To see all People & Places news from 2016 and on, please visit our updated listing here.
Jan. 15, 2016
The cell-phone signal booster manufacturer SureCall has named telecomm industry veteran Craig Moser as director of enterprise Sales.
Platinum Tools, a manufacturer of tools for the custom electronics, telecomm, electrical and other trade fields has appointed Kevin Strikwerda as its latest regional sales manager.
Jan. 6, 2016
The San Jose, Calif.-based company A/V signal management company Atlona has named D.L. Henderson Co. and Peter E. Schmitt Co., has new manufacturer reps.
D.L. Henderson is based in Maynard, Mass., and covers the New England and upper New York state regions. Peter E. Schmitt Co., covers metro New York, including New York City, Northern N.J., Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties.
Chris Tuck has been appointed sales and business development manager for the Paragon Group. According to the company, Tuck's appointment represents the final phase of its goal of establishing Paragon as high-performance A/V store and distributor.
Tuck will be based in Saudi Arabia, and his responsibilities include the oversight of the store, the oversight of the distribution business and the custom installation business.
Jan. 5, 2016
KanexPro has announced the appointment of Global AV Network as its international partner for distribution, marketing, consulting and more. Global AV Network has offices in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, and KanexPro adds the company works with distribution partners in over 65 countries.
Dec. 30, 2015
Streaming music service Deezer has announced the appointment of Michael Gleeson as general manager, sales channels for home audio. Gleeson will run Deezer's affiliated program that allows integrators to sell FLAC streaming music to their customers at a profit. Deezer has 35 million tracks, of which 85 percent are available in FLAC. Gleeson has 25 years of CI and retail experience with Fujitsu, Sharp, AVAD and Monster. He will work closely with custom installation companies to monetize the company's FLAC/lossless streaming platform.
Andrew Ard, Dallas Sight and SoundDec.23, 2015
Andrew Ard, best known for his 24-year career as an independent rep for the custom-electronics channel, has joined leading Dallas integration firm Dallas Sight and Sound as director of marketing.
With more than thirty years in the Dallas market, company owners David Rogers and Tim Graham are further expanding their marketing and communications efforts within the architect and interior design communities. Ard will be responsible for the company’s marketing, strategic partnerships and campaigns. Ard, a registered CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI), will help Dallas Sight and Sound continue to increase their presence with education efforts in the architect and design communities. Ard will also lead Dallas Sight and Sound’s new efforts in networking with industry associations, press and article creation and optimizing benefits as HTSA group members; including refining the website, email newsletters and manufacturer promotional efforts.
Ard was owner and principal of the manufacturers' rep firm DesignTech for 21 years before it was merged in 2012 with Elite Marketing, where he served through 2014. He was chairman of the rep organization IPRO for nine years and a member of the CEDIA Advisory Board for seven years. Most recently, he worked with Relidy and his own consulting firm Market Hunters.
Radial Engineering Ltd., has announced Jim Rhodes has joined the Vancouver-based team in its artist relations department.
Better known in the music industry as “Jimmy Joe Rhodes” the long-time professional music industry veteran has been in the music and event business for more than 35 years. In addition to being a guitarist, songwriter and performer, Rhodes spent many years on the production and technical side of the business working on tour and in the studio as an instrument technician, stage manager and production manager. Over the years Rhodes has worked with Rush, Sarah MacLachlan, Bryan Adams, Loverboy, Honeymoon Suite, Kim Mitchell, Meatloaf, Colin James, April Wine, BTO, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, Gino Vannelli, and producer Bob Rock. Rhodes also worked as a production manager and promoter rep for event producers such as House of Blues and Paul Mercs Concerts.
In addition, Primacoustic, a division of Radial Engineering Ltd., has also announced a new member of the Primacoustic business development and technical support team for Canada: Juan Carlos Bolomey.
Bolomey was born in Chile, migrated to Australia and has lived in Canada since 2007. He brings with him several years experience as an audio engineer and live sound tech, working in theater productions and for two major cruise lines.
