With a background in the trades and project management, James Cherry switched to working in-house at theaters several years ago. Now as Senior Engineering Director at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in downtown Milwaukee, he works with the Marcus Center’s construction projects and capital planning initiatives, in addition to liaising with government entities.
GenComm recently had the pleasure of working with James when the Marcus Performing Arts Center was hoping to update its system of radios, replacing analog radios from the 1990s that were still in use. GenComm created a migration plan for the Marcus Center and utilized our strong relationship with a trusted manufacturer, Kenwood, to meet the Marcus Center’s financial and functional goals.
James shared more with us regarding this project and the difference that new radios has made for the Marcus Center.
How does the Marcus Performing Arts Center serve its community and customers?
The Marcus Performing Arts Center envisions to be a world-class gathering place for all as a neighborhood-driven provider of live performances. We act as an energizing force that connects our community to the world, through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of live performing arts.
Through my lens of facility and property maintenance, our duty is to represent the public as we consider security, utilities, emergency planning, and operations. We want to ensure the safety and comfort of every guest while being good stewards of a property that receives some government funding.
Why did you choose to work with GenComm?
Previously, our capital planner had worked with a competitor of GenComm, which had been satisfactory. But the company focused on a particular manufacturer, and unfortunately, this past provider was not able to provide us with an affordable solution using their manufacturer of choice.
When looking at alternative manufacturers, I knew Kenwood was the real winner, and choosing GenComm for installation was a clear decision. GenComm was willing to work with the Marcus Center’s capital planner and spent time building out a plan for our immediate, 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year needs. Specifically, Justin, our sales representative, was extremely knowledgeable and great to work with.
Additionally, GenComm advocated on our behalf to Kenwood directly, securing pricing that allowed us to update our system for the modern digital world. Our new radios have been a gamechanger for us, and the upgrades simply would not have been possible without GenComm’s relationships with Kenwood, and with us.
What makes GenComm stand out from other communication suppliers?
While we started working with GenComm due to their affiliation with Kenwood, we quickly recognized the difference in their customer-centric approach. GenComm was able to cater to us specifically, providing a personalized plan while respecting our financial position. Justin even physically tested radios with me in our facilities, seeking out every nook and cranny we could find.
Opportunities to work with companies like GenComm do not come often, and our contract was truly only possible because GenComm represented our fiscal situation to Kenwood. I’m a hero because at last, after 30 years, we finally got new radios!
Why is having confidence in the communication solutions provided by GenComm important to you?
The busier the Marcus Center is, the more communication is occurring. Beyond just day-to-day operations, numerous departments can communicate so much better: catering, programming, production, housekeeping, facilities, parking, and more. Before, we were emailing and running around; now we can broadcast over a system that is clear, actually understanding what was said over vastly improved distances.
The radios have “all call” capabilities and a plethora of other nice add-on features. And the improved communication has really sped up our emergency response time. In times of safety concerns, we can isolate specific channels or groups and respond to situations while maintaining uninterrupted communication for other teams or purposes.
Any other comments or anything that you’d like to add?
GenComm was timely in its work, which is sadly rare for many contractors, and we never felt rushed. We were impressed with the ample time that our sales representative spent with us, receiving a thorough explanation and understanding of our situation. Overall, GenComm went above and beyond to ensure their provided solution worked, and I was more than pleased to highly recommend them to some other theaters in the area.