The Evolution Of KELCOM

KELCOM started in 1969 when Wilson Kell was transferred from Toronto to Windsor to start KELL Communications as a service branch of the Marconi Radio Company. Originally KELCOM focused on servicing tube-type marine radios and radar units installed on commercial shipping freighters within the Windsor area. The original work could cause employees to take unexpected trips to other ports as they would access freighters on the go. When a freighter needed service you got to go on the mail boat and while the freighter was still moving, scale the rope ladder to the top. When and where you got off depended on your troubleshooting skills. If you were slow to solve the problem you might be getting off in Sarnia or Port Colbourne and a very long cab ride would take you home.

In 1970, Kell hired his first employee, Vince Otcenasek. Shortly after, Kell decided to make changes and pass the company to Vince Otcenasek with the request that he change the name from KELL to something else. Vince changed its name multiple times until it finally became KELCOM.
KELCOM started offering ‘beepers’ in the 70s, which later became the pager division. They then expanded into business phones in the 80s. KELCOM soon started a security alarm division. That business was sold to Guardian Alarm in 1996 and KELCOM restarted the business as Security ONE.
KELCOM expanded to include a copier division, led by Len Colucci who started with the company in 1987 and has now implemented 3D Printing.

Over time KELCOM had expanded to include a Wireless division which was later sold to Smart Cell Wireless, an Answering Call Center division which has been purchased by Extend Communications.

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