Dec. 22, 2015
On Controls, a manufacturer of cloud-enabled smart home and commercial control solutions for professional installers, has announced the appointment of four domestic independent sales firms for U.S. regions along with five international distribution partners all in critical markets. The expansion of the sales network is in direct response to increased demand for the On Controls automation solution with key integrators globally.
Domestically, On Controls has added full service independent reps, including Current Marketing, to serve Arizona, Northern Nevada (Las Vegas, Clark County), ACE Marketing, serving Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C. and Eastern Pennsylvania; High Note Marketing, serving Florida, and DSG Marketing, Inc., which will serve Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.
Dec. 21, 2015
Klipsch Group, Inc., owner of the Klipsch, Jamo and Energy audio brands, has announced the appointment of Mark Casavant to the position of senior vice president of global brand and business development, David Westfall to the position of vice president of global export, and Matt Spitznagle to the position of director of technology and innovation.
Casavant, who previously served as SVP of product development, assumes his new role following a career of sales, training, market and product development management that includes 25 years with the company.
Westfall, who previously served as regional vice president Asia Pacific, has been promoted to his new position after nine years in sales, training and customer service management at Klipsch. He has been in the consumer electronics industry for more than 30 years, specializing in sales, purchasing and merchandising.
Spitznagle's promotion is part of his 11-year career at the company, and his engineering accomplishments at Klipsch include DSP subwoofers, Klipsch's first iOS compatible products, many Bluetooth products the new Reference Premiere HD Wireless speakers that will launch in January 2016.
Dec. 15, 2015
Jetbuilt, a provider of web-based AV proposal and estimation software has added Seth Rubenstein to the role of brand partnership and marketing development.
Rubenstein will have a direct focus on product development, B2B marketing, creating partnerships, business development and sales within Jetbuilt. With an extensive history in the industry, including executive conference management for InfoComm International, board director and membership chair for CEDIA, sales director for D-Tools and director of sales and business development for Ihiji, Rubenstein brings years of experience and knowledge to Jetbuilt.
With the 139th Audio Engineering Society (AES) International Convention complete, the professional audio organization has announced that it has appointed John Krivit as its new president. Krivit takes over the leadership role from Andres Mayo, and the AES points out that previously Krivit served as chair of the AES Education Committee.
Currently Krivit is an associate professor teaching at Emerson College and Bay State College in Boston. He was voted President-Elect of the AES in 2014 and has served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors over the last year. Beyond his experience in the studio and classroom, Krivit is known as a tireless connector of the professional audio and education worlds. He is the founder of the Boston Area Definitive Audio Student Summit and of Hey Audio Student, a public Facebook group with more than 8,000 members that chronicles the events, resources and opportunities available to audio students at all levels. Now in his 20th year of teaching, his students have gone on to do award-winning work in all facets of the audio and broadcast industries.
Dec. 11, 2015
The cable and audio equipment manufacturer AudioQuest has added two new staff members to its team:
David Stafford joins AudioQuest as regional sales manager for the Northeastern United States.
Based near Philadelphia, Pa., Stafford owns a strong understanding of AudioQuest through a five-year tenure with A/V specialist and longtime AudioQuest dealer HiFi House. More recently Stafford served as a regional sales manager for World of McIntosh, née Fine Sounds.
Kevin Wolff joins AudioQuest as director of global sales.
Wolff has many years of industry experience that dates back to the 1980s when he was with the Washington-based chain called Magnolia Hi-Fi.
Almo Professional A/V’s team of specialized Business Development Managers (BDMs) continues to expand, most recently with the addition of Jay Saret. Based in Massachusetts, Saret provides technical, sales and project management support for Almo’s Content Creation Services and Installation Services. These third-party managed services provide new revenue streams and nationwide logistical coverage, giving integrators new opportunities for profit and growth.
