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To understand just how fertile the electronics business is,consider the heritage of Ed Meltzer. His parents' TV and radiorepair shop, started in 1959 in Kansas City, today is not only athriving systems integrator but has also given birth to anotherhigh-tech venture, Intelligent Wireless Systems Inc., of whichMeltzer is president and CEO.
The Prairie Village, Kansas, company designs, develops,manufactures and markets proprietary wireless transceivers for theautomation and control industries. For instance, the company'sAutomated Vehicle Locating and Information System (AVLIS), designedand manufactured for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority,provides the transit company with up-to-the-minute informationabout how effectively the fleet is serving transit riders at anygiven moment. "The system saves them money," Meltzersays.
The evolution of the Meltzers' company--from a mom and popenterprise serving a neighborhood to a high-tech company developingproducts with global applications--mirrors the changes in theAmerican business scene at large. Although this change has been forthe better, it has also created fundamental shifts in howbusinesses are financed. While his parents could throw theirsavings into opening a storefront business and, through diligentreinvestment of profits, create a prosperous family enterprise,Meltzer cannot.
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