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Council of Churches of the Ozarks

Pitt Technology Group (PTG) recently completed a major AV equipment upgrade for the Council of Churches of the Ozarks (CCO) at their new headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. Our state-of-the-art audio and video equipment, installed in the chapel, conference rooms, and business offices, significantly enhances the organization’s ability to conduct meetings, presentations, and worship services.

Working closely with the CCO team, we installed a variety of AV equipment, including a high-quality 6,200-lumen projector with laser technology, a ceiling-recessed electric screen, and local HDMI input wall plates for easy connectivity. We also installed an 80-watt amplifier, wall-mounted column speakers, and six in-ceiling speakers for clear and powerful audio throughout the building.

Our installation of digital signage displays, including a 75″ display and a wall-mounted 75″ display, provides the CCO with an easy and effective way to share news, announcements, and other information with its members and the public. Additionally, we installed three 55″ Samsung displays and a BrightSign® player to display important information and presentations during meetings and worship services.

At PTG, we understand that every organization has unique AV needs. That’s why we worked closely with the CCO to ensure that their specific needs were met. We installed a 30X optical zoom PTZ camera, a 10x optical Pan-Tilt-Zoom USB camera, and an AMX all-in-one soundbar to facilitate conferencing and other activities, ensuring crystal-clear audio and video. We also installed several microphones and a wireless microphone antenna, ensuring that every participant’s voice is heard clearly.

Our commitment to delivering high-quality AV solutions that transform the way our clients do business is reflected in our work with the CCO. Our attention to detail ensures that every project is tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients, and we take pride in the positive impact our AV solutions have on their operations.

The CCO is very pleased with the results of our installation, which has allowed the organization to better serve its members and the community. Our commitment to providing the best possible AV solutions to our clients is reflected in our long history of providing quality equipment and services. We strive to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each of our clients, and our work with the CCO is a testament to our dedication and expertise.

Springfield Regional Arts Council home page

Springfield Regional Arts Council – Connecting to the Arts

The Springfield Regional Arts Council (SRAC) is a non-profit organization connecting people and the arts. SRAC’s outreach in the arts is the largest in the state of Missouri – providing support to prominent organizations among different industries, such as: visual, performing, literary, and film/media.

Due to its impact, SRAC needed a new website that could seamlessly integrate with the different services they provide to the community, but also aesthetically convey their main mission and values.

Pitt Technology Group had several requirements to meet when creating the new SRAC website, so that the small team at SRAC can continue to coordinate special programs and events both online and around the Springfield, MO area:

• Have an events calendar that could accommodate recurring, annual, and one-time events. Also, be able to filter those events by special categories.
• A form for community leaders and artists to promote and add their events to the calendar, with prior review and approval by a Springfield Regional Arts Council staff member.
• A way to showcase upcoming important events on the homepage.
• Creator info had to be transferred from SRAC’s old website into the new Artist Registry database where artist profiles can be searched, filtered, and viewed in detail by site visitors.
• Membership access so artists can register, login, and edit their individual profiles.
• Resource pages to explain how creators, patrons, and organizations can be involved in shaping the Springfield arts community.
• Pages to inform the public on the multitude of community and youth programs, special events, and all the important work SRAC does to support the arts.

Per feedback from The Springfield Regional Arts Council social media page:
“Technologically up-to-date, beautifully designed, and very user-friendly the site is everything we dreamed of!”

PDR Finesse Tools homepage

PDR Finesse Tools, Inc – E-Commerce Redesign

PDR Finesse Tools, Inc. was founded in 2007 by Ike Rhoades in Ava, MO. After a long and successful career as an autobody technician and body shop manager, Ike’s dream was to develop the strongest and highest quality paintless dent repair tools in the industry and involve his family to create a lasting legacy. Under his leader leadership, the PDR Finesse family pioneered the adjustable handle tools and revolutionized the sharp tool movement. The PDR team came to Pitt Technology Group initially to troubleshoot their previous e-commerce site. 

