The Creation of ADD Systems—Meet Our Founder, Bruce A. Bott
In 1973, Richard M. Nixon was president of the United States of America, the average cost of gasoline was 40 cents per gallon, the World Trade Center in New York became the tallest buildings in the world, the Exorcist, American Graffiti and Live and Let Die were all in the movie theaters (Some of Bruce Sr.’s favorite movies) and Advanced Digital Data® (ADD Systems®) was incorporated. Today, we provide services to 500+ clients in 46 states, including our first client, Dixon Brothers Fuel of Boonton, New Jersey. Today, we have more than 150 employees in three offices and a suite of software products that is second to none. It’s not hard to believe that behind all of the success of ADD Systems there was a great man, Bruce Alan Bott.
Bruce was married to Gale Bott for 59 years. He was the father of six, grandfather of 20, a civil engineer (Lehigh University BS and MS), a private pilot and a programmer. He served on the Mount Olive Township Board of Education for four terms, was a member of the Knights of Columbus at Saint Jude’s Parish in Budd Lake, New Jersey, and was a member of the Saint Clare’s Hospital Foundation in Denville, New Jersey.
His initial connection to the Energy Distribution industry dates back some 10 years prior to the incorporation of ADD Systems, back to the early 1960s, when he drove an oil truck for Bill Dixon (Dixon Brothers Fuel) during his winter breaks from college. Upon graduating college, he took a job building paper mills in the Carolinas and then moved on to building nuclear submarines in Groton, Connecticut, for Electric Boat. Fast forward to the fall of 1972 and a cup of coffee with his old employer Bill Dixon, where they discussed the need to automate his fuel business, and the idea of going into business took shape.
As the business grew in the early years, Gale joined Bruce Sr., helping out in all capacities, and the making of a small family business had begun! Alan Friedman soon joined the organization, and then others such as Rob Culbertson, our current COO and Senior Vice President. We catered to diversified clients, some small, some large, but all had one thing in common—they were all involved in Energy Distribution. In 1997, after 24 years of organic growth, we acquired the first of three competitors and grew from 60 employees to our current size of 150+ employees within the next eight years.
The Torch is Passed—Meet Our President, Bruce C. Bott
For 30+ years Bruce Sr. was the president of ADD Systems, and on December 16, 2010, his son Bruce C. Bott was appointed to the position. Bruce Sr. stepped back from the day-to-day operations and assumed the role of CEO and chairman of the Board.
Bruce Jr. considers himself fortunate that he not only gets to work with his own family every day but also has the opportunity to add to his father’s hard work. As he has advanced within ADD Systems, from performing system backups in his teenage years to sales representative, sales manager, vice president of sales and marketing, and now to president, he has learned a lot along the way. Most importantly he had the chance to learn directly from his father during the majority of his tenure with ADD Systems.
ADD Systems completed its eighth Business Tech User Conference at the Disney Yacht and Beach Club Resorts in Florida back in 2023; the next one is in 2026, and the future is bright. Bruce is surrounded by many talented and truly valuable employees at ADD Systems. He considers this team to be an extension of his own family, and he is confident that your business is in good hands with ADD Systems.
Bruce Sr. founded ADD on three basic principles—be honest, be fair and treat others as you would expect to be treated. Much has changed since 1973, but these principles still hold true today. They have been and will continue to be the pillar to our success.
