COM DEV

From The Waterloo Way Wiki

Com Dev, located in Cambridge, Ontario, is is the largest Canadian-based designer and manufacturer of space hardware subsystems. is Canada's largest exporter of equipment for communications satellites. Founded in 1972 by Valentine O'Donovan Com Dev's current CEO is John Keating.

Business Solutions

Com Dev manufactures advanced products and subsystems that are sold to major satellite contractors for use in communications, space science, remote sensing and military satellites. The Company has been in business for 30 years and currently has 178 patents granted or pending. Com Dev completed its initial public offering in December, 1996 and shares in COM DEV trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CDV.

The company operates facilities and offices in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and China, employing approximately 750 people. More than 150 satellites in orbit use COM DEV equipment and the company has supplied payload subsystems to 67 international space programs. Eighty per cent of all commercial communications satellites ever launched have had Com Dev technology on board. The company also supplies scientific instruments and subsystems that play a crucial role in monitoring changes to the Earth's environment and exploration of the solar system.

Com Dev designs and manufactures space-qualified microwave, optical and battery subsystems for communications and science satellites. Specific products range from individual switches, multiplexers and surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices to complete scientific instruments and intersatellite links.

Com Dev is registered to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and conforms to the OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management System. Through these systems COM DEV commits to being a responsible member of the community by implementing continual improvement programs. For example, a recent program involved the installation of a wastewater treatment system that incorporates new technological control measures in order to ensure water released to the Municipality is within Bylaw parameters.

Com Dev's key clients include Alcatel, Boeing, EMS, Harris, Lockheed, Canadian Space Agency, NASA, European Space Agency, Canada DND, US Department of Defense, UK Ministry of Defence.

Community Involvement

Com Dev works with local high schools to benefit students and help foster talent. Com Dev supplies a scholarship award to several students at Preston High School in their graduating year; hosts job shadowing programs; provides co-operative education opportunities and offers company tours. Com Dev also helps university students in the engineering fields with opportunities for on-the-job learning, hiring several co-op students and interns every term from the University of Waterloo and Conestoga College.

Com Dev supports a variety of athletic teams and sporting endeavors. In 2003, Com Dev supplied the gymnasts and coaches with the Cambridge Kips with funding. In addition, the following hockey teams were sponsored: Cambridge Hawks AAA Team, Ayr Minor Hockey and the Com Dev hockey team. Com Dev also supports summer sports such as employee baseball teams and various youth soccer clubs in Cambridge. Our employees are both coaches and athletes on a variety of teams.

Philanthropy

Com Dev is active in the following organizations:

• 1 Big Brothers/Sisters
• The United Way
• The Cambridge Kips
• Zonta
• National Service Dogs
• Cambridge Air Cadets
• Scouts Canada
• Cambridge Memorial Hospital

Com Dev is the lead corporate sponsor of the Canadian Foundation for the International Space University (CFISU) and annually sponsors the attendance of a student for the summer program of the International Space University.

Fundraisers held throughout the year have benefited community organizations such as The United Way and the Food Bank’s Back Pack Drive in which employee contributions were matched dollar-for-dollar by Com Dev.

Com Dev has been active in supporting United Way activities for the past 20 years. In recent years it has increased its support by encouraging employee volunteer involvement and participating in a number of employee fund raising events. Com Dev's Vice-President of Human Resources is a member of the Board of Directors while our Vice-President of R&D is a member of the Cabinet of the Cambridge & North Dumfries Branch, and holds the position of Chair. Approximately 6 of Com Dev employees are Account Executives supporting The Chair in his role. Each year Com Dev is active in raising funds to support the United Way, matching dollar for dollar funds raised by employees. During its 2003 fund raising campaign, Com Dev's employee contributions per capita have increased from 37% to 98%, again with Com Dev matching contributions, dollar for dollar.

Com Dev has become a strong supporter of the Blood Donor Program over the past year and holds mini blood donor clinics throughout the year.

Com Dev also participates in the “Think Green Fundraising Program”. The company encourages employees to bring used printer cartridges from home and sells the cartridges along with used company cartridges to “Think Green”. Revenue gained by Com Dev though this program is donated to the United Way.