I’m Douglas Hoag, Principal Consultant and owner of DCH Technology Consulting, based in Chicago, IL. With more than 15 years in the audiovisual industry, I specialize in consulting, design, and owner’s representative services for complex built environments. My work spans courtrooms, council chambers, emergency operations centers, police stations, and corporate experience spaces, where technology must seamlessly support both in-person and hybrid collaboration. At DCH Technology Consulting, I take a human-centered design approach—balancing AVIXA, SMPTE, AES, ANSI, and AIA best practices with real-world workflows. My background includes global technology standardization efforts with Fortune 500 clients as well as civic projects requiring coordination between state and county stakeholders. I focus on creating cohesive, intuitive systems that support transparency, equitable conferencing, and future-ready infrastructure through solutions like AVoverIP, broadcast integration, and smart workflow design. I’m passionate about helping architects, owners, and technology teams bring their vision to life with audiovisual systems that feel intentional, intuitive, and built to last.

AV Consultant/Designer with extensive experience in performance AV systems for performing arts facilities, themed entertainment venues, stadiums, Mega & Giga churches, and indoor-outdoor regional or national concert venues. My designs and guidance provided to clients come from years of hands-on experience as a touring engineer and working for an AV integration firm, gaining the installer's perspective. Music and technology are a huge passion of mine, and working with artists to ensure they connect with the audience and the audience has an emotional response to the artist. I utilize my years of relationship building with the artist to strive as an advocate for the production crew (the forgotten heroes who make events and facilities run so smoothly) with the design team and the client's upper management. This is why I still freelance as an Audio Engineer, helping create those connections while continuing my hands-on experience with the latest technology, well ahead of mainstream implementation within venues.  A patron's emotional memory or response from an event comes from a well-designed, extremely collaborative team and highly coordinated building that works as one rather than multiple items within  a facility that works by themselves. 

Digital media maven that's focused on delivering experiences that put users first. Lover of nature, shoes, wine, and tacos. Mom of 2 humans and 2 doggos that love attending my virtual meetings.

Started Journey as Live sound System Engineer For small AV company in 2007. Then join one Dubbing studio and Done Some Movies Dubbing and Music Mixing Till 2008. After 2008 Started working as Freelancer for Audio Jobs as Recording, Dubbing and Mixing engineer for regional language Music and Movies. From 2010 corporate journey Started with Manufacturer of AV Acessories in India. Till 2012 worked as Technical Marketing team Head for the Product developments and Possible solutions for Pro Audio and Video Industry Acessories. After 2013 Started working for Pro Audio Industry Products as BDM for West India. From 2016 Working as Individual Audio, Video and Acoustics Design Consultant for freelance projects across India and in global market.

I’m an executive leader and Senior AV Engineer with about 20 years in the audiovisual and technology world (long enough to have seen everything from flawless show control to cables that definitely weren’t supposed to be plugged in there). My background spans installation, service, project management, commissioning, and design, which means I’ve been a part of every phase of complex technology projects. I’ve led engineering teams at both a globally recognized architectural firm and a major international systems integrator, giving me a front‑row seat to how great ideas become real‑world systems. My specialty is crafting customized designs that fit each client’s environment, goals, and budget, because no two spaces (or budgets) are ever the same.

I've been in the AV industry for 20 or so years, a consultant for 5, and recently launched my new company, AV MSP. AV MSP is a kind managed service provider focused on AV technology, bringing ITSM standard service management to AV customers. We partner with integrators to improve service departments and directly with customers to act as their outsourced AV department.