Legacy
The founder’s story · from the public record“I believe partnering with Cobalt is the best next step for our team and our customers.”Erik Lubinger · Cobalt, Mar 2026
In the early 2000s Erik Lubinger worked days as a government contractor and nights, often until 10 p.m., running fiber and copper cable. The side work grew until he had to hire people to keep up, and by 2007 he realised the late nights paid more than the day job. In 2008 he and Ginger 'took a leap of faith' and started LEK. Erik Lubinger, Founding Story on cobaltsp.com · Cobalt announcement, Mar 19, 2026
The start was hard. Erik quit his job, Ginger lost hers while pregnant, and he describes 'plenty of sleepless nights wondering how we'd make it all work.' They pushed through. Cobalt's announcement calls the early years 'perseverance and sacrifice' and says the company grew steadily while staying rooted in family values and community. Erik Lubinger, Founding Story on cobaltsp.com · Cobalt announcement, Mar 19, 2026
What they built is a woman-owned, full-service low-voltage contractor with more than 45 certified technicians, two offices (Prattville, AL and Valparaiso, FL) and licences in five Southeastern states. Its project list reads like central Alabama's civic map: Park Crossing High School and Booker T. Washington Magnet in Montgomery, Redland Road Elementary, Tuskegee University, Rust College, Fort Rucker Elementary, the squadron operations facility at Dannelly Field, the James Hardie plant in Prattville and Auburn's football performance center. The FAQ lists a Certified Wireless Network Expert (CWNE #115), RCDD and BICSI technicians, and a 25-year warranty on most cabling. LEK About page · LEK Projects page · LEK FAQ
Erik says the most rewarding part was not the business itself but what it let him do: 'the freedom to show up for my kids—coaching their teams, going on vacations, sitting in dance recitals,' a growing company and a present family life at once. School principals on the site's testimonials page describe the crew as professional and proficient, and The Kearney Center credits LEK's system with a 92% drop in theft incidents. Erik Lubinger, Founding Story on cobaltsp.com · LEK homepage testimonials
On the sale, Erik says he took LEK as far as he could on his own and is proud of that. What drew him to Cobalt was the strength of its portfolio companies and the resources they bring: better training, larger and more complex projects, new technology and support systems 'that simply weren't possible for us on our own.' He calls it a legacy decision, not a financial one, for the people who built LEK and the customers who trusted it. The deal closed in February 2026 and was announced March 19; Erik stayed on as CEO for the transition, with a move into a sales and business-development role planned. Erik Lubinger, Why Cobalt on cobaltsp.com · Cobalt announcement, Mar 19, 2026
The team
The people who built it
Read the detail
LEK's own site names no individuals; it describes the company as woman-owned with 45+ technicians. Cobalt's release names Erik Lubinger (CEO) and his wife Ginger Lubinger as co-founders; a public search result shows Ginger's LinkedIn headline as 'Owner at LEK Technology Group'. Per the batch rule, family is listed only when the company's own site says so, so the family list is empty and this is flagged for a decision.
In the community
What they gave back · on the record- AssociationLEK is a member of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce.
- GivingMuch of LEK's project list is public schools and colleges in Alabama (Park Crossing High, Booker T. Washington Magnet, Redland Road Elementary, Fort Rucker Elementary, Tuskegee University, Rust College), and in 2026 it began a monthly 'Tech Update' newsletter aimed at K-12 and higher-education security.
- CommunityErik Lubinger says the business gave him the freedom to coach his kids' teams; Cobalt describes the company as 'deeply rooted in family values and community.'
- AssociationThe company holds manufacturer and industry credentials (BICSI, CWNP, Corning, Cisco) and says its team members are 'industry and manufacturer trained'; the Apply Today page says it is always looking for people and takes applications directly.