After an in-depth investigation of the website our team found:  

  • Misconfigurations affected their workflow and revenue stream. 
  • The E-commerce platform was not easily customizable for our client. 
  • Their website host was unreliable, causing site outages and hindered the online shopping experience.

After configuring their order statuses, automated order email notifications, and shipping calculation settings, the owners reported back saying the changes saved them extra manual hours from their workflow.

Another thing apparent was their e-commerce platform was a one-stop-shop and the storefront was not easily customizable for our client. We recommended them to have us migrate their store to a more reliable and intuitive e-commerce platform and for our developer to give their online store a facelift.

With the guidance of our project manager and in-depth communication with the developer, the client got to be highly involved in the migration, redesign, and configuration processes.  It is important to PTG to establish a close professional relationship with our customers, as we respect our clients’ feedback to ensure we achieve the goals they desire for their business. 

Some additional items that were on PDR Finesse Tools, Inc’s wishlist for a seamless e-commerce experience:

  • Shoppers could do guest checkout or save their info to an account,  
  • Automated shipping tracking notifications,  
  • No stock management,  
  • Secure payments via Paypal or credit card, 
  • Custom contact forms – one in which shoppers could request a custom tool to be built to specific standards,
  • Responsive on different devices (website can be viewed on differently-sized screens,) 
  • And a dashboard that easily integrated with their warehouse packing/shipping workflow.

The owners of PDR Finesse Tools, Inc. commented they felt less stress knowing we were taking care of the tech side of the business and were enthusiastic with the outcome of their new e-commerce website. 

geek foundation

Geek Foundation

Pitt Technology Group partnered with Community Foundation of the Ozarks was excited to announce another recipient of the COVID-19 Agency Technology Assistance Grant to The Geek Foundation.

The Geek Foundation is an innovative nonprofit providing free interactive education, resources, and support to future tech professionals, enthusiasts, and especially to those who make the tech industry more diverse.

With this $3,500 grant, Pitt Technology Group provided and configured 25 Amazon Fire Tablets that will enable The Geek Foundation to better facilitate content delivery and video conferencing. These tablets will help improve access for all those who have an interest in computer programming, IT, and maker technologies in our community. 

SeniorAge logo

SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging

Pitt Technology Group partnered with Community Foundation of the Ozarks to announce another recipient of the COVID-19 Agency Technology Assistance Grant to SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging.

SeniorAge plays a key role in planning, developing, coordinating, and delivering a wide range of service and support that prolongs independent, meaningful life at home and within our community.  

Pitt Technology Group provided and installed a Video Conference System at their headquarters, along with a remote site system.  This totaled in a $10,190 investment upgrade.  SeniorAge is tasked with assisting 17 counties throughout our territory in Southwest Missouri.  These new video conference systems will certainly help their programs and services become more successful throughout our Ozark community.  

AIDS Project of the Ozarks logo

Aids Project of the Ozarks

AIDS Project of the Ozarks was another recipient of the COVID-19 Agency Technology Assistance Grant, which was a partnership between Pitt Technology Group and Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

APO is a non-profit community-based organization serving a 29-county region in SW Missouri providing medical, testing, and educational services to their clients and their families. 

With the $11,440 grant, Pitt Technology Group provided and installed a Video Conference System in their mobile RV unit.  The technology enabled APO to teleconference with medical professionals that can better serve clients in remote areas.  Also, PTG upgraded their existing main office conference room with an improved video conferencing system to better support the clients within our community.  

The Creamery Arts Center

The Creamery Arts Center

In June of 2020, the Springfield Regional Arts Council (SRAC) contacted Pitt Technology Group for help with fixing and finalizing their internet services at the city’s central arts hub, The Creamery.

 

The SRAC’s physical offices were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a handful of employees to work remotely. The technology issues were immediately apparent, and the Arts Council had to purchase new laptops and go through the hurdle of internet setup and integration.

