No. 31 - Rochester Top 100
PAETEC Communications, Inc.
About PAETEC Communications, Inc.: Integrated communications provider
Rank on Top 100: 31
Top Executive: Mr. Arunas A. Chesonis, chairman and CEO
Employees: 1280
Website: www.paetec.com
We asked Mr. Arunas A. Chesonis, chairman and CEO, to talk about his business.
Question: Who are some of your competitors?
Chesonis: Our major competitors are the national providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, along with other competitive carriers, such as Time Warner Telecom and XO. We also compete in many of our markets with regional providers, such as Frontier in Rochester.
Question: What differentiates PAETEC from its competitors?
Chesonis: With many companies in our industry offering similar services, we have found what differentiates PAETEC is our people and the level and depth of service we provide. For example, when someone calls in to our customer service department they will always speak with a live person, not be forced to navigate their way through an IVR. Ultimately, our people are our biggest asset and our best selling point.
Question: How has your company been able to grow to achieve its ranking on the Top 100?
Chesonis: We have been fortunate to have a good balance of organic growth while also making a few strategic acquisitions.
Question: What would you like to see happen in our region, and in our state, to help businesses thrive?
Chesonis: We need to do a better job of keeping skilled workers in the region, particularly younger workers who don't see a future in the greater Rochester region. Additionally, we need to enact tax reforms to make it easier for companies to not only compete, but to succeed in New York State.
Question: What trends are you seeing among your customers in terms of preferences?
Chesonis: One thing that we hear time and time again is that customers want to work with a company that will listen and consult. That's why we don't offer cookie-cutter solutions; instead, we work with each customer to design the solution that's best for their business.
Question: What are the biggest opportunities you see ahead, as well as the biggest challenges?
Chesonis: One of the biggest opportunities we see is to educate our existing customers on everything we offer and provide them with additional services. We also look to expand into new markets where and when we believe it makes good business sense. The biggest challenge is to keep alive the culture that differentiates PAETEC as the company continues to grow.