AV Integrator Spotlight: TechArts

Tell me about your job and how you got into this industry?

[CS] I work at TechArts as their operations manager. The company has been around for 15 years, and I’ve been there for a little over four years. I’m in charge of all of our general operations and product procurement, my main goal is to make sure that all projects stay on task and on time.

I first discovered my love for audio in junior high school, and I used to run sound in my local church for years and eventually played a role in the technology decisions they made.

What has been your favorite project?

[CS] Oh, that’s a tough question. I don’t have a favorite that I’ve worked on, I’ve enjoyed them all equally. I love that in each project we have the opportunity to constantly improve and evolve the work we do.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

[CS] Product procurement is definitely the most challenging. Getting the product on-site, on time can be frustrating. I always want to make sure the guys on site have everything they need to do their job. LEA Professional has been really great in that aspect. I know they worked hard to get us the amplifiers on time in order to get our latest project up and running and they were very responsive during the entire journey- that makes a massive difference.

[JV] It’s always a challenge to ensure we are anticipating client needs. Sometimes our customers might only use about 10% of the capability of the equipment when we first commission it but in the future, they may need to use that equipment to its fullest capacity. We want to make sure that we’re providing them with the right products for their needs now and in the future.

Is there anything that manufacturers could do to make your job easier?

[CS] Open communication is the most important thing for me. I would like a quick response, even just to notify me that when I place the order that they have it and are working on it, that’s one of the biggest things. When a product I’m looking for is on backorder I find it really frustrating—the sooner they can communicate this to me the easier my job will be.

How do you measure success from project to project?

[CS] We have a few ways that we measure success, I always look to measure the number of calls from clients I’m getting. I’ll look at the number of complaint calls vs the number of complimentary calls.

[JV] We spend a lot of time after the project, connecting with clients, discussing how things are going and where they are at. We also do a fair amount of training when we are on the job and past the completion date, so we give them plenty of opportunities to show what they are doing.

It’s great when a good system comes together and we don’t have to do workarounds. That’s what stood out to us when working with LEA Professional, it all came together so well.

What advice would you give for others interested in becoming an AV installers?

[JV] Caution would be the word I would use. I think it can be tempting to use the most current, innovative technology available, but doing the newest thing every time may result in constantly chasing issues.

I think it’s all about balance, right? We want to be innovative and excited about new products but we also want to make sure we have vetted every product that we install.

[JV] My second piece of advice would be to establish strong relationships with vendors. We have excellent relationships with the vendors we use which means that those vendors are always recommending us to install their products. We understand the technology and we maximize the usage.

[CS] on multiple occasions having those strong relationships with vendors has ensured we get the gear on time to finish a project.

What’s the best part about your job?

[JV] It is really fun when you complete a system and it looks good and sounds good. In some cases, I’m helping churches that have had bad sound for years and they have been budgeting for a new sound system for a long time. When it is completed and its working, you can see the results and it’s an awesome experience and very fulfilling.

Final Question, what is your go-to song when you are doing system testing?

I think we all have our own songs that we like but some of our favorites include:

[Whole team including Chuck (CEO)]

Toto – I Will Remember

Bruce Hornsby – Dream Land

Celine Dion – Ashes