CCS Partners with Lifestyle Technology Group to Enter Residential Space

Partnership brings CI 2013 Integrator of the Year’s AV and security expertise into high-end homes and condos.

One of the most successful systems integrators in the commercial space is coming in to your home.

CCS Presentation Systems, the Arizona-based integration firm that was CI’s 2013 Integrator of the Year, has entered into a strategic partnership with Newport Beach, Calif.-based Lifestyle Technology Group to provide design/build capabilities for AV and security systems in luxury homes and high-rise luxury condos in Arizona and California.

Under the partnership, LTG and CCS will “provide architects, interior designers, luxury home builders and homeowners full-service design/build capabilities,” according to the joint announcement of the initiative.

“I was talking to someone recently and the takeaway from that conversation was, ‘You always have to think about reinventing yourself and enhancing your brand,'” says CCS CEO and founder John Godbout. “Home automation just seemed like the right way for us to do that at this point.”

Dave Sell, president of LTG, and business partner Eric Stanley are former Crestron executives, with Sell overseeing all west coast U.S. sales and technical operations and Stanley managing more than 30 support agents until leaving the company in March. Both have extensive experience on high-end custom homes.

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“With the commercial experience and what we’ve learned about home automation, there’s expertise that can be applied,” says Sell. “With LTG’s technology expertise and CCS’ geographic presence and massive resources, we’re able to deliver and support our customers at a higher level than what they may be used to.

“Much of the residential channel is formed by enthusiasts who may not have the expertise. We think we can do it better, both in terms of our technical expertise and skill level. Partnering with David and John puts us in a whole new league,” he says.

CCS has expanded operations to include project managers, design engineers and integration specialists dedicated solely to home automation customers. Godbout sees potential to roll out the partnership in CCS’ other geographies if it’s successful in California and Arizona.

“There’s going to be some tough competition, but we’re going to win our fair share,” he says.

David Riberi, who launched the California CCS branch almost 20 years ago, says CCS has thought about moving into the residential space for a while, but saw a unique opportunity with the chance to partner with Sell and Stanley, as well as the recent failure of Via Home.

“We are all in and thrilled to now be able to provide residential customers the specialized services their homes deserve,” he says. “There’s a bit of a vacuum that presents an opportunity.”

Riberi sees the partnership as a way to help with some of the seasonal nature of his business.

“You can build year-round,” he says.

For those worried CCS will veer from its staunch opposition of using products intended for homes in commercial spaces or vice versa through this partnership, Godbout quickly shot down that notion, saying the initiatives will be kept separate in every way, including financially.

“When we work with American Express, it’s a commercial account. When we’re working in a home, it’s a residential account,” says Godbout.

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