Article posted on January 26, 2026
The remote work revolution has undoubtedly changed the traditional office for good.
HR leaders, IT directors, and workplace strategists now find themselves with the challenge of engineering an environment that delivers an experience superior to the home office in an effort to entice hybrid workers back to the hive mind (a nod to the Stranger Things phenomenon that has gripped our culture)… and justify the commute.
Topping the 2026 strategic corporate agenda is a shift toward advanced hybrid workplace AV solutions, recognizing them as the critical link between high-level employee engagement and peak operational efficiency.
At Fearing’s, we’ve observed that the organizations winning the war for talent acknowledge that while AV is a facility cost, it’s also a critical lever for focus, privacy, and brand storytelling.
Productivity in an open office depends heavily on acoustics. Today, sound masking solutions are essential for keeping teams focused.
Installing an office sound masking system creates a consistent background sound that gently “covers” human speech. The result? It reduces distractions from across the room and gives your employees the speech privacy they need to work effectively.
To understand how AV is redefining the workplace, we look at four key environments where technology meets strategy:
Positioning your organization for success in 2026 requires more than just buying hardware; it requires a cohesive strategy. Partnering with an experienced commercial audio installation company ensures that your sound masking, video walls, and conferencing tools work in harmony rather than in silos.
As we look ahead, the workplace must be a magnet, not a mandate. By investing in AV technology that supports both the psychological needs of employees and the functional needs of the business, you’re building a competitive advantage.
It’s time to redefine your workspace. Contact Fearing’s today to discuss a custom AV strategy for your facility’s operations.
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.
