Technology

WZC Networking Marks 20 Years of Engineering Emergency Responder Radio Coverage

Published

2 hours ago

October 5, 2026

NOVI, Mich., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WZC Networking marks its 20th anniversary this year, reflecting two decades of designing, installing, and testing the in-building radio systems that keep firefighters and EMS crews connected when they move inside a structure. When a radio goes silent inside a building, a crew loses contact with command at the moment communication matters most. That’s the gap WZC was built to close.

In 2006, RF engineer John Wierzgac founded WZC around an uncomplicated truth: concrete and steel might block a fire, but they shouldn’t choke out a distress call. Twenty years later, WZC has become Michigan’s benchmark for Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) and Public Safety DAS. We don’t sit back and wait for signal drops to expose a blind spot. Instead, we pull up a chair with developers, fire chiefs, and inspectors long before the first antenna hits the roof, wiring absolute reliability directly into the blueprint.

Buildings have radically evolved since 2006. Thick concrete and low-E glass save energy, but they block radio signals, creating dead zones in stairwells, basements, and interior corridors where portable radios lose contact with the outside. Where a building cannot meet the coverage thresholds required under NFPA 1225 and IFC Section 510, as adopted locally, an ERCES is required. WZC treats that coverage as a life-safety system rather than a permit item, and looks for blind spots in design rather than at the certificate-of-occupancy inspection.

A Building Days from Opening, and a Signal That Wasn’t There

Days before the Corewell Health Endoscopy Center was set to open, acceptance testing identified insufficient in-building radio coverage, putting the fire marshal’s sign-off and the facility’s certificate of occupancy at risk with a fixed opening date approaching.

The Christman Group brought in WZC Networking. The team designed a compliant solution, expedited equipment procurement, and produced documented test results that satisfied the fire marshal and supported the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy, allowing the facility to open on schedule while the permanent system was completed.

It’s the kind of save that never makes headlines because it isn’t supposed to happen at all. A healthcare facility opened on time. A general contractor learned who to call before groundbreaking on the next project, not after a failed test threatens the finish line. That’s why Christman looks to WZC first now: not because of a sales pitch, but because the work held up when the schedule had no room left.

Fifty-One Percent, Not Even Close to Enough

At Clawson Manor Co-op, a 15-story senior living complex, energy-efficient glazing and heavy exterior cladding were severely attenuating public safety radio frequencies. A WZC Networking survey found that only 51 percent of the property met required signal thresholds. In the egress corridors, where reliable communication is critical during an emergency, that figure dropped to just 34 percent. For hundreds of elderly residents who cannot evacuate rapidly during a crisis, those gaps could have left arriving crews without reliable communications.

WZC engineered and installed a signal booster and distributed antenna system sized for the building’s envelope. On re-test, the property passed in 100 percent of tested grid areas, exceeding the thresholds required under NFPA 1225 and IFC Section 510 as adopted locally. Clawson Fire Department Battalion Chief and Fire Marshal John Ruthenbeck noted, “The City of Clawson was more than satisfied with the design and installation of the system by WZC Networking and the professional service provided to both the residents of the Clawson Manor and the Clawson Fire/Police and EMS Agencies.”

Nobody on the Other End of That Radio Is Replaceable

Behind each of these projects are people who aren’t statistics. At Clawson Manor, there are several hundred residents who cannot evacuate quickly on their own. At Corewell Health, there are patients under sedation and the staff responsible for getting them out.

When fire marshals deny an occupancy permit, the code is not the end goal. Protecting the people inside the building is. WZC operates on one inviolable principle: no contractor’s deadline and no construction budget is worth a human life. A wall should only ever shelter people, never cut them off from the communication that could save them.

Passing Once Is Not Compliance

WZC makes one point clear to owners and facility managers: an ERCES is not finished at commissioning. NFPA 1225 requires ongoing inspection and testing of these systems, covering donor signal, amplifier gain, alarm reporting, and battery backup performance, along with periodic verification of in-building coverage. Buildings and the RF environment around them change over time, and a system that passed when it was commissioned may not perform the same way years later. Responsibility for maintaining that compliance sits with the building owner.

In practice, a system that passed at turnover and has not been touched in four years is a system nobody can vouch for. WZC provides ongoing ERCES inspection, testing, and documentation programs so owners maintain current, AHJ-ready records rather than discovering a lapse during an inspection or, worse, during an incident.

