Apogee, Inc.

It may be the second “C” in the series, but #Customers are #1 in my book. Customers: The Heart of It All As Steve Jobs wisely noted, “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology.” Customers are the lifeblood of any company, and we’re fortunate that both Apogee and Boldyn have a long history of not only serving but retaining our customers. Some of our clients have been with us for over 20 years—a testament to our commitment to doing right by them. Higher education is a unique market, where reputation is everything. Apogee has always been laser-focused on maintaining the trust and loyalty of our college customers, and Boldyn quickly recognized the value of this reputation. While Boldyn’s expertise spans multiple industries, from transportation, venues, corporate real estate and military, our higher education clients are at the core of this merger. We’re now positioned to offer our college customers even more—solutions and expertise from other industries that can enhance campus life, from hybrid networks to AI-driven technology. With this merger, we’re better equipped than ever to solve our customers’ most complex network and technology challenges. And as we continue to innovate, we’ll ensure that our colleges remain at the forefront of technological advancement. We even fortified our higher education mission of - giving higher education the power to do and achieve even more! Monday, we’ll talk about, “Communication”, join me then for our third “C”. #Culture #Customers #Communications #Capabilities #Mergers #Acquisitions Christos Karmis Igor Leprince Boldyn Networks Apogee, Inc.

Our First “C” - Culture: The Foundation for Success in a Merger As Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” In a merger, I often think of company cultures like a Venn diagram—the more overlap, the higher the likelihood of a smooth integration. If the cultures align well, and the buyer sees strategic value in the acquired team, customers, and assets, you’ve got the foundation for a home run. One of the first things we recognized within the merger of Apogee and Boldyn Networks was our shared cultural values. #CustomerFirst was a standout value for both of us—and it’s not just a slogan. Years ago, Apogee adopted “We wear your colors” as a way to embody this customer-first mentality. Each college has its own culture, mascot, and colors, and we wanted our employees to feel like an extension of the schools we serve. With the merger, Boldyn has embraced this ethos with us, reaffirming our commitment with “We STILL wear your colors.” Another shared value is #OneTeam, which emphasizes teamwork and collaboration. Creating a unified team across companies isn’t easy, but it’s crucial. Great teamwork isn’t just about tools and processes—it’s about a shared sense of purpose and mutual accountability. We place a huge focus on effective, accountable and harmonious teamwork. That true story is an example of what can be accomplished when talented people collectively commit to being the best they can and recognize that we win and lose together. When I look around our combined company, I see so many employees at all levels who joined us with a foundational understanding and appreciation for great teamwork. Both Apogee and Boldyn have strong foundations in teamwork, and as we move forward together, this value will continue to unite us. As you can see, we are amid something special here. Meet me back on Thursday, I’m diving into the “C” of Customers next. Boldyn Networks Apogee, Inc. Christos Karmis Igor Leprince #Culture #Customers #Communications #Capabilities #Mergers #Acquisitions

The 4Cs of a GREAT Merger? When two companies merge, there’s one shared expectation front and center: the merger will meet or exceed the buyer’s financial goals, delivering immediate strategic value to the combined entity. But what’s the true pathway to achieving those outcomes? Beyond the spreadsheets and financial projections, what really determines if a merger will thrive in the long run? As someone who’s been on both sides of the deal—more often as the acquirer, but also as part of an acquired company—I’ve developed insights that go deeper than the balance sheet. In May, Apogee merged with Boldyn Networks, marking a pivotal moment as we became Boldyn’s higher education division. Now, four months later, it’s time to reflect—not to declare victory, but to assess progress from the acquired company’s perspective. While I’ll explore both sides of the story, my focus is naturally on how this merger has impacted Apogee and our clients. This topic matters because mergers are not just financial transactions; they’re transformative when done right. Boldyn Networks recognized higher education as a high-potential market but had only begun to tap into it. Apogee, with 25 years of experience and a client base that includes hundreds of colleges and millions of students, offered a unique opportunity. By joining forces with Boldyn, Apogee instantly became the premier provider of managed Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and IT services for U.S. higher education. The key to making this merger successful lies in balancing integration without disrupting the core business. Under the leadership of Igor Leprince globally and Christos Karmis in the U.S., we’ve worked to preserve what made both companies strong, while harnessing new synergies. Our ultimate goal is to continue providing exceptional service to our clients while exploring new growth opportunities. Follow me over the next couple of weeks as we dive deeper into how this merger is unfolding through the lens of the “4Cs”—Culture, Customers, Communications and Capabilities. Boldyn Networks #Culture #Customers #Communications #Capabilities #Mergers

We've launched a new podcast! CTRL-ALT-LEAD with David J. Hinson, Campus CIO at Apogee, a Boldyn Networks company, is a space where thoughts and lived experiences on the intersection of technology, management, and leadership can be surfaced – as well as practical advice on how we as higher education leaders can apply real-world lessons in the art of good governance – all in the service of becoming better mentors, better colleagues, and better leaders. Subscribe and listen to the first two episodes: https://lnkd.in/gzQn6yzg

We're looking forward to having higher ed expert Mark McClintock, MBA in Atlanta today for the Georgia Independent College Association's Annual CIO Meeting. Don’t miss the chance to visit our booth and discover how Apogee, a Boldyn Networks company, is empowering campuses to do and achieve more with our innovative managed technology services. Learn more about GICA: https://lnkd.in/e_FgxWB

John O'Brien and Gerad Johnson, MBA are joining the The City University of New York (CUNY) IT Leadership in New York this week for a briefing with CUNY Vice Chancellor for IT and CIO Eusebio (Seb) Formoso on the latest technology strategies and priorities across the CUNY systems. As Apogee proudly joins Boldyn Networks, we’re eager to explore new ways to support NYC colleges and universities in their journey to becoming the smart campuses of the future.

What is zero trust and how does it apply to higher education? Zero trust is a significant departure from the castle and moat method traditionally used by higher ed institutions. Instead of extending trust to users and devices inside the organization’s perimeter, it validates the activities and permissions of network assets on a continuous basis. Check out our latest blog post to see how zero trust leads to significant improvements in campus security: https://lnkd.in/gV3SWVdy

Over the next month, we'll highlight the 26 private and public institutions that have partnered with or expanded their services with Apogee, a Boldyn Networks company, this year. We are incredibly grateful to our customers — both current and future! Check out the full list: https://lnkd.in/gkCDVTWr

The Apogee team has been busy all year bringing our services to events around the country. See where we will be for the month of September and come say hi: https://lnkd.in/gCNUXm6C

With the school year fast approaching, is your campus set up for success? With Apogee ResNet your campus can function just like home with guaranteed speeds and availability so your students can have the comfort of home on their new journey. Discover more about ResNet for your campus: https://lnkd.in/g2YAGZfb