Dec. 10, 2015
O'Rourke Sales Company and DSI Systems, two Iowa-based consumer electronics (CE) and appliance distributors, have reached an agreement in which O'Rourke Sales will purchase DSI's CE, appliance, furniture and bedding businesses.
The existing DSI Columbus warehouse facilities will be integrated into O'Rourke's network of seven strategically located national distribution centers. The parties claim the deal make O'Rourke the largest TV supplier to independent dealers in the U.S. The deal also complements an existing O'Rourke deal with the Nationwide Marketing that provides a variety of products to Nationwide Group members.
“With 2015 marking our 50th anniversary of distribution, this acquisition of DSI's CE and FAB divisions shows our commitment to invest in growth of our systems, facilities and resources to provide our dealers 'best in class' service levels,” explains Jeff O'Rourke, CEO and Joe O'Rourke, Jr., president of O'Rourke Sales Company.”
BrandSource executives got into the holiday spirit during the group’s recent executive leadership conference in Phoenix as they combined teambuilding, philanthropy and golf to raise money for a local charity. More than 150 participants raised more than $6,000 for House of Refuge, a non-profit providing transitional housing and supportive services to homeless families in the Phoenix area.
Sponsored by BrandSource and Whirlpool, executives broke into teams of 10 and created their “best mini golf course” with a variety of materials included canned goods, non-perishable packaged foods, green astro-turf, screws, nails, glue, duct tape, cardboard, foam core, markers and cardboard tubes. Additional stations were available with paint, angle piping, PVC corners and miscellaneous craft items.
“This was an incredibly creative, fun and unique team-building exercise that also made a positive impact on many people’s lives,” says Jim Ristow, CEO of BrandSource. “Everyone who participated enjoyed kicking off the holiday season in the true spirit of giving.”
Nancy Marion, executive director of House of Refuge, thanked the group and said that proceeds will help feed more than 80 families that are losing breakfast and lunch programs when school is out during the summer months.
Dec. 8, 2015
Azione Unlimited (AU), an education and buying group for custom retailers and integrators, welcomes five new dealer members to its membership. The rapidly growing group now has 135 dealer members and 42 vendor members.
The new members are:
- Precision Media, Lakewood, Colo.
- Waara Technologies LLC in Traverse City, Mich.
- Audio and Video By Design, (DBA Tucker & Tucker) in Scarborough, Maine
- REX LLC, (DBA Desert Sound and Security) in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Echo Workshop LLC in Houston, Texas
David Rodarte, ChangelingVelocityDec.8, 2015
David Rodarte, former GM of NuVo Technologies, will be able to take his consulting business to the audio/video community starting Jan. 1, 2016, the end of his non-compete agreement with NuVo and its parent company Legrand. Rodarte launched his consulting firm ChangingVelocity in late 2013, shortly after departing NuVo.
In an announcement to friends and colleagues, Rodarte writes:
On January 1, my agreement to stay clear of my previous industry niche will expire. After selling a company two years ago, I've been somewhat encumbered by a non-compete. With the expiration of my agreement, I can once again serve companies in the residential technology and audio space. I'm thrilled, because it releases me to make use of my stable of connections, and to apply my personal techniques and planning methods within the Home Automation and Audio specialty market that I know and love so deeply.
Dec. 1, 2015
Anuva Automation, the Florida-based manufacturer of TiO (Turn it On) brand automation products, has announced the appointment of the Texas-based company Pinnacle Marketing as its latest manufacturer representative. In its role as a rep for TiO, Pinnacle Marketing will cover the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Nov. 30, 2015
QSC has announced the appointment of Cory Schaeffer as its new director of systems solutions. Schaeffer is tasked with strengthening QSC’s presence in the systems market, and in her new role, she will be responsible for the development and execution of end user strategies and forging relationships with consultants. In addition, she will be a key contributor to QSC’s product development efforts and various marketing initiatives to ensure QSC’s continued success in the AV space.
