What are the keys to building a solid congregation? What makes every service just a little more successful? The ability to create a space for fellowship and learning, and for most churches, that space is the sanctuary. Designing a sanctuary that makes everyone feel welcome, can be a challenge in and of itself, and many churches are facing at least one of these bigger problems with their church auditorium seating.

Problem One – Space in Auditorium Style Seating

Sanctuaries are actually smaller than you think they are. Think of the 80% rule. Once you’ve filled 80% of the seats, your sanctuary is full. Wondering why? There are a few reasons. First, very few parishioners like to sit up front and that’s especially true with new visitors. Second, people want enough personal space. Finally, no one wants to split their family just so they can find those last few seats. So, if you’re hitting that 80% capacity before the service ever even begins, you may have a real issue on your hands. In fact, it may be harming the growth of your congregation.

The solution? Consider expanding your sanctuary seating capacity. The right church auditorium seating from Carroll Seating Company can help give you the space lift you need and ensure a few more people make it to your congregation every Sunday morning.

Problem Two – Auditorium Seating

Many of today’s pastors will tell you that allowing more interaction and participation is the key to creating a strong congregation for one simple reason – it builds fellowship. If you’re looking to create a culture that encourages connections, redesigning the seating is the only real choice you have, even if you already have auditorium style seats. It may be possible to find church seating chairs and create a very different format to every service that will help build the culture you’re looking for.

Whether you need more space in an auditorium style seating arrangement or your current church seating arrangement just isn’t working for you, we can help. Give us a call today to learn more.

As you seek to enhance your office or facility, you may look for better woodwork options, and with good reason. Small touches like the perfect woodwork can say a lot about your company. Not every company chooses to go with customized woodwork at the end of a long project, though. Why should you? Take a look.

Customized Options: You already have that perfect design in your head, and we can take your ideas and produce reality for your company. From the most complex choices to simple options that will change the way people look at your space, we’re here to make a dramatic impact on your project. We never work with cookie-cutter designs at Carroll Seating. Instead, we always take a closer look at your wants and needs before we ever begin to produce a closer look at what you might want in your building.

Variety of Materials: While wood is certainly a natural choice for casework, it’s a bit limiting for today’s variable palate and space. We can certainly work with any wood choices you like, but we can also help if you prefer metal or laminate finishes. If you can dream it, we can design and build it to meet your needs.

Durable Beauty: All of our casework is built to last throughout the life of your facility. We create to reflect the highest possible industry standards, so you’ll always find the best possible option to meet the needs of your budget when you work with us.

No matter why you’re looking to architectural woodwork to help give your space that finished look, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about all of our options, including industry specific choices that may be the perfect way to meet the needs of your company or facility.

 

How often do you notice the little things in an office? It may actually be more often than you think. The smallest details can leave an impression on potential team members, clients, and more. Nowhere is this more true than in the woodwork you choose to grace your offices. Go fast and cheap and people will think the same of your company. Choose to make it count, and the professionalism your office will exude is certain to be immeasurable. High quality architectural woodwork says a lot about how much you care about your office surroundings, and Carroll Seating Company can help you make the right impression from the outset.

The Perfect Finish

blog2aWhether you’ve just finished a full office remodel or you’re moving into a brand new space, the finishing touches mean so much to the space. Choosing to go with custom architectural woodwork means significantly altering the aesthetics of the whole space.  By adding the right designs to your offices, you’re creating accents that can be both functional and beautiful at the same time.

The Ideal Team

Not every team, though, can give you the look you want. Only a group with the experience of Carroll Seating Company has the extensive knowledge you need to build out intricate, functional designs that will complement your company’s image. From the moment you contact us, you’ll know a very different experience is in store for you. We offer a dedicated project manager, a vast selection of ideas and products, and the significant skill necessary to tackle even the toughest projects from start to finish. To learn more about our architectural woodworking services or any of our previous project designs, contact us today to get started. We’ll be happy to come up with the ideas necessary to help get your dreams off the ground.

What to Consider When Deciding on University Student Housing Security Desks

While parents may be worried about academics and students more concerned with parties or friends, one thing that everyone can agree on is this: security is paramount on university campuses. Onsite housing has to be secure; operating fully-equipped security desks is a must to ensure safety and give both parents and students more peace-of-mind. What should you consider when choosing your security desks?
Keep the following questions in mind when selecting university student housing security desks:

  • security deskWhat type of functionality do you need? Security desks can be equipped with a number of features, depending on your particular needs. These include: work spaces (for computers), locked drawers and/or boxes, transaction counter for people to sign in and out, casters for portability, and locked alert boxes so students and others can leave messages in the event that someone needs help. Carroll Seating Company specializes in creating customized solutions for your work spaces. When you identify a need, we will make sure it is filled with our products.
  • What size will work best for your residential building? Security desks can come in a variety of sizes, as well as custom sizes. Are space concerns a primary factor? Do you need room for more than one employee at the desk?
  • Do you want university branding and customization? Security desks perform an important function, but they can also pull double duty. Why not brand them with your school’s colors, mascot, and slogan, or the name of the particular residence. This can help create a cohesive appearance among campus housing and a sense of community.

