Our Story

In 1993 (man that’s a long time ago) Brandon Tate started in retail sales at the US Cellular retail store located on Greenville Blvd in Greenville, North Carolina. He worked part time and paid for his undergraduate degree at ECU with the commissions that he had earned. He became one of the top inside retail sales representatives in the country for US Cellular. Due to his success, US Cellular had him help open a US Cellular corporate store on Arlington Blvd in Greenville NC. In 1995 he moved from inside sales to outside sales for US Cellular. He worked full time in outside sales and went to ECU full time to work on his MBA (he was very tired). He became the number one outside sales producer in the country for US Cellular. In his last semester of his MBA, on August 27, 1997 he and Tamira Tate (then Tamira Barravecchia) incorporated Atlantic Wireless Communications, Inc. The company was originally operated for 2 1/2 years out of their four-bedroom house located at 113 South Harding Street in Greenville. During this time they used an outside sales staff to generate income. The company turned a profit in the first month of business.

As the company grew it demanded more space. After the company took over three of the four bedrooms, they were worried about having a place to sleep. So, in 1999 they opened the first Atlantic Wireless retail store (A1) located at 3700-C South Charles Boulevard in Greenville, North Carolina. The company has maintained systematic and stable growth ever since.

In 2001, Professor Don Boldt (a Harvard MBA) had a class in the MBA program at ECU called “Entrepreneurship”. He taught a case study that was based on the history of Atlantic Wireless. Tamira and Brandon had the opportunity to sit in the back of the classroom (in disguise) and watch as a bunch of MBA students tried to rip apart the company and find ways to improve it. They could not come up with any major weaknesses.

Atlantic Wireless continues to grow and maintains a distinct market share in the Carolinas. The future is bright. The company is strong due to its clear Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Behaviors. Its leadership is motivated and aggressive.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

We believe it is our responsibility to give back to the community that supports us. In doing so, we have partnered with the Carolina Pregnancy Center and donate $10 for every phone sold during the Christmas season to the center. Last year we were able to give $25,000. We also partner with the First Born Community food bank in Grimesland NC. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas we donate our resources and time to feed over 8,000 people each year.

Going Green

It is our responsibility to decrease the waste we produce as we do business (this makes mother earth very happy). So we recycle all of our printed paper and toner cartridges.