Twenty Years, One Principle

Earlier this year, WZC hosted fire chiefs and fire marshals for an open workshop on ERCES field conditions, focused on education rather than a product pitch. “Twenty years in, it still comes down to the same thing,” says founder John Wierzgac. “A radio has to work on every floor and in every stairwell, not just in the lobby. If it doesn’t, the system isn’t finished, whether or not anyone is inspecting it that day.”

That principle drives every project WZC takes on, from healthcare clinics to senior living centers. First responders don’t view emergency communication as code compliance; they see equipment they have to be able to depend on. That focus has not changed as WZC has expanded. “Most of the buildings we walk into were never designed with radio coverage in mind,” says Nate Wierzgac, Chief Operating Officer. “Nobody asks the question early, so it surfaces at the end, when it is expensive to fix. We would rather be in that conversation during design, and we would rather owners know the testing obligation doesn’t stop at turnover.”

From a Novi startup to a multi-state partner, WZC Networking has built its practice one building, one grid test, and one clear channel at a time, so that when the call comes, it carries.

WZC Networking is an RF engineering and technology integration firm founded in 2006 in Novi, Michigan. WZC designs, installs, tests, and maintains Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES), public safety and cellular DAS, structured cabling, Wi-Fi, security and CCTV, and audiovisual systems. The company also delivers ongoing managed and compliance services for multi-site clients across the United States.

Learn more at https://www.wzcnetworking.com

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Technology

Pavilion Launches as the First Founder-Owned National Vacation Rental Company

Published

10 minutes ago

October 5, 2026

20 locally led companies managing more than 5,000 homes come together to share infrastructure, technology and data, all under one roof.

NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pavilion, a national vacation rental company, launched today with 20 local companies managing more than 5,000 homes and welcoming approximately 50,000 guests each month across the United States.

Pavilion launches as the first founder-owned national vacation rental company, with 5,000+ homes under one roof.

Pavilion brings together successful local vacation rental companies that have built deep relationships with property owners and have real expertise in their markets. Each one stays locally led by the teams who built it, while gaining the resources and scale of a much larger organization. What sets Pavilion apart is who owns it. The leaders of its local companies become long-term shareholders, and together with the team running Pavilion itself, they own the majority of the business.

“The people who built these businesses are the core of Pavilion, and they should get the biggest share of the outcome,” said co-founder and chairman Joe Fraiman. “The typical industry playbook left founders with a small piece of someone else’s company. We’ve been founders in this industry ourselves, so we built the company we would have wanted to join.”

“We look for local companies that have built incredible relationships with their property owners, because those relationships are the heart of this business,” said Lino Maldonado, co-founder and CEO of Pavilion. “We see property owners as business owners. Our job is to put the best service, technology and people in the industry behind them so their business is worth more next year than it is today.”

Behind the local companies, Pavilion provides shared technology, data, owner reporting, accounting, revenue management, business development, purchasing and insurance. Its management team brings experience from Compass, Bridgewater Associates, Inhabit, Grand Welcome, Wyndham and Wheelhouse.

“Pavilion gave me a way to keep building my business while owning a piece of something much bigger,” said Steven Chrobak, founder of Myrtle Beach Destinations. “We have the tools and support we need to grow, and the only thing my homeowners have noticed is that we’ve gotten better.”

Pavilion is actively seeking more local vacation rental companies across the country. “We’re looking for builders,” said Brady Stump, co-founder of Pavilion. “People who have built something exceptional in their market and want the resources to make it substantially bigger. They are joining a collection of pioneers who own the company together, share what works, and solve problems as a team.”

Pavilion’s investors include TZP Group, investment funds managed by HPS Investment Partners (a part of BlackRock), and Capital Dynamics. PGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI), served as the primary lender for the Pavilion platform. “Great hospitality companies shouldn’t have to choose between what makes them special and the advantages of scale,” said Paul Davis, partner at TZP Group. “Pavilion is designed to preserve the local knowledge, hospitality and entrepreneurial leadership that made these companies successful while giving them access to resources that are typically only available to much bigger companies.”

Pavilion’s 20 founding local companies are 30A Vacay, Akers Ellis, Beach Getaways, Blue Creek Cabins, Compass Resorts, Destin Pointe Realty, Enjoy Unique Stays, Executive Villas, Host & Keep, Kabino, Maui Paradise Properties, Myrtle Beach Destinations, Panhandle Getaways, Premium Beach Condos, Rent in Myrtle, Salt Water Vacations, Scenic Stays, Sea Mountain Vacations, Vacay Rental Network and Wild Oak Telluride. Blue Creek Cabins, Destin Pointe Realty, Premium Beach Condos and Rent in Myrtle have merged with one of the other local companies, so the group operates as 16 today.

