“We do commercial and industrial work,” DeFries said. “With the ramped up concerns about security, our customers are becoming more and more concerned with safety, especially in schools.”
The company offers customized systems that provide minimum to maximum security, clear communications and the expertise of engineers that can design, build and install the systems. They have installed security systems for local businesses like the Schuster Center and sound systems for the University of Dayton arena.
How the business started: Copp President Tom Frericks, Jr. joined the company in 1976. By 1983, he had purchased it as only the second owner. His father, Thomas Sr., athletic director at the University of Dayton at the time, was also involved as a silent partner.
“The company was originally started in 1920 by Stanley Copp,” Frericks said. “Copp was an engineer and a member of the ‘Dayton boys,’ a group of young engineers and students all interested in new technology.”
Copp and his employees were first to develop a secure system of communication between what was then Wright and Patterson Fields and Washington D.C.
Over the years, Frericks has been fiercely protective of the company and vowed to prevent it from being purchased by a large corporation. DeFries had approached Frericks several times over the past decade about purchasing the company but Frericks, who remained skeptical, wouldn’t sell. That was until seven months ago when he finally agreed that Copp needed DeFries’ expertise in sales in order to continue to be successful.
Future plans: DeFries said that saving money has become paramount to most every business today. His plans are to add to the sales force and continue to grow without changing the company's commitment to excellent and personal service.
“We plan on hiring salespeople and engineers to expand our market reach to Cincinnati and Columbus,” he said. “But what sets us apart is our customer care. Customers can call in and talk to technicians directly instead of getting a recording. We may not always be the lowest cost provider but our service ends up being a big value ad.”
Contact: Phone is 937-228-4188. Website at www.copp.com.
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