1994

The owners of Prism Technical Management & Marketing Services started operations in 1994 to provide three services: (1) industrial control system engineering, (2) project management and (3) private sector marketing services for a select few pre-screened contractors and service providers; however, the marketplace had a different idea.

Randy Crump, a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering with 17 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience had been appointed by Milwaukee Mayor John O. Norquist as a founding board member of the Wisconsin Center District.  The number one job of the new board was the selection of a Design/Build team to construct a new convention center for downtown Milwaukee.

The $170 Million convention center project had been pulled together through a complicated financing plan authored by then Governor Tommy Thompson and the Wisconsin Legislature.  In its final form, the project called for 25% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation and 5% Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation on all contracts.  Additionally the project was required to obtain 25% of its workforce hours from workers classified as ethnic minorities and 5% from women.  Furthermore, once local officials had an opportunity to shape the project, they added provisions for the City of Milwaukee’s Emerging Business Enterprises Program (then Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program).  Local elected official wanting assurances that the project's board representatives would address participation related matters with the same conviction and importance given the facility amenities and technical details of the project.  Randy was appointed to the board.

Four business leaders were appointed board:  A downtown hotel operator, a downtown restauranteur, a marketing business representative and Randy Crump, an engineering entrepreneur - specializing in design, fabrication and installation of industrial automation systems.  As one of two minorities on the newly formed board, Randy knew it would be critical to place a Project Monitor on the project.  When discussion of hiring an Owner's Representative (OR) team to report to the Board surfaced, Randy moved to including monitoring as a responsibility of the OR.  The Monitor would review bid documents submitted, to determine if work to be performed by MBE and WBE Prime or subcontracting firms was actually within their contracted scope and capabilities.  The Monitor was also hired to assure workforce participation.  As a result of his pioneering efforts in this regard and a reasonable approach to participation, the Wisconsin Center went on to achieve all legislated and board mandated goals.  From this role, Randy gained a no nonsense reputation for seriously addressing issues of participation. 

1984-1993

Prism Technical was born from nine years of entrepreneurial experience.  The owners of firm started in business as authorized wholesale distributors of instrumentation and control products, electrical construction  switch gear, power distribution equipment and supplies. 

As engineers, the company was ahead of its time, providing wholesale distribution and application engineering services.   Eventually the young company provided full service design, engineering, fabrication and installation of complete engineered systems.

Clients and products included:

CIMCO - the Canadian Ice Machine Company

    Pettit National Ice Center  refrigeration control design, fabrication and start up.

Westinghouse Electric / Milwaukee and Hennepin County Buses and Management Vehicles

    The company installed Global Positioning Systems on 640 buses and management vehicles in
     Milwaukee County and 80 in Hennepin County (Minneapolis-St Paul area).

Miller Brewing

    Process Control equipment for three plants across America.

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

    Custom built VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) systems, instrumentation and controls, temperature
    controls, Turbine generator programming and controls.

Briggs & Stratton

    Custom motor testing equipment

Milwaukee Water Works

    Automated water meter reading equipment assembly and testing

Eaton Corporation

    Port of Baltimore crane operator chairs

Payne & Dolan

    Solid State Motor Controls for Rock Crushers

ABB Robotics

    Fixture controls

General Motors

    Automated controls