From somewhat humble beginnings as the custodian with C&P Telephone in 1963, Al Lauttamus has emerged as one of West Virginia’s most dynamic and successful businessmen. Lauttamus Communications has enjoyed phenomenal growth and success in an industry that demands cutting-edge technical knowledge combined with emerging-technology marketing savvy. To this, Al Lauttamus has added his own commitment to old-fashioned values and simple hard work.

Al spent only six months as the C&P janitor, as his technical proficiency quickly became apparent. He was trained and certified as a systems technician and was responsible for maintaining all manner of telephony and teletype applications. In 1967, taking a lesson in entrepreneurial ability from his father and uncle, who had maintained a successful painting business outside of their employment in steel, Al turned his garage into a workshop and the trunk of his car into a mobile showroom, and began selling and repairing two-way radios for public safety agencies and businesses.

Al Lauttamus quickly developed a reputation for hard-work and hands-on skill, both for C&P and for himself. In 1985 he left AT&T (having been “traded up” by C&P) and devoted full-time to Lauttamus Communications, which had grown to include a one-room office/repair shop, complete with a secretary and a technician. Less than fifteen years later, Lauttamus Communications moved into its brand new, 14,000 square foot corporate headquarters, housing executive and sales offices, engineering, repair, and installation facilities, live operator call-center, and warehouse.

Al Lauttamus has long been involved in civic and business organizations, and is a member in good standing of the Association of Telemessaging Services International, board of director of Atlantic States Telephone Answering Services, as was the board of director of the Business Development Corporation. He is also active in the United Way, where he is a Charter Member of the Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and was honored as Rotarian of the Year in 1998. He was similarly honored in 1998 by the Friends of Northern Community College, as its Citizen of the Year in Business. In 1999, Al was 1 of 7 businessmen in West Virginia to be named in Who’s Who by the State Journal in Charleston. In May of 2000, AL was named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year in West Virginia. He competed nationally in Palm Springs, California for National Entrepreneur of the year.