E1 See. Hear. Speak.

“You must continually reinvent your business.” This theme continues to be one of the hottest topics of book publishers and news media alike as major companies – once thought to be invincible – continue to stumble. Sometimes tripped up by nimble and innovative start-ups. Sometimes caught napping when new trends appear.

ExhibitOne knows a thing or two about the concept. In fact, when it comes to reinvention...it could easily write a book of its own.

The company’s mission has always been simple: To take what we see, what we hear and what we speak and enhance the whole experience through the innovative integration of audio, visual, communication and computer technologies.

In 1997, ExhibitOne was one of those nimble and innovative start-up companies. It became one of the first to apply this technology to the labor intensive and tedious process of presenting evidence in the courtroom – creating what came to be known as “evidence presentation systems.”

The premise: through the unique integration of information and presentation management technologies, the courtroom process could be run more efficiently while enabling participants to better understand the information being presented.

But being the first isn’t easy. In 1997, company founder Kevin Sandler left his job at Intel and set out to find $500,000 in start-up capital for a business that had not been tried before, and, employees who had experience in an industry that didn’t exist and who were willing to work for a company that didn’t have customers.

In October of that year, ExhibitOne secured its first client – the Georgia Superior Court. $100,000 worth of technology was integrated into the courtroom where it continues to be used today. The second and third installations were not far behind. ExhibitOne quickly grew to become the country’s largest such provider with virtually all of the company’s business coming from the federal court system.

But on September 11, 2001 that changed.

Monies were rapidly diverted to the war on terrorism – where they remain today.

Turning adversity into opportunity, ExhibitOne reinvented itself by applying its innovative engineering to similar challenges in new markets. Just four years later, the company’s revenues had more than doubled. Today, more than 80 percent of the company’s revenues come from outside the federal court system. And in the process, ExhibitOne has become one of the first companies in the world to enter yet another emerging industry – “telepresence.”

Through telepresence, ExhibitOne is applying audio, visual, communication and computer technologies to solve problems in health care, homeland security and even immigration.

ExhibitOne headquarters, Phoenix

From its Phoenix headquarters, ExhibitOne has more than 1000 installations – all engineered to help enhance what people see, what they hear and what they speak. But today’s clients and technologies will likely have little resemblance to what will be seen from ExhibitOne tomorrow. Kevin, who is a private pilot and former member of the Air National Guard, keeps his company focused on being nimble, innovative and wide awake to new trends as they appear. Says Kevin, “We no longer have to think about reinventing our business. We just come in every morning and do it.”

ExhibitOne integrates audio, visual, communication and computer technologies in new and creative ways in order to address evolving communication challenges faced by various industries and markets.

The company’s innovation isn’t in developing technology, but rather applying those technologies in innovative ways. It’s what makes ExhibitOne unique.

IMPROVING THE COURT SYSTEM

A significant backlog of cases challenges America’s court system. Courtroom

To help expedite trials, ExhibitOne sought to streamline the piece-meal process by which evidence is presented. Prosecutors and defenders alike were using everything from chalkboards to computer simulations to explain evidence, prove people’s points and clarify complex concepts.

ExhibitOne recognized that both sides could be more effective if
they presented their respective sides of a case through an “evidence presentation system” that integrated a wide variety of audio, visual, communication and computer technologies. As was surmised by ExhibitOne and proven in the courtrooms, this solution not only expedited trials, but also improved juror comprehension – providing an innovative solution for our court systems.

TRAINING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

A shortage of well-trained medical providers is a problem affecting health care in America. To help Astec Lab

enhance training while enabling instructors to handle more students, ExhibitOne integrated technologies that included cameras, microphones, digital recording, sophisticated video conferencing and more into what is now known as ASTEC (Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center), one of the busiest medical simulation centers in the United States. Allan J. Hamilton, MD, University of Arizona professor of surgery and ASTEC executive director, says, “Research studies have shown that skills learned in the virtual reality environment lead to more efficient and effective learning and have the potential to reduce errors, ultimately saving thousands of lives every year.” With more than 170 medical students and health professionals using the lab a month, ExhibitOne’s innovation is having an impact on America’s health care.

Carson City, NV EOC

PUBLIC SAFETY

In the face of terrorist threats and the need to adequately respond to major events such as Hurricane Katrina, regional emergency response agencies throughout the country are trying to better coordinate their efforts. Doing that requires the simultaneous downloading, displaying and communicating of information so everyone can be on the same page at the same time. To do this, ExhibitOne has integrated technologies on a massive scale and deployed them in emergency operations centers (EOC) such as the 3,000 sq. ft. facility in Carson City, Nevada. During a major emergency, ExhibitOne’s innovations are providing an extra layer of safety.

