Inland Audio Visual
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Interfacing Society F rom your morning elevator ride to ordering your favourite coffee at the drive-thru, we rely on electronic “message boards” to keep us informed – with everything. They keep score of the game, they illuminate roadways and they keep busi- nesses connected via meetings and presentations. And when it comes to effective communication, it has to be seamless in today’s global marketplace. Whether you’re hosting a seminar or an AGM, a ‘do-over’ is not an option – you only have one opportunity to convey your message with efficiency. “The AV industry is all around us, but people don’t usually recognize it,” says James Werbowski, co-owner, Inland Audio Visual. “We are surrounded by some form of media and elec- tronic signage all the time. The signage communicates with the public to inform, educate, guide, train and advertise, and we put together the products that help people and businesses communicate.” Throughout Western Canada and for 75 years, Inland AV has played an integral role working behind the scenes to help com- panies deliver their message – effectively and professionally. They have evolved as the go-to company for electronic inter- facing of seminars, webcasts, videoconferencing and staged events. From small to large businesses and industries that span all sectors, Inland AV delivers the electronic expertise to help your company communicate more effectively. The company was originally founded in 1937 in Winnipeg, Manitoba as Inland Broadcasting. Some 30 years later, they hired Ed Werbowski to reorganize the structure. Given his entre- preneurial spirit, Ed purchased the business in 1973 and it has remained a family-run operation for almost 40 years. Ed’s two sons, Kim and James, started working for Inland AV when they were teenagers – while most of their peers had paper routes. “We had our first taste of commerce via quality control when a shipment of record players and cassette recorders arrived at the warehouse,” recalls Kim, co-owner. “We would unpack them and test them. We did this for a couple of years – making about 25 cents a box!” In 1973, Saskatoon was their first expansion, followed by Regina in 1979. “The Regina expansion was the result of a phone call from a customer in the hospitality industry,” remembers Kim. “We provided their AV services and three decades later, that customer still calls us when they have AV requirements.” During the late 1970s, Kim joined the business full time and he looked after the rental division, largely to help customers in the hospitality industry, which gradually opened up other rental markets in Saskatchewan and Alberta. In 1981, James joined the company and became responsible for the sales department. “We eventually expanded on the heels of the rental business to offer sales and service throughout our offices in Saskatchewan and Alberta,” adds James. Ten years later, they opened an office in Calgary, followed by Edmonton. Many of the early expansions started as a one-man shop, but within a few years each branch grew to become a full- service AV provider. Inland Audio Visual Celebrates 75 Years Inland AV | 75 years By Mary Savage Emergency Services Command Centre
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75th Anniversary
Transcript of Inland Audio Visual
Interfacing Society
From your morning elevator ride to ordering your favourite coffee at the drive-thru, we rely on electronic “message boards” to keep us informed – with everything. They keep
score of the game, they illuminate roadways and they keep busi-nesses connected via meetings and presentations.
And when it comes to effective communication, it has to be seamless in today’s global marketplace. Whether you’re hosting a seminar or an AGM, a ‘do-over’ is not an option – you only have one opportunity to convey your message with efficiency.
“The AV industry is all around us, but people don’t usually recognize it,” says James Werbowski, co-owner, Inland Audio Visual. “We are surrounded by some form of media and elec-tronic signage all the time. The signage communicates with the public to inform, educate, guide, train and advertise, and we put together the products that help people and businesses communicate.”
Throughout Western Canada and for 75 years, Inland AV has played an integral role working behind the scenes to help com-panies deliver their message – effectively and professionally. They have evolved as the go-to company for electronic inter-facing of seminars, webcasts, videoconferencing and staged events. From small to large businesses and industries that span all sectors, Inland AV delivers the electronic expertise to help your company communicate more effectively.
The company was originally founded in 1937 in Winnipeg, Manitoba as Inland Broadcasting. Some 30 years later, they hired Ed Werbowski to reorganize the structure. Given his entre-preneurial spirit, Ed purchased the business in 1973 and it has remained a family-run operation for almost 40 years.
Ed’s two sons, Kim and James, started working for Inland AV when they were teenagers – while most of their peers had paper routes. “We had our first taste of commerce via quality control when a shipment of record players and cassette recorders arrived at the warehouse,” recalls Kim, co-owner. “We would un pack
them and test them. We did this for a couple of years – making about 25 cents a box!”
In 1973, Saskatoon was their first expansion, followed by Regina in 1979. “The Regina expansion was the result of a phone call from a customer in the hospitality industry,” remembers Kim. “We provided their AV services and three decades later, that customer still calls us when they have AV requirements.”
During the late 1970s, Kim joined the business full time and he looked after the rental division, largely to help customers in the hospitality industry, which gradually opened up other rental markets in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
In 1981, James joined the company and became responsible for the sales department. “We eventually expanded on the heels of the rental business to offer sales and service throughout our offices in Saskatchewan and Alberta,” adds James.
Ten years later, they opened an office in Calgary, followed by Edmonton. Many of the early expansions started as a one-man shop, but within a few years each branch grew to become a full-service AV provider.
Inland Audio Visual Celebrates 75 Years
Inland AV | 75 years
By Mary Savage
Emergency Services Command Centre
Today, Inland AV has over 100 professionals who help com-panies communicate effectively, along with 43 hospitality venue partners and an impressive corporate following throughout the Prairie provinces.
