Thalner Electronic Labs team working on-site in Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor's AV Integration Partner for 60+ Years

Why Ann Arbor Businesses Choose Thalner

  • 60+ Years in AV DesignProviding custom AV solutions since 1965.
  • PSNI Global AllianceGlobal AV coverage for multi-location work.
  • AVIXA Lead MemberUp to date on industry-leading AV training and certifications.
  • In-House AV ProgrammersOur in-house team builds every control interface from scratch.
  • One-Year AV WarrantiesProtective warranty and multi-year service contracts.
  • One Point of ContactYour AV team stays with your system as long as you own it.

Sixty years. One name. One legacy.

AV innovation isn't just our motto. It's in our company's DNA. We started as Thalner Electronic Laboratories, a lab built around a local engineer named Bob Thalner, a regional expert who even owned the original copyright to the color video camera chip.

For years, we built broadcast video equipment right here in Ann Arbor. By the mid-to-late 1980s, the industry was shifting, and so were we. We ultimately moved from building out our own broadcast gear into providing more integration-focused services, installing the latest products from industry-leading manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic into complete systems for our clients.

In 2012, under different leadership, the company took on the name TEL Systems. It's a name a lot of our longtime clients and manufacturer partners still know us by, but at the end of the day, we still felt we wanted to honor and acknowledge our company's rich history as a local AV leader. So we've made the decision to go back to our roots and operate as Thalner again, offering our clients the same team and same commitment to the work, all operating from same building on Jackson Road we've called home for 60+ years.

That history matters because it's the reason clients trust us with more than a single install. We've been a strategic supplier to the University of Michigan for nearly 30 years, and we've built relationships with municipalities, corporate offices, and school districts across the region the same way: by showing up, doing the work right, and sticking around for the "day two" support long after the system is installed.

Leadership, sales and project teams

Meet our team: the people behind our AV innovation.

Select a team member to read their bio.

  • Tim Boggs, President at Thalner

    Tim Boggs

    President

    Tim Boggs, President at Thalner

    Tim Boggs

    President

    Serving as President of Thalner since 2016, Tim Boggs brings over 25 years of specialized audio-visual engineering, system design, and technical leadership to the organization. Since joining the company in 1998, Tim has spearheaded the consultation, design, and engineering phases for hundreds of complex commercial AV integrations, spanning broadcast production studios, executive conference rooms, university auditoriums, and large-scale venue systems.

    A seasoned engineer by trade, Tim holds top industry credentials, including AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist in Design (CTS-D), Crestron DigitalMedia Certified Designer (DMC-D), and AQAV Certified Quality Designer (CQD). His technical mastery in computer-aided design (AutoCAD/VIDCAD), architectural infrastructure planning, and advanced system configuration ensures every deployment is built for seamless operation and future scalability. Under Tim’s forward-thinking guidance, Thalner continues to combine decades of engineering heritage with modern innovation, serving as a trusted, long-term AV partner for clients across Michigan and beyond.

  • Nicholas LaChappelle, VP of Engineering at Thalner

    Nicholas LaChappelle

    VP of Engineering

    Nicholas LaChappelle, VP of Engineering at Thalner

    Nicholas LaChappelle

    VP of Engineering

    As Vice President of Engineering at Thalner, Nicholas LaChappelle brings over two decades of low-voltage trade mastery and technical leadership to overseeing the firm's engineering operations. Active in low-voltage systems integration since 2001, Nicholas joined Thalner as a Project Manager in 2013 following years of managing field operations on large-scale higher education builds.

    Throughout his tenure, he has planned and executed landmark integrations across Michigan, including high-profile renovations for the University of Michigan Athletic Department, such as Michigan Stadium, Crisler Center, and Yost Arena—as well as expansive campus-wide voice, data, and fiber optic network deployments. Nicholas’s optimistic, results-driven leadership and technical rigor ensure every complex AV environment is built for long-term reliability and exceptional client satisfaction.

  • Greg McQuiston, VP of Operations at Thalner

    Greg McQuiston

    VP of Operations

    Greg McQuiston, VP of Operations at Thalner

    Greg McQuiston

    VP of Operations

    As Vice President of Operations at Thalner, Greg McQuiston brings over 25 years of multi-disciplinary experience spanning AV design engineering, broadcast production, construction management, and enterprise system integration. Having initially joined the company as a Senior Project Manager before advancing to lead all operational divisions, Greg oversees the end-to-end execution of Thalner’s commercial AV integrations, from initial job estimating and facility design through installation, quality assurance, and final technical commissioning.

