About Us

Jim Canova founded Tech Electronics in 1963 after attending University of Missouri – Rolla and Kansas City State University for Electrical Engineering. Jim continued his education by attending Washington University for Finance and Marketing.

As the President of Tech Electronics, Canova was very active in the St. Louis business community; he was a member of the St. Louis Engineers Club, American Management Presidents Association, St. Louis President’s Association and St. Louis Rotary Club.

Jim Canova served as President of Tech Electronics until 2001 and is currently the Chairman of the Board and manages the day-to-day needs of the facilities. He also devotes his time to local charities.

Kurt Canova holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Business Management from the University of Dayton. He entered into the family business in 1990 as a technician and has since held multiple positions including Project Manager, Service Manager and Director of Operations and Engineering.

During his career, Kurt has taken an active role in the fire and life safety community of Missouri. He was a key leader in the development of the Missouri Burglar and Fire Alarm Association Unilateral Apprenticeship Training Center and is the current Chairman of the Board and President. He also served as the President of the Alarm Association of Greater St. Louis from 2006-2008.

Kurt was named President of Tech Electronics in 2001 and in 2023 moved to the Executive Chairman position.

Laura Wasson, serving as the Executive Director of Business Development and one of the owners at Tech Electronics, has been an integral part of the family-owned business since 1987 when she initially joined as the Voice Systems Manager. In her current capacity, Laura spearheads the strategy and sales teams within the Direct and Service Channels, overseeing operations across the company’s service territories. As a crucial figure in the ownership, she actively contributes to the company’s growth and sustainability strategy by continually innovating solution offerings to keep Tech Electronics at the forefront of technology.

In addition to her role at Tech Electronics, Laura is the founder and president of Sequre, a Cloud Company and Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) specializing in SIP services, established in 2018. Sequre provides a range of cloud-based solutions to resellers nationwide.

Beyond her professional engagements, Laura is deeply committed to community involvement. She mentors young adults to help them find meaningful career paths and serves as the founder and driving force behind the nonprofit Imagine with a Mission. This organization is dedicated to providing support, mentoring, and career opportunities for youth in need, reflecting Laura’s commitment to making a positive impact both professionally and socially.

Manish was appointed President and CEO of Tech Electronics in 2023. Prior to joining the company, he sat on the Tech Electronics Advisory Board, providing guidance to the leadership team during times of technological and geographical expansion. As the President and CEO, Manish is responsible for the development and execution of the company strategy and its growth.

Manish brings with him a wealth of experience in the technology industry. Before coming to Tech, Manish was President and CEO of Momentus (formerly called Ungerboeck) from 2005 to 2022. During his tenure he drove significant transformation of the product and offerings that brought new capabilities and innovation. Prior to his career at Momentus, Manish was President of Quilogy, an award winning national Microsoft systems integrator.

In addition to his extensive background and many accomplishments, Manish has a masters in Electrical engineering and a MBA from Olin School Of Business. He lives in St. Louis with his wife and 2 boys.

Jim joined Tech Electronics in April 2023 as the Chief Commercial Officer to oversee the company's overall go-to-market efforts including sales, marketing and customer related strategies and operations.

Jim has extensive experience in the technology industry and a proven track record of leading sales, marketing and customer success strategies that result in business growth. Most recently, Jim was the Chief Customer Officer for Ungerboeck (now Momentus), an industry-leading event and venue management SaaS provider. During his time there, he was credited with delivering record top-line bookings and improving customer satisfaction, growth and retention.

Sean Devereaux joined the Tech Electronics team in 2008 as the Employee Development Specialist in the company’s Organizational Development Department. After two years, Devereaux was promoted to his current position as the Director of Managed Systems.
Sean is responsible for providing general direction and leadership for the service channel including; service sales, service field operations, customer service and technical help desk.

Sean is active in many industries and community organizations. He is the current Treasurer of the Alarm Association of Greater St. Louis and is a member of the Metropolitan Fire Marshals Association as well as the program manager for Tech Electronics’ Charity Circuit.

Tom joined Tech Electronics in 2021 as the Chief Financial Officer to oversee the company's financial strategy. Tom has an extensive background with over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting, having spent time at Deloitte & Touche and Emerson. He received his BS and Masters in Accountancy from the University of Missouri and holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Tom serves on the Financial Leadership Council of the National Systems Contractors Association, the Finance Committee of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri & Kansas and as a Director for the Evans Scholarship Foundation.

Stephanie Maniaci Michaels became a member of the Tech Electronics team in 2004, assuming the role of Marketing Coordinator. She joined shortly after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Marketing and a Minor in Psychology from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Throughout her time at Tech Electronics, Stephanie has played a pivotal role in the successful execution of various marketing initiatives. Her contributions have been instrumental in elevating the prominence of marketing within the company's overall business strategy. Stephanie's efforts have led to the expansion and enhancement of the department, shaping it into its current form.

Stephanie was appointed as the Director of Marketing in 2017. In her capacity as Director of Marketing, Stephanie assumes responsibility for formulating and executing comprehensive marketing and communication strategies across all offices and sales channels. Her leadership continues to drive Tech Electronics' marketing endeavors forward.

