CASE STUDY
Lightbridge Academy standardizes technology for rapid growth
Overview: A Growing Franchise with 80+ Projects in Progress
Lightbridge Academy is an early education franchisor based in New Jersey with approximately 91 locations currently open. They are actively expanding into new states like Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, and Washington, and have a development pipeline of 80+ projects in progress.
From Vendor Complexity to a Scalable Partnership
As Lightbridge’s development activity accelerated, Craig Murray, Chief Development Officer, needed a partner that could keep technology consistent across new openings, reduce vendor confusion, and solve problems without creating extra work for the development team.
The process left too much up to local selection and too many parties in the mix. Craig described how having multiple vendors involved created chaos, delayed projects, and blurred accountability. The goal was to simplify the equation: clear ownership, consistent execution, and a predictable outcome at opening.
Craig described his preference for partners he can trust, partners who are creative, and partners who solve problems without adding work for the development team. For Lightbridge, that meant consolidating responsibilities under one partner and standardizing how technology gets delivered at each new center. For Lightbridge, that partner is MellinTech.
"I like working with those I can trust and those that are creative and find solutions to problems."
- Craig Murray, Chief Development Officer
How MellinTech Supports New Lightbridge Academy Openings
Because Lightbridge is a franchise model, franchisees purchase certain elements of the IT package through a separate party. MellinTech complements that structure by owning the coordination and installation work that most often cause delays, rework, or coordination headaches.
In practice, MellinTech manages the phone and cable coordination into the building, coordinates with the third-party provider that supplies routers and switches, oversees the planning and running of category cable, and installs wireless access points. MellinTech also sources and installs security components and helps procure items outside the standard package, such as classroom display boards, to consolidate logistics. Testing and validation before opening is part of the expectation.
Operationally, MellinTech functions as an extension of the development team, staying close to each project and participates in construction calls as needed to keep deliverables aligned with the schedule.
The Results: Clearer Ownership & Cleaner Execution
• Fewer handoffs and clearer accountability
MellinTech consolidated what used to require multiple vendors and multiple calls into a simpler, coordinated workflow.
• Smoother openings at higher volume
Lightbridge has significantly increased its project load over the last few years, and the efficiency of having one organized partner helps keep projects moving.
• Fast recovery when local work goes wrong
In one project, a local installer completed a poor cabling job a week before opening. MellinTech stepped in, re-did the cabling properly, and helped prevent a delayed opening.
Looking Ahead: Supporting Growth Across New States
With a large pipeline of projects and continued expansion into new states, Lightbridge is prioritizing consistency and speed across every opening. Craig noted that MellinTech is positioned as a required partner within the franchise system, which supports predictable delivery and reduces variability as the brand scales.
About MellinTech: Nationwide IT Rollout Services
Since 2002, MellinTech has partnered with multi-location organizations to plan, build, and standardize technology across offices nationwide. We augment in-house IT teams and are best aligned with organizations operating 25 or more locations. We focus on three things:
1. New Construction: Design and installation for network, low-voltage cabling, Wi-Fi, A/V, and device connectivity so every site is ready on day one.
2. Rollouts: Coordinated multi-site programs for M&A conversions and technology upgrades, from discovery and standards through site execution and closeout.
3. Moves, adds, and changes: On-site field services to relocate, replace, or expand equipment, cabling, and racks across existing offices with minimal disruption.