Schaeffer joins Joey D’Angelo who was named director of systems solutions for the company, and Derek Black who was just appointed national sales manager for Canada.
Nov. 24, 2015
Radial Engineering Ltd., has added two new members to its staff.
Ryan Tobias joins Inside Sales, Central region. Tobias learned the business of live sound before taking his formal education in audio engineering and recording while living in his home state of Ohio.
Mike Bauer has joined Radial's tech support team with a focus on custom product requests for snakes, splitters and stage boxes. Before taking on this position Bauer worked as an audio engineer in New York City in various capacities for several years.
Nov. 20, 2015
CE Pro 100 integrator Dennis Sage Home Entertainment, Inc. in Arizona presented its annual Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Award to The DaVinci Group, Inc. The award, one of only a handful the dealer gives out each year, specifically recognizes The DaVinci Group for “continued excellence, innovation, and spirit.”
“The DaVinci Group was an obvious choice for us this year and here's why: There had been a few instances where we identified an issue that needed to be addressed and made The DaVinci Group aware of the situation,” said Marty Hayse, director of sales and purchasing for Dennis Sage Home Entertainment, Inc. “To our surprise, each one of these issues were completely resolved to our satisfaction in less than 120 days. And in one case, there was an issue that required a product to be modified. Remarkably, in less than 30-days we had received engineering drawings of the newly changed model. We had no choice but to recognize the incredible responsiveness of The DaVinci Group, a true partner of Dennis Sage Home Entertainment.”
Nov. 19, 2015
Stewart Filmscreen, a California-based manufacturer of high-performance projector screens, projector screen material, and specialty optical coatings, has announced a major expansion of its commercial screen market business with the appointment of Stampede to serve as a distribution partner in the U.S. and Canada to better support its growing commercial and pro AV business.
The expansion marks Stewart’s first ever foray into indirect distribution to greatly extend the reach of its sales efforts. Stampede will debut Stewart's Cima line of products, and it will demonstrate its capabilities to dealers and integrators in Phoenix, Ariz., on Dec.,10 during its Big Book of AV Tour & Conference.
Nov. 17, 2015
TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ (NBI): TIVO) has announced that Tom Rogers will relinquish his CEO position after nearly 11 years on January 31, 2016, the end of the company's fiscal year. Rogers will continue with TiVo as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors as of February 1, 2016. TiVo's Board of Directors has formed a search committee to identify the best internal or external candidate to lead the company. Board member Dan Moloney has been named lead independent director. Moloney is the former president of Motorola Mobility, Inc.
Meridian America has appointed Zaheer Alli to the role of regional sales manager for its Northeast territory, effective immediately.
Alli comes to Meridian from Electronic Environments, where he served most recently as sales manager. He gained extensive product knowledge as a sales engineer working for one of Meridian's premier dealers, and Meridian points out he also brings valuable experience working with luxury clientele from his time with Electronic Environments.
Nov. 13, 2015
Matthew Wilbanks has joined Just Add Power as sales director. Previously he was with J-A-P distributor WAVE Electronics. Before WAVE, Wilbanks ran a custom-integration firm based in Florida.
Nov. 11, 2015
Capitol, a consumer electronics distribution source for residential systems and light commercial contractors, as well as premium incentive resellers, has announced the appointment of two new sales specialists.
Capitol’s president and CFO Curt Hayes has added Phil Ehly and Leah Truesdell to the company’s sales team. Capitol says the long-time industry veterans bring to the company extensive backgrounds in the CI and CE channels.
“We consistently seek out the best and brightest in the industry,” says Hayes. “Phil and Leah epitomize our commitment to working with pros who understand exactly what our customers experience in business every day of the week.”
Ehly joins Capitol following a 15-year tenure with AVP Technologies, a custom electronics integrator based in Omaha, Neb., and Truesdell's background includes a sales position with Best Buy for Business.
