ESi Companies is a full service electronic systems integrator and designer of state of the art security and communication devices and is currently in its twenty-fourth year of operations since opening in 1981. ESi is recognized as the leading electronic integration company in the detention construction industry and is considered to be among the top two security contractors for both electronics and detention work. Over the past decade, ESi has demonstrated success in securing bid and design-build construction contracts for airports, prisons, and perimeter security. In addition, ESi is recognized as one of the market leaders in its local market for health care communication systems and traditional security systems.

ESi has designed and installed security systems, health care systems, and communication systems for commercial customers such as Federal Express, Lucite Technologies, U.S. Corp of Engineers, Baptist Hospitals, Methodist Hospitals, St Jude Children’s Hospital, and many others. Through its manufacturing arm and subsidiary STi Inc., ESi designs and manufactures a line of products such as graphic and touch screen control systems, biometric access systems, perimeter access systems, communications equipment, hi-security closed circuit television equipment, and fire systems. STi’s products are used in facilities constructed by ESi and are also marketed and sold to unrelated systems integrators.

ESi Construction is recognized as the leading electronic integration company in the detention construction industry and is considered to be among the top two security contractors for both electronics and detention work (detention work includes hollow metal, locks, glass, etc.). Over the past decade, ESi Construction has demonstrated success in securing bid and design-build construction contracts for airports, prisons, and perimeter security.

Management attributes ESi’s success to its development of state-of-the-art security devices and systems, timely performance, and its ability to provide solutions in all facets of facility security and monitoring.  Presently, a customer with multiple security needs must design, develop, and integrate each security function internally or utilize several outside vendors. In either case, the system components are most likely manufactured by different vendors and may not be designed to operate as a single system. By combining multiple security functions into an integrated system or network, ESi allows customers to reduce their total security costs and provides increased efficiency and functionality.

ESi's operations are separated into four business units that work together to provide ESi’s clients with complete solutions to their security and monitoring needs. The four ESi business units are: ESi Construction, which is engaged in the design and construction of security systems for correctional facilities across the United States; Low Voltage Systems Group, which performs design and construction services for correctional facilities, health care facilities, commercial facilities, industrial facilities, Government facilities, and schools located within a 200 mile radius of Memphis; and ESi Services Group, which is a provider of fire system inspections, maintenance, and services for correctional facilities, commercial facilities, industrial facilities, healthcare facilities, and government facilities.
 

HISTORY OF ESi COMPANIES

Warner Speakman and his financial partner, SABA, originally formed Electronic Systems, Inc. in May 1981 to provide and service communication systems for large Memphis-area hospitals. Six months later, ESi purchased the assets of the Memphis branch office of Mr. Speakman’s former employer, Technical Industries. ESi had early success in the Memphis hospital market and with military hospitals on a national basis, including numerous successful projects for the Methodist Hospital System. In 1983, senior management determined that because of the changing landscape of hospital management, the market for its services would see significant downward price pressure and the Company chose to focus its resources on the burgeoning correctional facility security and electronics integration market.

ESi’s first correctional facility security integration engagements were small projects for the Shelby County Penal Farm and Parchman Prison in Mississippi. As a result, ESi has received many opportunities to work on correctional projects form general contractors or state and local governments as well as for private construction on non-correctional projects from general contractors such as Centex Construction, Dunn Construction and Bell Construction.

In 1988, ESi began manufacturing its own graphic panels and equipment racks for use in correctional facilities. The Company was the first to run its systems in a PLC and PC integrated control system which has subsequently become the correctional industry standard. ESi’s research and development team continues to develop additional applications for its PLC-based system, which integrates Personal Computer and Microsoft Windows networking platforms.  These projects served as the foundation work for the STi Product line, which was formed in 1992. As it correctional facility integration business continued to grow, ESi’s senior management began to expand its capabilities to better serve clients.