--- title: "About Smart Systems - Chattanooga AV Integrator Since 2002" description: "Smart Systems is a veteran-owned AV integration firm serving Chattanooga, TN and North Georgia since 2002. Licensed in Tennessee and Georgia, on the Crestron, Control4 and Lutron dealer councils, with proactive Smart Care remote monitoring." url: "https://www.smartsysinc.com/about" --- [Home](https://www.smartsysinc.com/)/About # About Smart Systems Veteran-owned. Chattanooga-based. Engineering connected spaces since 2002. Who We Are ## We don’t sell equipment. We engineer environments. Smart Systems has been designing and installing audio visual systems across Tennessee and Georgia since 2002. We are veteran-owned and operated, based in Hixson just outside Chattanooga, and we have spent 24 years building a reputation on work that keeps running long after the install crew goes home. Our approach starts with understanding how a space actually gets used, then engineering to that. An executive boardroom that has to hold a flawless video conference at 8am has different demands than a sanctuary running live streams with volunteer operators, or a home cinema built for genuine immersion. We design each to be as intuitive to use as it is impressive to experience. That work spans six markets and 127 published installations — from stadium video boards and municipal council chambers to whole-home audio and tiered private theaters. Smart Systems is the trading name of Smart Homes Chattanooga, Inc., founded in Hixson, Tennessee in 2002. The company began as SmartHomes Chattanooga, acquired competitor Matrix Installations in 2013, and rebranded as Smart Systems in 2014. Independently rated [4.8/5 on Google (39 reviews)](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=773987322472017278)[4.9/5 on Houzz (8 reviews)](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-automation-and-home-media/smart-systems-pfvwus-pf~1166614469)[BBB rating A+](https://www.bbb.org/us/tn/hixson/profile/automation-systems/smarthomes-chattanooga-inc-0483-40000767)[two-time CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Award winner (2008, 2011)](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2011/10/13/211176/Smarthomes-Chattanooga-Wins.aspx) Verified 2026-09-13[All reviews and profiles](https://www.smartsysinc.com/reviews) 24+ Years in business 127 Published projects 215 Current certifications 4 Contractor licenses Credentials ## What sets us apart ### Dealer council and beta partners We sit on the dealer councils for Crestron, Control4 and Lutron, and beta test their platforms before general release — so we are working with the hardware and firmware our clients will run months ahead of the field. Our team currently holds 215 manufacturer and industry certifications across 166 distinct programs. ### Smart Care proactive monitoring Smart Care watches your systems remotely from our Chattanooga headquarters. Rather than waiting for a call, we see a device drop offline, a projector lamp degrade, or a network path fail — and address it, often before anyone on site notices. ### Fully licensed and insured in two states We carry full liability coverage on every project. Licensed and insured in Tennessee and Georgia (TN General Contractor #70582, GA Low Voltage #LVU406690, Chattanooga Low Voltage #LELV-00422, Hamilton County Electrical #C-559). Leadership ## The people behind the work ### Steve Nicola Founder & President Steve founded the company in 2002 as SmartHomes Chattanooga and has led it since — through the 2013 acquisition of Matrix Installations and the 2014 rebrand as Smart Systems. A U.S. military veteran, he keeps the firm veteran-owned and operated from its Hixson headquarters. [LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-nicola-4106a270/) Licenses ## Contractor licenses we hold Each number is printed exactly as the issuing board prints it, so it can be checked against the register. - Tennessee General Contractor License#70582 Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors - Georgia Low Voltage Contractor License#LVU406690 Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board - City of Chattanooga Low Voltage License#LELV-00422 City of Chattanooga - Hamilton County