Nov. 9, 2015
Nationwide East, the regional division of Nationwide Marketing Group, has appointed John Yeager as territory manager for Southern Illinois, Indiana excluding the Northwest corner, Southwest corner of Ohio and Kentucky. Yeager has worked in the consumer electronics industry for more than 37 years, including career stops at Thomson RCA and most recently Voxx Accessory Corporation.
Nov. 5, 2015
Atlona will open an international headquarters in Switzerland next month and has named industry veteran Ronni Guggenheim as its general manager.
Nov. 4, 2015
ZeeVee, the A/V signal distribution company has moved into a new facility at 295 Foster Street, Suite 200, Littleton, MA 01460.
Beale Street Audio a manufacturer of audio products that includes its line of Sonic Vortex speakers has recently appointed two new manufacturer representatives: RS Pro Sales and Paul Collins Group.
“We could not be happier to deliver a truly unique and awesome speaker line up from Beale Street Audio,” notes Matt Cooley, vice president of RS Pro Sales. “In a world full of 'me-too' architectural speakers, Beale's Sonic Vortex technology sets them apart from everyone else.”
RS Pro Sales, covers Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania, and it has years of experience in all aspects of the audio/video market.
The Paul Collins Group covers Southern California region, and it has a long-standing reputation as one of the strongest representative organizations in that area with a dedicated team that stands behind their products.
Nov. 3, 2015
West Penn Wire, a manufacturer of low voltage electric wire and cabling, has hired Danna Morgan, a senior-level customer relations professional, as its new inside sales manager. In this position Morgan will be responsible for managing a team of inside sales representatives and administrative support staff. Morgan will also be responsible for developing and implementing best practices for optimizing customers’ decision-making processes.
Before joining West Penn Wire, Morgan held management positions with Atrium Innovations, a manufacturer of nutritional health products, and with Verizon Communications.
Oct. 23, 2015
Klipsch Group, Inc., owner of the Klipsch and Jamo audio brands, have announced the promotion of Greg Ransom to national sales manager, Jamo. Ransom, who previously served as major accounts manager for Klipsch Group, assumes the role following a lifetime career in sales management that includes seven years with the company.
Oct. 20, 2015
SVS has hired Keenan Davis as its new senior director of marketing. Davis is a veteran of the consumer electronics and video gaming industries, and according to SVS, he brings a deep and critical understanding of digital marketing to its marketing team.
The Italian projector manufacturer SIM2 is celebrating its 20th anniversary and recently the company named Greg Nicoloso CEO of SIM2 USA. Nicoloso will be responsible for the growth and expansion of the company's North American business.
Prior to his appointment as CEO Nicoloso worked as SIM2 USA's marketing and operations manager from 2000 to 2007 before taking a position at Eurotech.
Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI), a manufacturer of control and automation solutions for residential and light commercial settings, announced that Mike Everett has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, Americas. In his new position, Everett will oversee all of the sales and marketing activities for RTI and its Pro Control division in the North and Latin American markets, including the company's strategic direction; developing new initiatives and business opportunities, and managing sales and marketing departments.
Oct. 14, 2015
Cellphone signal booster maker Wilson Electronics has added industry mainstay Curtis Burkhart as its director of enterprise sales. In his new role, Burkhart will drive sales growth in critical enterprise categories such as public safety and machine-to-machine applications, and will forge sustainable relationships with new and existing channel partners. Burkhart has spent the past four years at SureCall as director of sales and marketing.
“This year we challenged consumers to ‘Seize the Bar’ and take control of their cell phone signal. As an important part of our infrastructure, enterprise-level solutions for cellular signal issues are needed now more than ever,” said Donald Blohm, interim CEO, Wilson Electronics. “As we grow our business in Q4 and into 2016, Curtis will be instrumental in helping businesses realize the capability and utility of our cellular solutions.”
