Blue Foundry Bank has provided comprehensive financial products and services to Northern New Jersey for nearly 150 years. For Blue Foundry’s new 40000-square-foot administrative hub, the financial institution’s President and CEO, James Nesci, sought to create a space where employees would have the opportunity to work collectively in a flexible workspace.
As Blue Foundry Bank considered the design of their new hybrid offices, they viewed a technologically infused working environment as an essential investment to engage and retain employees while also attracting new ones. An office standardized on Microsoft Teams®, Crestron’s ability to seamlessly integrate and support the software made the Crestron Flex Digital Workplace Platform an easy selection.
INTRODUCTION
Blue Foundry Bank has provided comprehensive financial products and services to Northern New Jersey for nearly 150 years. The Rutherford based company creates services using innovative methods, attention to detail, and craftsmanship to deliver the best experience for its customers. Blue Foundry has locations in five counties made up of smart, hard-working bankers who are committed to forging new relationships, experiences, communities, partnerships, and solutions.
THE CHALLENGE
For Blue Foundry’s new 40,000-square-foot administrative hub, the financial institution’s President and CEO, James Nesci, sought to create a space where employees would have the opportunity to work collectively in a flexible workspace. As Blue Foundry Bank considered the design of their new hybrid offices, they viewed a technologically infused working environment as an essential investment to engage and retain employees while also attracting new ones.
Blue Foundry’s approach was “people first, technology second.” The office design needed to prioritize the employee experience and empower them to focus on what they enjoy while automating the rest.
THE SOLUTION
Blue Foundry partnered with global collaboration services provider Kinly and designers at DMR Architects to adapt a technology standard that would foster a more collaborative and productive office environment.As an office standardized on Microsoft Teams®, Crestron’s ability to seamlessly integrate and support the software made the Crestron Flex Digital Workplace Platform an easy selection.
THE TECHNOLOGY
Blue Foundry’s customers are the beneficiaries of engaged and motivated employees. The goal of the new office was to create a work experience that would be a favorite for employees; a place anyone would want to work. Crestron technology within the office allows team members to collaborate and embrace the opportunity of a hybrid work schedule. With Crestron Flex, it is easy for employees to collaborate with their teams and remote workers while remaining productive. The range of the Crestron Flex platform allowed Blue Foundry to embrace different form factors to scale the audio and video experience appropriately for every space.
In Blue Foundry’s busy office, the Crestron and Microsoft Room Scheduling Panels with Microsoft Teams® software help foster a productive work environment where employees can book rooms like a hotel. Employees have embraced the scheduling system, structuring meeting room usage and streamlining management of these spaces. For the health and safety of employees, wave sensors were also installed to eliminate touchpoints as employees move through the office. Blue Foundry employees were able to quickly learn to use the technology and now they see it as a natural extension of their workplace.
Blue Foundry Bank worked with Kinly to fully integrate every piece of Crestron technology, driving how the office functions and performs for employees. The audiovisual experience is consistent throughout the office, creating an engaging experience in common spaces and more. Music plays throughout the office to enhance the ambiance for employees as they go about their day. To support their employees’ health and wellness, Blue Foundry has installed circadian rhythm lighting. The office lighting dims, brightens, and changes hues to adjust with the natural light of the sun throughout the day.
The new office space features many customized finishes and unique amenities such as a wellness room, lounges with fireplaces, and a café which serves as a unique space for teams to connect. In the café, twelve large displays show sports games and news programming, in addition to corporate branding and advertising content. To boost morale and show appreciation for employees, Blue Foundry also displays company signage to acknowledge work anniversaries, significant events, and more.
RESULTS
Technology is an avenue for Blue Foundry Bank to expand its products and services to meet the needs of its employees, customers, and communities beyond the administrative headquarters. With the success of the recent Crestron deployment, Blue Foundry is exploring bringing similar experiences into their branches as well.
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.
