CooperCraft Communications Announces Merger with Select-Tel Systems

CooperCraft Communications is pleased to announce their merger with Select-Tel Systems, located in Albany, Georgia. Upon completion of the merger, the company will operate solely under CooperCraft Communications, Inc. “We see this as an opportunity for the business to grow. The employees will have a broader area of work and this will be the best way for them to expand their careers,” said Tom Aldridge, President of Select-Tel Systems. “The progress that we want to make as a business, we see in CooperCraft. They are progressive and aggressive, which is necessary in this line of business. This is a very positive move for the business as a whole and all employees involved. I believe that the Select-Tel customers will continue to receive excellent service. The business philosophy of the two companies is very similar. Everything that CooperCraft wants to do for their customer, Select-Tel wants to do as well. The customer is, and will continue to be, our primary focus,” said Aldridge. Jerry Cooper, CEO of CooperCraft Communications believes this to be the next step in order to keep up with client demand and a growing customer base. “We are excited to merge and partner with the employees of Select-Tel Systems. They have proven to be a well-run, strong business through-out the years and we are looking forward to the opportunity of serving the existing Select-Tel customers. CooperCraft Communications is excited about the opportunity of expanding our business to meet all of the client’s needs. Tom Aldridge, with over 20 years of experience in fire and life safety, will be director of this newly developed division. We are excited about the growth of our company and will continue to exceed customer expectations,” said Cooper.

CooperCraft Communications is centrally located in Tifton, Georgia, and serves clients in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.

CooperCraft Employee Wins National Cabling Challenge for Second Consecutive Year

Lee Renfroe of CooperCraft Communications recently attended the 2013 BICSI Winter Conference and Exhibition in Tampa, Florida. The conference offered seminars over a four day period that discussed emerging technologies as well as government and industry standard updates. Lee attended sessions over data center efficiency, cabling challenges in healthcare facilities, wireless, and the future of fiber. “It is great to work for an organization like CooperCraft. They support their employees and give us the training we need to be successful.  In the end, it’s all about doing the best job we can for our customers,” said Renfroe. During part of the conference, Lee participated in the Cabling Skills Challenge Competition. The competition covered all aspects of an installer’s job including copper cable installation and termination, fiber termination, fiber splicing, troubleshooting/technical support skills, and a written test. Lee competed against 16 individuals from around the country and one from Japan. For the second year in a row, Lee was crowned as “BICSI Installer of the Year” and brought home a $5,000 cash prize. Congratulations, Lee!

Athens Regional Health Systems Partners with CooperCraft Communications in a 3-Phase Security Overhaul

In 2010, Athens Regional Health System realized the need for an upgrade in their security system. While searching for the right company to partner with, they came upon CooperCraft Communications.  “When I came on board back in 2009, we had two different access control systems. We were also in need of a larger Security Control Center and many upgrades to our CCTV monitors and cameras,” says Bruce L. Powers, Director of Security Services at Athens Regional Health Systems. “The hospital needed a way to simplify our security systems.  It was decided that we would conduct the security overhaul in three total phases, beginning in 2010 and the decision to partner with CooperCraft was made after our team conducted site visits and saw the work that CooperCraft had already completed for other hospitals our size.” The first phase was to cut the existing 161 analog cameras recording on GE DVRs, to Axis Q7900 and Q291 encoder racks. The video was moved to OnSSI recording platform, running on Intransa VA210 video servers. There were also 10 I.P.  cameras added in this phase. There was also a need for an upgraded control center, which was also completed during Phase One of the security upgrades. The next steps in phase one of the security overhaul was to cutover a total of 25 doors from an ACDB access control system to S2.This added more doors to the original S2 install of 32 doors. In addition, there were 66 new doors added on S2. Phase one was complete in August of 2011. Phase two began that same month with 12 additional IP cameras and 17 more doors added to the S2 system, all of which were completed in March 2012. The third phase began with transitioning the parking deck card access system to S2. There are a total of 10 card readers on the parking lots and decks of the hospital campus. During this install, 7 IP cameras were added and 4 exterior cameras were added for security of the perimeter of the hospital. While the three phases are completed, CooperCraft Communications continues to partner with Athens Regional Health Systems on several small, routine projects. “We are very satisfied with all of the products and service we received with CooperCraft. The integration of our systems and new installs of cameras have simplified our jobs. We are able to protect our patients, as well as our employees. The service we get from CooperCraft is exceptional,” said Powers.  Tom Ham, Project Manager and Technician with CooperCraft Communications, provides service to Athens Regional on a daily basis.” “The service we get from Tom and everyone else at CooperCraft is excellent.  We are proud to have partnered with them and look forward to working with them in the future” said Terri Payne, Security Services Department Coordinator at Athens Regional Health System

