Christian Financial Credit Union
INTRODUCTION
Based in Sterling Heights, Michigan, the thriving Christian Financial Credit Union (CFCU) has provided its members with premium financial services for 70 years, while also helping local organizations and charities reach their financial goals.
THE CHALLENGE
Introduce a consistent, modern experience in all meeting and collaboration spaces across its modern brand-new 40,000-square-foot headquarters, which features a hybrid of traditional offices and cubicles with several collaborative spaces.
THE SOLUTION
To meet the challenge, it was imperative for CFCU to standardize on a reliable, flexible, and scalable AV and Unified Communications platform that could deliver a consistent experience in every space. Garrett Naschak, Core Systems Coordinator, and Lisa Comiska, IT Coordinator at CFCU, reached out to systems integrator Innovative Environments. Together they decided that Crestron would offer the best platform for the project.
THE TECHNOLOGY
“We selected Crestron DM NVX to serve as the AV-over-IT backbone of our facility because it’s dependable, secure, and leverages our existing 1 gigabit network, so it had no impact on our new building’s trendy aesthetic or our daily operations. There were no new wires to run, no disruptions,” explains Naschak. DM NVX® technology flawlessly distributes content such as live television and corporate communications to more than 50 displays throughout the facility. Using the enterprise-grade DM NVX Director™ AV-over-IP management appliance, the CFCU IT staff is able to centrally and remotely configure, deploy, and manage every DM NVX endpoint over the network. Inside the huddle spaces and meeting rooms, CFCU staff utilize the sleek Crestron Flex tabletop UC consoles with built-in AirMedia® 2.0 wireless presentation technology to conference, collaborate, and share content. “With the open UC functionality of Crestron Flex, our people can use whichever video conferencing platform works best for them,” says Naschak. The Crestron Flex product line was also chosen because it can be centrally deployed, monitored, and managed via the Crestron XiO Cloud™ IoT-based platform.
For its larger meeting spaces, CFCU uses the Crestron Flex UC Smart Soundbar with built-in high-resolution Huddly® camera. “These spaces required a solution that would ensure every meeting participant in every corner of the room would be clearly heard and seen at all times, so no one would ever miss anything.” To help staff book meetings with ease, CFCU standardized on the open Crestron room scheduling platform. Seamless integration with Microsoft® Outlook® software enables them to locate and book meeting spaces in advance from their laptops or mobile devices, or on the spot using the Crestron touch screen mounted just outside each room. The integrated illuminated room availability signs outside each room make it easy to determine availability; red for occupied, green for available. By leveraging occupancy sensors, the Crestron scheduling system also has the intelligence to return rooms back to inventory in the event of no-shows, thereby freeing them up for other meetings.
RESULTS
CFCU staff now enjoy a modern, intelligent workplace that enables everyone to get right down to business, thanks to the consistent user experience in every meeting space. No more wasted time trying to get the technology in the rooms to work. “The scalability and flexibility afforded by Crestron technology enabled my team and I to easily design and deploy complete workspaces in a variety of sizes, and with the dynamic experience CFCU management was looking for,” said Russell Wolfe, Chief Operations Officer at Innovative Environments.
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.
