London Inc. Weekly 06 • 08 • 2018

Spectrum Communications, Ltd. acquired by BearCom Group, Inc.

TEXAS-BASED BEARCOM Group, Inc., North America’s largest provider of wireless communications equipment, announced the acquisition of London-based Spectrum Communications, Ltd. earlier this week.

Founded in London in 1979, Spectrum Communications has been providing a wide variety of specialized communication systems, solutions and service for 39 years, and has offices in London and five additional locations: Hamilton, Hanover, Kitchener, Sarnia and Woodstock.

The transaction extends BearCom’s presence throughout Ontario, which began with the acquisition of Toronto-based Mobile Business Communications early in 2018.

“We are delighted to welcome Spectrum Communications to the BearCom family,” says Mark Kroh, CEO of BearCom. “The Spectrum team is an outstanding addition to strengthen our Canadian presence and better serve all customers in the region. We are excited with the high-value solutions that Spectrum adds to the BearCom portfolio.”

“We are very excited to be part of the BearCom team,” adds Chris McAuley, sales director of Spectrum Communications, Ltd. “We look forward to a prosperous relationship that not only adds the various skills from other BearCom locations in Canada, but also fully utilizes the vast capabilities of BearCom in the U.S. We’re confident these combined resources will drive business and superior customer service in the wireless industry.”

Terms of the deal were not announced.

Second novel for local journalist and author Christopher Clark

LOCAL AUTHOR CHRISTOPHER Clark has published his second novel, Tangled Strings, a thriller based on the very real issue of match fixing in international tennis.

The story follows a group of aspiring tennis pros playing in the minor leagues, trying to win enough matches to reach the big time—the ATP Tour. Along the way, they are bullied, cajoled and threatened to throw matches so faceless international gamblers can cash in on rigged bets.

“You can bet on anything today,” Clark says. “If a player in a small Challenger tournament in Kazakhstan or Slovakia throws a game, or just a few critical points, who would notice? But if you know it’s going to happen, you can make millions.”

Tangled Strings is a fictional account of the dangers players face when gamblers target them and demand their cooperation.

“You’ve got these players clawing their way up to the big time faced with a choice that could ruin careers and endanger lives,” Clark says.

Clark’s first book, Pulling Strings, was released in 2014. A frequent contributor to London Inc., Clark has written thousands of articles for magazines, newsletters, reports and websites of all descriptions. He also teaches journalism at Western University.

Tangled Strings is available as a paperback or e-book from multiple sites, including Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Kindle, Kobo and iBooks. Links to all retailers are available at www.christopherclarkwriter.com.

Virtuoso Awards recognize the best in business communications

THE LONDON CHAPTER of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) recognized the year’s best in strategic business communications at the annual Virtuoso Awards Celebration held on May 31.

David Billson, CEO of rTraction Canada Inc., was presented with the 2018 Outstanding Communicator Award.

“This is a validation of the work we’re doing to tell the community’s brand and bring people together to help solve problems”, says Billson. “Regardless of whether you’re in the business sector or other sectors, effective communications can bring your voice forward, move your community forward or move your organization forward.”

More than 120 communicators gathered at Design House London, where more than 20 awards were received by local communications professionals and students. Lashbrook Marketing & Public Relations received with the “Best of the Best” award for their work on the London Symphonia rebrand, which was the highest scoring entry among a field of award recipients.

For a full list of award recipients, visit the Virtuoso Awards website at www.virtuosoawards.com/2018-winners.

Home sales gain strength in May but still challenged by shortage of listings

THE LONDON AND St. Thomas Association of Realtors (LSTAR) announced 1,171 homes were sold in May, down 24.4 per cent over the same time last year, which saw a record-setting month for May with 1,549 homes sold. The May 2017 home sales stands as the highest recorded total since LSTAR began tracking sales data in 1978.

“We’re very encouraged by the sales in May, which represent the third best May results LSTAR has had,” says Jeff Nethercott, 2018 LSTAR president. “The homes sold are actually above the 10-year average, despite the ongoing challenge of low inventory in the marketplace Similar to what’s happened each month this year, home prices continue to gradually increase across the region, as fewer homes are available for sale.”

The average May sales price in London and St. Thomas was $366,096 up 6.4 per cent over May 2017 and up 28.4 per cent over May 2016.

By geographic area, London South was $370,851 up 4.4 per cent from last May. In London North, average home sales price was $451,556 up 4.7 per cent compared to the previous year, while in London East, it was $291,359, an increase of 11.1 per cent from May 2017. In St. Thomas, it was $288,723 up 11.2 per cent over last May.

“The big trend we continue to see in the marketplace is low inventory, which remains at its lowest level in 10 years,” Nethercott observes. “In May, there were 1,643 active listings, down 7.7 per cent from this time last year and down 44.6 per cent from May 2016. The sales-to-new listings ratio was 70.8%, which the Canadian Real Estate Association says represents conditions in the marketplace that favour sellers.”

Tricar Group president donates $1-million aircraft to Fanshawe College

AN ADDITION TO Fanshawe’s Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology’s growing fleet of aircraft was announced earlier this week with the donation of a Dassault Falcon 10 jet–a $1 million contribution from local developer Joe Carapella, president of The Tricar Group.

With the donation, Carapella and his wife, Lyn, say they want to empower others to make a difference in the growth of the city they proudly call home.

“Over the years, London has provided us with tremendous opportunity. Our hope is that this aircraft helps provide the students of Fanshawe College that same opportunity to succeed. This is about giving back,” the couple says.

Recently, the Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology attracted regional and national attention when it landed a working 727 aircraft from KF Aerospace and a Dash 7 from Trans Capital Air–two occasions that caught Carapella’s attention.

He decided he could also contribute to boosting the school’s aviation programs by donating the Falcon 10–where the life of this veteran aircraft would be extended by becoming a hands-on learning tool for students. “It’s a great feeling to be involved in community support of this kind because the employment opportunities for qualified aircraft technicians are increasing exponentially—locally and around the globe,” Carapella says.

“We are very grateful to own an aircraft that will play an important role in equipping our students to be job-ready,” adds Vertha Coligan, dean of Fanshawe’s School of Technology. “We hope Mr. Carapella is as pleased as we are that the Falcon 10 will continue to support Fanshawe College for many years in such a meaningful and significant way.” (Photo credit: John Sing, Fanshawe College).