S. David Rycyna III, CEO. Matthew J. Mowry
Cirrus Systems, an assembler of high-resolution outdoor screens used for marketing, relocated from Maine to NH this past summer to find the workers it needs.
The move seems to be working for the company. Cirrus Systems leased 32,000 square feet in Portsmouth in June and added 20 positions to its workforce. Now at 43 employees, Cirrus is planning to add yet another 10 jobs this year. Available positions include manufacturing technicians, software developers and customer support representatives, says CEO S. David Rycyna III.
The move may seem counterintuitive given NH’s low unemployment rate. However, Rycyna says the talent crunch is even worse in Maine but because of Portsmouth’s ecosystem of electronics companies, he can now “attract the young talent” he needs.
Cirrus employees in the manufacturing facility. Photo by Matthew J. Mowry.
After searching for industrial space in Saco, he met Mike Bergeron of the NH Bureau of Economic Advancement who helped him secure space and financing. “I almost gave up. I didn’t think I could find a place in New Hampshire. [Bergeron] was all over it. He was really helpful,” Rycyna says. A welcome call from Gov. Chris Sununu further encouraged him to expand to the Granite State. (He maintains a satellite office in Maine.)
Revenue for Cirrus Systems has grown about 40% annually and the company made the Inc. 5000 list several times. Rycyna says automation keeps the company competitive.
The company’s outdoor screens are usually six feet by eight feet and use 6,000 LED lights. Rycyna says 4,000 of its screens have been installed nationwide.
Cirrus employees in the manufacturing facility. Photo by Matthew J. Mowry.
A new offering includes a camera that records vehicle and foot traffic and provides analytics on how many drivers see a particular message. “My vision is be the go-to on-premises brick and mortar marketing solution for businesses,” he says.
Rycyna has bootstrapped the company from the beginning, but is looking for investors. “It’s time to accelerate. We’ll be raising funds soon.”
For more information, visit cirrusled.com.
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