BTI? Our Story, Our Mission, and How We Serve You
Eric’s father, Robert, on the right, was a world-renowned periodontist, and his uncle, Boone, on the left, was a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon. They both were influential and inspirational for Eric to start BTI, and they set the example for giving back to the community.
Our Story: Helping Growing Businesses Stay in Control of Their Technology Since 1985
For 40 years, BTI Communications Group has been making technology work harder, smarter, and more reliably for growing businesses across the United States.
It all started in 1985 when Eric W. Brackett launched Brackett Telecommunications, selling payphones door‑to‑door while attending Northwestern University at night. At a time when Illinois Bell dominated the market, Eric introduced a revolutionary concept:
“Why give your payphone profits to the phone company when you can keep them for yourself?”
By 1992, Eric evolved this vision by incorporating BTI Communications Group, Ltd., focusing on digital phone systems and structured network cabling. Since then, we’ve evolved with every wave of technology.
BTI Corporate Timeline
1985 - 1992
Brackett Telecommunications — Helping businesses save money and gain control of their phone service and systems.
BTI Founder Eric Brackett at age 20 selling pay phones from the corded telephone in the kitchen of his childhood home in Chicago. His business card said “Pay Phone Specialist”
1992 - 1996
BTI emerges — Focusing on digital phone systems, computer-telephony integration, and structured network cabling.
A demo lab for BTI clients circa 2000 showcasing the latest technology to converge computer and telephone systems to allow offices in different parts of the world to collaborate and communicate over Internet protocol. BTI’s original logo can be seen on the computer screen on the right.
1996 - 2012
During these years, BTI built on those early successes and became a top 10 reseller for the number one VOIP phone system for businesses between $10 million and $2 Billion in revenue, called Inter-Tel, while also supporting brands such as Cisco, Microsoft, Nortel, and others. BTI made it’s name by converging voice and data networks on the Internet, cutting costs, improving productivity, and streamlining operations for multi-site businesses in technology, finance, media, logistics, manufacturing, automotive, and healthcare. Notable multi-million-dollar clients included the Options Clearing Corporation, Fiserv, cars.com, apartments.com, Curative Health Services (now part of the Cigna Group), and other leaders in insurance, mortgage lending and loan servicing, banking, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.
2013- 2019
BTI added licensing for security and alarm monitoring services to its list beginning in 2013 as electronic security systems, cameras, and access control began to converge on the network and in the cloud. Increasing client need for new low voltage cables, conduit, and security systems added significantly to BTI’s service fleet and field service personnel.
2020
During Covid, many clients demanded fully outsourced service for all converged technology solutions including cloud, desktops, servers, network infrastructure, VoIP, contact center, and electronic security as they sought to comply with work from home mandates and social distancing.
Not coincidentally, these were also the early days of “converged security,” when both CISA and DHS began to recognize the vital importance of combining network security and physical security disciplines for national defense and as a prescribed best practice for cyber-security as prominent companies critical to life safety, energy, and defense (including the Capital Police during the first Trump inauguration) found themselves exposed to bad actors at an alarming rate.
2020 - Present
The dominant themes in our business, post-covid, have been expansion, cybersecurity, physical plant site security, workplace safety, acceleration of cloud technologies in VoIP and IT, and application of AI technologies to drive sales, reduce cost of production and cut overhead.
BTI is and intends to remain the business partner of choice for clients needing high quality, fast, and efficient partners for:
1. Achieving optimal operational performance of IT, security, and VoIP systems, and
2. Wanting to maintain and then migrate from legacy IT, VoIP, security, and OT solutions to AI enabled solutions. Our decades of experience in automation means we have the human experience under our belt to maximize AI benefits and eliminate mistakes.
The Foundation of BTI: Mission, Values, and Vision
Through every shift — from analog to digital, copper to Fiber, Token Ring to IP, RPA and BPA to AI — our products and services have evolved, but one thing has remained constant:
Our mission and core values have never changed.
