The Road to Success - The Journey of ITS Traffic Systems

When you think about all the qualities that are important in any freight bill audit and payment partner, things like personalized customer service and trust immediately come to mind. Companies in industries like manufacturing and retail depend on consistency, trust, and reliability in their providers. They also prioritize things like a strong commitment to quality, loyalty, and stability.

These are also qualities that aren't just present in the current iteration of ITS Traffic Systems, but that have been there since the beginning. Although the organization itself may have changed tremendously over the years, its position as a family-run business has remained the same. It is just as committed to its community as it ever was, and it continues to build long-term relationships with partners everywhere. The hardworking team at ITS Traffic systems has spent years offering superior service because it always focuses on the needs of its customers as opposed to short-term profits.

All it takes is one look at the history of the company, and the people who have been there along the way, to see how true that really is.

In the Beginning...

Born in Cleveland, Ohio to Greek immigrant parents, ITS Traffic Systems founder Bob Houlas always had a passion for business. From an early age, he felt a deep connection to not only his surrounding community, but these larger ideals as well.

Bob and his wife Joan founded ITS Traffic Systems in 1962, as one of the many things they shared was the idea of building a company that could thrive for generations. Something that could help the community they loved while also providing for their own family for decades to come.

Even after Bob’s passing, his influence continues to shape the company’s direction, as his values of family, hard work, and commitment to excellence are still at the core of ITS' operations.

A New Generation Takes the Reins

Bob and Joan's son Randy Houlas took over the family business in 2000. Randy was just like his father - a passionate entrepreneur with a track record in a number of distinct industries up to that point, including both the energy sector and technology. In a lot of ways, he seemed destined to one day find himself in this position.

Under Randy’s leadership, ITS expanded and became a trusted provider of freight management solutions. Though he is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of ITS, Randy remains deeply engaged in high-level strategy, ensuring that the company continues to thrive.

It was in 2013 that Randy's daughter, Abbey DeWitt, joined the family business. She helped bring a new strategy and sense of direction to ITS Traffic Systems. Her background in education, complete with a strong dedication to personal and professional growth, made her a great fit to add to what others in her family had already worked so hard to build.

As a strategic advisor, Abbey plays a key role in driving ITS’ goals and vision. Her focus on professional development and collaboration with the leadership team helps ensure the company’s future growth.

Onward and Upward

Flash forward to the modern era, and ITS Traffic Systems continues to grow and evolve. The company's internally developed enterprise system offers an almost unparalleled level of customization to meet the unique needs of each of their customers. They're also SOC Certified, which helps underscore the dedication of each member of the team to maintaining only the highest standards of both security and compliance across the board.

But despite the fact that the world around us has changed enormously and the day-to-day operations of the business have little resemblance to what Bob Houlas founded all those years ago, their collective hard work and dedication is still at the heart of everything.

In the end, a family's name and reputation are on the line when it comes to a family-run business. If a company doesn't stand for what it says it does - if it doesn't hold itself to the standards that it claims to believe in - it will create the type of stigma that can follow members of that family around for generations.

Thankfully, as Robert Houlas showed all the way back in 1962, the reverse is also true. When you show a commitment to exceptional customer service and you put the needs of others at the heart of everything you do, people tend to notice. When you go above and beyond to ensure that every interaction is positive and every solution is tailored to deliver the best possible outcomes, people start to recognize that and a reputation begins to build.

Being a family-run business means you're flexible enough to play to the strengths that make each customer unique, and that you're positioned to tailor your solutions to meet those specific requirements. It means that you develop the expertise needed to handle a wide range of projects.

But more than anything, it's confirmation that you've become so much more than just another service provider. You're a legitimate partner in every sense of the term - and that is precisely what ITS Traffic Systems has tried to become for over half a century.

When you think about everything this family has been able to build in the last six decades, it's truly exciting to think about what the next six have in store. The Houlas family’s story is one of pride and success, and with each generation, ITS Traffic Systems looks forward to continuing that legacy for many years to come.

Learn More

If you'd like to find out more information about the long road that ITS Traffic Systems took to get to this point, or if you'd like to get insight into where it is headed in terms of freight bill auditing and freight invoice management, please don't hesitate to reach out to us today.