Most people who start their own telecom/video systems companies do so after building substantial experience in the studio/broadcast industry. But not Jon Bereman, president of Duncan Video, Inc. Bereman got into the industry almost by accident. Twenty-five years ago, Bereman was vice president of operations at a manufacturing company, where he built contacts with people who supplied videotape and VCRs. When he left the company, he started selling videotape, and before long he received his first customer request for a VCR. Soon manufacturers turned to him for cameras, tape decks, and switchers.
Bereman quickly gained a hands-on education in the industry, and almost before he knew it he became an equipment dealer. He began by selling and building systems in his garage, then eventually moved to a small building. His team grew over the years, and his offices got bigger and bigger until he finally built his own facility. Today, Duncan Video, based in Carmel, Indiana, provides customized video systems solutions to clients big and small, including sports arenas, cable systems, and high-end production houses. Their service area covers Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and parts of Tennessee.
From video control rooms and edit suites that broadcast corporate communications worldwide to state-of-the-art commercial broadcast and production facilities, Duncan Video is where professionals turn for complete evaluation, design, integration, and installation of cutting-edge telecommunications equipment. For example, Duncan Video designed, built, and installed broadcast/video display systems for Conseco Fieldhouse (home of the Indiana Pacers), FedExForum (home of the Memphis Grizzlies), and Time Warner Cable Arena (home of the Charlotte Bobcats). They also do most of the video work for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Their talented professionals are known for providing the right equipment for the task at hand and for offering full-service training and support for everything they sell. Notes Bereman, “No two systems or customers are alike, and no two sets of requirements are alike. I’m fortunate to have a dedicated team that thrives on challenging work and enjoys building custom systems from the ground up.”
Today, Duncan Video is 28 employees strong. Working together, this close-knit team, along with other local organizations, has helped raise about $150,000 each year for the past 10 years to support needy families through the Woodland Christmas Club. Several times a year, employees and their families also gather for cookouts and holiday get-togethers. However, Bereman’s commitment to his staff goes beyond celebratory parties. “My staff are part of my family,” he says. “One day, I plan to sell the company to my employees so I can leave them a legacy. I may have started this company, but my employees are the ones who’ve made it what it is today.”
