by Margaret Jackson
Originally published February 1-7. 2002 in the St. Louis Business Journal

After the economic downturn forced Sonacom to lay off six employees in November, the company has landed a number of new contracts.

During the last month, the IT consulting and integration form has closed in the institutional and education markets worth more than $2 million. The new contracts will allow the company to take on new workers over the next few months.

The contracts include work for the Kirkwood Early Childhood Center, Pattonville High School, Nance School, the Mehlville School District and St. Louis Community College.

Sonacom also is working with J.S. Alberici Co. on the new St. Louis College of Pharmacy, a $40 million campus update.
The company has focused more on the education market because it is less vulnerable to fluctuations in economy, Sonacom President Mike McNeil said.

Despite the new contracts, the two time Fast 50 winner is unlikely to see its revenue increase this year. The company probably will close out 2001 with revenue slightly less than the $7.2 million it recorded in 2000, McNeil said.

“For 2002, we’re being conservative and saying that we’ll just flat,” he said.