 

It was found that an old server held all of the Arts Councils’ files, resulting in regular crashes due to battery backup issues, and was stored in a very public place that often caused even more headaches. Moreover, when SRAC wanted to upgrade the building with new cabling, install a new internet provider, and connect their phones, the City of Springfield’s responsibilities stopped after internet purchase and phone delivery. The Springfield Regional Arts Council and the tenants of The Creamery were left with phones and an internet provider they did not know how to operate. Enter Pitt Technology Group.

 

We first helped by installing a trusted central network, which solved the common issue of tenants stepping on each other’s feet while working without wireless boundaries. Not only did we replace their entire wireless system, but we added new cabling where necessary, set up their phones, and helped install a Firewall for proper network separation. Now, with new services installed by Pitt, members of The Creamery and SRAC are able to enjoy their own virtual network that is unaffected by others, secures their data, and does not crash.

 

The Creamery is a vital hub that helps elevate the services the Regional Arts Council can provide to Springfield. That’s exactly why we installed and continue to manage their infrastructure and internal network for free, and ensure their data stays safe and secure. Thanks to previous business relationships with each organization, PTG was able to seamlessly help complete the goals of SRAC to provide the community with arts opportunities and experiences. Between the responsibilities of the City of Springfield as well as the SRAC, Pitt Technology Group filled the gaps of equipment and technology services to help the Ozarks better enjoy the arts. 

Drew Lewis Foundation logo

Drew Lewis Foundation

Pitt Technology Group partnered with Community Foundation of the Ozarks was excited to announce another COVID-19 Agency Technology Assistance Grant to the Drew Lewis Foundation.

The mission of Drew Lewis Foundation is to educate, empower, and support under-served families through personalized programs and coaching to build resilient communities. 

Pitt Technology Group, with the help of our friends at Graybar, provided an additional $19,050 for Infrastructure Data Cabling and a Video Conference System that was installed at The Fairbanks headquarters.  This enhanced the tools DLF previously used in providing individuals and their families a better quality of life in the urban Grant Beach neighborhood. 

Jeff City Emergency Operations Center

Jefferson City Emergency Operations Center

Pitt Technology Group was contacted by Jefferson City to design and install a full audio video system for their Emergency Operations Center. PTG designed a system that would allow the end user to display content on any display (projector or TV) as needed. AV wall plates were installed for users to plug in their devices at various points in the room and display their content to a selected display as needed. There are two laser projectors that display content onto two 159″ permanent screens hanging on the front wall, while six- 65” 4K TVs with tilting wall mounts were placed around the room, along with nine- 55″ TVs that were installed at the front of the room to be used as a video wall.

A Crestron control system was integrated to provide end users the ability to display from their personal devices to appointed displays.  Two- 20x optical zoom cameras were installed at the front and rear sections of the room.  To complete the system, we ran all the video through a streaming and recording device for online access and reviewing needs.

A local computer was located at the front of the room for the client to use during meetings and to run video as needed. Two- 10″ touch panels were installed at the podium and the entrance of the room to control all devices and change configurations to each display, video wall, cameras, and audio in the room.

A full audio system – that includes two- 2’x2′ ceiling microphones, was installed for audio needs.  Sixteen- 8″ in-ceiling speakers were mounted throughout the room to provide excellent audio coverage for all participants. A 2-channel 260-watt amplifier was installed in the AV rack to run the audio speakers within the room.  A 8×8 digital signal processor was used for controlling all audio in the room.  Finally, we added a 52-port POE+ switch, coupled with UPS and power conditioners, which provides power to all the needed devices.

salon service group building

Salon Service Group

Salon Service Group is a salon product distributor for licensed cosmetologists that supports locations across 11 states. As they continued to expand they needed IT solutions that would allow retail branches to quickly, easily, safely, and consistently send transaction information to the primary data center in Springfield, Missouri. That’s where our IT management team came in.