NSCA, Commercial Integrator, and Security Sales & Integration joined forces in 2025 to recognize outstanding leaders in the commercial integration industry.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, Jan. 20, 2026 — NSCA, the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial integration industry, is excited to announce the Integrator of the Year award recipients for 2025.
Given the constant evolution of commercial integration, NSCA’s Excellence in Business Awards program combined with Commercial Integrator and Security Sales & Integration’s Integrator of the Year program to jointly recognize outstanding performance and innovation across the industry.
Winners were named in four categories:
1. Integrator of the Year (overall): IMS Technology Services, Garnet Valley, PA
2. Integrator of the Year for Differentiating Strategies: Smarter Systems, Charlotte, NC
3. Integrator of the Year for Talent Development: CTI, Maryland Heights, MO
4. Integrator of the Year for Strategic Transformation: Basepoint Building Automations, Des Moines, IA
IMS Technology Services was featured on the cover of Commercial Integrator’s November/December 2025 issue. Feature articles highlighting the other three winners will appear in the publication throughout 2026. Winners will also be invited to join a panel discussion at the 28th annual Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) in Irving, TX, on Feb. 24, 2026.
“This collaboration between NSCA, Commercial Integrator, and Security Sales & Integration represents the best of what our industry stands for,” says NSCA Executive Director Tom LeBlanc. “By combining forces, we’re able to celebrate integrators in a more meaningful way while bringing greater visibility to their outstanding accomplishments. The companies recognized this year exemplify what’s possible when leadership, creativity, and commitment converge.”
IMS Technology Services, overall Integrator of the Year winner, celebrated its 30th year in business in 2025. Along with this milestone also came major organizational changes that could’ve disrupted service and growth. Instead, these transitions were catalysts for improvement. Key accomplishments include the navigation of a successful leadership transition, accelerating managed services investments, expanding into new markets, increasing staff resources, fostering new opportunities for cross-department collaboration, and pursuing ISO 27001 certification. During this period of transition, IMS never lost sight of its client-first mindset. In fact, customer interviews resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback, despite the rapid pace of change. The changes made in 2025 position IMS for sustainable growth and excellence for years to come.
Smarter Systems, winner in the Differentiating Strategies category, transformed from a K-12 classroom technology provider to a leading regional integrator that serves large corporations and universities across the Southeast. While the journey hasn’t been easy, it’s one that reflects resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to balancing speed, budget discipline, and lasting quality. Smarter Systems’ willingness to innovate beyond traditional models and processes allows the organization to grow while continuing to consistently exceed client expectations. To accomplish this level of success, its teams must be able to think strategically, weighing tradeoffs and making decisions that serve the client and the company. One example is its approach to testing new business models, including the rollout of RMR offerings that continue to be refined based on client needs. Ongoing testing, learning, and evolution ensure that Smarter Systems can meet the demands of a changing market.
CTI, winner in the Talent Development category, is the first U.S. integrator to earn Department of Labor approval for its entry-level technician Apprenticeship Program. Rather than waiting for the labor market to catch up, CTI decided to train the next generation on its own. Its Apprenticeship Program is a formal, structured approach for new technicians that combines training, mentorship, and on-the-job experience. The initiative completes CTI’s talent-development pipeline, empowering CTI to cultivate its own teams from the ground up. The pathway begins with an internship program to introduce students to the industry, and then continues with a CTI Boot Camp that trains new hires on technical foundations. The capstone is now the fully certified Apprenticeship Program. With this program in place, CTI is building not only technology but also the workforce to power it.
Basepoint Building Automations, winner in the Strategic Transformation category, implemented a strategic plan anchored by three initiatives: an Academy of Excellence that ensures an engaging start for new employees, Innovation Training Labs that provide immersive education for staff and customers, and an Innovation Cohort Team that leads product evaluation, piloting, and development. These programs represent a pivotal shift in the way Basepoint has positioned itself as a trusted innovation leader and partner in building automation. Its commitment to continuous evolution by investing in people, processes, and technology creates a unique ecosystem where growth, creativity, and client success thrive.
Learn more about the Integrator of the Year program below.
About NSCA
The National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) is the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial integration industries. The National Systems Contractors Association is a powerful advocate for all who work in the integration industry, including systems contractors/integrators, product manufacturers, consultants, sales representatives, architects, specifying engineers and other allied professionals. NSCA is dedicated to serving its contractor members and all channel stakeholders through advocacy, education, member services, and networking designed to improve business performance. For more information, visit www.nsca.org.
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