When Azentek President and CEO Johnny Cooper talks about his company’s products you can hear the excitement in his voice. After all, there is no denying: they are pretty sweet.
“We offer total functionality,” says Cooper. “It is an exciting time at Azentek.”
He is showing off a dash computer, the Azentek Atlas. It is something he doesn’t need to do. The in-vehicle PC can show itself off.
Cooper pushes a button, and the computer reads a stored document about itself, “It allows you to have your e-mail read to you over your car speakers.”
Atlas also has complete internet access, GPS, and enough memory space to store numerous DVDs, music, and more.
The company’s other big product out now is the Smart Mirror. It is a rearview mirror with GPS and a back up camera.
About a year ago Azentek thought it had a deal providing these products for General Motors' vehicles. It worked with state and local leaders, then came up with a plan to expand.
The crisis in the auto industry put a stop to that GM contract. Several local dealers, including Patsy Lou Williamson’s Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet dealerships are offering the computers as an add-on, but the products are not being sold at dealers across the country.
Still, Cooper says the expansion in Genesee County, bringing 75 jobs eventually will happen. He is working out the final details on financing. The credit crunch made that more difficult and time consuming than expected. He expects to begin increasing his workforce in this year's fourth quarter.
Cooper says his company will succeed by taking on the global market, “We signed up distributors in Finland today. That is a great thing. I just got back from a trip to Asia. We are doing all we can to grow in the global market.”
He says what is important, is not keeping the timeline, but surviving. He is committed to keeping a promise to grow and bring jobs to his home community in Genesee County.
“We'll be a little slower on our ramp to get there, but we will be adding jobs."