2025 was an ambitious and dynamic year for GenComm, with nearly ten large system projects happening at the same time. Managing that volume requires strong people, clear processes, and consistent communication.
According to Gary Pelletier, VP of Service & Engineering, the most important factor is having the right team in place.
“Good people and good managers are key to each project. We are glad to have skilled project leaders and are actively training more.”
Communication is equally critical. Weekly project meetings ensure customers, project managers, and installation teams stay aligned.
Project schedules also play an important role, while recognizing that change is inevitable.
“We know that things change. As much as you forecast a schedule, something will shift due to weather delays or a subcontractor or something else.”
Rusk County, Wisconsin
One project that stood out in 2025 was Rusk County, Wisconsin.
“I’m most proud of our determination and grit on this project, especially what it took to win and successfully deliver.”
Rusk County had originally selected Motorola, who they had worked with in the past. GenComm asked questions about how that decision was made, which opened the door for another conversation, and caused them to pause.
“We were then able to present a better solution, which they selected over the competition.”
Some stakeholders were concerned about switching to a new system and worried something might go wrong. Instead, the transition went smoothly, and they now have radio coverage throughout the county.
“Through our solid work and good products, we were able to switch them from thinking it might fail to glowing reviews.”
Orland Park, Illinois
The Orland Park, Illinois project was awarded to GenComm through an RFP process, where multiple vendors were considered.
The system included 11 sites and was designed primarily to improve radio coverage for the Orland Park Police Department. The project took about two years to complete.
“It was primarily for the police department, trying to get better radio coverage in the village.”
The infrastructure and radio equipment were built on a Tait system, with L3Harris XL200 portable radios selected for their LTE capability. Pelletier said the results of the project were what made it most rewarding.
“I think we were most proud of the increased coverage that they now have. We designed a system to cover their hospital, schools, and other buildings. We conducted a lot of testing, and the customer was satisfied.”
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County was another large bid project, completed in partnership with RACOM. The project involved installing an L3Harris trunked radio system.
“With a trunk system, you can have a bunch of channels, and it will switch to other channels if one is busy.”
While typical projects aim for 95% radio coverage, Walworth County exceeded that standard, getting 99.9% of the county covered. Areas that previously had dead spots now have reliable coverage, and the project included providing and installing new radios for every municipality.
“The fact that we far exceeded the requirements of 95% to 99.9% made GenComm and RACOM stand out during this project.”
Rockford Fire Department
GenComm is working with the Rockford Fire Department on a major system upgrade to convert from analog to digital communications. The project includes Tait infrastructure with L3Harris mobile and portable radios. Rockford Fire, frustrated with their prior vendor, is a new GenComm customer.
“We’ve been having weekly calls with Rockford Fire. We designed the system with lots of changes, including budget changes and some changes to site acquisition.”
GenComm has completed the civil and preparation work for the radio sites and towers, and the radio system is currently in staging. Installation is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
“We’ve been able to take care of things right away and respond quickly.”
The relationship continues to grow, with Rockford Fire also upgrading its dispatch console from Motorola to Zetron.
Looking Ahead into 2026
Looking ahead, GenComm is entering the maintenance phase for many of these systems while preparing for new projects. GenComm now has approximately 95 employees and added more than 20 people over the past two years.
Across every project in 2025, a few themes remain consistent: strong project management, clear communication, and a willingness to adapt when conditions change. As we move into 2026, the priority remains the same—finishing projects strong, supporting the systems in place, and continuing to grow the team needed to take on what’s next.