John Conley Puts Central Communications on Track

New Strategy Delivers Customized Solutions, Customer Satisfaction

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Knoxville entrepreneur John F. Conley today announced the acquisition of Central Communications and Electronics, a long-established provider of wireless communications products and services throughout East Tennessee.

“we can provide clients push-to-talk wireless coverage throughout much of the Tennessee Valley, while offering greater management tools at a much lower cost than cellular.”

Conley plans to grow the 57-year-old company by using its technical expertise to create custom-tailored solutions for clients and inspiring his team to deliver unsurpassed customer service.

Central Communications now operates statewide in Tennessee and in southeastern Kentucky and western North Carolina. Conley acquired the company from John T. Curbow. Terms were not disclosed.

Central became a Motorola Service Station in the 1950s and an authorized dealer more than two decades ago. Central also offers two-way radio systems from ICOM America Inc. and Tait Communications, global leaders in critical communications, and represents top equipment makers like Zetron, CalAmp, NetworkFleet, American Signal, LightSquared and Network Innovations.

“Our team understands how to use wireless technology to help clients improve their operations and reduce costs,” said Conley, 47, a Knoxville native, who has undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Tennessee. “We’ll provide clients with solutions that make their workplaces safer, operations more efficient and people more productive. And we’ll grow as our clients succeed.”

Conley has realigned responsibilities, strengthened sales and service capabilities and boosted the staff to 18. Recently, Central won competitive bids for equipment and services from new clients in the utility, public safety and education sectors and won back former clients with its customer-first commitment.

The acquisition comes as the FCC requires more efficient use of the public radio spectrum. Commonly known as narrowbanding, new rules require land-based mobile radio systems owners in VHF or UHF bands to use a narrower block of spectrum per channel to open more of the spectrum for public use.

Central Communications has offices at 1413 Cline Street in Knoxville and tower sites on Chilhowee Mountain in Sevier County and Cross Mountain in Anderson County. “With our wide-area network,” Conley said, “we can provide clients push-to-talk wireless coverage throughout much of the Tennessee Valley, while offering greater management tools at a much lower cost than cellular.”

Conley comes to Central Communications following a distinguished legal career with the Norfolk, Virginia-based firm of Glasser and Glasser, primarily representing railroad and steel workers. He began his transition away from practicing law by serving as general counsel/business development with the Boloto Group, a private company developing online business models.

He has served as a director of Knox Heritage for eight years and the Knoxville Montessori School for four years. He and his wife, Jane, a native of Jefferson City, have two children.

About Central Communications

Central Communications provides solutions for clients across Tennessee. The company designs, sells, installs and maintains two-way radio and radio dispatch systems for first responders, fleet management systems for government agencies and private enterprises, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) solutions for utilities, among other products and services. In Tennessee, Central is the sole source provider for push-to-talk satellite communications for public safety and critical infrastructure entities. Learn more at www.centralcomwireless.com.