Mission
Our Mission: To deliver the foremost level of technical quality and operational reliability that can be delivered for each client’s budget — making every technology investment a win for their productivity, efficiency, and long‑term growth.
Our Core Values
Quality – Excellence in Everything:
We engineer every solution to last and perform flawlessly for years.
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.” — John Ruskin
Integrity – Transparency Always:
We build trust through honesty — itemized pricing, unbiased recommendations, and accountability.
“Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.” — C.S. Lewis
Adaptability – Evolution, Not Extinction:
We evolve as technology does, making sure your business stays one step ahead.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin
“Yes! We Can” – Solutions, Not Excuses:
We approach every challenge as an opportunity to innovate and deliver results.
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill
Our Vision for the Future
Our Vision: To set the gold standard for seamless, human‑first technology partnerships across North America — making “That’s just how technology works” obsolete.
Founder‑Led, Client‑Focused
BTI is still led by its founder, Eric W. Brackett. His father was a pioneering periodontist who taught Eric that serving customers and community comes first.
BTI is led by a team of certified, long‑tenured experts who worked their way into their roles at BTI with a combined seventy years of experience working together at BTI. Together, they ensure quality outcomes for your business. Every project, every site visit, every phone call is conducted by people who are interested in knowing what matters to you, understanding your environment, and focusing on your priorities.
Why this matters for you
- You work with people who have a deep understanding of your business and its evolving needs — no call centers, no ticket systems, just real people you can reach who remember your last conversation and understand your history.
- You have a trusted team who will stand by every solution, every project, and every phone call — ensuring someone is always accountable for delivering you long‑term value.
- You get proactive partners who spot potential issues before they become problems and approach every challenge with a "Yes! we can" mindset, not excuses or limitations.
What We Do
Communications Solutions:
Voice over IP, AI‑enhanced contact centers, and collaboration platforms that streamline productivity and reduce costs.
IT Services:
Outsourced managed IT, co-managed IT, cybersecurity, compliance, cloud services, disaster recovery, and enterprise‑quality support tailored for your industry and business.
Security Systems and Services:
Integrated access control, alarm, and surveillance systems that protect your facilities, staff, and property — while meeting your insurance and industry compliance requirements and reducing downtime.
We Serve You — Whatever Your Role
Why should Business Owners pick BTI?
- Minimize downtime and costly interruptions
- Get one point of accountability across voice, IT, and security
- Grow your business profitably with innovative, customized solutions
Will BTI save me money?
Absolutely. Our average client saves roughly 50%.
What if I already have some services?
We can work with your existing vendors until you’re ready to upgrade.
Will you help if I don’t have internal IT staff?
Definitely. We can be your dedicated technology team keeping your competitive edge in your market while saving you money on staff and technology.
Why should Corporate Leaders pick BTI?
- Eliminate vendor sprawl across voice, data, and security
- Maintain compliance with ISO 27001, ISNetworld, and SOC II certifications
- Get long‑term cost savings and cost transparency
Will BTI reduce vendor sprawl?
Absolutely. We can consolidate voice, data, and security services, making billing and accountability simpler
Do you have experience in highly regulated industries?
Yes. We’ve worked with federal, state, medical, banking, manufacturing, defense, and logistics clients for over 20 years.
Will this save money long‑term?
Definitely. Our transparent project and service pricing delivers significant cost savings you can see right away.
Why should Contact Center Managers pick BTI?
- Integrate AI‑enhanced voice platforms for efficiency and quality
- Maintain seamless connections across platforms
- Minimize downtime with 24/7 support and proactive monitoring
Will you integrate with our existing platforms?
Maybe. We work with many platforms but not all. Either way, we can help you plan for the future and adopt cost‑effective alternatives.
Will this save money?
Yes. We will save you money on both procurement and management costs. Further, AI‑enhanced voice platforms reduce staffing and operational costs significantly.
Will this improve service quality?