    Greg holds technical certifications across AutoCAD, VidCAD, Crestron DigitalMedia (DMC-D 4K), Iconyx Gen5 design, and NSCA project management. Greg’s hands-on background as an AV programmer, design engineer, and system trainer ensures every project meets strict engineering benchmarks while delivering exceptional reliability for Thalner’s client partners across Michigan.

  • Brian Hoeft, Sales Manager at Thalner

    Brian Hoeft

    Sales Manager

    Brian Hoeft, Sales Manager at Thalner

    Brian Hoeft

    Sales Manager

    As Sales Manager at Thalner, Brian Hoeft brings over 12 years of specialized expertise in audio-visual design, sales strategy, and technology integration across Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and multi-location commercial accounts. With a career built on hands-on AV, IT, and construction experience, Brian offers a complete perspective that connects initial engineering concepts to real-world execution.

    In his leadership role, he guides Thalner’s sales team, establishes rigorous solution standards, and fosters long-term client relationships across Michigan and beyond. Holding AVIXA’s Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential, Brian’s dedication to transparent communication, meticulous attention to detail, and client success aligns directly with Thalner’s commitment to being a trusted AV partner for life.

  • Scott Byers, Project Manager at Thalner

    Scott Byers

    Project Manager

    Scott Byers, Project Manager at Thalner

    Scott Byers

    Project Manager

    Serving as a Project Manager at Thalner, Scott Byers brings nearly three decades of hands-on leadership across low-voltage infrastructure, electrical supply, and commercial audio-visual integration. Since entering the commercial contracting space in 1998, Scott has spearheaded complex technology deployments, including higher education auditoriums, enterprise signage networks, broadcast capture studios, and large-scale facility rollouts.

    Holding AVIXA’s Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential alongside extensive factory product certifications, Scott manages Thalner’s larger, multi-faceted commercial projects, ensuring every build is executed to exact engineering standards. Highly skilled in job-site safety protocols, work-site compliance, and multi-trade coordination, he serves as a reliable bridge between general contractors, electricians, and facility directors.

  • Joe Harris, Integration Manager at Thalner

    Joe Harris

    Integration Manager

    Joe Harris, Integration Manager at Thalner

    Joe Harris

    Integration Manager

    As Integration Manager at Thalner, Joe Harris brings over two decades of audio-visual industry experience to leading field integration operations and complex commercial technology deployments. Since entering the AV sector in 2004, Joe’s career path spans hands-on field installation, warehouse logistics, administration, and project leadership with leading regional and national integrators, including AVI-SPL, PTG, and Level III.

    His comprehensive background allows him to seamlessly bridge technical execution on the job site with high-level project coordination across classroom environments, large-venue spaces, digital signage networks, and broadcast capture systems. Known for his collaborative, client-focused leadership and fiscal accountability, Joe excels at managing tight project schedules while orchestrating clear communication between general contractors, internal engineers, and client stakeholders.

  • Ron Ruth, Senior Account Manager at Thalner

    Ron Ruth

    Senior Account Manager

    Ron Ruth, Senior Account Manager at Thalner

    Ron Ruth

    Senior Account Manager

    Serving as Senior Account Manager at Thalner, Ron Ruth brings over three decades of specialized experience in commercial Pro AV, video conferencing, audio networks, and enterprise streaming solutions. A veteran of the video systems industry since 1995, Ron works closely alongside IT engineers, consultants, and facility leaders to design and deliver large-scale technology environments across higher education and corporate markets.

    Over his career, he has successfully managed complex AV system deployments ranging from specialized room upgrades to multi-million-dollar campus-wide integration projects. Ron’s thorough engineering approach, multi-trade coordination skills, and commitment to long-term client satisfaction directly reflect Thalner’s mission to deliver reliable, future-proof commercial AV solutions.

  • Maria Pate, Account Manager at Thalner

    Maria Pate

    Account Manager

    Maria Pate, Account Manager at Thalner

    Maria Pate

    Account Manager

    As an Account Manager at Thalner, Maria Pate specializes in designing and delivering tailored commercial audio-visual solutions that seamlessly integrate functionality, room aesthetics, and user experience. Holding credentials as a Strategic Account Specialist (SAS), Maria focuses on corporate meeting environments, collaborative workspaces, and enterprise conference room technologies.

    Maria serves as a key strategic partner for clients throughout Michigan, working closely alongside facility managers, IT leads, and internal engineers to translate complex operational needs into intuitive, scalable AV systems. Actively expanding her technical depth across signal architecture, network infrastructure, and user experience design, Maria’s client-first dedication directly reflects Thalner’s commitment to building lasting, consultative technology partnerships.

