For the past nine years, Cochrane’s Dynastream Innovations has been a subsidiary of Garmin.
But now, rebranding has become official – Garmin signs and logos are finally adorning their office front.
The new signs are the finishing touches to the company’s transformation to Garmin Ltd.
“It feels great to part of the bigger Garmin. We do so much work on all these different products; it’s kind of fun to tell people this is what we do,” said Jim Rooney, managing director of Garmin Cochrane.
In 2006, Garmin, once a customer to Dynastream, bought the company. Dynastream was allowed to retain much of its autonomy, while continuing to expand. At the time Garmin acquired them, the company was around 40 people. Now it’s over 100.
“We still have the Dynastream brand. We still use it for some external customers.”
Rooney said morale of employees and their relatives has been high now that the rebrand is complete.
“I think it was generally a pretty positive one. It’s a lot easier to talk to your friends and say I work for Garmin. Everyone gets it right away.
“It’s more or less, keep the course. We’re continuing the work to become more valuable to the global organization.”
The company has come a long way from Rooney’s garage back in 1998, when him and some colleagues were designing their first accelerometer-based speed and distance monitor for runners.
In 2000, the company produced its first commercial monitor for Nike, a huge milestone for a business finding its footing, Rooney said.
From that point, Dynastream expanded its product line to heart-rate monitors and wireless data collection.
Rooney said the Cochrane office has been an important design and engineering centre for Garmin internationally. The shift to Garmin reinforces confidence in the community and the talent pool that the town attracts, Rooney contends. Ultimately helping the former Dynastream’s ability to recruit and grow the team in Cochrane and giving them recognition as a part of a global team, he added.
Rooney said there’s definitely the potential to make the town a focal point for technology companies to settle in.
“A lot of times it takes a critical mass to start making that happen. That’s one of my longer term hopes of Garmin, being here and continuing to invest in this.”
The town’s proximity to the outdoors and natural amenities, as well as a strong sense of community, has made Cochrane an attractive setting for their business.
“We work hard and we like to play hard as well. We like to get out there and be active and use the products. I think Cochrane’s a great place for that.
“We started in Cochrane and we’ve worked hard to keep it in Cochrane.”
