BearCom's wireless communications recent recognition as Motorola Solutions' top-volume dealer worldwide highlights again the amazing growth the company has enjoyed on its way to becoming the only nationwide dealer and integrator of wireless communications equipment. BearCom has been shaped by entrepreneurial leadership, a timely merger, and its association with some of the biggest events in the world. It's an amazing story, so let's take a look back. It's almost hard to believe, but a company that now ships more than 115,000 two-way radios a year and has more than 350 employees got its start in 1981 with the purchase of 40 Motorola HT90 two-way radios by Jerry Denham and Alyxzander Bear. The two young men had attended California State University at Long Beach and worked at Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC), the industry leader in crowd management. Its employees are easy to spot at events wearing their yellow windbreakers.

Founders Focus on Building a Company

At CSC, Bear had been responsible for renting the walkie-talkies used by employees at the concerts, games, and other events where staffers worked. After college, he had stayed on part-time, sub-renting radios and earning a small profit for his work. No doubt intrigued by the opportunities in two-way radio rentals, Denham and Bear founded Bear Communications in 1981 with that first purchase of 40 Motorola HT90s. By 1983, with CSC as one of their biggest customers, the two were able to quit their other jobs and focus solely on building Bear Communications. That year they provided radios and staffing for the Long Beach Grand Prix auto race, the first major event for a company that has become associated with scores of them. By the late 1980s, Bear Communications was itself picking up speed. Brent Bisnar—who had worked with Denham and Bear at CSC during their college days—joined the company in 1986 as its first sales representative, primarily promoting rental services, as well as selling EF Johnson, Maxon, and Yasau radios. By then, the company owned a small fleet of 150 Motorola HT90 and HT440 radios. That same year saw the opening of new BearCom offices in San Francisco, Seattle, and Fort Lauderdale, and in 1987, Bisnar opened an office in the San Diego area.

National Scope and International Events

Motorola opened indirect distribution in 1988, and Bear Communications was named a dealer. Growth and expansion continued with the addition of branch offices around the country. Later in 1988, the company handled its first international event, the Toronto Grand Prix. In 1989, Bear left the company, but a short six years later, Bear Communications would provide more than 5,500 radios to all nine venues of soccer's biggest international event, the World Cup. It was an amazing rise for a company that traced its beginnings back to Cal State, but even greater growth and change were coming. We'll tell that story next time. Read part two...