Carousel Industries

Imagine sitting in a skybox at a Red Sox game. You order a soda, hot dog and popcorn and faster than you can say 'Go Big Papi' your order is right in front of you. An instant order experience is now possible via a new communications system installed within Fenway Park which allows skybox wait staff to send orders wirelessly to the restaurant and a waiting service runner. Who makes this wonderful experience possible? Rhode Island's own Carousel Industries.

Established in 1992 as a cabling and telephone systems company in South Kingstown, Carousel has evolved into a 360 employee, 10 office, $100-million leading national communications technology solutions provider. They've been on Inc. magazine's Inc. 500, a list of the fastest growing companies in the nation and they've been recognized by the Providence Business News as one of the fastest growing technology companies in Rhode Island. Carousel is also a three-star/platinum-certified Avaya (formerly ATT) business partner and ranks third out of a field of 1200 Avaya partners.

And Carousel's story just keeps getting better. They are anticipating 25 percent sales growth in 2007 and will be breaking ground in August on their new 60,000-square-foot headquarters in a revitalized mill in Exeter. Their new space will house a state-of-the-art demonstration area, warehouse, network operations and customer service center.

If you ask to Carousel's CEO, Jeff Gardner, about being successful and staying innovative, he'll tell it to you straightforward — play several roles very well. Carousel's advantage is that they are a single-source nationwide provider for integrated voice, data and web enabled business solutions. And they also pay special attention to make sure the solutions they offer clients are of the highest technological capability, scalable and cost effective.

"It requires being a trusted advisor to your clients, carefully evaluating changing telecommunications market demands, foreseeing and packaging cutting edge communications solutions," Gardner says about Carousel's success. "But most importantly, by sticking with the customer throughout the process — from conceptualization, implementation and resolution of any challenges, you'll see opportunities to innovate along the way, ensuring mutual success."

The Stafford County New Hampshire Corrections Department is another one of the latest benefactors of Carousel's technology. They needed a way to save time and reduce face-to-face meetings. Carousel implemented a solution which allows for arraignments to be conducted via videoconferencing. Now a television monitor connects lawyers, judges and inmates in their cells throughout the process, allowing flexibility while saving time and expense.

Gardner gives Rhode Island credit too. He feels the state provides him and his employees a quality of place like no other. "I love Rhode Island. My company is here and thriving," says Gardner. "This state is a great bang for the buck."

Carousel is now giving back to Rhode Island by working with colleges to recruit more local talent and agencies like the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation to secure workforce training grants. Gardner appreciates that the state is looking to find ways to support his organization so employees remain highly skilled.

Now if we could just all go and watch a Red Sox game from the skybox and appreciate the innovativeness of Carousel...