Electrical License#C-559 Hamilton County, Tennessee Manufacturer standing ## What the platforms say about us Dealer designations as the manufacturers themselves list them, with the date each one was last checked. - ### Control4 Pinnacle Dealer Verified 2026-09-13 · listed in Control4's integrator search for ZIP 37343 - ### Control4 Assist Authorized Verified 2026-09-13 · listed in Control4's integrator search for ZIP 37343 - ### Control4 Centralized Lighting Certified Verified 2026-09-13 · listed in Control4's integrator search for ZIP 37343 - Crestron Crestron authorized dealer; dealer council member and beta program participant - Control4 (Snap One) Control4 authorized dealer; dealer council member and beta program participant - Lutron Lutron authorized dealer; dealer council member and beta program participant - Sony Sony authorized dealer - Sonos Sonos authorized dealer Awards & recognition ## CEDIA Technical Design Awards Both awards were presented to SmartHomes Chattanooga, Inc., now trading as Smart Systems, and reported by [The Chattanoogan](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2011/10/13/211176/Smarthomes-Chattanooga-Wins.aspx). - 2011 ### [CEDIA Silver Level Technical Design Award for Home Theater](https://www.smartsysinc.com/portfolio/2011-cedia-award-winner-theater) CEDIA · Silver · Home Theater - 2008 ### CEDIA Silver Technical Design Award for Best Integrated Home CEDIA · Silver · Best Integrated Home Markets ## Where we work ### [Commercial](https://www.smartsysinc.com/markets/commercial) Boardrooms, conference rooms, digital signage, video walls ### [Residential](https://www.smartsysinc.com/markets/residential) Smart homes, home theaters, whole-home audio, networking ### [Government](https://www.smartsysinc.com/markets/government) Council chambers, courtrooms, secure facilities ### [Education](https://www.smartsysinc.com/markets/education) Classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums ### [Healthcare](https://www.smartsysinc.com/markets/healthcare) Clinical spaces, waiting areas, training rooms ### [Houses of Worship](https://www.smartsysinc.com/markets/worship) Sanctuary sound, live streaming, stage lighting Certifications ## What our technicians are certified on 215 current certifications across 166 programs, held by 11 members of the team. Bodies where we hold two or more are listed below; verified 2026-08-20. - Crestron42 23 programs · 7 team members - Control420 13 programs · 7 team members - Shure Audio Institute20 20 programs · 2 team members - Biamp15 13 programs · 2 team members - Harman Professional14 14 programs · 1 team member - CEDIA11 9 programs · 3 team members - JADE Learning10 10 programs · 1 team member - AVIXA9 6 programs · 5 team members - OSHA7 2 programs · 6 team members - Cambridge Sound Management6 6 programs · 1 team member - Liftoff5 2 programs · 4 team members - Alarm.com5 3 programs · 3 team members - ESPA (Electronic Systems Professional Alliance)4 3 programs · 2 team members - Araknis4 4 programs · 1 team member - Atlona4 4 programs · 1 team member - Audinate4 4 programs · 2 team members - Avigilon4 2 programs · 2 team members - NTS (The National Training School)4 2 programs · 2 team members - Unique Firestop Products3 3 programs · 2 team members - ESA (Electronic Security Association)3 2 programs · 2 team members - VIT (Videoguard Integrated Technologies)2 2 programs · 1 team member - QSC2 2 programs · 1 team member - Dante2 2 programs · 1 team member - Symetrix2 2 programs · 1 team member - Imaging Science Foundation2 2 programs · 1 team member - Kramer2 2 programs · 1 team member - MEWP Lift2 2 programs · 2 team members ### Headquarters 2705 Kanasita Drive Hixson, TN 37343 ### Service area Greater Chattanooga, Middle and East Tennessee, and North Georgia — Chattanooga, Hixson, Ooltewah, Signal Mountain and Cleveland in Tennessee; Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton in Georgia. We also take on select projects regionally and nationwide. [See every city with a published project](https://www.smartsysinc.com/service-area). ### Get in touch [(423) 877-8195](tel:+14238778195)[info@smartsysinc.com](mailto:info@smartsysinc.com)Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm ET