IMMIGRATION

With our country focused on illegal immigration, the challenges are compounded for those trying to gain entry into the United States through proper channels. Unfortunately, many of the processes involved with those traditional channels, including hearings, have been very manual and time consuming. ExhibitOne has been called upon to once again provide an innovative solution. Over the next two years, the company will be helping to expedite immigration hearings through the innovative implementation of digital recording systems into government facilities throughout the country...many of which were built before there were even TVs.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

As a small company with business reaching throughout the United States and internationally, ExhibitOne has historically focused much of its corporate service and leadership in support of initiatives within the specific markets it serves.

As an example, the company contributed more than $50,000 in technology and engineering to equip a brand new courtroom/classroom within the National Judicial College (NJC) in Reno, Nevada – a facility that sees more than 2,500 judges annually.

Through a $20,000 grant and $130,000 in technology and engineering given to the University of Arizona College of Medicine, ExhibitOne enabled the creation of the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center (ASTEC), which was referenced in the earlier section.

In order to provide broad and diverse support for as many deserving community programs as possible, the company adapts its work environment around its employees’ respective schedules to help promote their professional growth and community involvement. This has enabled many employees to contribute their time, knowledge, skills and resources to support local organizations that include: United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Phoenix Rescue Mission, American Red Cross, Arizona Humane Society and Sunshine Acres Children’s Home.

Company CEO and President Kevin Sandler is personally active in supporting the local business community through key Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce programs. He is a member of the Chamber’s Small Business Leadership Council and serves on the ATHENA PowerLinkTM Advisory Panel.

As a centralized company effort, ExhibitOne promotes and encourages active participation of its employees in its recycling program which benefits the Arizona Center for the Blind.

Additionally, the company supports many of the local, regional and state technical schools as a community resource for students looking for their first jobs out of school.

As the company grows, it is looking for opportunities where it can become more actively involved with local and state community support programs.

RESPONSE TO ADVERSITY

Adversity? Any company the size of ExhibitOne has more than its fair share. However, being a company with a business plan dependent on innovation brings its own types of challenges:

- being first to market means no industry history – banks aren’t willing to provide sufficient credit;

- unique applications of technology – means there’s no pool of experienced potential employees;

- new concepts mean educating the marketplace – which delays many of the early sales and resulting revenue.

Through sheer tenacity and a passion for the business, ExhibitOne employees approach every problem in the very same way they approach opportunities – to innovate. In fact it has been this type of response to adversity that has provided ExhibitOne with some of its greatest successes.

Adversity struck ExhibitOne exactly at the same time it struck everyone in America – September 11, 2001. At that time nearly 100 percent of ExhibitOne’s business was focused on the federal court system. As federal funding and attention was diverted to supporting the war on terrorism, funding for federal courtroom improvements quickly began to disappear.

Forced to completely reinvent the company’s market strategies, ExhibitOne did an extensive assessment of its capabilities, current technologies and human resources. It began analyzing other markets and technologies through research, subject matter experts and experimentation to determine what markets and technologies offered the greatest chances of success.

Thanks to this adversity – by educating itself on each new market, through fundamental “block and tackling” account management and most importantly, by understanding the true needs of clients – ExhibitOne successfully reinvented itself and was able to provide innovative solutions to a highly diversified client portfolio including health care, higher education, emergency operations centers as well as a greater focus on providing solutions within the State of Arizona. The latter of which resulted in the company being awarded a contract with the Arizona Department of Administration.

GENERAL

For a small company to master the complexities of technology and successfully conduct business in multiple industries throughout the state, country and even internationally, requires that it embraces every relationship – whether vendor, client, or employee – as a true partner.

On occasion, ExhibitOne leverages the skills and relationships of engineering firms throughout the country to help install and support ExhibitOne technology solutions. A culture of partnership is a key ingredient in the company’s ability to trust putting “other people” in front of clients. It requires a unique business and personal relationship that ExhibitOne has been able to forge – one partner at a time.

ExhibitOne vendors are seen as key partners in the company’s success. It shares leads, trade show participation, business development opportunities and face time with prospects and clients to ensure everyone benefits from the business.

This attitude of ensuring EVERY relationship is a win/win includes ExhibitOne employees. Running a lean organization that covers multiple industries throughout the country and beyond requires people to be empowered to deliver on company commitments. In support of this philosophy, as partners, employees participate in a profit-sharing plan that puts 20 percent of the company’s profits into the hands of employees.

Says ExhibitOne founder Kevin Sandler, “Our biggest compliment comes when a client will put their own reputation on the line and recommend us to others. We’re very fortunate. We are paid that compliment on a frequent basis. There are a million little things involving our vendors, employees and external factors that go into having a satisfied client. But at the end of the day, to me it all boils down to one fact – we delivered on our word. When we do that, nothing more needs to be seen, heard or spoken.”