OPPORTUNITY

The Middletown Home, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) continuing care community, provides comprehensive care and services to individuals of all ages, regardless of their financial means.

Each year, The Campus of The Middletown Home hosts Pumpkin Fest Weekend, their largest annual fundraiser, which draws around 20,000 attendees throughout their annual weekend celebration. For over 10 years, Pumpkin Fest Weekend has been a cherished community event, bringing people together for two incredible days of autumn-inspired fun, live music, and local and regional artisans. With its ever-growing scale—featuring ten live musical performances and very, very talented artisans —The Middletown Home recognized the need for a reliable communication system to ensure the safety, security, efficiency for all attendees, vendors, and volunteers sharing in Pumpkin Fest Weekend.

Fred Barrett, VP of Operations at Middletown Home explains, “Given the size of Pumpkin Fest, we needed a solution that would help us communicate effectively with everyone involved—from attendees to vendors and volunteers—to ensure a safe and smooth-running event. Lucky for us, as an Innovation Program member, we already had access to CATIE Mobile through Status Solutions.”

Solution

Since 2018, The Middletown Home has been a valued Status Solutions customer and is a member of the Innovation Program. It grants them continuous access to unlimited licensing of the company’s latest technologies, ensuring they stay ahead as situational awareness evolves. The 2024 Pumpkin Fest provided an ideal setting to deploy CATIE Mobile, a multi-award-winning communication app designed to enhance situational awareness. Thanks to their participation in the Innovation Program, The Middletown Home could utilize CATIE Mobile at no additional cost.

With CATIE Mobile, Pumpkin Fest attendees were able to receive real-time updates, safety alerts, and event information directly to their smartphones. The app also empowered The Middletown Home’s administrators to coordinate seamlessly with vendors, volunteers, employees, and first responders, fostering smooth communication throughout the event. Attendees could opt-in for notifications and stay informed of schedule changes, weather alerts, or essential public announcements. By scanning a QR code and downloading the app, attendees could access all event information without providing any personal or user information—simply download and stay updated.

“We were thrilled to provide CATIE Mobile to The Middletown Home for Pumpkin Fest. It’s a perfect example of how our Innovation Program offers customers access to cutting-edge solutions that enhance communication and safety within their facility and at large events,” says Mike MacLeod, Status Solutions’ Founder and CEO.

Reminiscing on the event, Fred says, “CATIE Mobile far exceeded my expectations. I didn’t anticipate using it as much as it was, but it quickly became an integral part of our event. It worked so smoothly and really improved the overall experience as we celebrated our annual Pumpkin Fest Weekend.”

Results

Enhanced Communication: Weather issues arose on Saturday evening, requiring the fireworks show to be rescheduled from Saturday night to Sunday. CATIE Mobile allowed The Middletown Home to swiftly communicate the changes to attendees, artisans, and volunteers. Additionally, damage to musical equipment meant the band schedule had to be adjusted, and those updates were quickly sent through the app.

Increased Safety: Two medical emergencies arose during the event, requiring ambulance assistance. Using CATIE Mobile, alerts were instantly sent to volunteers and staff, notifying them to call for help. This streamlined communication significantly reduced response times, enabling medical professionals to arrive on-site swiftly. Additionally, the platform provided real-time transparency among staff and volunteers, helping to prevent panic while ensuring the safety and well-being of those affected.

Improved Event Management: CATIE Mobile was used throughout the day to send reminders about scheduled activities, such as band performances, contests, and raffles. Additionally, event maps, schedules, and flyers were uploaded to the app, offering a convenient and accessible resource for attendees to navigate the festival.

Positive Feedback: Louis Vogel, CEO of The Middletown Home, says, “We were incredibly grateful to have CATIE Mobile for Pumpkin Fest. The ability to share real-time updates kept our team and attendees informed, and the seamless communication with artisans, vendors, and volunteers was crucial to the success of Pumpkin Fest Weekend 2024 !!!”

“I believe other communities should seriously consider the use of CATIE Mobile. Upon seeing how extensively CATIE Mobile was 

used by so many folks at Pumpkin Fest Weekend, I’m already exploring new ways to integrate this platform into our daily operations,” explained Fred.

About Status Solutions

Status Solutions is a leader in situational awareness technology, providing custom software solutions for life-safety assurance, real-time security monitoring, environmental awareness, and mass notification. With a focus on empowering organizations to take proactive measures, Status Solutions helps clients stay ahead of threats and ensure the safety of their communities. Learn more at statussolutions.com.

About The Middletown Home

At The Middletown Home, our core value is belonging. Whether you’re a student, a resident, family, friends, or part of our incredible staff, we live and serve in community with one another. We cherish unity, welcoming residents of all ages, and invite families, local students, and staff to share in the activities on our campus. We celebrate togetherness and foster an inclusive environment where everyone is valued for who they are as a person — promoting a sense of belonging that transcends age, medical needs, or financial circumstances.