Phil Whisenhunt

Forming Own Company Results in Dream Come True

Phil Whisenhunt was overseeing the construction of Alltel Mobile’s wireless network in September 1995 when he chose to do a risky thing.

He decided to go into business for himself after three years of watching the early stages of the communication and information revolution.

“That’s when a light went off, and I saw an opportunity,” he said. “That’s what gave me the guts to leave a very secure job.”

Whisenhunt formed Communication Management Specialists to deliver outsourcing services that Alltel and other telecommunications companies were looking for.

CMS designs and builds new communications networks and provides maintenance and support for existing communications networks.

The company’s revenue track record is a sight to behold: $22,500 in 1995, $2.3 million in 1996, $9.3 million in 1997, $13 million in 1998, more than $21 million in 1999, and more than $65 million in 2000.

“We’ve been able to do this solely by cash-flowing the business and not getting into debt,” Whisenhunt said.

The company and its related entities employ 140, including 50 in Atlanta. Work for Alltel, Sprint, Southwestern Bell and others has taken CMS to 26 states and Puerto Rico.

“Our potential market is pretty huge, and that has a lot of people excited,” Whisenhunt said. “We’ve literally been pursued by 20 companies.”

CMS recently was purchased for an undisclosed sum by Scientech Inc. of Idaho Falls, Ida. Whisenhunt will remain at the helm of CMS, and few changes are expected.

“This will take us onto the next level to be a national company, and there’s an IPO planned for later this year, possibly the third quarter, if the markets are favorable,” Whisenhunt said.

A hip injury cut short his days as a Razorback football player and led to Whisenhunt’s attending Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he graduated with a civil engineering degree in 1984. His resume includes engineering work at Straton & Co., a general contracting company in Atlanta; sales engineer at Afco Steel in Little Rock; and project manager at Vratsinas Construction Co.

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