Stewart Filmscreen, a Southern California-based manufacturer of high-performance projector screens, projector screen material, and specialty optical coatings, has named Ambassador Marketing as its independent residential sales rep firm for the Pacific Northwest region that includes Oregon, Washington, Western Idaho, and Alaska.
Oct. 12, 2015
The DaVinci Group, LLC (TDG), makers of TDG Audio, Vanguard Dynamics and Blue Aura brands, has appointed a new U.S. sales representative company and two new international distribution partners. The new partners added are: Redwood Marketing in Northern California (covering northern California, northern Nevada and Hawaii); Avoke Sales in the U.K.; and Profile Audio in India.
With this expansion, The DaVinci Group has added support in a key U.S. market and continued a progressively growing international expansion. Including these two new international partners, TDG brands are now distributed in more than 20 export markets around the globe.
“We are thrilled at the prospect of continuing to open new markets for The DaVinci Group brands, as well as to upgrade our market-level support here in the U.S.,” says Jeff Francisco, president of The DaVinci Group, LLC. “It is especially gratifying that our brands are attracting the attention of some of the finest industry organizations who want to partner with us and represent and sell our products both here in the U.S. and around the world.”
Custom integration firm Future Home in Los Angeles has added Amber Sklar as its new senior manager. Previously she managed projects for some of the largest home technology firms in both California and New York. “She brings both the expertise gained from over 20 years experience and a wonderful charm that all her clients enjoy,” says president Murray Kunis.
Oct. 9, 2015
The remote network management company Krika has appointed The Big Corp to handle its export sales.
Klipsch, a global speaker and headphone manufacturer, has announced the addition of Steve Jain as vice president and general manager of digital, streaming and portable audio solutions. Previously Jain served as vice president of sales for SMS Audio.
Oct. 8, 2015
SureCall, a cell phone signal booster manufacturer has announced that Joe Banos has joined its executive team. Previously Banos was the chief operating officer and chief sales and marketing officer at Wilson Electronics, and he helped lead a five-year effort to get certification guidelines for boosters adopted by the FCC.
KanexPro, a provider of connectivity solutions to the IT and A/V markets, announces the addition of Bormann Marketing to its lineup of manufacturer representatives. Bormann Marketing is a full service manufacturer representative firm with an extensive background within the AV industry, and KanexPro states the newly added rep will serve customers located in the Midwestern states.
Oct. 6, 2015
Klein Tools has named Joey Hall of Somerset, Ky., as the grand prize winner of the 2015 Electrician of the Year award. Hall was selected from nearly 600 applicants and is recognized for his professional achievement, his company’s dedication to safety and contributions to his local community. He received a customized 2015 Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab built by Addictive Desert Designs.
Oct. 5, 2015
CasaTunes has retained COMM-TEC, a supplier of integrated audio-video, media and communication technology, as the CasaTunes distributor for Italy. As a distributor, COMM-TEC is adding CasaTunes line of multi-room music servers and streamers to its line of audio-video systems offered to integrator professionals.
Oct. 2, 2015
Technicolor, a worldwide technology company in the media and entertainment sector, has appointed Luis Martinez Amago as president of its connected home division for the North American market. The company says Martinez’s appointment underscores its commitment to serve its North American customers with the best innovative solutions for the network and home.
Martinez Amago joins Technicolor from Alcatel-Lucent where he carried out multiple roles and responsibilities over the course of his 27-year tenure at Alcatel Lucent
On its website Technicolor states its connected home division helps network service providers (NSPs) residential and commercial markets take advantage of the growing business opportunities in the residential and commercial technology industries.
Alberto Fabiano, longtime director of sales and marketing at Italian projector manufacturer SIM2, has departed the company to pursue other opportunities. During his eight-year stint at SIM2, Fabiano became the face of the company in the U.S. Prior to SIM2, he was general manager at high-end Ambrosia AudioVideo in Bel Air, Calif.
Oct.1, 2015
The high-performance audio manufacturer Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems announced that Bill McKiegan will be joining the company as president, effective immediately.
