“I came to the United States in 1975 from Trinidad and Tobago, having been raised mostly by my grandmother and aunt for the first 13 years of my life,” Andalcio recalls. “But I learned how to be resourceful, to work hard, and to give back, so this award—all these years later—feels especially meaningful.”

Andalcio is the CEO and founder of Mokena-based technology provider Wynndalco Enterprises, established in 2009 and a certified DBE/MBE/SBE/BEP that serves educational institutions, state- and local governments, Fortune 500 and -100 businesses, and transportation entities. But his entrepreneurial roots go way back to Port of Spain, where as a youngster he raised freshwater fish for sale and took a US correspondence course to learn how to build the amplifier he couldn’t otherwise afford. After emigrating, his opportunities and talents grew with early repair stints at Sharp Electronics and IBM, the earnings from which funded his first business. From there, an entrepreneurial studies program at University of Illinois and subsequent education at Chicago Booth School of Business, Stanford University Alumni Graduate Executive Program, and Notre Dame Corporate Governance Program, among others, laid the foundation to excel in business—his way.

“I’ve always had the motivation, aptitude, and attitude to get better, and have funneled that into my businesses over the decades. With Wynndalco, we are unique in that we are debt-free, which affords us the privilege of negotiating great deals and offering remarkable service,” Andalcio explains. “I like to say we are small and nimble—responsive, agile, focused, consistent—which means if a client calls us in the morning, we’ll be there in the afternoon. It’s the secret to our growth.”

Having landed on the 2020 Inc. 5000 list, with three-year revenue growth of 215 percent, Wynndalco has also excelled in this most remarkable of years, nurturing its long and beneficial relationship with Chicago Public Schools and other educational entities during the pandemic, and pivoting quickly to provide technology for distance learning efficiently and cost-effectively. But education is yet another deep heart-connection for Andalcio and his staff.

“Part of the reason Wynndalco Enterprises and our employees give so much back toward education is that we believe these kids are truly our future. I want my legacy to be about reaching youth ages K-12, when they’re young and ready to learn and listen,” Andalcio states. “I do lots of mentoring and speeches to show how education is a better alternative—especially for kids who are at-risk. And then I want those kids to mentor other kids.”

Andalcio’s been recognized by numerous publications and organizations including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Ernst and Young, Hispanic Business, Minority Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine for strengthening minority business participation. He also serves on several boards for the College of DuPage Foundation, Choose DuPage, the Regional Transportation Authority, and DuPage County Emergency Telephone System, and is a proud member of Chicago United and Rotary Club of Chicago. Further, he’s a former board member of HACIA and co-founder and executive member of the Latino Leadership Council, and encourages the success of others in the community, giving as much back there as to the businesses he serves.

“For the Hispanic community, yes, we’re a minority, but we certainly shouldn’t view that as a handicap—it’s not. In fact, as an example to the Hispanic community, I believe that if I could make it this far, anyone can. And so I want to give back, because they’ve given me so much.”

For proven, affordable, professional support for End-User Device Management, Warehouse & Logistics, Project Management, Technology Infrastructure Operations, and SMART Board® and A/V services, learn more about Wynndalco Enterprises at www.wynndalco.com.