Chase Creative Unlimited - Event Staging and Audio/Visual Services

Support our State Economy (Article written by Chuck Ruiz and featured in the June Issue of Michigan Meetings and Events Magazine)

Do you think that you are fully supporting the state economy when you book a meeting or an event at a Michigan venue or hotel property that requires you to use in-house audio-visual? There is a very competitive and competent Michigan-based audio-visual industry that can be hired for small- to large-scale meetings, events, equipment rentals and that can even travel nationally or internationally. But if your venue contracts its audio-visual services through an out-of-state provider, you may be missing out on an opportunity to help sustain a local business.

KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING
Supporting local companies gives strength to our communities and ultimately our state. The conscious decision for each of us to hire and support a locally owned and operated business demonstrates that we are united and aware of our current economic situation, that we are fiscally responsible in choosing who we do business with, and that we are committed to a larger community as a whole: our state.

As some businesses continue to struggle and even disappear, it leaves a real and devastating social and economic void in our communities. I believe it is time for all of us to consider what the real cost to Michigan will be if we do not increase our utilization of the vast and skilled local business resources (people, services, technology) available to us in this great state.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM
As a Michigan-based service provider headquartered in Plymouth, with another facility in Grand Rapids, Chase Creative Unlimited will continue to aggressively serve Michigan-based companies. We will continue to actively pursue and hire complementary local creative service providers (writers, producers, directors, lighting directors, audio, editors, graphic artists, show producers, meeting planners) in an effort to help promote cost effective, quality, turnkey communication solutions to help Michigan-based companies sustain and ultimately grow their business.

What can you do? If your venue uses an out-ofstate provider for audio-visual services, you may be able to negotiate the clause out of your venue contract that states you must use in-house audio-visual or be penalized. But don’t stop there. In order to help aid Michigan’s economic recovery and support of our state, I urge you to take a good hard look at the talent pool around us and give another fellow Michigander the chance to serve.

Chuck Ruiz is manager of sales and marketing at Chase Creative Unlimited. The Chase Creative team of event staging and audio-visual experts helps clients create memorable experiences by connecting their key message with the audience through effective utilization of presentation technology and innovative solutions. They also provide full service audiovisual system design and integration and equipment sales, lease, rental and maintenance.