Bender Insurance Solutions is one of the largest independently-owned insurance brokerages in the Sacramento, California area, providing a variety of solutions to both commercial and individual clients. The company is known for its superior customer service, so it is imperative employees assist clients and concentrate on projects with minimal interruptions.
Each month, the company holds education and training sessions as part of its ongoing “Bender U” seminars, held in one of the company’s conference rooms. During scheduled breaks, attendees speak to each other in hallways and corridors, which sometimes distract employees and creates increased noise complaints to management. Additionally, the thin walls of both private offices and conference rooms lead to conversation spillover into the open office area.
SOLUTION
Vice President of Finance Michele Sweet and President Maggie Bender-Johnson began looking for a solution to the company’s sound problems. They researched construction options, but ultimately these were cost-prohibitive. Bender Insurance Solutions’ IT firm suggested there might be a technical solution to the problem. They had sound masking from Cambridge Sound Management installed in their office and suggested Sweet and Bender-Johnson visit to experience it.
Sound masking adds a low-level, unobtrusive background sound to an environment to reduce excess speech noise, making the affected environment more comfortable, private, and free of distractions. Impressed with the system, Bender decided to purchase it. Their furniture supplier, United Corporate Furnishings, was also familiar with the technology and connected them with area integrator Precision West Technologies, who implemented QtPro™ from Cambridge Sound Management throughout the space.
Precision West installed barely visible Qt® Emitters (loudspeakers) in the drop ceiling throughout the open office, private office, and conference room space. The emitters were connected by cables to a Qt® 300 control module residing in the server room. The system allowed for different masking volume levels across different zones, allowing Bender Insurance Solutions to address noise distractions more proactively in the open office areas. Automatic ramping was also programmed into the system, allowing the masking noise to be slightly louder at times when the office is busiest.
CONCLUSION
When employees returned to the office after the sound masking was installed, they were pleasantly surprised to hear the masking noise and noticed a significant decrease in distractions. After a few days, the masking itself wasn’t noticeable to employees, but the benefits continued to pay dividends for employee concentration, productivity, and wellbeing. “Sound masking helps make our office feel quieter and more comfortable,” says Sweet. “Speech noise from across the office is much less distracting, making it much easier for everyone to concentrate. It’s become an essential part of our office.” Bender Insurance Solutions has since added QtPro™ to two additional office expansions.
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.
