Vice President, Integrated Systems
Charles W. Fairchild II, President
Fairchild Communication Systems
Indianapolis, IN
Northern Indiana Chapter NECA
BACKGROUND
Fairchild has been an IBEW Local 481 Low Voltage Technician in good standing since 1985 and holds multiple industry and manufacture training certifications, including BICSI RCDD, AVIXA CTS, CTS-I, and CTS-D. Fairchild started his career in 1983 with AV Repair Company as an equipment repair technician, then moved on to sound and video installation at Custom Sound & Engineering. In 1986, Fairchild joined Electrical Equipment Company, where he worked for fifteen years and added sound and video experience to its life safety systems offering.
COMPANY INFORMATION
After more than twenty years of experience in the industry, Fairchild founded Fairchild Communication Systems in 2001 with the support of his family. He started with only a van and some tools, but the company grew significantly and was recognized by the local business publication’s list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in central Indiana. Fairchild attributes this success to a focus on working hard and treating people well. The company now has teams working across three Indiana office locations, serving education, healthcare and other markets with design, sales, installation and service of most low voltage, optical and wireless systems. Fairchild Communication Systems operates throughout Indiana, with some national accounts out of state, and an annual revenue of $18 million.
INVOLVEMENT WITH NECA
In 2003, Fairchild Communication Systems joined NECA, where the company benefited from the wealth of experience and best practices available from NECA, its staff and members. Fairchild has served on the Indiana Chapter’s Board since 2018. Fairchild is also a member of the NECA IBEW Indianapolis Telecom Apprenticeship Sub-Committee and the Indiana Statewide Telecom Agreement Negotiating Team. This year, the company joined the NECA Northern Indiana Chapter. Fairchild sees educational opportunities, collective bargaining experience and advice, and government relations as NECA’s key services, and values the peer networking opportunities.
INDUSTRY OBSERVATIONS
Fairchild recommends embracing and adapting to the fast pace of change, particularly in Division 27 and 28 Systems. He has observed how technology changed the way we design, estimate, sell, manage, install, track, test and commission construction work. He notes that the low voltage portion of the electrical package has increased significantly in terms of contract value and installation hours, as well as quantity and types of systems.
AWAY FROM THE OFFICE
Chuck and his wife, Luanne, have been married for 37 years and have four sons. Their family has grown over the years, and they now have three daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. He enjoys hiking and camping, off road motorcycles and ATVs. The family has restored a 1954 18-foot Chris-Craft mahogany powerboat, owned since 1982, and plan to return it to the lake soon. Fairchild enjoys visiting Colorado, as well as historic and patriotic locations. Chuck received the Governor’s Distinguished Hoosier Award for community service to Scouting, in recognition of his commitment to leading approximately 70 youth (including all four of his sons) to the rank of Eagle Scout over twenty years of service. He is currently the President of the Board for the charter organization that supports four active scouting units.