  • Matt Bizer, Account Manager at Thalner

    Matt Bizer

    Account Manager

  • Austin Boggs, Account Manager at Thalner

    Austin Boggs

    Account Manager

  • Chris Lindsay, Inside Sales & Service Coordinator at Thalner

    Chris Lindsay

    Inside Sales & Service Coordinator

  • Joan Knightley, Accounting at Thalner

    Joan Knightley

    Accounting

Industry-leading certifications & proud partnerships

Thalner has been a member of the PSNI Global Alliance for more than 25 years, serving as one of the organization's original integrator members. PSNI gives us access to training, executive-level education, and a network of AV integrators and manufacturers across the country and overseas. Practically, it means that if you need work done outside our normal service area, we can bring in a vetted PSNI affiliate to help fulfill it, and we do the same for other members' clients here in Michigan.

We're also an AVIXA lead member, and we hold ourselves to the training standards that come with it. Our engineers and programmers carry industry certifications including CTS-D and CTS-I, and we provide incentives for staff to pursue and maintain new certifications as the technology (and the bid requirements that come with it) keeps changing.

Our other industry certifications include:

  • AQ/AV – AV9000 CQAD Certified Quality Assurance Designer
  • Atlona Certified – Level 400/500 Authorized AV over IP Reseller
  • AVIXA – APEX Certified Company
  • AVIXA – CTS, CTS-D, CTS-I
  • AMX – ACE-P, ACE-I
  • Barco – Certified Specialists
  • Biamp – AudiaFlex, Tesira
  • Cambridge – Certified Masking Partner
  • Cisco – Network Certified Engineer
  • Crestron – DMC-D, DMC-E
  • Crestron – Masters Certified (Silver Level)
  • Dante Level 1 & 2 Certifications
  • DMC-D DigitalMedia Certified Designer 4K
  • DSEG – DSCE Digital Signage Certified Expert
  • Extron – Certified Control Professionals
  • Extron – AV Technologies for Designers
  • EASE – Acoustics Software
  • Kramer – Certified Digitalist
  • OSHA – Construction Safety & Health
  • Planar Video Wall Certified Installer
  • Polycom – Voice Endpoint Sales & Technical Certifications
  • QSC – Q-SYS Certified Professional
  • Revolabs – Certified Specialist
  • Shure – Technical Enablement IntelliMix
  • SVSi – Networked AV Design
  • SymNet – Networked Audio Solutions
  • SynAudCon – Audio Certifications
  • USGBC – LEED AP

Thalner: Designed to be your AV team for life

We don't think of ourselves as a company that sells you a video wall or audio speaker system and calls it a day. We want to be your trusted partner for all your audio-visual needs, giving you the equipment, team, and resources necessary to enhance your operations, collaboration, and reputation.

Every AV project we carry out starts with a needs assessment where we sit down with you, look at your space, and figure out what you actually need before we talk equipment. From there, our AV design & engineering team builds out the scope, our installers and in-house programmers bring it to life, and our service department stands behind it with a one-year warranty and ongoing maintenance contracts. We also offer on-site product demos so you can see and touch a system before you commit, as well as live event AV and equipment rental for grand openings, conferences, and one-off gatherings.

Every client gets a single account manager and project manager who stay with the job from the first conversation through installation, training, and years of support after — not a call center, and not a programmer working remotely on the other side of the country. Want to see our approach to AV innovation in action? Take a look at our featured projects to see our capabilities or request a project quote today to start the conversation that unlocks your AV potential.

Commercial AV Since 1966

Ready to talk about your project?

Free, no-obligation quotes. An account manager or engineer reviews every request and works with you to define what the space needs before pricing is finalized.

Certified on the lines we actually install.

Manufacturer certifications and industry credentials held by the Thalner team.

Customer Technology Showcase

CONNECT 2026

November 4, 2026

Experience what's next in AV at CONNECT 2026 on Wednesday, November 4th!

REGISTER HERE no later than November 2nd.

11:00 am to 4:00 pm · 7235 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor

60 Years. One Name. One Legacy.

TEL Systems is becoming Thalner again.

Nearly 60 years ago, our story began as Thalner Electronic Laboratories.

Over the years, our name has changed, our industry has evolved, and the technology we work with has advanced — but the people, relationships and commitment behind our work have always remained the same.

Today, we're bringing the Thalner name back with a refreshed identity that better represents who we are and what we do.

This isn't a new company. It's the next chapter of the same one.

Same team. Same experience. Same commitment.

Integrated AV

Solutions for today. Supported for tomorrow.

Welcome back, Thalner.