Since founding his Easton, MA, AV integration firm in 2009, CEO Stephen Rothwell has grown his company from seven people to more than 20, earning $5-million in revenue per year. In the early days, the company had to rely on subcontractors and partners, but as they evolved, they brought those services all in-house, all under one roof, so they could truly position themselves as a one-stop solution, all-inclusive technology and AV company that no longer has to outsource any one part of a project.
Now the company is able to create a better user experience and better end-result for their clients, which has made Inspired a lucrative option for general contractors when they too would prefer to work with just one company for all-things tech. Wiring, cabling, phone systems, audio-visual needs, surveillance, boardroom, multimedia, lighting— and the opportunity to streamline all of it through iPads and tablets customized and programmed by Inspired—is one phone call away.
Inspired is truly a family business; Stephen’s brother Brian serves as COO and other brother Bob as director of operations. Stephen is most proud that where most people need a separation from work, home, and family life, he’s able to successfully combine them all. And even though each brother has a different title, role, and responsibility, the common goal is, “What is best for Inspired?”
And giving back to the community is equally important for the Rothwell brothers. Stephen sits on the board for the Rodman for Kids organization, assisting their offices with tech support, while also donating new phone and voicemail systems. They also donate AV gear and installation services as silent auction item for the organization. Additionally, Steve and Inspired lend a hand to My Brother’s Keeper (which provides furniture for families in need) in their hometown of Easton by outfitting their headquarters with every piece of technology products and support, including phones, cabling, AV, security ,and support staff when things need to be tweaked. Stephen, being a resident of Easton as well, annually donates (and sponsors) to Easton youth sports and the Easton Children’s Museum. Inspired is also a charitable donor to Boston Scholar Athletes and a long-time supporter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Inspired recently completed work on a client’s house in Marion, MA, showcasing their ability to coordinate with the home’s architect to ensure AV technology blended seamlessly into the structure of the home. For a brief photographic tour and description of the project, click here.
The Living Room: working together with the homeowner’s designer and architect at the planning stage, Inspired was able to get the cabinetry built to the exact specs of the 65-inch Sony 4K TV. A perfect fit looks best in this formal yet cozy room, and keeps up with the aesthetic detail shown in the woodwork. A wall-mounted iPad can be taken anywhere in the home for control of any of the 10-plus TVs or 15 audio zones. The iPad charges while docked, and this homeowner had Inspired install five iPads and charging stations throughout the house. Four speakers are hidden in the detailed ceiling, yet provide amazing sound for both movie watching or streaming audio.
The Family Room: similar to the living room, designing at the planning stage allowed Inspired to ensure not only that the TV would fit perfectly in the custom cabinetry, but that the in-ceiling speakers would line up perfectly with the lights and ceiling wood work.
The AV Rack: shown sitting outside of its hallway closet home, the custom AV rack houses all of the equipment necessary to keep Inspired’s clients and their two children entertained all summer. Video sources include six TiVo boxes and two Apple TVs and are distributed to all TVs via a 4K Matrix switch. Five independent audio streams allow multiple users each to listen to music services such as Pandora and Spotify. Networking equipment also lives here keeping all of the homes low-voltage wiring hidden, protected, and easily serviced.
Outdoor Patio: With entertaining as a primary focus of this family, Inspired took the audio and video system outside as well. A 65-inch SunBrite TV can be watched at all hours of the day and year-round without forfeiting picture quality. TV and music can be heard over the weatherproof speakers that are nicely in the corners of the patio
Pool Patio: One outdoor TV just wasn’t enough for this family. Another 65-inch SunBrite TV paired with four all-weather speakers keep the party going out at the pool. With the homeowners being big sports fans, Inspired knew they wouldn’t want to miss a touchdown or home run while the kids enjoy the beautiful pool. With control from the iPads here as well, the homeowner can keep the game on while listening to their favorite music station with the push of a button.
