About GTS Communications
His Story
Fifteen years ago, from a one-bedroom apartment in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Jerry Stallard launched GTS Communications with not much more than his pick-up truck, some wire and a ladder.
The GTS initials were born from his imagination and don’t stand for anything specific.
In Jerry's low-key style, he “just thought the letters sounded good together,” and, like the company, they've endured the passage of time.
Having fascination but no formal training in telecommunications, Jerry began his on-the-job learning and foray into entrepreneurship in 1996. His first phone installation project was given to him by his brother, Don Stallard, president/CEO of The Reserves Network, a regional staffing service in the Cleveland area.
At the time, Jerry knew nothing about phone systems, only that he had a unique interest in them. Applying the troubleshooting techniques he learned from working with radar and electronics in the U.S. Coast Guard, the Reserves Network job gave Jerry an opportunity to train in real-time, and so it began.
Her Story
Not long after Jerry conceived GTS arrived the needed assistance of Victoria Maloney (now Stallard), who worked as corporate office receptionist for The Reserves Network.
She also answered GTS phones, which were forwarded to her Reserves workstation. After her “day job,” Victoria would join Jerry for more GTS projects, which often lasted into the night and throughout the weekends.
Essentially, she worked two full-time jobs for six years, after 13 years in various retail positions.
In 1998, Victoria became a Stallard, and in 2002, officially joined Jerry and the company full-time as vice president and co-owner, in what she calls the opportunity of a lifetime. And take it and run with it, she did.
Their Story
Over the last 15 years, GTS has expanded measurably in all the essential categories of business performance and growth: sales and employment, products and services, equipment, geographic service area, number and tenure of customers, and marketing and office space.
GTS has been headquartered in a company-owned building for the last five years, giving us six times the breathing room of our former leased location. (Photo of Victoria and Jerry below by Toby Shingleton).
GTS has been a standout when it comes to business performance and growth awards. The company has won three NEO Success Awards, five Weatherhead 100 honors, and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business of the Year for the Cleveland district.
GTS also won the COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises) Ten Under 10, an honor recognizing ten top-performing small businesses in Northeast Ohio. And, Jerry was named a Northeast Ohio finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
The events of the last 15 years give GTS cause for celebration, but, most importantly, the chance to recognize and be thankful for the support of clients, associates, family and friends.
GTS Staff and Facility Photos
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GTS Owners Victoria and Jerry Stallard
