A history of enabling customer transformation

In 1976, Primary Systems was founded in St. Louis, MO as a uniquely qualified company to provide for the design installation and maintenance of Life Safety systems.  For over 40 years, Primary Systems has provided customized and comprehensive solutions within the greater St. Louis, Southern & Central Illinois Healthcare and K-12 Education markets. 

Primary Systems is the trusted source for communication, security, and life safety solutions that meet the needs of our customers. We utilize a consultative approach to conduct an in-depth needs analysis, enabling our customers to fulfill their mission critical processes. As industries continue to evolve, we constantly research and select only the best-in class product collection. Our mission is to utilize these products to create an integrated solution with your goals and needs in mind, ensuring satisfaction, flawless integration, and system adoption. At Primary Systems, we strive to exceed your expectations and invest the time and resources into every job. 

Proud members of

Leadership Team

Steven Potts

President

Steve joined TEL-Vi Communications in 2002 as the Vice President of Sales. In 2004, TEL-Vi sold its structured cabling division and re-named the company Primary Systems, Inc. In 2006 Steve purchased PSI from the original investors. He is currently the acting President and CEO and oversees the company’s overall vision and strategy with an annual double digit growth rate.  Steve brings over thirty years of leadership experience in the management, sales and marketing fields. Prior to Primary Systems, he was Director of Sales at Lucent Technologies with an impressive record of P&L management, operations and marketing. Steve has also worked with various software and hardware start-up firms to establish market presence and strategic accounts in the Telecommunications field.  Steve is currently the President of the National Electrical Contractors Association – St. Louis, serves on various boards and is an active board member in the NSCA.

Tony Perotti

CTO/VP, Operations

Tony is an accomplished and forward-thinking leader, currently serves as Vice President of Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Primary Systems. With over 20 years of experience, he plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the company’s vision and strategy, driving the development of cutting-edge technology solutions. Tony’s extensive background includes a 12-year tenure at Rauland, where he led technical support, implementation, and training. His expertise encompasses project management, team leadership, and strategic planning. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering Technology and advanced degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems from Elmhurst University, Tony combines his technical prowess with a keen strategic vision, fostering innovation and operational excellence at Primary Systems.

Laura Kostial

CFO

Laura joined Primary Systems in May of 2022.  She brings with her over 30 years of managerial accounting experience in the areas of internal auditing, cost accounting, international finance, data management and contract negotiation.  As the Controller for Primary Systems, Laura is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the accounting department as well as all financial reporting.   Prior to her employment with Primary Systems, Laura worked for several, larger Fortune 500 manufacturing companies, including Emerson Electric where she was the assistant controller of the Maquiladora Division; and several midsized companies, including Thermal Mechanics, a mechanical engineering company serving the construction industry, where she served as controller.  Laura is particularly interested in the areas of work flow automation and forensic accounting.  She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Missouri and Ibero-Americana in Mexico City and graduate work at Washington University Olin School of Business.

Frank Henry

VP, Sales

Frank joined Primary Systems in January 2009 and has held various roles within the company, including marketing, project management, and information technology. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare clinical communication, integration, and telemedicine, Frank currently serves as the Vice President of Sales for Primary Systems. In this role, he oversees the sales team, develops strategies for growth, and leads the company’s sales efforts. Before joining Primary Systems, Frank worked as a Regional Sales Engineer at Ascom US, where he promoted, sold, and demonstrated Ascom (US) products, solutions, and services across 14 states. Additionally, he served as the Manager of Project Management at Hicuity Health, the world’s largest independent tele-ICU company, managing the client implementation process and experience. Frank holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and Marketing from Southeast Missouri State University.

Josh Wells

Director, IT Services

Josh joined Primary Systems in March of 2016 and brings over 15 years of experience in Information Technology and Managed Services.  Josh currently serves as Director of IT Services for Primary Systems and is responsible for the implementation, configuration, and support of custom solutions in an evolving Healthcare IT industry.  Prior to joining Primary Systems, Josh served as Manager of Technical Support & Infrastructure at Connectria Hosting, a St. Louis based, Managed Service Provided.  While at Connectria, Josh later transitioned to a role as Manager of Data Center Operations where he was involved with data center deployments in 3 states.  J0sh has a passion for technology and supporting applications that provide clinical value to both patients and clinical caregivers.  Josh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Management & Information Systems from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Heena Rishi

Director, Clinical Operations

As a Registered Nurse (RN) with over 23 years of clinical nursing and executive management experience, Heena brings a wealth of knowledge to Primary Systems. Her experience includes managing clinical operations, consulting, project implementation and workflow optimization . Heena and her team of clinicians are responsible for the design and implementation of complex workflow solutions for hospital systems. Not only do they work closely with customers to refine processes for efficiency, but they also ensure staff members are trained and proficient in the use of advanced applications to achieve and sustain key clinical performance metrics & indicators.  The Clinical Services team includes four Clinical Application Specialists, as well as a dedicated Clinical Informaticist responsible for collecting and analyzing data, and developing custom reports and dashboards for customers.  Heena obtained her Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) from Maryville University, and her Masters in Healthcare Informatics (MHI) from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  She began her career in a variety of acute care settings, with experience including Cardiovascular services, Orthopedics, Telemetry, Rehab, Dialysis and emergency services before making her way into leadership roles. Prior to joining Primary, Heena worked as the Director of Solution Operations and Clinical Development for a population health company helping to implement value-based care models among payors and health systems.