Safety is a major concern for students and universities; opting for customized security desks will help your school provide the safe environment on-campus residents need and depend on as they walk to classes in the morning and to and from the library (or a party!) at night.

Your office space is meant to be beautiful. Everything in it should fit your needs, right down to the woodwork. If you’re looking to move your office to the next level, you probably already understand that off the shelf solutions can’t always do that. Fortunately, you can create a beautiful workspace with customized architectural woodwork.

Your Woodwork Options

Wondering exactly where the right woodwork options might change the face of your office? There are actually several places to consider. Start by rethinking your office as a whole. How efficiently are you using space right now? If it’s just not working, that might be the perfect place to start. You may also want to consider storage. If you need additional storage but you don’t want to compromise on the overall style you already have in your office, our custom architectural woodwork might be the perfect choice. From wall panels to display cases to complete reception areas, we’d be happy to help with all the right touches you may not have considered when you got started.  Architectural_Woodwork-CarrollSeating

Be Sure to Consider the Materials

Your work is far from done once you’ve decided on the right architectural woodwork choices. Selecting the materials use will seriously impact the appearance of your project. There are so many options available today, though, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You’ll need to consider not only the right look, but your budget as well. At the cheaper end, plastic laminate surfaces provide simple beauty and durability. They look great, yet are easy to clean and maintain. Wood veneer can get more expensive, but often offers an upscale touch that’s perfect in a number of different settings.

Contact us today, and learn more about how our carefully manufactured woodworking solutions might be the ideal touch for your offices or facilities.

It  is Time for a Renovation  
Whether it is an older space that is in need of updating or a new space that is looking for planning and design, choosing the right company for the job is tantamount to getting the best work possible. When in search for seating solutions such as indoor telescopic bleachers, court-side seating, cafeteria seating, classroom seating or auditorium seating the ultimate goal of each end user is to obtain a fully functional and expertly installed product. The best way to achieve complete satisfaction is to recruit the services of a company that has years of experience and continued education within the industry.

The Best for You
Carroll Seating Company began in 1952 by Patrick Carroll, Sr. with a simple goal – to sell quality church pews that any church would be proud to own.  From there the business expanded and has grown to serve multiple states while still maintaining the standards of excellence it began with in 1952.

Now in 2012, while we still outfit the school and institutional market throughout Illinois, Kansas and St Louis with various seating solutions, offering architectural woodwork, millwork, casework, lab and healthcare products has grown our well known seating company into a multifaceted solution center.

Smart Partnerships
We pride ourselves on working with the best manufacturing companies in order to provide the highest quality of product.   Our staff includes a wide range of people who excel in what they do, from estimators to sales persons, project managers to support personnel.  Our job does not stop at the installation of the project. Here at Carroll Seating Company we have a Service and Repair division to help maintain and extend the life of your product.

We know that personal relationships with our clients are the foundation for what we stand for.  It’s just one of the many reasons why we don’t just supply you with seating – we supply you with total solutions.  Feel free to contact us in person, over the phone, or through email and we’ll promptly address your questions or comments.

Drew Gough, Sales

Drew Gough,  Sales email our team
Drew graduated from Vermont Technical College in 2017 with an Associates degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. With brief experience in small Architectural and Civil firms in the Portland Maine area, Drew later settled in Hussey Seating Company for the past 5 years. Drew joined the CSC sales team in November of 2024 covering the state of Iowa as his sales territory. Drew has a strong technical background and is very passionate about the products he sells. He believes that a thorough understanding of the products combined with open communication with all parties is the key to success in this industry. Outside of work, Drew enjoys fitness related activities, being outdoors, attending concerts, and spending time with his wife, Emily.

Levi Curtis, Project Manager

Levi Curtis,  Project Manager & Estimator email our team
In my free time I enjoy hunting, fishing, and working on our farm with my sons.  My wife and I enjoy traveling and the chaos of the boy’s youth sports.

Tammy Winship, Accountant

Tammy Winship,  Accountant email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Kelli Brandon, Project Manager

Kelli Brandon,  Project Manager & Estimator email our team
When not at the office I enjoy painting, baking, and spending quality time with my three grandkids.  .

Mandy Kohlbrecher, Project Manager

Mandy Kohlbrecher,  Project Manager email our team

Mandy Kohlbrecher is a Senior Project Manager and Senior Estimator for Carroll Seating. She is from Trenton, IL and attended Art Institute (Chicago) and Rankin Technical College.

