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”
1985 - 1992
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
1996 was notable because it saw the first Internet browser, first IP telephone, and first IP camera solutions launched. 96’ was the year that it became clear that the IP protocol for voice and data convergence was going to become the future standard. That year, BTI participated in the launch of the first ever VOIP network and began implementing large scale enterprise VOIP systems alongside Illinois Bell, AT&T, Centurylink, Verizon, and other major network providers.
BTI founder Eric Brackett and Director of Production Dave Smith, a BTI leader since 1998,
1996 - 2003
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 Nortel and others. BTI sold and implemented converged network and voice solutions for brands in the Technology, Media, Financial, Logistics, Manufacturing, Automotive, and Healthcare organizations
Eric draws a network diagram of a converged voice and data communications system in the conference room at BTI’s original headquarters on the 21st floor of 500 West Madison St. in Chicago.
2003 - 2013
BTI launched our first network infrastructure and managed IT service offerings called GlobalView for businesses focusing on converged voice, data, and information security products and services powered by manufacturers and software companies from Cisco and Microsoft to Mitel and Nortel. These years also saw BTI’s office and personnel footprint expand to the West in Phoenix and Los Angeles and to the South in Texas and Florida.
Technician Tom Trickle, BTI Employee #2, completed an upgrade at one of BTI’s oldest customers, the iconic Eli’s Cheesecake Factory in Chicago. This photo was taken in 2025, Tom’s 39th year working for BTI. It was the 23rd upgrade BTI had completed for Eli’s since the 1990s.
2013 - 2020
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 Nortel and others. BTI sold and implemented converged network and voice solutions for brands in the Technology, Media, Financial, Logistics, Manufacturing, Automotive, and Healthcare organizations
2020 - 2021
During and after Covid, BTI obtained a 20 year Federal GSA contract, a California CMAS agreement, and an LA County TESMA contract to better support our government and education clients. We also implemented website and support tools making BTI an industry leader in on-line and off-line support for clients with remote workers needing advanced cybersecurity and remote work tools.
2022 - Present
Post Covid, BTI has continued to expand and attract more clients. The dominant theme has been helping clients navigate increasing security requirements, hardening their IT infrastructure to battle cybersecurity concerns, and assisting clients adopting AI tools to drive productivity.
The Foundation of BTI: Mission, Values, and Vision
Through every shift — from analog to digital, copper to IP, IP 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
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?
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 save us money?
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 support highly regulated industries?
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.
What if BTI doesn’t work out?
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.
Does BTI only work with large enterprises?
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.
What’s the real difference between BTI and the “big guys”?
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.
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: info@btigroup.com
Discover how we can save you money and streamline your operations.