Mobile One/McTernan Wireless
Industry: Mobile wireless technology
Address: 2601 75th St., Kenosha
Employees: 22
Website: www.mcternanwireless.com
Back in 1993, the McTernan family started selling “bag” and “car” phones to friends and family as a sideline to its computer consulting business. Today, co-owners Brian and Dan McTernan continue to grow the business. But back in 1993, Brian was attending Carthage College and Dan was still in grade school.
“As the size of the phones and price for service shrunk, our clients increased rapidly,” said Brian McTernan, co-owner. “We went from renting a small one-room office with ‘appointment only’ scheduling because I was in college and we rarely had walk-in customers, to owning two buildings and employing dozens of people really quickly.”
Mobile One, located at 2529 75th St. in Kenosha, has more than doubled the size of its retail store and is an exclusive wireless agent for U.S. Cellular. McTernan Wireless, located at 2601 75th St. in Kenosha, provides IT consulting, and audio/visual installation and support, as well as wireless services for other big-name carriers.
The growth of the business is based on two main principles, according to Dan.
“One, we are constantly investigating and training ourselves and our staff on the latest technologies; and two, and more importantly, we are constantly ranked as the best customer retention agency in the market,” he said.
The McTernan brothers were born and raised in Kenosha. The family has been part of the business community for generations.
Mobile One/McTernan Wireless regularly supports educational endeavors in the community and also employs several high school and college students on a part time basis.
“(The students) learn several valuable lessons by working side-by-side with us and our customers in person, on the telephone, online and in their offices,” Brian said.
The two feel confident that growth in the Kenosha market will remain strong.
The company was recently named the preferred provider and installer of audiovisual equipment and services for Amazon’s massive fulfillment center operation in Kenosha.
