Commercial Integrator April 2023 - 42

INTEGRATOR PROFILE Inside PTG
PTG:
A Values-Driven
Integrator
CI offers a glimpse into the integrator's
transparent, open and honest company culture,
which has helped it transcend macroeconomic
challenges. By Alyssa Borelli
COMPANY FILE
Promotion Technology Group (PTG)
Promotion.ptgcloud.com
Locations: Wixom,
Mich. (HQ); Dallas
Established: In 1986
as Business Television
Video (BTV), later
changed its name to
Promotion Technology
Group (PTG)
Employees: 60
Revenue: $30 million
Number of Projects:
3,000-plus
Top Vertical Markets
Served: restaurants,
retail, corporate
campuses
Company Values:
To be Nurturing,
Innovative, Missionfocused,
Bold, Loyal
and Efficient (NIMBLE)
FOR MANY AV INTEGRATION FIRMS, business ground to a halt at the start of
COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Indeed, for Promotion Technology Group
(PTG), the Wixom, Mich.-headquartered integration firm that creates, installs
and services commercial audio, video and interactive experiences for some
of the world's most prestigious restaurant and retail brands, projects were at
a standstill. After all, many of PTG's customers had temporarily closed amid
pandemic restrictions and stay-at-home orders. In fact, one of PTG's largest
enterprise customers went out of business completely, shaving $1 million off
the integrator's bottom line.
Naturally, employees began to worry. Bill Fons, president of PTG, recalls staff
members coming up to him and asking, " Are we going out of business? " One
staffer said, " My husband just lost his job. Am I going to lose mine? "
Fons would reply with his characteristic candor and honesty. " You're not
going to lose your job today, " Fons would say. He would also level with team
members, saying, " I really don't know. This is the first time I've ever gone
through this. I can tell you the company is financially stable - we don't have
any debt, and we have everything paid for. We've got a long runway until
things would get dicey. " He would close with words of honest, albeit tempered,
reassurance, saying, " I can promise you one thing: We're not going out
of business this week. "
Knowing that the team wanted regular updates on the company's stability
and welfare, Fons made a commitment. " I'll tell you what, " he said at the time.
" I'll jump on a video call on Monday and give you an update and tell you how
we're doing. " From that moment forward, PTG leadership resolved to check
in with staff once a week, giving them the good, the bad, the ugly and, most
importantly, the honest truth. And in doing so, " The Morning Toast " was born.
Consistent Employee Engagement
In the first half of " The Morning Toast " meetings, Fons would offer a business
update to the staff. The second half of the meeting featured an interview with
somebody interesting - indeed, sometimes, it wasn't even someone who had
42
Commercial Integrator APRIL 2023
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Commercial Integrator April 2023

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