Colquitt Regional Medical Center Installs New Cameras to Ensure Safety of Patients and Staff

Greg Dorminey, director of Facility Operations at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, Georgia has nothing but wonderful things to say, when asked about the partnership between the hospital and CooperCraft Communications. “CooperCraft always provides quality service. From site evaluation to the continuing service and maintenance, Colquitt Regional has always been pleased with the performance and professionalism that CooperCraft exemplifies.” Dorminey has been the director of facility operations at Colquitt Regional for six and a half years. During those years, the hospital and surrounding medical offices have undergone a substantial amount of security overhaul. “We have had several upgrades to the structure of our security since I have been here. It is important for our hospital and outlying medical offices to stay up to date with security products and features, so that our patients feel safe and protected.” CooperCraft Communications and Colquitt Regional have partnered on several different projects including: access control solutions, installing analog and IP cameras throughout the hospital, many data cable drops, telephone system installs, and integrating the Cuddles™ infant protection system. “One of the largest and current ongoing projects would be the installation of a total of 81 cameras (and counting) at our facilities. The cameras, both analog and IP, have provided our security department with the technology the hospital was in need of. With the ExacqVision technology, we are able to install new cameras to our existing DVR and also integrate our CCTV systems through the S2 software we installed during our access control overhaul.”  The cameras that have been installed have already proven themselves to be a perfect fit at the hospital. “These cameras were installed to help us and protect everyone, patients and employees included.” Dorminey also gives credit to the attentiveness of CooperCraft Communications technician, Jeff Melton. “Jeff is here all of the time. Anytime we need help with something, we know that he is just a phone call away. There have been times when Jeff will come to the medical center, just to ensure that everything is going the way that it should. It is comforting to know that they are a local company that can do these large scale projects, but still care about a relationship with the customer.”

Tift Regional Medical Center Provides Extra Security and Peace of Mind to New Parents

Tift Regional Medical Center and CooperCraft Communications have built a very successful relationship over the years. The biggest project so far has been the construction of the Data Center, which was built in 2011. “CooperCraft has always been a valuable business partner to Tift Regional. We have been able to work together on multiple projects. Our most recent project is the Cuddles™ system we are implementing on our pediatric floor,” says Wade Brewer, Director of Technology Infrastructure Services. Accutech’s Cuddles™ is an infant protection system that helps prevent abductions and provides a general sense of safety and security to infants and their families. The system combines patented tags and bracelets, equipped with advanced RFID technology. The technology is very simple which allows nurses and doctors to spend more time on what matters most--the needs of their littlest patients. This system allows for a mother and baby match, multiple floor monitoring, and several notifications, that will alert hospital personnel of any possible harm to the infants. “The bracelets that are placed on the infant are very soft, and self-adjusting. They won’t fall off due to movement or weight changes, and an alarm will sound should the bracelet be cut off or removed. The tag is very lightweight, and can also be turned off when not in use to conserve battery. Should the tag be removed or tampered with, the perimeter will be locked down immediately,” says Tommy Thornton, Director of Technology at CooperCraft Communications. Brewer says that the staff is very excited about the Cuddles™ system. “Our staff and personnel believe that this system will give our patients that extra peace of mind and a sense of safety while they are at Tift Regional. CooperCraft has consistently proven that they are a leader in the security and cabling industry. They have always provided us with excellent service and are always there when we need them.”