In their words
4 public statements · founder first- 2026Erik Lubinger · cobaltsp.com (Our Companies)
What it says
First-person: night cabling jobs in the early 2000s, hiring to keep up, the 2008 leap with Ginger, quitting his job while she lost hers pregnant, the reward of being present for his kids; choosing Cobalt for its portfolio, training and resources, as a legacy decision, and staying on as part of the team.
- 2026-03-19Erik Lubinger · cobaltsp.com (News & Insights)
What it says
Buyer's announcement of its 19th deal (2nd of 2026). Erik quoted on the freedom to show up for his kids and on Cobalt being the best next step; says he remains CEO initially, then moves to a sales and business-development role. No Cobalt executive quoted.
- 2026-02LEK Technology Group · lektech.com (Blog, image newsletter)
What it says
Company newsletter on campus security trends and a cloud-managed intrusion-detection product; footer 'Licensed, Certified, Trusted Technology Partner Since 2008'. Not bylined; no mention of Cobalt.
- 2026-01LEK Technology Group · lektech.com (Blog, image newsletter)
What it says
First issue of the monthly newsletter, education-focused.
Founder Q&A
In their own words · by email · published with permissionWe’d like Erik Lubinger to tell this story in their own words. Ran this company, or built it alongside the founder? Ten questions by email, answered at your pace, published only with your OK.
The sale
As both sides told it · on the public recordCobalt announced LEK on March 19, 2026 as its 19th acquisition and second of 2026, describing a Prattville, AL security-integration and cabling firm founded in 2008 by Erik and Ginger Lubinger that grew steadily 'while remaining deeply rooted in family values and community.' Cobalt's company page dates the acquisition to February 2026. No Cobalt executive is quoted.
Erik Lubinger said partnering with Cobalt is the best next step for the team and customers; what stood out was the strength of Cobalt's portfolio and its resources (training, larger projects, new technology, support systems); it was about legacy, not just money; he took LEK as far as he could alone and is proud of it; and he is excited to stay on and watch Cobalt take the people and company 'to a whole new level.'
What happened after
Public signals since the sale · dated3 dated public signals in the 6 months since the sale: other 1 · leadership 1 · brand & site 1. The record, not our opinion.
- Feb 2026SignalClosesource
Detail
Close (Cobalt's company page lists 'Acquisition Date: February 2026'). LEK publishes its February newsletter the same month with no mention of the deal.
- Mar 19, 2026LeadershipCobalt announces the dealsource
Detail
Cobalt announces the deal; Erik Lubinger remains CEO 'initially' with a planned move to sales and business development.
- Sep 28, 2026Brand & siteLEK's website is unchanged: still 'woman-owned', no mention of Cobalt, copyright 2026, same …source
Detail
LEK's website is unchanged: still 'woman-owned', no mention of Cobalt, copyright 2026, same Roya-built template; newsletter series stopped after February 2026. The Prattville Chamber directory now lists Erik as 'VP, Business Development' (undated), consistent with the announced role change. Cobalt's team page lists no CEO for LEK.
Then and now
Founder and leadershipCompanies Cobalt Service Partners also bought
20 on the public recordSources
Everything above, dated Sept 28, 202612 sources · open the list
- Cobalt: Our Companies, LEK Technology Group
- Cobalt: Cobalt Acquires LEK Technology Group (Mar 19, 2026)
- Cobalt: Our Team
- LEK: Home
- LEK: About Us
- LEK: FAQ
- LEK: Projects
- LEK: Apply Today
- LEK: Blog
- LEK: February 2026 newsletter
- Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce: member listing
- BBB profile (not fetched; blocked)
Unverified at publish
No photo of Erik or Ginger Lubinger on any permitted source (Cobalt uses an office photo; the company site has none); whether Erik has completed the move from CEO to business development and who runs LEK day to day (Cobalt has named no CEO); Ginger's role after the sale; whether the 'woman-owned' description is still accurate post-sale; headcount is the company's own '45+' claim; the chamber listing's title for Erik is undated; Glassdoor and BBB not fetchable; no local press (Montgomery Advertiser, Prattville Progress) on the sale found.