BCD Founder and Chief Executive Officer - Jeff Burgess retires post a 44-year IT industry career

BCD Founder and Chief Executive Officer - Jeff Burgess has officially announced his retirement.

Burgess, who turned 66 on July 25, 2023, began his computer career back in 1979 after landing a warehouse job at Tek-Aids Industries, an IT computer distributor that carried brands such as Altos, Wyse, and Okidata. Within months, he was moved to the sales desk, and within six years was named Vice President of Sales.  

Extensive industry experience

After leaving the company years later, he went to Elek-Tek, the Chicago mega-retailer, helping kickstart their corporate sales division. Burgess was responsible for Elek-Tek’s gaining a single-tier distribution agreement with Unisys Corporation, to sell their Goldstar OEM personal computers directly to Unisys’ mainframe customers. 

After Elek-Tek, Burgess moved to Hartford Computer Group (Inverness, IL) and, worked closely with IBM, directing the team helping to land the $200 million State Farm account for Hartford, along with multi-million-dollar accounts with General Electric and many of the GE Capital companies. 

Started Burgess Computer Decisions, Inc.

Burgess also began building high-availability Hewlett Packard servers for his IT customers

After twenty years of working for others, Burgess opened Burgess Computer Decisions, Inc. (BCD) in 1999 as an IT Value Added Distributor, working directly with Ingram Micro and Tech Data as inventory providers, blind-shipping goods directly to his customers.

Burgess also began building high-availability Hewlett Packard servers for his IT customers, among those the same GE Capital companies to whom he had worked closely in the past. In 2008, he recognised the opportunity for a customised IT server builder in the still-new video surveillance market and took the company along that path.

Video surveillance storage systems

Burgess leaves BCD as the worldwide pioneer in purpose-built video surveillance storage systems with over 175,000 recorders of all shapes and sizes capturing video in 91 countries and countless vertical markets. 

And is amongst the most secure facilities globally, along with the coolest brands in the world. Chances are that users will pass a BCD-protected facility a couple of times a day. 

Accolades and awards

BCD captured many industry awards and recognition during Burgess’ tenure, being named among Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000 companies five times.

BCD also received Computer Reseller News’  Solution Provider 500 six times, including CRN’s  Fast Growth 150 three consecutive years, Crain’s Chicago Business Largest Privately Held Companies four times, and what Burgess was most proud of, being named a combined ten times from Chicago’s Best & Brightest Companies, Best & Brightest Companies in the Nation, and Best Places to Work in Illinois. 

Philanthropy

Philanthropy was an important part of Burgess’ tenure, offering employment to interns

Philanthropy was an important part of Burgess’ tenure, offering employment to interns who became future employees from College Bound Opportunities (CBO), and supporting such causes as Folds of Honour, Wings (domestic violence), Orphans of the Storm (pet shelter), Girl Scouts, and college scholarships for local community high school seniors, as well as in-house college reimbursement programs for all employees.   

“It’s been a great run, especially considering where I was in my life before getting that warehouse job forty-three years ago," stated Jeff Burgess.

Burgess comments

He adds, "What I find most rewarding is that we were able to give so many people an opportunity, as was given to me all those decades ago. And especially considering my two sons not only work here but have earned key positions here. Plus, my daughter worked here in past summers as well.” 

Jeff Burgess continues, “I leave having tremendous respect for all those team members committed to our purpose, and knowing we all mutually made a positive difference in people’s lives, both inside and outside the organisation."

In addition to travelling and playing golf with his wife Joanne, Burgess plans to spend his time with their family, their dogs, and their grand dogs.