Brilligent moved into its new location, 1130 Channingway Drive, on Sept. 20 after acquiring the 1.5-acre property in June.
The company purchased the property for $460,000 and has invested another $240,000 in improvements in the 7,550-square-foot building. There’s room on the property to build another 6,400 square feet of office space.
Brilligent was founded in June 2007 and moved into 4,200 square feet of space at 1890 Commerce Center Blvd. It generated $500,000 in revenue in its first full year, but now brings in $4.5 million annually.
“It’s been consistent growth,” said Chad Pettit, the company’s director of business operations. “There have been no big surges as the five years have gone by. We’ve grown in a conservative method. When we hire people, we hire people long-term. We invest in our employees, and make them feel comfortable so they know their job is secure.”
Pettit is one of four owners of the company, along with Dave Geloneck (president), Doug Henry (director of software solutions) and Brian Oskey (director of engineering solutions). The four worked at Xontech, Inc., before starting Brilligent — a combination of the words brilliant and intelligent.
“We complement each other,” Pettit said. “Together, the four of us make a really strong owner.”
Geloneck said they chose Fairborn over Beavercreek because of its close proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and it’s “less congested out here.”
Brilligent has 32 employees — 21 at its Fairborn facility; five at the base; and six total at its two satellite offices in Austin, Texas, and Costa Mesa, Calif.
The company has had a 100 percent employee retention rate since June 2007, and one of the keys, Pettit said, is Brilligent covers 100 percent of the premium for employees’ medical, dental and vision insurance.
“It’s a good story of a small business growing in the city, staying in the city and looking for people to hire,” said Chris Wimsatt, the city’s community development director.
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