INTRODUCTION
As the leading provider of senior living communities, services and programs in New Jersey, Fellowship Senior Living offers elder living services that foster long-term health, personal independence, and fellowship. Located in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Fellowship Senior Living’s Life Plan Community, Fellowship Village, recently underwent a multi-million-dollar transformation to create a luxury, country club-like experience for residents and prospects with top-of-the-line amenities, design and technology.
THE CHALLENGE
Fellowship Senior Living aspired to set Fellowship Village apart from other senior living communities in the area by implementing advanced technology within their Life Plan Community. They needed one standardized platform that would transform their existing and new facilities to create a superior living experience for current residents, as well as to attract prospective tenants.
THE SOLUTION
In order to provide residents and staff with advanced technology that is intuitive and easy-to-use, Fellowship Senior Living collaborated with IT Initiatives, Inc. to equip the Life Plan Community with an array of bestin-class solutions from Crestron. Both teams worked to design a dynamic system that delivers a robust network infrastructure with superior audio, video, and security technology.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The Life Plan Community features an array of Crestron solutions throughout its facilities and living spaces, including Crestron DM NVX® AV-over-IP technology, Crestron control systems, and Crestron shading and lighting. The community has recently added a new pub that features Crestron DigitalMedia™ technology to route audio and video to various endpoints. Within the space, Crestron touch screens enable residents and staff to control disparate technologies on a single interface. There are several new facilities being built across the community, including an expansive fitness center, salon and spa, medical suites, and medi spa. These new spaces will feature Crestron shading and lighting solutions, DM NVX for flawless content distribution, and Crestron touch screens for technology control. “By outfitting these new spaces with advanced, unified technology, we are able to eliminate any daily complications and offer our elders and team members a seamless experience,” says John Dalton, Principal Consultant, IT Initiatives, Inc.
All of the community’s boardrooms and conference rooms are outfitted with Crestron control systems for centralized control, as well as DigitalMedia Presentation Systems that offer wireless presentation capabilities and high-quality audio. Crestron control systems also enable the Life Plan Community to integrate all individual technologies, such as AV, lighting, shades, security and more. Within all of the community’s restaurants, waitstaff now use iPad® tablets to take orders right at the table side via Crestron, elevating the overall dining experience for residents and guests. Within their living spaces, residents have dedicated television channels to stay up to date on community news, utilizing DigitalMedia technology as the backbone. It has also enabled Fellowship Village to stream live events and religious services right to their residences from both their television studio and performing arts center. The performing arts center is also outfitted with Crestron technology that helps improve and elevate the overall live event experience for residents and theatre patrons from the surrounding areas. “Residents, patrons, and visitors have continuously expressed how wonderful the technology experience has been as a result of the various Crestron solutions added,” says Lawrence.
RESULTS
Crestron has helped transform Fellowship Senior Living’s Life Plan Community, Fellowship Village, into a tech-forward and sophisticated senior living development. Life Plan Community residents and staff are now well-versed on all of the different Crestron technologies deployed, and it has truly enhanced their day-to-day living experience. Through the addition of Crestron, the community is now regarded as one of New Jersey’s best luxury, 5-star senior living establishments for active and tech savvy older adults.
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.
