Commercial Integrator + Security Sales October 2024 - 29

human, and everyone faces the day the
same way: one step at a time.
Leveraging this perspective, Felix
conveyed to Lionel a sense of calm and
determination that was undeniably
convincing. Hanging up the phone, he felt
a newfound confidence, and he was ready
to face whatever might lie ahead, certain
that everything would be fine.
Everything Turned Out
And everything did, in fact, turn out fine
- if not better and stronger than before.
Notably, Commercial Integrator awarded
FMS the prestigious title of Integrator
of the Year in 2023. In 2021, Felix was
inducted as one of Commercial Integrator's
40 Influencers Under 40, Class of
2021. Her ingenious approach to finance
and leadership has taken her from
programming roles at FMS to executive
management. She has made meaningful
contributions to revenue growth and
profitability increases for the company,
while offering competitive benefits and
compensation for employees. FMS has
grown steadily, going from an idea that
Lionel Felix had had almost 10 years ago
to being a $10 million business today.
At the start of this year, he made a bold
but thoughtful decision - to step down
as CEO. Now, Lionel Felix serves as CRO.
In this new capacity, he concentrates
on advancing business development by
identifying revenue streams and crafting
effective strategies to capture recurring
revenue.
" I'm like the Kool-Aid man, " Lionel Felix
says. " I go through walls. But I realized
that what got [FMS] here doesn't take us to
the next level. To achieve quality growth,
we need a lot more strategy and far more
established policies and procedures. It
takes that kind of leadership for a company
to be effective and profitable long
term. "
Lindsey Rima Felix's deep understanding
of the company, combined with
her ability to navigate uncertainty with
confidence and foresight, positions her as
the quintessential leader for FMS. With a
proactive and analytical mindset, she is
poised to set the wheels in motion, ready
to confront and conquer the challenges
Felix is excited not only about expanding recurring revenue but also about utilizing
technology advancements to enhance service offerings in the AV industry.
that lie ahead, solidifying her as the perfect
choice to steer FMS into the future.
Managing the Business
" When you succeed, it's easy to assume
that success was somehow predestined.
It absolutely wasn't, " Felix says. In the
company's infancy, she adds, " We were
working our tails off. We were doing
great work. We had plenty of projects
and happy clients, However, we weren't
making very much money. We assumed
that, if we're doing good work, and we're
busy, we must be great at business. " But,
Felix says, " We weren't good at running a
business just yet. "
FMS was fortunate to have a team
that was highly skilled and dedicated. Its
leaders learned that managing a business
demands a different skill set. " We were a
little fast and loose on the finance side, "
Felix says, reflecting on the company's
early days.
A few weeks prior to the unexpected
departure of FMS' first bookkeeper, Felix
attended the Entrepreneurs' Organization
October 2024 | Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration
29
GENEVIEVE DANIELL
Commercial Integrator + Security Sales October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Integrator + Security Sales October 2024
