Thursday, January 24, 2019

Off the Top

Happy New Year!

I hope you all celebrated the start of 2019 with family and friends. Now that we’re into the new year, it’s time to look ahead and give some thoughts on what I expect from the industry, but first let me begin with a nod to a monumental celebration for our company.

I’m extremely proud that 2019 will mark the 25th anniversary of Comstar Supply. Born out of a trailer in Northern Philadelphia by my father Earl Punchard, Comstar was started with the idea that the company would provide the necessary OSP and equipment for the telecommunications industry.
In the early years I fondly remember how we scraped and clawed for every relationship we built and every customer who returned our call or picked up the phone. Although we are much bigger in size today, I feel like we still value each and every customer interaction and relationship the exact same way.

Although I lost my father ten years ago to a battle with cancer, I know he would be proud of everything our employees have accomplished. Most importantly though, he'd be checking to make sure it was done the right way. Hard work, integrity, generosity, humor, while also having a little fun. I think we've nailed it a long ten years later.

As to my expectations for the industry in 2019, I think we’ve all come to realize in this industry that there’s constant change. Whether that’s new regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome, or new technologies that make our jobs easier, the easy prediction is for more of the same this year.

I think the fiber cable is still the straw that stirs the pot for the industry. Carriers will continue to densify their networks and build more miles with higher fiber counts to accommodate small cell and IoT. Wireless carriers will begin their 5G rollouts in earnest this year which will not only tighten the cable market but also all ancillary products for their networks.

For Comstar, we continue to invest in resources that can have the greatest impact on overcoming our customers’ needs. We expect to add sales and engineering staff dedicated to growing markets such as wireless and FTTX. We’re adding new manufacturers every week and you’ll get a sense of some of those later in our newsletter. And we’re updating systems to ensure we can meet our expected growth plans in 2019 and beyond.

In conclusion, a quick thank you to all of our customers who have helped me fulfill my dad’s dream that began 25 years ago. We’ll celebrate our anniversary throughout the year, culminating with a passion project of mine – a quinquennial golf tournament celebrating his legacy with all profits going to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Our goal is to raise $250,000 this year and I hope to see many of you there in support of this great organization.

Cheers to 25 years, and to a healthy and prosperous 2019 for all!

Chad

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