John Maniaci joined the Tech Electronics team in 1968 as a System Apprentice. Throughout the years he has held many positions including, technician, electrical contractor sales account manager and the Director of Construction.
In 1980, John was named Corporate Vice President and later became the Executive Vice President where he was responsible for the effective leadership, management and profitable growth for all business channels. In 2018, John took a step back becoming the Senior Executive Advisor. In his current role, John continues to support the President in the development of the company strategy and objectives as well as consults on the implementation of new workflow management technologies.

Alex is the 3rd generation to enter into the Tech Electronics family business. Since earning his Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2008, he has held many different positions in the company, learning and developing his skills.
Alex joined the leadership team in 2017 and was named the Director of Security and Healthcare Technologies in 2018 and the Director of Managed Systems in 2021. In his current role, Alex is responsible for the strategic growth of the company’s managed system solutions across all offices.

Beatrice Zdrodowski is a seasoned legal professional with a diverse background spanning multiple countries and legal systems. Joining Tech Electronics in 2024, she brings a wealth of knowledge from her work in law firms, companies, and government, and is committed to making a difference through her involvement in non-profit organizations.

Venkatesh joined Tech Electronics in 2023 as the Director of Materials. He is a seasoned professional specializing in problem-solving at the intersection of technology and business processes, with a particular focus on supply chains. Proficient in Lean Six Sigma methodology, Statistics, and Data Science, Venkatesh is dedicated to leveraging these skills to digitize supply chain operations, enhancing efficiency and customer experiences while reducing costs.

With a diverse industry background spanning Paper/Chemicals, Biotech Pharma, Generic Pharma, Consulting, Banking, and FMCG, Venkatesh brings a wealth of experience to the table. His versatility and adaptability have allowed him to excel in various sectors. Moreover, Venkatesh's global exposure, acquired through residency and professional roles in the United States, Singapore, and India, equips him with a culturally attuned approach to problem-solving.

Adam Baer joined Tech Electronics, a family-owned technology services organization headquartered in St. Louis, as the director of IT Services in 2007 and was tasked with spearheading the IT services department of the growing company. In the position, Baer is responsible for fulfilling the technology needs and developing solutions for customers across all of the markets Tech Electronics serves. Baer is also responsible for implementing new offerings such as managed IT services and technology as a service.

He has more than 19 years of experience in the IT services industry and holds Cisco CCDA, Sonicwall CSSA and Aruba Network certifications.

Casey Bennett, the Director of Fire Technologies at Tech Electronics, embodies a journey of dedication and achievement. Joining Tech Electronics in 2011 as a fire alarm inspector, Casey steadily ascended through the organization, serving in roles ranging from technician to project manager and operations manager.

As the Director of Fire Technologies, Casey Bennett leads the charge in advancing Tech Electronics' fire detection technologies. Casey's extensive expertise is underpinned by his NICET IV certification in Fire Alarm Systems, blending practical field experience with profound industry knowledge.

Casey's commitment to innovation and life safety continues to drive Tech Electronics toward a brighter, technologically advanced future in the realm of fire detection and life safety solutions.

Joe joined Tech Electronics in 2017 as the Director of Audio-Visual and Professional Sound Technologies. In his role, Joe is responsible for the strategic growth of technology offerings, including the development of as-a-service offerings for AV and sound solutions.
Joe has over 20 years of experience in the technology and business development fields, specializing in communication, audio-visual and professional sound solutions as well as vendor management and as-a-service development. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Marquette University.

Chris Skinner joined Tech Electronics of Kansas in 2020 as a Solutions Designer. In his short time with Tech Electronics, Chris has excelled in his position, tackling any project that comes his way regardless of office, product line, or timeline.
Along with his dedication, he brings over 12 years of experience in the security technology industry. His experience includes time as a Technician, Certified Systems Engineer, and Project Manager. In addition to his extensive security technology background, Chris is CSEIP Government Access Engineer Certified.

Stephen Cole, a dynamic professional with a passion for operational excellence, began his journey with Tech Electronics in 2019 as an Operations Manager. In just four years, his exceptional leadership and dedication propelled him to the role of Director of Operations.

Stephen's career path is marked by a keen emphasis on achieving success through the dual pillars of collaboration and automation. His passion for leveraging innovative tools such as Smartsheet and Microsoft Teams, and his expertise in deploying automation platforms, have been pivotal in enhancing productivity and efficiency at Tech Electronics. Stephen remains committed to staying at the forefront of industry trends and innovative technologies.

Jeff Rasch joined Tech Electronics in 1996 as a Systems Engineer and was named the Director of Engineering in 2016. As the Director of Engineering, Jeff is responsible for managing the Engineering and CAD department at Tech Electronics. In addition, his team is responsible for providing pre-sales, installation, and service support for all the company's technology solutions. After serving in the US Army during Desert Storm, Jeff received his Bachelor's and Master's in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer, a Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) and is NICET certified in Fire Alarm systems.

Michael Scott began working for Tech Electronics in 1994 as the Corporate IT Manager. He has since been promoted to Director of Corporate IT. Michael is responsible for the direction and evolution of the use of technology within the company, focusing on how to continually improve the ability to provide better services for our customers and employees.
Michael holds numerous industry certifications including, cisco certified network administrator, cisco certified design administrator, red hat certified engineer and Microsoft MCSE.