ABOUT US

Ray Perron & Company was founded in 1936 by Ray Perron as a one-man organization with three lines, Bogan amplifiers, Cannon connectors, and Cinch-Jones barrier strips. While the company was getting on it's feet, Ray worked out of the basement of his home in order to keep expenses low.

After about five years and the onset of World War II, the business had grown to a level that supported a small office in Taunton, MA and a secretary. The early success was largely caused by the war induced boom in the New England military electronics market. The economic momentum generated by the war and the fast growing defense industry lasted into the late 1950's and was the corner stone of the company's early and rapid growth for the first 25 years.

In 1957, Ray added a new line of power supplies to his list of principals and this was the beginning of a relationship that has lasted for over forty years. The line of power supplies was Kepco and it has been one of the companies top lines year after year. By this time, the company had opened two sales offices in Connecticut, was up to a staff of 10 people and Ray was only a few years from the next generation of Perron's joining the firm.

In 1962, Ray's son Dean joined the organization after completing college in Colorado and four years in the U.S. Navy. Dean worked as a distributor specialist for seven years until he was appointed General Manager in 1969. Dean maintained his distribution role until 1975 when he became President, a position he would hold for over 22 years. The early 1960's marked the time that Ray Perron & Company began selling a new technology with a very promising future, Semiconductors, to a new, fast growing market place, computers. During the late 1960's and 1970's, the computer industry quickly rivaled defense for the top electronics market in New England.

The 1980's was a decade of changes in the company and a major economic recession in the New England market place. One change came in 1980 when the company moved into a new, modern office building in Needham, MA, where it is located today. The line card also changed for the better with the addition EAO Switch, which has become one of our most successful line and one of our longest relationships. The biggest change came in 1988, when, after a career which lasted over 50 years in the electronics industry, Ray Perron retired at the age of 78. By this time the company had grown from a small, one man firm with three lines to a twelve person firm with twelve lines. Unfortunately, the mid to late 1980's saw the onset of an economic recession that brought the New England electronics market to it's knees. The recession decimated the computer and defense industries in the area and was the end of many rep firms. Although the recession took it's toll, through hard work, dedication, and a diversified line card, Dean kept the company healthy and well positioned for when the economy turned for the better.

In 1990 the conclusion of the first chapter of Ray Perron & Company history with the passing of Ray in September at the age of 80. Although this was a sad moment in the history of the firm, a new beginning was not far away. In 1991, Dean's son and Ray's grandson, Steve joined the firm in outside sales and marked the entry of the third generation of Perron's into the company. In 1994, Dean's daughter Marcia also joined the family business as the distribution specialist.

The 1990's not only brought change to the company, but a renewed economy back to New England. Fueled by the emergence of the local area network, the telecommunications market boomed in the early 1990's and brought a swift end of the recession that had gripped the New England economy in the late 1980's. Through most of the 1990's, the company enjoyed double digit growth and expanded both the line card and the staff.

1999 marked the end of the second chapter in Ray Perron & Company history with the retirement of Dean after 38 years in the New England Electronics market.

In the new Millennium, Dean and his wife Fran now spend their time between Cape Cod, MA and Tuscon, AZ, but it's not unusual to see him in the office from time to time. Marcia has moved from distribution to inside sales and office manager, while Steve is the firm's President. The company remains dedicated to the tried and true principals of success, established by Ray and improved on by Dean, of exceptional customer service and communications.

Home | About Us | Our Strategy
Line Card | Distributors | Links | Contact