Things are changing at RB Control Systems.
In preparation for a planned growth phase, the North Versailles, Pa.-based provider of retail point-of-sale software for the pool, spa, home and hearth industries has named company co-founder Rick Brunori as CEO.
Changes also will include accelerated product development, staff additions and the relocation of company offices.
The other founder, Corinne Kraft, sold her shares of RB Control Systems, but is remaining as an industry adviser. Now she is turning her attention full time to Valley Pool & Spa, a five-store retail operation, also based in North Versailles.
“The pool industry is my passion,” said Kraft, president of Valley Pool & Spa. She said she will be busy with her retail business, which also has undergone expansion, opening a fourth store in September 2014 and a fifth in March 2015.
As for RB Control Systems, Brunori said he has a new partner, who is remaining anonymous. This individual bought into the company to help accelerate its product development, he added.
“The partner ... is involved in tech companies and will lend his expertise to [our company], so we can take our software to the next level,” he said.
In addition to fueling technological innovation, Brunori said, this new partner is expected to help the company improve efficiencies, release new products more quickly and integrate with more vendors. The firm expects to roll out new offerings in the months ahead.
RB Control Systems, founded in 2003, also is moving to Monroeville, Pa., 12 miles from Pittsburgh. "Currently, we’re attached to my previous partner’s pool store, in two different buildings on two floors,” Brunori said. “At the new location, we’ll be in one building on the same floor.”
There also will be personnel changes, with the addition of three programmers, two more support staffers and an office worker, bringing the total employee roster to 12.
All of the changes are a natural development, Kraft said. “Everything unfolded as it should. It was the right thing to do,” she added. “It’s a good time for me to go out. I’m not a technical person.”
She said the combination of Brunori, who’s also a software developer, with an investor who’s very knowledgeable in technology means the 550 dealers currently using RB Control Systems will get even better software.
Assessing the changes, Kraft said, “It’s really a win-win situation.”
