When we launched Celerity Integrated Services in October 2002, we did more than start a company. We set a standard. From every fiber splice to every network design and emergency response, our work was built to represent more than technical capability. It reflects who we are as a family-owned organization, as accountable leaders, and as people who understand that what we build today underpins the critical infrastructure of tomorrow.

More than twenty years later, that standard still drives us. “Next Mile Technology” is not a tagline. It is a guiding philosophy that links our history to our vision, aligns our values with our decisions, and connects our team to the healthcare systems, utilities, and communities that trust us to keep them running.

The Origin of Next Mile Thinking

In telecommunications, everyone talks about the "last mile." It's the final stretch of network infrastructure that connects service providers to homes and businesses. It's critical, complex, and often the most challenging part of any project.

But we've always thought differently. We don't just focus on completing the last mile. We focus on what comes next. The next mile represents forward momentum, continuous improvement, and the understanding that every project we finish sets the stage for the next challenge, the next innovation, and the next generation of connectivity.

According to Deloitte's 2025 Global Telecommunications Outlook, fiber optic deals represented the largest subsector share of all closed infrastructure deals during 2024. The demand for reliable, future-ready networks has never been higher. Our job isn't just to meet today's needs. It's to anticipate what's coming and build infrastructure that can handle it.

That's what Next Mile Technology means to us. It means thinking beyond the immediate task and asking: What happens after this project is complete? How can we make it easier for the next team to maintain? How can we document it so thoroughly that future expansions are seamless?

Company Culture as Our Foundation

Research from UJJI shows that 88% of employees say company culture is important when choosing where to work. That number jumped significantly from previous years, proving that culture isn't a soft concept anymore. It's a competitive advantage.

For us, company culture isn't something we talk about in meetings and forget about on job sites. It's the thread that connects every person on our team, from the engineers designing networks to the technicians splicing fiber in the field. Our culture is built on three pillars that mirror our service philosophy: Well Planned, Well Crafted, and Well Done.

• Well Planned means we take the time to understand a project before we start. We don't rush into construction without considering the long-term implications. We ask questions. We listen to our clients. We map out every detail through our OSP Engineering services so that when our crews arrive on site, they have everything they need to succeed.
• Well Crafted reflects our commitment to old-world craftsmanship applied to modern technology. Our technicians don't just complete tasks. They take pride in their work. A splice isn't just functional; it's neat, documented, and built to last through our expert Fiber Optic Splicing services. A network isn't just operational; it's optimized for performance and future growth.
• Well Done means we finish what we start, and we finish it right. Our close-out documentation is legendary in the industry. We hand over complete records, detailed maps, and thorough reports because we know that the next person who works on that network shouldn't have to guess what we did.

Building Brand Trust Through Transparency

Trust doesn't happen by accident. It's earned through consistent action, transparent communication, and a willingness to stand behind your work even when challenges arise.

The Edelman Trust Barometer 2024 found that 68% of people trust family businesses to "do the right thing," making them the most trusted type of business for the 10th consecutive year. That trust advantage exists because family businesses tend to think long-term, prioritize relationships over transactions, and align their actions with their stated values.

We've built our reputation on transparency. When a client asks us about a project timeline, we give them an honest answer, not an optimistic one. When we encounter unexpected challenges in the field, we communicate immediately and work collaboratively to find solutions. When we make a mistake, we own it, fix it, and learn from it.

This transparency extends to our team as well. Our employees know where the company stands, what our goals are, and how their work contributes to our success. We share information openly because we believe that informed team members make better decisions and feel more connected to our mission.

In our work with clients across telecommunications, utilities, education, and healthcare, we've seen firsthand how trust accelerates projects. When clients trust us, they give us the autonomy to make field decisions that keep projects moving. When our team trusts leadership, they bring problems to us early instead of hiding them until they become crises.

The Family Business Advantage

Being a family-owned business shapes everything we do. Ron Sr., Ron Jr., and Deron Leight didn't just create a company. They created an extended family that now includes more than 60 employees. That family dynamic influences how we hire, how we train, and how we treat people.

We hire for cultural fit as much as technical skill. Skills can be taught. Values can't. We look for people who take pride in their work, who communicate honestly, and who understand that quality matters more than cutting corners.

Our training programs reflect this philosophy. New employees don't just learn technical procedures. They learn why we do things the way we do them. They understand the history behind our standards and the reasoning behind our processes. This creates a workforce that doesn't just follow instructions but understands the purpose behind them.

The family business model also gives us flexibility that larger corporations often lack. We can make decisions quickly. We can adapt to client needs without navigating layers of bureaucracy. We can invest in our people and our equipment because we're thinking about the next 20 years, not the next quarterly earnings report.

Looking Beyond the Immediate

One of the most distinctive aspects of Next Mile Technology thinking is our focus on what happens after we leave a job site. Most contractors think about project completion. We think about project lifecycle.

When we design a network, we consider future expansion. When we document a splice, we imagine the technician who will need to troubleshoot it five years from now. When we train our team, we think about the skills they'll need for technologies that don't exist yet.

This forward-thinking approach serves our clients well. The networks we build today can accommodate the bandwidth demands of tomorrow. The documentation we provide today makes maintenance and upgrades easier years down the road. The relationships we build today create partnerships that last decades.

The Human Element in High-Tech Work

It's easy to get lost in the technical details of fiber optics, wireless infrastructure, and network engineering. But at the end of the day, our work is about connecting people. Every network we build enables communication, education, healthcare, and commerce. Every splice we complete helps someone access information, connect with loved ones, or run their business.

We never lose sight of that human element. When we respond to an emergency fiber cut, we're not just fixing cable. We're restoring communication for schools, hospitals, and businesses that depend on connectivity. When we design a campus network, we're not just routing fiber. We're enabling education and research that will shape future generations.

Our team understands this. They see the impact of their work beyond the technical specifications. That understanding creates a sense of purpose that goes deeper than a paycheck. It's why our retention rates are strong and why our employees speak positively about working here.

What Next Mile Means for Our Future

As we look ahead, the principles that have guided us for more than 20 years remain constant. We'll continue to prioritize quality over speed, relationships over transactions, and long-term thinking over short-term gains.

The telecommunications industry continues to evolve. New technologies emerge. The client needs change. Regulatory requirements shift. But our core commitment stays the same: to be the company that clients trust, that employees are proud to work for, and that sets the standard for what Next Mile Technology really means.

For us, Next Mile Technology isn't about being the biggest or the fastest. It's about being the best at what we do, treating people right, and building infrastructure that lasts. It's about understanding that every project we complete today creates the foundation for what comes next.

That's what Next Mile Technology means to us. It's a commitment to excellence, a dedication to our people, and a promise that we'll always be thinking one step ahead, planning for the next mile, and building networks that connect communities for generations to come.

Learn more about our approach and values.