AV Programming Associates: A Crestron Programming Company With The Experience Of A Large Business And The Agility Of A Small One

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AV Programming Assoicates, (AVPA) is Certified Crestron Services Provider. They specialize in design support and programming of Crestron control systems for the professional audiovisual industry. Below is our recent interview with Matthew Grisafe, President of AV Programming Associates:

Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to AV Programming Associates?

A: AV Programming Associates (AVPA) is a small business concentrating on the programming and integration of automation systems. We started 16 years ago on September 11, 2001 (heck of a day to start a business), and we focus on two markets—residential, and then everything that is not residential. In our early years, we were more heavily focused on programming for residences, but have since shifted that focus more toward non-residential projects. We still do a fair share of programming for residences, but it is for the more high-end custom implementations.

We started our company based on programming Crestron systems, and now do both Crestron and Extron programming. We have a core set of certified programmers on our team that provide Crestron and Extron programming. We work with both dealers and integrators, and now with end users as well, which is a direct result of our digital marketing efforts. We do both new projects and maintenance of exiting systems, and have experience with every type of job imaginable from private yachts to sports arenas.

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Q: What have been some major milestones over the last 12 months?

A: We’ve had some very high-profile projects this past year. I would say the biggest was the completion of a major residential job for which we, in conjunction with the dealer, won the Global Award from CEDIA for Best Integrated Home. This was a major accomplishment and a testament to the type of work we can do. As far as growing our business, another major milestone has been in the certification of an additional Extron programmer and our focus on building our Extron business. We see this as a major growth area in the years to come.

Q: Can you give us more insights into your services?

A: We really provide two basic services—project-based programming and project support. Our project programming is usually a quoted range, where, based on the scope of the project, we will give a number where we feel we can do the job. Once we have a general agreement on scope and price, we generate a formal scope of work that outlines exactly what we are to provide for the project. Our other service is project support. Project support is any work that can’t be tied to a project. Anytime someone asks for help on an existing project—troubleshooting a system or modifying code to add additional equipment—that would fall under a support work order. We are currently exploring adding other services, such as DSP programming and design consulting.

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Q: What geographic markets are you focusing on currently?

A: Since we are based in the San Diego area, we mainly focus on Southern California, but we will go wherever the work takes us. Through our digital marketing efforts, we get requests from locations all over world. We are currently doing a job in Tanzania, for example. The beauty of our work it that, as long as there is a connection to the world wide web, we can access and support any project remotely. Recently, we have determined that there are some sparsely supported areas in our neighboring states, and we will be focusing our marketing efforts in these areas for Extron programming.

Q: What are your plans for 2018?

A: For 2018, one main focus is growing the Extron programming side of our business. We also plan to continue our Crestron programming services, and grow our DSP programming services as well. This has been a major request from our customers.

AVPA is a little/big company. We have the experience and knowledge base of a large company, with a solid core of programmers, but we are small enough to be flexible in our operations and make quick decisions when needed. We are always looking at opportunities, and we’re smart enough to recognize when to act without jeopardizing our existing business.

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