Tektivity, Cedar Rapids phone system installer merge

CEDAR RAPIDS -- For the fourth time since 2005, Tektivity Inc. has expanded its business by merging with another company in the Corridor.

The Eastern Iowa regional telecommunications and information technology provider has absorbed Choice Telcom, 1011 Second Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Choice Telcom installs and services AVAYA telephone systems in Eastern I0wa. After long merger discussions, Choice Telcom owner Chuck McDonald said it became obvious that a merger would greatly benefit customers of both companies.

"We believe that joining Tektivity will provide us the additional resources we were seeking to really grow our business," McDonald said in a statement disclosing the combination.

Doug Flugum, president and owner of Tektivity, said the merger makes a lot of sense.

"As telephone systems continue to migrate more and more to the data network, having the information technology expertise Tektivity offers will greatly benefit current Choice customers and help facilitate future installations," Flugum said. "Choice Telcom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in telephone system installation, service and support."

Tektivity, formed in 1999, provides strategic planning and design, implementation, and managed services for information technology and telecommunications networks. The company has become the information technology department or primary IT support for hundreds of businesses throughout Iowa.

In 2005, Tektivity added telecommunications to its mix of products with the acquisition of Palmer Communications. The company purchased Iowa Electronics and Iowa City Telecommunication in 2010, gives Tektivity a strong base in telecommunications.