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Building the Future
Since 1980

Four decades of innovation, hundreds of success stories, and one mission: empowering Michigan businesses with world-class IT solutions.

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CTS Managed IT History

Managed IT Leadership Built Over Decades

CTS began by solving a service-model problem: clients wanted predictable monthly support instead of capital-heavy technology purchases. That same managed, consultative approach now powers CTS across IT services, digital infrastructure, datacenter, security, compliance, AI enablement, hybrid work, and long-term technology planning.

Company Timeline CTS milestones and managed IT evolution

  1. 1980 More context

    Managed Service Roots Take Shape

    Stan Stevens leaves ITT after customers ask for a monthly managed telecom model that ITT will not provide, then launches CTS to deliver a more flexible, service-led technology relationship.

    Client impact

    From day one, CTS was built around predictable service, practical guidance, and a lower-friction path to technology support instead of forcing clients into a large upfront capital purchase.

    Origin story

    Customer demand centered on a managed monthly service model; CTS incorporated in 1980 and began selling that October.


  2. 1985 More context

    Leadership Depth Improves Service Continuity

    Joe Stevens joins CTS in 1985, strengthening leadership capacity and helping the company expand regional delivery as customer demand continues to grow.

    Client impact

    A deeper leadership bench gave clients more continuity, better delivery resilience, and a stronger local support footprint as CTS expanded into Ann Arbor and beyond.

    Growth milestone

    Joe joined in 1985; Ann Arbor expansion followed as CTS scaled.


  3. 1990 More context

    CTS Enters The IT Market

    CTS expands into IT services in 1990, applying its managed-service discipline to broader infrastructure, support, and day-to-day technology decisions.

    Client impact

    This is the point where CTS becomes a broader IT partner, helping organizations manage more of their environment through the same recurring, consultative delivery model that originally defined the company.

    Capability shift

    CTS begins delivering IT services in 1990.


  4. 1992 More context

    Technical Leadership Scales With Clients

    Chris Bacon joins in 1992, adding long-term technical leadership that helps CTS deepen its IT bench and execution capacity.

    Client impact

    Clients gain a deeper technical team and more durable IT leadership behind the service model, improving continuity as their environments become more complex.

    Leadership bench

    Chris Bacon joined CTS in 1992 as a key IT leader.


  5. 1995-2000 More context

    CTS Moves Early On Digital Infrastructure

    CTS leans into digital and networked environments ahead of the curve, helping clients prepare for more connected, scalable infrastructure.

    Client impact

    By moving early on digital adoption, CTS gave organizations a partner prepared to guide platform change instead of reacting after the market had already shifted.

    Platform evolution

    NEC was added in 1995; larger institutional environments followed; CTS reached millions in equipment by 2000.


  6. 2001-2007 More context

    Datacenter And Acquisition Growth Expand Reach

    Early datacenter operations and the first acquisition wave broaden CTS’ platform, footprint, and capacity to support more complex client environments.

    Client impact

    Clients gain more infrastructure depth, broader service coverage, and a partner able to support larger environments as CTS grows through capability expansion and targeted acquisitions.

    Growth milestones
    • Datacenter operations begin in the early 2000s
    • Digital Data Solution (2001)
    • RN Communication (2004)
    • Magna Communication (2007)

  7. 2014-2017 More context

    Security And Physical Access Capabilities Broaden

    A second acquisition wave expands CTS’ platform while surveillance and door access control add adjacent security services for clients managing more connected facilities.

    Client impact

    CTS becomes more useful to clients who need IT, security, and site-level operational support to work together instead of being handled by disconnected vendors.

    Platform expansion
    • Motor City Communication (2014)
    • D&S Communication (2017)
    • Video surveillance and door access control added in 2017

  8. 2019 More context

    New Leadership Advances Fully Managed IT

    AJ and Stanley take over CTS in 2019 and formalize a fully managed IT direction built on the same recurring-service model the company has used since 1980.

    Client impact

    The leadership transition strengthens continuity while moving CTS decisively toward a broader managed IT future, making the company the first in Michigan to offer a fully managed IT program.

    Managed IT milestone

    AJ and Stanley take over CTS in 2019; CTS launches the first fully managed IT program in Michigan.


  9. 2020 More context

    Hybrid Work Rollout Keeps Clients Operating

    CTS helps hundreds of local businesses move into hybrid environments in under a month, protecting continuity during a period of urgent operational change.

    Client impact

    The 2020 response showed that CTS could move quickly under pressure and translate its managed IT experience into practical business continuity when clients needed it most.


  10. 2021 More context

    Compliance Management Becomes A Customer Capability

    CTS helps organizations prepare for and maintain compliance so requirements do not slow down growth, disrupt operations, or leave teams guessing.

    Client impact

    Customers gain a partner that can help them interpret requirements, prepare evidence, reduce risk, and sustain compliance programs over time, including Department of Defense customers preparing for CMMC.

    Framework support

    CMMC, NIST, ISO, PCI, HIPAA, and other customer-specific compliance frameworks.


  11. 2022 More context

    CTS Helps Customers Deploy AI Responsibly

    CTS begins helping customers deploy AI in real business environments, from application delivery and data readiness to employee enablement and safe automation.

    Client impact

    Clients gain practical support for building AI-enabled applications, preparing data to be used well by AI, guiding employee adoption, and putting guardrails around automation so the technology serves the business instead of distracting from it.

    AI support areas

    Customer AI applications, data preparation, adoption support, and internal CTS automation that frees more employee time for customer service.


  12. The Future More context

    CTS Is Building Toward Smarter, Safer Operations

    The next phase of CTS is focused on secure infrastructure, managed IT maturity, compliance-ready operations, practical AI adoption, and stronger strategic guidance.

    Client impact

    The direction is straightforward: help clients modernize with less risk, better decision-making, and a partner that can connect infrastructure, security, compliance, and emerging technology into one operational strategy.

CTS helps clients modernize securely and sustainably

From managed-service roots to current work in IT, security, compliance, AI, and business continuity, CTS continues to help clients make practical technology decisions they can sustain over time. Read the full company timeline or talk with CTS about what comes next.

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Meet the CTS Team

Experienced people delivering practical technology guidance, responsive service, and long-term client support.

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Our Values

The principles that guide everything we do

Client-Focused

Your success is our mission. Every solution is tailored to your unique needs.

Innovation First

We stay ahead of technology trends to keep your business competitive.

Excellence Always

Quality isn’t negotiable. We deliver exceptional service, every time.

 

CTS Companies

Premier IT & Voice Services provider in Michigan since 1980. We help businesses solve technology problems in a simple and reliable way.

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(248) 334-5800