When she joined Carroll Seating in 2013, she brought 10 years of design experience in interiors and architecture to the team.

Eddie Scheer, Sales

Eddie Scheer,  Sales email our team

Eddie Scheer is Carroll Seating’s Regional Director for Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

He was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, a die-hard KU Jayhawks fan and graduate of the KU School of Architecture and Design. He has been with Carroll Seating over 11 years and prior to that time,  he served clients for 23 years as an architect.

Dustin Hecht, Project Manager

Dustin Hecht ,  Project Manager email our team
Dustin is a life-long woodworker with a passion for crafting. When he's not in the workshop, he might be found tinkering with cars or hitting the links for a round of golf. Dustin is a family man, happily married to Courtney, and together they have two daughters.

Mike Yager, Sales

Mike Yager,  Sales email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Doug Mead, General Manager KC and STL

Doug Mead,  General Manager KC and STL email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Jordon Lanning, Repair & Service

Jordon Lanning,  Repair & Service email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

John Underwood

John Underwood,  Warehouse Manager email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Jacob

Jacob Allen,  Rproject Manager & Estimator  email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Connie Gillam,  Repair & Service

Connie Gillam,  Repair & Service  email our team
When out and about I enjoy spending time with my husband Michael and our 5 grandkids.

Brock Christopher,  Sales

Brock Christopher,  Sales email our team
On the weekends and during the evenings, a majority of my time is spent playing soccer with my 7-year-old Kade or working on various projects with my 12-year-old Kael.  During the fall you can find me doing anything related to the KC Chiefs or Mizzou Tigers.

Stephanie Vogl,  R&S Admin

Stephanie Vogl,  RS Admin email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Suzi Johnson,  Project Accountant

Suzi Johnson,  PM Coordinator email our team
I have spent most of my life in Illinois. I enjoy traveling and taking photos. I need coffee to function. My life revolves around my fur child, Norman.

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant

Kevin Morkin,  Insurance / Warehouse email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant  email our team
I enjoy spending time with my family. 

Sarah Maynes,  Project Manager/ Estimator

Sarah Maynes,  Project Manager/ Estimator  email our team
When I am not at work I enjoy baking.

PJ Carroll

Ludwig Hoeft,  Project Manager / Estimator email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

PJ Carroll

Sam Shapiro,  Project Manager  email our team

Sam is a safety trained supervisor of construction whose experience ranges from factory to field.

He enjoys hiking, road trips, and rock concerts.

Mike Gillam

Mike Gillam  General Manager & Director of R&S   email our team
My life outside of the office consists of trips to remote locations and spending time with my family and five grandkids.  I love the Lord and doing His work.

PJ Carroll

Patrick J. Carroll,  President  email our team
Pat has been a dedicated member of the Carroll Seating Team since he joined full-time in 1977, after earning his bachelor’s in business from the University of Kansas. He initially gained hands-on experience as an installer during high school and college. In 1998, he was promoted to President, bringing extensive knowledge of both fixed and movable products to the role and focusing on promoting the features of CSC’s vendors for mutual success.  Outside of work, Pat cherishes time with his family, which includes the love of his life Suzy, their three children and four grandchildren. He enjoys golf, fishing, yard work, home projects, and entertaining, always striving to make the most of each day. 

Alexander Klopp

Alexander Klopp  Sales   email our team
When I am not in the office I enjoy my life in the western suburbs as a Husband of 30 years, father of 2 adult children and an active member in our local Presbyterian church. Passions include family adventures with one-of-a-kind experiences.

Tim Haggerty,  Sales  email our team

“When I am not working, I like to enjoy time with my family living an active life style that includes, live music, sporting events, golfing, fishing, and skiing.” 

 

Evan Carroll,  Sales & Special Projects email our team

Evan Patrick Carroll, following an internship from 2003- 2005, joined as full-time sales in 2008.

Tom Madura,  Controller  email our team

Outside of the office, I love spending time with my wife, 3 kids and our dog!  My hobbies include playing golf and practicing guitar which I keep working at. 

Meredith Pollard (Carroll),  General Manager  email our team

Meredith graduated from the University of Kansas in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Minor in Business. 

After pursuing a brief retail career, she joined CSC as a full-time employee in March of 2011. Originally hired in sales, Meredith found her fit in the company was better off in Management. She was promoted to the General Manager of the Chicago office in 2018. As General Manager, she believes that a motivated workforce is the foundation of success, and actively promotes collaboration, open communication, and skill development among all employees and believes that a successful business is built on strong relationships—both with clients and team members.

When not at the office, Meredith enjoys her life in Roscoe Village, downtown, with her husband Mike and son Cameron. 

PJ Carroll

Patrick J. Carroll
President

Patrick Carroll, Jr. assumed the positions as President, in 1998.

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