VIcom Leadership.

President

A native of Virginia, B.J. has over 20 years of experience as a business owner and entrepreneur. Growing up around a family of entrepreneurs and amongst hardworking community, B.J got his first job at the age of twelve running the local paper routes in town learning quickly about product delivery and customer service. Over the years he’s also worked in retail, automotive, farming and in the family restaurant business. He was fortunate to grow up in an environment of mentors that taught him that discipline and hard work pays off! B.J co-founded and remained in leadership at multiple successful businesses in Hampton Roads including VIcom and iSoft. As part of the leadership team, these companies represent the single largest, and most diverse collection of integrated systems and communication experts in Virginia. His greatest strengths are his enthusiasm, loyalty and approachability. Equally as important, B.J enjoys being a leader, particularly developing and seeing his fellow employee owners succeed.

What is your favorite book?

Great by Choice by Jim Collins. This book reconfirmed the impact incredible discipline has on our businesses. I believe that we should never rely on luck or chance to take care of things, maximize them by working hard instead.

What is the best piece of advice ever given to you?

Anytime things would get hard I recall my father telling me that if it was easy everybody would be doing it. He would also say that by the inch it’s a synch by the yard is hard. These quotes have made a significant positive impact on both my life and my career.

CEO

As a child, Dennis had a passion to become an Athletic Coach of various competitive sports. In 1970, that dream became a reality. After graduating from College with a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Finance, Dennis taught school, coached at various high school and college levels and was also the Director of Schools at a local Private Institution. After 18 years as a coach and teacher, Dennis began his Sales Career at Copy Data Group, a Copier Sales Organization, and within a year was promoted to Sales Manager for that group and later for IKON Office Solutions, an International Sales Organization. Once again, Dennis was fulfilling his coaching passion and competitive nature by mentoring and coaching Sales Account Representatives. In 2001, Dennis was able to utilize his marketing and finance background by becoming a Co-Founder of Virginia Integrated Communication. Dennis was President of VIcom from 2001 through 2018 and became CEO in 2019. Dennis continues to coach and mentor younger employees and takes pride in seeing these employees becoming successful Employee Owners.

What is your favorite book?

Pulling your Own Strings by Wayne W. Dyer. There are aspects of this book that made a significant impact on me in terms of how to change my expectations. It taught me how to NOT be a victim when confronted with a potentially negative situation and it also taught me to become a better husband, father, friend and employer.

What is the best piece of advice ever given to you?

I actually have two best pieces of advice. At a young age, I was told to “never let anyone steal my dreams” and while in college, I was also told by a professor that “Once your Vocation becomes a job, it is time to look for another Vocation”. I have lived by these two principles and truly believe that is why I have fulfilled the majority of my hopes and dreams.

Executive Vice President Operations

Rob has spent over 30 years of technology experience supporting sales, integration and serving in company Leadership roles. Joining Vicom in 2016 as Managing Director based in Richmond, He’s responsible for managing all aspects of the Central and Northern Regions of Virginia. Most importantly, he’s focused on Vicom’s overall service delivery, through integration capabilities and customer service. In addition, he’s directing all sales efforts, while coordinating region’s account management and technical team members for cohesive communication and performance for our customers. Rob is integrally involved in all facets of strategy development to improve operations and support infrastructure, open new sales avenues, and drive revenue growth. In early 2019, he was promoted to current role of VP, RICHMOND REGION.

What is your favorite book?

7 Habits of Highly Effective People: There have been many books over the years that have been helpful and this is one of them. Starting with being Proactive as a core focus and working through development of the other 6 habits, it is a great foundation to help be successful, work to lead by example and support others in their efforts.

What is the best piece of advice ever given to you?

Strive to know and master your main responsibilities and acknowledge the challenges in order to overcome them to do your job successfully. Just as importantly, is to understand the same for the other people in your company that support you and your customers. This helps to develop respect, understanding and teamwork, which in turn leads to overall success for everyone.

Vice President, Sales

Tom’s professional career includes 10 years in the public sector and more than 23 years in the private sector working in telecommunications and information technology. Tom joined VIcom in January 2021 as VP of Sales with the responsibility to drive revenue growth, manage sales, align vendor partnerships and build customer relationships. VIcom’s sales efforts are critical and along with service delivery are paramount to VIcom’s success. VIcom’s mission is to enable its employees and customers to flourish equally by providing valuable solutions and services in the marketplace.
Tom’s approach to successful sales and service is to develop personal, trusting relationships with his clients and prospects. He is someone who knows how to listen, lean in, and take responsibility while recognizing and building on the support of team members.

What is your favorite book?

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell.  This book has had a life-long impact on me.  It deals with the universality and evolution of myths in the history of the human race and the place of myth in modern society.  Myths are the stories and legends people believe to be an integral part of their culture. Campbell defines the function of a mythology as the provision of a cultural framework for a society or people to educate their young and to provide them with a means of coping with their passage through the different stages of life from birth to death.

The Killer Angels is a 1974 historical novel by Michael Shaara that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975. The book depicts the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, and the days leading up to it: June 29, 1863, as the troops of both the Union and the Confederacy move into battle around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and July 1, July 2, and July 3, when the battle was fought. The story is character-driven and told from the perspective of various historical figures from both the Confederacy and the Union.

What is the best piece of advice ever given to you?

Two things – one from a terrific Latin teacher quoting Rudyard Kipling – “…in all things, keep your wits about you.”  And, from Red Auerbach, famous professional basketball coach, “if you are keeping score, win.”

Patti Williamson

Vice President
Adminstration and Finance

Patti began working in customer service related fields at the age of 16 and worked though college. After graduating from ODU she began working for Copy Data Group, a local copier / fax company. She worked in several positions within the company and settled into the Finance/HR realm. During her tenure with CDG, she worked with Dennis and BJ – VIcom’s Founders. A week after VIcom was formed, she came on board in a finance capacity. Her position eventually evolved into VP Admin & Finance Operations.

What is your favorite book?

Not sure I have 1 favorite. When I do have time to sit and read, I generally read fitness articles.

What is the best piece of advice ever given to you?

Whenever I had a question, I would ask my father for the answer. He would tell me “look it up”, so I would, and then we would discuss. Taking the time to look up answers has helped me remember far more than I thought I would. He would also tell me to never stop trying!