Founder’s Journey
Tom Mirante and Dominick Calciano, seasoned hospitality industry veterans shared a vision to redefine how guest room controls were delivered. Working in various roles within the industry, they frequently encountered a recurring issue: the complexity of integrating multiple room technologies to enhance energy savings, sustainability, and the overall guest experience.
Discovery & Planning
Identifying the Problem: Integration Challenges
Tom and Dominick observed that while technological advancements had significantly improved individual aspects of room controls—like lighting, climate, and entertainment—there was a glaring gap in how the various manufacturers of these systems communicated and operated together. This lack of integration led to inefficiencies and a fragmented experience for owners and guests, often leaving hotel staff struggling to manage the disparate technology systems effectively.
Furthermore, architects, designers, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) firms faced significant difficulties when specifying these systems. The complexity of coordinating different technologies often resulted in design inconsistencies and installation challenges, adding to the overall inefficiency and delivery of these systems.
The Birth of Smartcon
Their insight into this problem sparked the idea for Smartcon. They envisioned a company that could serve as the crucial, product-agnostic integrator for these complex room technologies, seamlessly coordinating various systems to deliver superior energy efficiency, improved sustainability, and an enhanced guest experience. This vision was not just about fixing a technical issue but revolutionizing how hotels operated, providing a cohesive, sophisticated, purpose-built environment that could adapt to brand standards, operational needs, new technologies, and guest preferences.
“SmartCon offers free consulting to educate stakeholders on sustainability, technology, and brand standards, ensuring efficient solutions with reduced risk.”
To help deliver this vision, Smartcon provided free design and consulting services to architects, designers, asset managers, developers, owners, MEPs, and operators. These free consulting services aimed to educate stakeholders on changing brand standards, brand sustainability goals, ESG reporting, local energy codes, technology advancements, guest preferences, IoT, cloud technologies, and more. This commitment to education and support ensured that all parties were well informed and could implement the most efficient and effective solutions while reducing the risk for the owners.
Tom and Dominick pooled their resources and leveraged their industry connections to build a team of experts who shared their passion for innovation. They focused on creating a solution that could integrate multiple technologies—heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and entertainment—into a single, intuitive interface. This platform allowed hotel management to control and optimize room conditions in real-time, leading to significant energy savings and a more comfortable, personalized experience for guests.
Building a Foundation for Success
Their breakthrough came as they collaborated with various technology partners to bring together the best of each system, ensuring that their solution was robust and cutting-edge. By combining their deep industry knowledge with brand standards, sustainability goals, and the latest technological advancements, they delivered a solution that simplified room control management and provided valuable data insights to enhance operations further.
Smartcon quickly gained traction in the market. Hotels that adopted Smartcon’s innovative approach reported substantial improvements in energy efficiency, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction. As word spread, the company grew rapidly, attracting a diverse clientele ranging from boutique hotels to large international chains.
Today, Smartcon stands at the forefront of hospitality technology, a testament to Tom and Dominick’s vision and passion. Connecting with passionate designers and environmental visionaries has been a cornerstone of Smartcon’s success. By collaborating with experts committed to sustainable practices and creativity, Smartcon has crafted solutions that are both technologically advanced and environmentally responsible, maintaining a balance between functionality and environmental stewardship.
Leadership Team
Thomas Mirante
Principal & Co-Founder
Thomas Mirante, a principal at Smartcon, brings a wealth of hospitality industry experience, notably from his tenure at Inncom. At Smartcon, he concentrates on forging strategic partnerships and optimizing sales strategies, leveraging his industry insights to support the company’s growth and commitment to cutting-edge energy solutions for hospitality and beyond.
Dominick Calciano
Principal & Co-Founder
Dominick Calciano is a principal at Smartcon, bringing a robust background in construction and engineering to the company. He focuses on supporting project operations and applications support, ensuring efficient and reliable deployment of Smartcon’s solutions. With extensive experience managing complex projects, Dominick leverages his technical expertise to streamline operations and bolster the company’s commitment to high-quality service and innovation.
William Brown
General Manager
William Brown is the General Manager of Smartcon, leveraging over two decades of leadership experience in industrial controls, operations, business development, and strategic growth. Since joining Smartcon in 2019, William has been instrumental in advancing Smartcon’s mission of delivering cutting-edge smart energy and sustainability solutions. William has been a driving force behind Smartcon’s growth and innovation. He led the launch of the SmartCare program, transforming how Smartcon delivers services and ensuring our clients get the most out of our smart energy and sustainability solutions.
Steve De Bara
CFO
Steve De Bara serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Smartcon, bringing over 30 years of financial leadership and expertise in accounting, compliance, and strategic financial planning. Since joining Smartcon in July 2023, Steve has played a key role in optimizing financial operations and ensuring the company’s strong fiscal health, supporting its mission to deliver smart energy solutions. Prior to Smartcon, Steve held several senior financial positions, including CFO roles at Neuro Building Systems where he was instrumental in driving operational efficiencies and overseeing financial strategy in the building technology sector.
