divisions will serve as foundational pillars for businesses that cannot afford one minute of downtime, in terms of power and in terms of network systems.”
CEI Provides Near- and Long-Term Energy Solutions
As the largest purchaser and installer of rotary continuous power systems in the United States, CEI has been a key player in keeping businesses operational – especially in California, where rolling blackouts have threatened productivity and profitability.
Last year, CEI installed 84 mission-critical rotary energy units equal to 160 MW of power and built the electrical infrastructure for 2.5 million square feet of raised-floor data center space, without a single client experiencing any downtime due to power outages. CEI’s Energy Solutions division credits such success to its ability to deliver near-term and long-term solutions that link directly with customers’ needs.
The CEI Energy Division’s near-term solutions are specific to individual companies, providing the power and support needed to stay operational. CEI engineers assess a facility’s electrical load, identify peak demand, and analyze the electrical distribution plan. Then they design standby energy solutions that meet each customer’s needs.
Long-term energy needs are satisfied through full-service delivery of highly reliable and efficient distributed power generation. Through the design, installation and operation of on-site power generation facilities, CEI provides high-tech manufacturers, hospitals, financial institutions, data centers, and other mission-critical facilities with economically-sound sources of uninterrupted energy.
Through its near-term and long-term solutions, the Energy Services division is able to deliver these compelling benefits: flexible energy solutions; power redundancy; uninterruptible power supply with 99.999% reliability; and reduction in downtime costs. Tailored, single-source solutions meet each customer’s timeframe, technological needs, and budget.
CEI’s Technology Services Division Prepares for the Future
In the technology arena, the Technology Services division leverages CEI’s extensive systems integration and network systems expertise. These capabilities, paired with the added offerings of hardware, software and IT outsourcing, make CEI the one-stop technology solutions provider of choice.
CEI’s Technology Services division gives businesses access to comprehensive communications, networking and consulting technologies, including IT services such as systems design and custom application development. CEI provides a complete line of systems integration including design and installation of audio and video systems, security systems, fire/life safety systems, and voice/data/fiber optics.
In addition, Technology Services provisions hardware and software, business process management, and electronic commerce solutions to help clients gain sustainable competitive advantages. The benefits: complete system integration that is redundant, reliable, and able to perform to meet business objectives.
Before assuming leadership of CEI’s Energy Solutions division, Jim Medefesser served as vice president of Operations with responsibility for field operations, engineering, and support personnel. Through the first half of the 1990s he managed the Industrial Services division. During that time, Cupertino Electric’s industrial services business grew from $2.5 million to $20 million per year. Medefesser joined Cupertino Electric in 1984 as a journeyman electrician in the construction division. A year later, he became a foreman, concentrating on projects for high-technology companies.
“Having a history with the company and having worked in various divisions, I have a keen appreciation for the range of issues and needs that our customers encounter,” said Medefesser. “Integrated, flexible solutions that allow customers to meet their goals now and into the future are more essential than ever before. That’s why CEI is continually innovating to find new ways to insulate our customers from the risks associated with unpredictable energy costs and power overload.”
Prior to accepting the position of Technology Services division leader, Brent Neville was lead consultant at NVS Consulting Group, Inc., which provided IT project management and consulting. Before NVS, Neville served as group president for Sasco Data Systems for ten years. He was responsible for the firm’s technology services business, which he expanded to $75 million during the course of eight years. During that time he focused on voice, data, and video systems integration. Prior to joining Sasco Data Systems, Neville served as president and CEO of LANMARK Telecom, a company that he founded. At LANMARK, he developed telecommunications technologies including a cabling system product line that was E&M Magazine’s 1987 Telecom Product of the Year.
“The rapid advances in technology can sometimes make it difficult for businesses to keep pace with what’s current or what’s mission-critical. With the new Technology Services division, customers can rely on Cupertino Electric to provide the complete technology support they need to ensure market leadership,” said Neville.
About Cupertino Electric, Inc.
Founded in 1954, Cupertino Electric, Inc. (www.cei.com) provides total power, energy and technology solutions, including backup energy systems and on-site permanent distributed electrical power generation facilities. Cupertino Electric is a provider of sophisticated electrical infrastructure solutions that deliver high quality, reliable power and speed-to-market for technology companies and other critical-use facilities and applications. Cupertino Electric’s customers include corporations and institutions in technology-dependent markets, including the computer, Internet, semiconductor, software, telecommunications, and biotechnology industries. Cupertino Electric has a comprehensive engineering and design staff including more than 75 experienced project managers and 2,000 skilled union electricians. Cupertino clients include Hewlett Packard, Intel, Microsoft and Oracle Corp.
