Corporate Offices in Lubbock, Texas

Nothing ventured noting gained
Gulf War veteran finds niche in telecommunications world

Eric Burch is a long way from Denton and years removed from the Gulf War, but that didn't stop the Lubbock businessman from changing careers and entering a world he knew little about.

"I tell people to call me at 3 a.m. I'll get out there in my bathrobe and flip-flops if that's what it takes to make them happy," said Burch, general manager and owner Venture Communications in Lubbock.

Venture - an interconnect company engaged in the installation and networking of business-owned phone systems - is a company you don't notice in the ever-changing world of telecommunications.

"But that's the way we like it. We want to be under the radar screen," said Burch, who has acquired nine related businesses since he decided to get into the interconnecting world eight years ago.

Venture's name may not be widely known, he said, but that's because much of what it does is behind the scenes.

"We don't sell satellite dishes or provide long-distance service. We're a business-to-business company," he said, adding Venture also subcontracts for some of the larger phone companies.

Burch said Venture is an interconnect company - that is a company that sells, installs and maintains business telephone systems, including voice-over-Internet protocol products that require network cabling and fiber optic installation.

Venture operates offices in Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene and Denton.

"My philosophy has always been (to) give more than what you take out of something. That's where I think a lot of businesses go wrong," he said.