Five integration firms were named Excellence in Business Award winners and honored at the 27th annual Business & Leadership Conference.

NSCA has honored five integration firms with the 2025 Excellence in Business Awards at its 27th annual Business & Leadership Conference in Irving, TX. These awards recognize companies that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in key areas of business, including performance, customer experience, differentiation, employee engagement, and talent development. The winners include PTG for Business Performance, Solutionz, Inc. for Customer Experience, ECC for Differentiating Strategies, Primary Systems for Employee Engagement, and Verrex for Talent Development.

Each winner showcased unique strategies that set them apart in the integration industry. PTG improved job costing and time tracking for better financial management, while Solutionz enhanced customer support with a nationwide service model. ECC expanded its reach in the correctional market by building a network of security integrators, and Primary Systems focused on employee engagement through leadership training and company-wide events. Verrex prioritized talent development with structured onboarding, mentorship, and career growth initiatives. These companies exemplify innovation and resilience in a competitive industry.

NSCA, the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial integration industry, is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Business awards. Winners were recognized in five categories at the 27th annual Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) on Feb. 25, 2025, in Irving, TX.

The 2025 winners are:

• Business Performance category: PTG, Wixom, MI
• Customer Experience category: Solutionz, Inc, Pacific Palisades, CA
• Differentiating Strategies category: ECC, Lincoln, NE
• Employee Engagement category: Primary Systems, St. Louis, MO
• Talent Development category: Verrex, Mountainside, NJ

“Despite the relentless challenges they face, integrators continue to demonstrate ingenuity as they navigate through turbulence, and NSCA is constantly impressed. The nominations this year were filled with inspiring stories of resilience and flexibility. These companies exemplify what is possible in our industry,” says NSCA Executive Director Tom LeBlanc.

PTG, winner in the Business Performance category, made strategic adjustments to improve business performance in key areas. One example includes a company-wide initiative to improve the accuracy of job costing and time billing to maintain financial health and profitability. Using detailed dashboards and reporting tools to monitor job performance, PTG leaders can now make data-driven adjustments to optimize costs. This improvement has led to a steady reduction in expenses-to-revenue and also driven down net-payroll-to-revenue.

Solutionz, Inc., winner in the Customer Experience category, significantly boosted help desk performance and client satisfaction through industry-leading best practices and valuable insights. By focusing on personalized service, the team has fostered stronger client relationships and streamlined support processes. Their success is reflected in the development of a nationwide support model that not only addresses client needs efficiently but also prioritizes tailored solutions to enhance overall customer experiences.

ECC, winner in the Differentiating Strategies category, established a nationwide network of security integrators. This network enables ECC to respond effectively to numerous requests from correctional facilities for Imperium, its intelligent correctional and jail control service. By partnering with local integrators, Imperium can now reach correctional facilities across the country. This strategy not only supports local partners but also allows ECC to penetrate the correctional market more efficiently.

Primary Systems, winner in the Employee Engagement category, adopted meaningful practices to promote ongoing employee engagement as it acquires distribution territory and adds to its workforce. These practices include leadership development training for the executive team, as well as members of its sales, operations, clinical, IT, and accounting departments. It also involves a new mission, vision, and set of values for the company to follow. By establishing an annual town hall meeting, all employees now hear directly from the company president, COO, CFO, and VP of sales regarding progress and updates. Primary Systems also demonstrates its commitment to fostering community among employees through a variety of social events: company picnics, weekend outings, chili cook-offs, donation drives, and holiday parties.

Verrex, winner in the Talent Development category, is focused on onboarding new employees and developing “A players” through training and career development. From a mentorship program for new hires to establishing a new process for annual reviews, the company has taken critical steps to mitigate attrition. Verrex helps each employee set goals for the next year, including training and career development goals. The training goals ensure that employees are on top of the industry and knowledgeable when working with clients, peers, and coworkers. Career goals help employees understand their path for moving forward within the organization.