Tim Wiest is the branch manager in Regina, Ralph Niekamp manages the Saskatoon operation, Jonathan Duquette heads up the Calgary branch and Ben Mejia manages the Edmonton office.
“We added a division to work in conjunction with videocon-ferencing and it’s our Managed Services department,” explains James. “We house elaborate video switching equipment so we can manage the end users videoconferencing equipment. It includes everything from scheduling meetings and checking equipment to servicing equipment remotely.”
Likewise, Inland AV can help customers maximize remote com-munications. “We can bridge many sites through our Managed Services department. For example, a company will have a video-conferencing site, but they are only able to talk to one or two sites,” says James. “We have the equipment and expertise to transmit to multiple sites. It’s a big pipeline of bandwidth and it provides a lot of opportunities to expand into video and webcam services.”
As Kim notes, the relationship with their suppliers is key to staying ahead of current technology. “Our suppliers are an impor-tant aspect when making decisions: they impact the equipment we purchase and following trends in the marketplace,” he says.
“The electronic industry changes quarterly and that’s an exciting part of our business, but you’ve also got to be careful. All of our rental equipment is state-of-the-art and right now, 3D video map-ping is new – it’s an area we are excited about,” adds Kim. “Since
237 Labrosse suite 200, Pointe-Claire QC Canada H9R 1A3Tel: 514-695-4883 • Fax: 514-695-5243 • [email protected]
amx.ca
AMX would like to congratulate
Inland AV on their 75th anniversary.
Inland AV | 75 years | Page 2
Gala Event With 400’ Surround Screen
Congratulations Inland Audio Visual on your 75th Anniversary!
• 201 Guest Rooms , Restaurant , Lounge and Underground Parking • Event Planning and Catering• Conference Facilities with full AV needs professionally supplied by Inland Audio-Visual for over 20 years!
708 8th Avenue SW, Calgary Tel: 403 263 7600 • Fax: 403 237 6127Toll Free 1 800 661 8684 • www.ramadacalgary.com
A Bright Idea From
Hitachi.
Portable Series Projectors Feature:Full connectivity including HDMI •
Network Control, Maintenance and Security • Optional Wireless • 5.1 lbs
Bundle promotion is good through March 31, 2013. No quantity limit.
Contact Inland AV for more details and purchasing.
1.800.HITACHIhitachi-america.us/projectors
Take advantage our new Portable Projector Bundle
Promotion and receive an additional lamp
with purchase!
Congratulations to Inland AV celebrating 75 years of success.
Inland AV | 75 years | Page 3
Inland AV Calgary700-58th Ave SE Bay 1Calgary, AB T2H 2E2
403.252.7726 or 800.495.6006Email: [email protected]
Inland AV Edmonton100, 17893-106A Ave
Edmonton, AB T5S 1V8780.423.4833 or 800.587.4004Email: [email protected]
Inland AV Regina2501 7th Ave
Regina, SK S4R 1C7306.525.8726 or 800.743.8008
Email: [email protected]
Inland AV Saskatoon21-1738 Quebec Ave
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9306.664.8622 or 800.925.6006Email: [email protected]
Inland AV Winnipeg422 Lucas Ave
Box 102, Group 200, RR2Winnipeg, MB R3C 2E6
204.786.6521 or 800.933.6006Email: [email protected]
www.inlandAV.ca
we’ve been in the business a long time, we have a sense of what the market is looking for and the right products to invest in.”
When it comes to communications, Inland AV has been ob-serving industry trends for decades. “We are seeing larger displays and more live events in Alberta,” notes Kim. In Sas-katchewan, Gesture Technology is starting to emerge and may factor into the evolution of technology and events in the future.
“Most people don’t understand audiovisual, it’s unassuming, but it’s a very vibrant industry. People don’t realize what goes on behind the scenes in order to deliver a flawless presentation. The client provides the content and we bring it life,” adds James.
“You only have one chance to deliver a great presentation, so if the lights or teleprompter don’t work or the scripts are not on cue, there are going to be problems. We can’t stress enough the importance of doing a rehearsal – it makes a huge difference,” asserts Kim.
Looking back, both Kim and James agree their father was an exceptional businessman. “Given Ed’s entrepreneurial spirit and moving forward, our plan is to continually provide the mar-ketplace with leading-edge products and services into the next decade,” adds Kim. “Ed looked at the overall business opportu-nities, he surrounded himself with good people and built a very successful business that we have continued to grow.”
As Inland Audio Visual celebrates their 75th anniversary, they would like to take a moment to thank all of their customers, sup-pliers, business partners and employees who have contributed to their success.
Inland Audio Visual and Sharp Electronics of Canada have developed a great relationship that spans over 35 years. We have worked together as technology evolved from cassette recorders, CRT’s to today’s interactive Aquos Board.
www.sharp.ca
Gigantic Performance.
Without Epson’s Edge Blending technology, projection walls are just prehistoric.Introducing the new Pro Z Series from Epson, with built-in Edge Blending technology, a generous brightness offering up to 10,000 lumens*, and up to WUXGA resolution*. The new Pro Z also supports HD-SDI connectivity*, split-screen functionality, and comes in a black case option, to further blend in with darker venues. To learn more, go to www.epson.com/ProZ or call 1-888-475-8050.
Congratulations to Inland AV on your
75th year in business
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Inland AV | 75 years | Page 4
