March 2, 2023 - A company dedicated to providing equipment, solutions, and engineering services for a range of industries, Romania-based RomTek Electronics SRL has set a high bar for determining the tools it uses and recommends for clients. To aid in its decision-making process and provide a local resource for capturing content, RomTek carved out a multifunctional space called the 'demo room.' Outfitted with the requisite gear, including AJA solutions, the setting is ideal for producing sophisticated videos and testing new products and workflows. We recently caught up with Corneliu Cristian Gheorghiu, RomTek's Business Development Director of Audio/Video/TV/Film, to find out more.
Tell us about RomTek.
Established in 1998, RomTek is a privately owned company with three specialties: Audio/Video/TV/Film (A/V/TV/F), Telecommunications (Telecom), and Test & Measurement and Educational Training Platforms (T&M – ETP). Our team is about 15 strong and we help clients in Romania and the Republic of Moldavia secure equipment, build and procure solutions, and engineer workflows, customizing each to their specific needs and industry.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I focus on the Audio/Video/TV/Film aspect of our business. It's a role that challenges me to anticipate and quickly adapt to technology trends, strengthen and expand relationships with our partner suppliers, identify and create synergies with our other RomTek business segments, and work to increase market share in established and new areas. Typically, I start each day by reviewing my schedule, to-do list, and emails, then prioritize activities and assign tasks as needed. My day varies, but could include internal meetings, customer visits/calls, tackling projects, generating offers, and capturing professional readings/videos, while remaining highly responsive to customers as needs arise.
What are your most and least favorite aspects of your job?
I'm a builder by nature so I enjoy seeing how projects and opportunities turn into realities. I think the most challenging aspect of my job is navigating different personality types and cultural backgrounds to accomplish those end goals.
Describe RomTek's Demo Room.
Our 'demo room' is an area that can be transformed for up to 12 people to meet, present to a live audience of up to 25 people, use for demonstration and training purposes, or create high quality productions. It houses modular furniture, a mobile 100-inch professional TV display and a retractable green screen so that we can change the configuration in less than ten minutes.
From a production standpoint, the demo room is basically a small TV studio outfitted with equipment from major brands in our company's portfolio, including AJA's KUMO 1616-12G router, KUMO CP control panel, HELO Plus H.264 streaming solution, and various Mini-Converters. The equipment in the demo room can be quickly changed so that the room can be easily re-purposed and various technologies can be rolled out based on demo objectives. We can capture virtual backgrounds, use the TV monitor, or employ other physical backgrounds, while preserving the feeling of live experiences as opposed to mundane marketing presentations.
AJA has always been an important brand for our portfolio for its quality, reliability, and value, so naturally it's the glue for our demo room workflow. The AJA KUMO 1616-12G router and KUMO CP control panel are best-in-class, and the AJA HELO Plus streaming solution has proven far more reliable than any other streaming solution that we have tested. In terms of manufacturing quality and based on years of first-hand experience, I can say that the AJA equipment is solid. I know many of our customers won't even consider alternative brands or products once they've discovered AJA.
What industry and technology trends are you tracking and why?
I'm personally following developments related to virtual production, robotic cameras/heads, AI-based tools, and multifunctional processing platforms that can perform signal switching/routing/conversion tasks between several I/O ports. For the time being, it is important for these platforms to handle SDI since IP adoption is still lagging, between high administration costs and slow standardization.
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.