Jefferies LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor and Cooley LLP acted as legal counsel.

About Pavilion
Pavilion is a national vacation rental company majority-owned by the people who run it. Its 20 local companies manage more than 5,000 homes and welcome approximately 50,000 guests each month in vacation destinations across the United States. Pavilion gives those companies shared technology, data, infrastructure and expertise while keeping the local teams and leaders behind each one. Pavilion was founded by Stakeholders, the firm Brandon Ezra, Joe Fraiman and Brady Stump started in 2025 to build national companies owned by the people who run them. For more information, visit pavilioncollection.com.
To learn more about Stakeholders, visit stakeholders.us.

About TZP Group
TZP Group, a multi-strategy investment firm managing approximately $2 billion across its family of funds, is focused on control, growth equity, debt and structured capital investments in technology, business services, and consumer companies. Founded in 2007, TZP targets companies with solid historical performance and sustainable value propositions and aims to be a “Partner of Choice” for business owners and management teams. TZP seeks to invest primarily in closely held, private companies in which the owners desire to retain a significant stake and partner with an investor with complementary operating and financial skills to accelerate company growth, increase profitability, and maximize the value of their retained stake. TZP leverages its investment professionals’ operating and investment experience to provide strategic and operational guidance and is dedicated to long-term value creation. TZP’s investment in Pavilion was led by Paul Davis, Geoff Allard, Alex Pfeffer, and Sam Dwinell. For more information, please visit www.tzpgroup.com.

About Capital Dynamics
Capital Dynamics is an independent global asset management firm focusing on private assets, including private equity (primaries, secondaries and direct investments) and clean energy.

Established in 1988, the Firm has extensive knowledge and experience developing solutions tailored to meet the exacting needs of a diverse and global client base of institutional and private wealth investors. Capital Dynamics oversees more than USD 15 billion in assets under management and advisement1, and employs approximately 150 professionals2 globally across 14 offices in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Capital Dynamics is a recognized industry leader in responsible investment, receiving top marks (Five Stars) from PRI across all categories and investment strategies, as well as in GRESB benchmarking for its clean energy strategy. For more information, please visit: www.capdyn.com.

About PGIM
PGIM is the global asset management business of PFI. (NYSE: PRU), with $1.5 trillion in assets under management. 3 PGIM offers clients deep expertise across public and private asset classes, delivering a diverse range of investment strategies and tailored solutions—including fixed income, equities, real estate and alternatives. With 1,500+ investment professionals across 40 offices in 20 countries, we serve retail and institutional clients worldwide. For more information, visit pgim.com.

PFI of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

1 As of June 30, 2026. Assets under Management are calculated based on the total commitments as of the final closing date for all funds currently managed by Capital Dynamics, including amounts that have been distributed. Assets under Advisement includes assets for which Capital Dynamics provides services such as reporting, monitoring and risk management.
2 Includes all full-time and part-time employees, as well as essential functions performed by temporary staff and long-term consultants
3 As of Jun. 30, 2026. Assets are rounded to the nearest full number.

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Technology

Playseat® Marks over 30 Years since Founding the Racing Cockpit Category

Published

10 minutes ago

October 5, 2026

From pioneering the category in the mid-1990s to driving its future, Playseat® continues to push racing simulation forward.

DOETINCHEM, Netherlands, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In the mid-nineties, Playseat® created the racing cockpit category, and ever since, has been an innovator and trailblazer, constantly pushing the boundaries of what simulation can be and how it should look and feel.

From developing new racing sub-categories, including the world’s first foldable racing seat and the first formula-position racing seat, to building strategic partnerships with top-tier names like Red Bull, Mercedes-AMG, PUMA, PlayStation, NASCAR and Formula 1®, they consistently turned new ideas into real experiences.

Playseat® is not stopping at racing. They’re opening new simulation categories like flight and heavy-duty machinery later this year. And true to its DNA, it now sets the new standard, again, with the next-generation racing cockpit.

“Since the first prototypes in 1996, we have continuously introduced new and unique products to unlock experiences and designs for everyone worldwide,” said Fernando Smit, President and founder of Playseat®. “We thrive on exploring, creating, and innovating, and you can see the market following every step we make. To make sure the latest and greatest will always be available, we are upping the game even more for the future.”

The next-generation racing cockpit has arrived

Playseat® is about to launch the Playseat® Evolution 2, the next-generation racing cockpit engineered to set a new standard in racing chairs and redefine what sim racers can expect from their setup. Born from the Playseat® Evolution, the simulator that created the home racing cockpit category, this next-generation Evolution carries that proven expertise forward. In a long tradition of innovative product introductions since the mid-90s, the Evolution 2 delivers unmatched versatility, expandability, and value, making it the most adaptable All-Round Racing cockpit on the market today.

