In Inc. magazine’s May issue, AVI-SPL is featured in a behind-the-scenes look of the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. The article recognizes four companies whose work came together to create a unique and authentic experience. Learn how Vegas shoppers, restaurant diners and gondola riders are being emerged into an Italian Renaissance.

Read the full feature story from Inc.

Today, when talking to clients and partners (and even amongst ourselves), we like to say AVI-SPL delivers both the environment and experience. That’s why we wanted a well-produced video that would give viewers a compelling look at how the solutions we implement transform businesses. For many if not most viewers, this piece would be more than advertising – it would be their first impression of our company. And we all know what we learned back in grade school about the value of first impressions.

AVI-SPL set about this task with the talented minds at Spark ad agency. Both parties knew they had to come up with a story that would convey our solutions in a real-world setting, letting viewers see how our implementations can facilitate and simplify the everyday functions that businesses rely on to get work done and increase revenue. Although this would be a promotion of our capabilities, we didn’t want the story to be about AVI-SPL. From the beginning, the guiding concept was “a day in the life of business communications.”

“We believe better connections lead to better business results,” said AVI-SPL Senior VP of Marketing Kelly Bousman.  “That’s why we developed our new video story to show how video and unified communications technologies lead to company success by enabling teams to develop ideas through anytime, anywhere collaboration.”

The project came together — from concept to storyboarding to filming and post-production – thanks to the efforts of our partners and a lot of talented people behind the camera at Spark. At two locations, I watched the Spark film crew in action, solving problems and filming multiple takes so as to leave nothing to chance.

From the outset, we worried about coordinating the shipment and pickup of on-loan equipment for the video on a short schedule. Like they always do, the manufacturers we work with came through. AMX sent us a pre-programmed touch-panel desktop display ready for its close-up.  Experts from Crestron and Biamp both provided assistance so that their equipment would work correctly even though it wouldn’t be wired into system at the Tampa Museum of Arts (TMA), the first location for the shoot.

After two long days of filming at TMA, Spark brought its crew to the AVI-SPL headquarters in Tampa.  In our dedicated Cisco TelePresence room, we would film the critical scenes where our protagonist finds out whether his late-night efforts have been enough to impress a potential client. Our story, as it must, has a happy ending.  See for yourself. 

AVI-SPL would like to thank all of our partners for coming through to make this video possible, including:

• AMX
• Biamp
• Chief
• Cisco
• Cresron
• LifeSize
• NEC
• Panasonic
• Polycom
• Prysm
• Radvision
• Sharp
• SMART

Call AVI-SPL at 866-559-8197 or send an email to sales@avispl.com and find out how your business can improve with our video communication solutions and managed services.

After attending this event, teachers will understand how to apply technology into their classrooms in order to enhance the teaching and learning processes.

Tuition includes lunch and 24 component credit hours.  

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Register for the Dunedin Summer Institute for Technology by June 8 to save big!

Register for the Summer Institute for Technology in Detroit.

Watch the video to learn more about this valuable program for educators.

On the Agenda:

• Bring Your Own Device
• Why Mobile Video Collaboration?
• Is It a Real Business Tool?
• What Is Available Today?

Register now for “Video Collaboration in the Era of Mobility.”

Roger Wallman, director of product marketing for Radvision

About the Presenter

Roger Wallman is director of product marketing at RADVISION. Roger joined RADVISION in 2005 and is leading RADVISION’s product marketing initiatives as it expands from a video infrastructure provider to offering a full solution including mobile, desktop and room systems. He has more than 20 years of experience in video conferencing, having started his career at PictureTel in the early 1990s. Roger has also held key marketing and product management positions with CUseeMe Networks and First Virtual Communications.

Alicia McInerney joined the AVI-SPL team at The Dow Chemical Company as a web technician when she was only 19. Balancing a full-time work and school schedule as a junior at Central Michigan University would be a daunting task for most, but Alicia excelled in both the classroom and workplace.

After only eight months with AVI-SPL, we asked Alicia to take on a temporary role as service manager. “It was no easy task and I definitely had moments of severe trial – I was learning to really manage people for the first time out of a classroom, but instead of classmates they were coworkers who were older and held degrees,” said Alicia. “Although that posed quite a challenge, I was at a tremendous advantage still being a student at CMU. During that time period, I started looking at management classes I could take to learn how to be a better manager,” she added.

Alicia’s strong work ethic allowed her to transition to several different new roles over the next year. “With each new job, I looked for opportunities to support my hands-on learning with in-classroom learning,” she said. “By my second to last semester I was taking on a 21-credit hour schedule – this was made possible by the ability to learn at a faster pace. I could absorb the information I was getting from professors and apply it at the office the next day. I could also discuss topics in class with real-life experience. Thanks to that combination, I had grown into a much more confident and efficient manager and employee.”

