Thirty Years of Transformation That Shaped Who We Are Today
- GPA
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Digital transformation does not happen overnight.
It happens through years of trust, problem-solving, and showing up again and again when systems change, businesses grow, and challenges evolve. For GPA, that journey began in 1996, not with expansive digital platforms or enterprise strategies, but with one primary customer and a commitment to do the work well.
That customer relationship still exists today.
1996: One Customer, One Employee, and a Long-Term Mindset
In 1996, GPA was founded by two owners and one employee, beginning with a focus on industrial automation. At the time, GPA supported a single primary customer, working closely with their operation and learning what it truly meant to build systems that last.
This early partnership shaped GPA’s philosophy. Success was measured by reliability, longevity, and trust, not speed or scale. While the term digital transformation was not yet part of the conversation, the foundation for it was already being built through deep operational understanding and long-term commitment.
2006: Laying Roots in Wilmington, North Carolina
By 2006, GPA opened its first headquarters office in Wilmington, North Carolina. This milestone marked a shift from a small operation to a growing systems integrator with the infrastructure needed to support customers more broadly.
As manufacturers expanded and modernized their facilities, GPA grew alongside them, strengthening its automation capabilities while maintaining the same partnership-driven mindset established a decade earlier.
2014–2016: From Control Systems to Insight
As manufacturing environments became more connected and complex, expectations evolved.
In 2014, GPA became an official Rockwell Automation partner, reinforcing its alignment with industry-standard automation platforms and best practices.
In 2016, GPA established its Manufacturing Intelligence department. This moment reflected a clear shift in both the industry and GPA’s own evolution. Manufacturers needed more than control. They needed visibility, context, and trustworthy data to guide decisions.
This period marked GPA’s transition from a traditional automation integrator toward a broader, more integrated approach that would later support digital transformation initiatives.
2017–2018: Building the Structure for What Comes Next
In 2017, GPA opened its second office in Chester, Virginia, and formally established its Operational Technology (OT) department. As systems became more connected, secure and reliable OT infrastructure became essential.
In 2018, GPA transitioned to new ownership and opened its third office in Nashville, Tennessee. This chapter represented both leadership evolution and a renewed focus on sustainable, intentional growth. GPA was no longer just expanding geographically. It was building the organizational structure needed to support increasingly complex manufacturing environments.
2020–2022: Preparing for Modern Digital Transformation
By 2020, GPA became an Ignition Premier Integrator, reflecting its growing role in delivering scalable, modern industrial software solutions that unify data across operations.
In 2022, GPA earned CSIA Certification, validating its adherence to industry best practices in systems integration, project execution, and long-term customer support.
These milestones did not mark the start of digital transformation work, but rather confirmed that GPA had developed the processes, discipline, and technical depth required to support it effectively.
2023: Investing in People and the Future
In 2023, GPA opened its fourth office in Ruston, Louisiana, located at Louisiana Tech University’s Tech Point. This expansion represented an investment in talent development and the future workforce needed to sustain modern manufacturing systems.
Digital transformation today depends as much on people as it does on technology. This step reinforced GPA’s commitment to both.
2026: Measuring the Result of Long-Term Evolution
By 2026, GPA relocated to a new and improved headquarters in Wilmington, and De Robertson stepped into the role of President. The impact of three decades of transformation became clear:
270 projects completed
69 customers supported
17 industries served
These outcomes are not the result of rapid change, but of steady evolution. From supporting a single customer in 1996 to partnering with manufacturers across industries today, GPA’s growth mirrors the transformation of manufacturing itself.
Built Over Time, Ready for Today
GPA did not begin as a digital transformation company. It became one through years of adaptation, learning, and partnership.
That transformation, built over 30 years, is what enables GPA today to support manufacturers navigating digital transformation with confidence, clarity, and experience.