About Playseat®

Playseat® created the racing cockpit category in the mid-nineties and has since been trailblazing the Racing, Flight and Farming simulation cockpit and Gaming chair categories. All products are fully patented, designed and engineered in the Netherlands, combining all-round versatility for everyday use with the highest level of quality, making it the go-to brand for simulation and gaming from beginner to pro.

Find Playseat® at playseat.com or @playseat.

Media Contact:
pr@playseat.com

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Technology

ASI Southeast Work-Based Learning Student Named Georgia Student of the Year

Published

10 minutes ago

October 5, 2026

Governor’s Workforce Summit award caps a nine-year manufacturer-school partnership that now supplies one in ten of ASI’s Georgia employees

TOCCOA, Ga., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Connor Wallace, a senior at Stephens County High School and a Work-Based Learning student at ASI Southeast, has been named the 2026 Georgia Work-Based Learning Student of the Year. He received the award on September 24 at the Governor’s Workforce Summit in Atlanta, where he was recognized by Governor Brian Kemp. Wallace won the county-level award before advancing to the statewide honor.

Georgia’s work-based learning programs enrolled 32,518 students across 24,582 employers in the most recent school year, according to the Georgia Department of Education.

ASI Southeast manufactures commercial toilet partitions and lockers for ASI Global Partitions and ASI Storage at its plant in Toccoa, roughly 90 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Two years, zero absences

Wallace joined ASI Southeast in December 2024, shortly after turning 16. He has recorded zero absences, zero tardies and zero early departures since, earning the company’s 2025 Perfect Attendance Award. As of August 19, he had completed 2,534 Work-Based Learning hours and is on pace to pass ASI’s program record of 3,100 before graduation.

His contribution has gone well beyond attendance. During the Locker Business Unit’s continuous improvement competition, Wallace redesigned the UPS staging process, eliminating roughly 158,720 employee steps per year, close to 80 miles of walking, and producing an estimated $5,000 in annual savings. The project won the unit’s “Most Steps Saved” award.

He was then selected as one of five employees to represent the Locker Business Unit in ASI’s 2026 company-wide continuous improvement championship. That team’s project delivered approximately $35,000 in annual savings and won the competition outright. Wallace was named Best Presenter.

He now serves as ASI’s Work-Based Learning Team Captain, acting as liaison between the company, participating students and Stephens County High School. He has led plant tours, represented ASI at job fairs, helped train employees, and taken on responsibilities in production and quality inspection.

“Connor’s defining qualities are his respect, dependability, and ability to make the people around him better,” said Clint Frady, Business Unit Manager at ASI Southeast. “He earns opportunities through consistency, masters new responsibilities, and then helps others succeed. Connor is a tremendous example of what can happen when a motivated student is given an opportunity to contribute in a real workplace and chooses to make the most of it.”

A program built for the labor market it sits in

ASI’s Work-Based Learning program was developed by Stephen Wallace, General Manager of ASI Southeast and Connor’s father, in partnership with Stephens County Schools. Students join the plant during the school year and return across successive summers, with a defined path to full-time employment after graduation.

That structure is a deliberate response to conditions in northeast Georgia, where manufacturers compete for a limited pool of qualified skilled labor. Rather than recruiting against the shortage, ASI develops workers within it, building familiarity with the plant, the equipment and the culture years before a hiring decision is made.

The program runs in collaboration with the county school system rather than as an internal-only initiative, with coordinators, credit hours and a structure the school recognizes and students can build on.

Nine years in, it has hired 67 students from three area high schools, beginning with four. Graduated participants have worked more than 57,736 hours and earned over $1 million in wages, nearly all of it spent in the local economy. Approximately 80 percent remain with ASI after graduation and about half stay three years or longer. In nine years, one participant has been involuntarily terminated.

Today, 32 percent of the operations workforce at ASI Southeast’s 900 Plant came through Work-Based Learning, as did roughly 10 percent of ASI’s employees across Georgia.

About ASI Group

ASI is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial toilet partitions, washroom accessories, lockers, and visual display products. ASI Global Partitions and ASI Accurate Partitions are the company’s partition divisions. With operating units and offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, and China, ASI serves architects, building owners, and contractors in more than 50 countries.

Media Contact
Anthony Dutcher
Vix Media Group
301-485-9853
424140@email4pr.com

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