In May 2011, management at The Dow Chemical Company, where AVI-SPL team members support their global operations via audio visual technology management, web content and design development, and video production, asked Alicia to transfer into the role of digital asset manager for Dow’s newly formed Olympic Operations division. Dow is one of 11 TOP sponsors of the Olympic Games, this puts them at the same level as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Visa, and other large brands. “My new role challenged me to manage one of the highest priority initiatives for Dow, as well as an additional responsibility of being the liaison between Dow and the International Olympic Committee for ensuring approval of all Dow-Olympic activations.”

Alicia is also active in the community and earned the title of Miss Bay County in 2011. Her platform is titled “Ignite the Passion Within,” which she describes as “a movement to encourage children, teens and young adults to find their passion and use it to build a better life. ” She’ll be competing to earn the title of Miss Michigan (as part of the Miss America Organization) in June. Best of luck, Alicia! We are proud of you!

These young men and women spent the day learning about business and what we do at AVI-SPL.

Each office tailored activities to their specific group of visitors, including an office tour, budgeting discussion, technology demonstrations – 3D, video conferencing, a control room and play time on a SMART board and SMART table- movie time on the projector and lots more. Denver even got a bounce house for the event! The kids also competed in AV word searches and crossword puzzles in activity books we created for this year’s event.

In Tampa, the older kids spent their afternoon learning about marketing. We challenged three teams of four to mix their own soda flavor (out of a variety of juices), name their drink, create a logo and film a short commercial advertising the soda to the younger kids. At the end of the day, we let the younger kids vote on their favorites. It was a hit!

Overall the day was a huge success! Big thanks to everyone who helped with the event and to all of the kids for joining us at AVI-SPL!

View Bring Your Child to Work Day Photos on Facebook >>

On the Agenda:

• Advantages of LPD over other display technologies
•  Real-world applications of LPD
• The Prysm Visualization Room

 Register now for “Why Laser Phosphor Displays Are Better for Commercial Applications.”

About the Presenter

For more than 16 years, Jason Litt has been designing, developing and executing elaborate digital environments that employ technology to bridge the gap between imagination and reality. As a Certified Technology Specialist in Design (CTS-D), Litt has implemented unique state-of-the-art productions and large-scale media installations for a range of projects within entertainment, commercial, healthcare, and workplace verticals. He has mastered the synergy between technology, architecture and information, resulting in seamless virtual environments that deliver powerful messages.

Plus, it’s all free – entry, lunch, and a chance to win an iPad2.

Andrew W. Davis, cofounder of Wainhouse Research, will deliver the Expo keynote speech, “Beyond ROI: Find Real Value in Collaboration.” During his presentation, Davis will discuss the technical and social implications of the voice-video-data convergence on the way businesses communicate and collaborate. An industry visionary, Davis offers an in-depth look into how IT professionals, line managers and senior executives can get a return on their investment in collaboration solutions.

Register Today!

Register for the May 9 Collaboration Expo event in Washington, D.C., and see the list of exhibitors and find out more about the educational seminars.

Each full-day conference is your opportunity to learn about the latest collaboration technologies, helping you make informed decisions on communication investments for your company. 

Following this stop in D.C., this FREE series of events will take a summer break before returning to land in four more cities throughout the U.S.:

• Chicago, IL – September 13
• New York City, NY – September 25
• Tampa, FL – October 18
• Anaheim, CA – October 30

If you have any questions about any of our upcoming events, visit our Collaboration Expo 2012 FAQ page, email events@avispl.com or call 877-440-6205.

Features:

• Supports single or dual displays up to 46 inches
• 20RU of rack space
• Blonde, cherry or mahogany veneer table top
• Customizable

Download the TeamSpace brochure and see additional AVTEQ business solutions at the AVI-SPL partner catalog.

About AVTEQ

AVTEQ, Inc., located in Dallas, Texas, is the largest manufacturer of videoconferencing carts in the A/V furniture industry. The companydelivers cost-efficient, all-inclusive products that do not require accessories and upgrades to be practical and efficient. AVTEQ has become the preferred choice of hundreds of Global 1000 and Fortune 500 clients because of unmatched quality, service and product innovation. It stocks a full line of A/V and digital signage support products, as well as custom develops and designs solutions for unique videoconferencing, business, and retail applications.

Download “Building Cloud-Ready Collaboration Solutions.”

You can see solutions by Polycom and other manufacturers firsthand when you attend the AVI-SPL Collaboration Expo 2012. Join us May 9 for our Collaboration Expo in Washington, D.C.