Yes. Our personalized approach and collaboration between you and IT mean that you will get all the technology solutions you need to improve quality and efficiency plus our proactive monitoring and support eliminates downtime.
Why should Facilities Directors pick BTI?
- Integrated IP‑based access control, alarm, and surveillance services
- Reduced long‑term maintenance costs and downtime
- Maintain compliance across highly regulated environments
Will this work with our existing security systems?
Probably. We can integrate all of the leading products and even onboard many others into an open platform tailored to your needs. If not, we can cost effectively design a new one for you and implement over time.
Are you experienced in highly regulated environments?
Yes. We serve many leading customers in defense, logistics, manufacturing, food and drug, health care, and finance who meet both their customer and regulatory compliance requirements with our help. We also maintain our own certifications and regulatory compliance that qualify us to reliably serve the highest security clients.
Will this reduce long‑term site security costs?
Definitely. Our IP‑based platforms enable scalability, efficiency, and long‑term cost savings.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
We Build Relationships One Project at a Time
Most of our long‑standing relationships started small — with a simple repair call, a free assessment, or a casual consultation about a particular need. Over time, as trust grew, those relationships evolved into long‑term partnerships spanning voice, IT, and security services across an organization.
- Our first service call for many clients might be a one‑off repair, a quick fix, or a free technology assessment.
- As trust develops, we expand services together — tackling new projects, new locations, or new departments.
- Today, many BTI clients have been with us for decades, relying on BTI as their trusted technology partner for voice, data, and security services.
Together, we solve problems creatively, save money reliably, and build long‑term efficiency, safety, and stability — one piece of work at a time.
Featured Publications
Compliance Certifications
BTI Certifications
Certifications via Third-Party Data Centers & Service Providers
BTI Certifications
Certifications via Third-Party Data Centers & Service Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes BTI different from other IT, security, and communications providers?
BTI is a fully licensed and certified integrator that delivers end‑to‑end voice, IT, and security services — making fragmented vendors and finger‑pointing a thing of the past. Whatever your question or concern might be, BTI can bring together the engineers, technicians, and advisers in minutes, not days or weeks.
Will BTI work with our internal IT staff?
Yes. We provide all types of IT, security, and VoIP products and services and detailed, customized scopes of service to meet your needs and include your preferred vendors and staff.
Will BTI save us money?
Usually, clients save money but that’s not a guarantee. What you can count on is that we will itemize every cost, work with you to reduce costs wherever possible, and always deliver the foremost level of technical quality that can be delivered reliably for your budget.
Will BTI support highly regulated industries?
Yes. BTI is a fully licensed and certified integrator that delivers end‑to‑end voice, IT, and security, and compliance services to regulated businesses. We are ISO 27001 compliant, ISNetworld certified, and GSA, CMAS, and TESMA contract holders.
What if BTI doesn’t work out?
All of our products are enterprise grade, open products so that our clients always have the option of being self supported or moving to the vendor or consultant of their choice. Whether you need to move away due to change in ownership, change in strategy, or a better opportunity, all of our agreements include clauses that protect your right to do so without interruption.
Does BTI only work with large enterprises?
Our ideal client profile is between $10,000,000 and $2,000,000,000 in revenue. We are ideal for businesses smaller than that when they have aggressive growth targets and plans. We are ideal for businesses larger than that when they have a particular need for integrated technical soluitons across their enterprise. In between that area, we generally have a comprehensive solution for IT, VoIP, and security with a hard to beat and compelling value proposition.
What forms of payment does BTI accept?
For small transactions, BTI accepts all major credit cards, checks, and ACH. For larger transactions, BTI offers customizable financing options including below market rate vendor financing subject to credit approval.
Contact Us
Your business doesn’t have to settle for fragmented vendors, long delays, or “just okay” service. At BTI, we make technology work for you — combining voice, IT, and security services into one seamless, human‑first solution.
Call us toll free at 800-435-7284
email: [email protected]
Discover how we can save you money and streamline your operations.