SITUATION
When operators Sun International embarked on the recent $100 million upgrade to the Boardwalk Complex in South Africa, they appointed QA Technology Consultants and Avitech Systems to engineer and install a new network-based background music and voice evacuation system that met the specific needs of the hotel, restaurant, casino, conferencing, and retail spaces. The previous sound system was installed in 1999 and consisted of racks of analog audio processing and routing hardware. The system was very difficult to maintain, and the operators were frequently spending money to have AV contractors travel to the site to configure the system for specific events.
SOLUTION
Avitech designed an integrated system using a combination of Biamp® products: Audia® DSPs provided the routing and control flexibility, while Vocia® provided the compliant voice evacuation functionality. Audia was installed in place of the previous analog system, consisting of old amplifiers and a loudspeaker network, which provided the client with daVinci™-based control pages on PCs and a wireless tablet.
CONCLUSIONS
The Avitech team used the AudiaFLEX for room combining, audio routing and source selection, which then fed background music channels to the Vocia system. Vocia processes the channel as a background priority, so it can override the music broadcast in the event of an emergency situation. This was the perfect solution for the client's needs, wrapped up into one complete system.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
