The Invisible Magic of Our Professional Networks Delivering Seamless Client Projects
Investing in People and Partners to Create Luxury Homes
The best home technology projects happen when talented teams work together. Barrett's Technology Solutions partners with architects who understand spatial flow, interior designers who create stunning environments, and builders who bring visions to life. These collaborations succeed because we have invested years in building relationships within professional organizations. Whether staying current with industry standards through CEDIA, sharing best practices with fellow integrators in HTSA, or connecting with local design professionals, all of our affiliations culminate to create a foundation of trust and expertise that directly benefits every client project.
Professional relationships built on the mutual admiration of expertise foster real benefits that directly influence the final outcomes of our work. When we are brought into a project, we work with trusted architects and designers who understand technology integration, and appreciate how home automation enhances daily life, and collaborate with builders who know how to accommodate our team’s complex installations within their project management schedule.
The Inner Circle of Chicago’s Design Community
Our technology integration works best when it complements or elevates great design, which is why our company actively participates in organizations that connect us with the region's top creative professionals.
ASID Illinois, American Society of Interior Designers, represents over 1,100 interior designers, students, and industry partners throughout the state. Coley Holland, our Business Development Coordinator, has taken an active role in helping plan last year's ASID party and serving on the Communications Committee this year. The chapter produces digital magazines and coordinates several educational and social events throughout the year, including the annual Design Excellence Awards. These events bring Barrett's Technology Solutions into direct contact with designers who understand how technology should blend with beautiful interiors.
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) hosts some of the most refined events in the design world. This nonprofit organization promotes and preserves classical design through educational programs, lectures, and the annual Acanthus Awards. The events attract principal architects, designers, landscape architects, and custom home builders who appreciate how classical design principles can incorporate modern technology without compromising aesthetic integrity.
Through the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Barrett’s Technology Solutions has been able to attend learning events, celebrations, and lectures, which helps our team understand the architectural community at a higher level and better understand their goals and challenges. In addition, we also are actively represented in the Knowledge Community (KC) that is most relevant to our work. The Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) is where we connect with architects we’ve worked with in the past and with other elite-level, residential-focused professionals. Holland has served on the CRAN Symposium Committee and the CRAN Steering Committee for the past year and has become the CRAN Co-Chair for 2026 & 2027.
As a core member of the NextHaus Alliance, our company strives to promote how sustainable and resilient design can be both luxurious and efficient. We are a united team composed of an architect, two designers, a custom home builder, and a landscape architect, and our company provides integrated technology solutions. With the support of local sponsors in the trades, we are looking forward to the next turnkey house collaboration. Working with the same trade partners creates the shorthand necessary to deliver a white-glove experience for a client embarking on a new home build.
Powerhouse SMART is an integral professional organization, and we are proud to have a long-standing affiliation. Founded nineteen years ago, this organization brings together architects, builders, designers, and other trade professionals, all serving the same clients, with the specific goal of helping members collaborate professionally. Since members are from different specialties, the environment of collaboration is palpable. At each event, there is an established goal of finding a way to professionally assist another member. It is a culture of gratitude, generosity, and growth. With a culture that cultivates that leadership mindset, the group has become a cherished resource for all involved.
"I brought over a decade of experience in business development when I joined Barrett’s Technology Solutions, but I was apprehensive about transitioning into a new industry," Holland explains. "After attending a few events last spring and meeting some down-to-earth people who do out-of-this-world design, all I feel is gratitude to be in this role."
When everyone on a project, from architect to integrator to interior designer, shares professional standards and understands each other's processes, clients get better results. Early planning sessions run more smoothly, potential conflicts are resolved before they become problems, and the finished project reflects a unified vision rather than competing priorities.
Participation in the Home Technology Industry’s Top Organizations
We stay sharp through two key home technology industry organizations. CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) sets standards, advocates for technology integrators in government, creates certifications, and builds relationships with key industry vendors. With over 30,000 members from more than 80 countries, CEDIA ensures the home technology integration industry advances and draws fresh talent. When Cody Cannon, System Designer, Doug Rowley, System Integration Manager, and Brian Perreault, President, attended the recent CEDIA Expo in Denver, they brought back insights about the latest technology solutions on the market.
HTSA (Home Technology Specialists of America) operates as an industry member-driven trade consortium, providing access to the strongest trade partnerships, programs, education, and emerging technologies. Importantly, HTSA facilitates the sharing of best practices among the top integrators across the country. Barrett’s Technology Solutions benefits from consistent virtual meetings and HTSA Conferences and events, where integrators share what's working in their markets, creating collaborative problem-solving that helps serve clients better. As our company’s leadership has served on the HTSA board for decades, with over twenty cumulative years as president, we show our esteem for collaboration through our dedicated participation.
These industry connections mean our clients work with a company that knows what's coming next, not just what's available today.
Our professional affiliations represent more than industry credentials; they're working relationships that make every project better for our clients. Ready to experience the difference these professional relationships make? Contact Barrett's Technology Solutions to discover how their community connections can benefit your next project.