McKiegan joins Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems after five years as President of Krell Industries, the company Dan D’Agostino co-founded in 1980. McKiegan also worked at Krell as Vice President of Sales and Marketing 1994 to 2006.
Sept. 30, 2015
CEDIA has announced Luke Dixon of Imagine That Audio and Video as the 2015 Humanitarian Award recipient for his work on the Lone Survivor Foundation Crystal Beach Retreat Facility.
The Lone Survivor Foundation Crystal Beach Retreat Facility provides all-expenses-paid educational and therapeutic retreats for service members, veterans, and their families, and these new technologies have helped create a true haven for its guests. The retreat, which opened in April, spans 5,008-square feet and includes two houses; the staff house sleeps nine and includes individual session rooms, while the soldiers’ house can accommodate up to 17 people.
Sept. 29, 2015
InFocus Corporation‘s board of directors has named long-time board member Mark Housley its new CEO effective immediately. In preparation for growth, the company has also expanded its worldwide team and product line-up.
Klipsch Group, Inc., owner of the Klipsch, Jamo and Energy audio brands, today announces the appointment of Oscar Bernardo to chief operating officer (COO). Bernardo, who previously served as president of global operations, assumes the role following a career of operations and sales management that includes nine years with the company.
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Bernardo previously served in executive and management level positions focused on operations at Audio Products International, Fineline Circuits Limited and Campeau Corporation. He also holds a HBA and MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
Azione Unlimited (AU), an education and buying group for custom retailers and integrators, has announced the addition of five new dealer members. The group now includes 130 dealer members and 42 vendor members.
Here are Azione’s latest members:
- Texas Custom A/V, Dallas, Texas
- Diversified Systems International, Reno, Nev.
- Compass Technology Group, Denver, Colo.
- Grand Home Automation, Hudsonville, Mich.
- Serious Home Technology, Inc. (DBA Play), Bluffton, S.C.
REELEX Packaging Solutions Inc., a provider and licensor of the REELEX tangle and twist-free package for wire and cable, is now an active member of the Communications Cable & Connectivity Association (CCCA).
The CCCA is a non-profit association comprised of manufacturers, distributors and material suppliers.
Sept. 28, 2015
Atlona, a manufacturer of A/V signal management products has promoted Garth Lobban to the position of director of marketing. Lobban joined Atlona in December 2014 as senior marketing manager, and in his new role with the company Lobban will oversee all aspects of the company’s marketing department that includes a focus on the development and execution of marketing strategies and the improvement of sales tools to increase brand awareness and generate product demand.
Sept. 25, 2015
Klipsch, a global speaker and headphone manufacturer has announced the promotion of Rob Standley to vice president and general manager of professional and component audio solutions. Standley previously served as regional vice president of commercial sales, and he assumes the role following a career in sales and general management that includes three years with the company.
“Rob brings over 24 years of consumer electronics sales and management experience to our senior leadership team. His in-depth knowledge of both the challenges and opportunities facing our company and industry will serve the markets well as he leads our strategic solution efforts across all platforms”, says Paul Jacobs, president and CEO of Klipsch Group.
Simple Control has announced that Keith Pribyl has been appointed as vice president of sales at the app-based home control company formerly known as Roomie Remote. In addition, Simple Control has also announced Rob Zurn has been named director of sales engineering.
Pribyl has spent much of his career leading sales activities for the SANUS brand as it grew from an entrepreneurial start-up into the largest TV wall mount and accessory brand in the world. Simple Control explains that Zurn’s background in programming Lutron, RTI, Crestron and Savant systems enables him to take on the role of CI channel training and support.
Sept. 23, 2015
Azione has added Travis Leo of Residential Systems in Lakewood, Colo., to its Advisory Board. The Board is made up of five dealer members and five vendor members. Leo joins fellow vendor board members: Keith Haas of Integra; Jason Sloan of Sonance; George Walter of Christie; and Eric Bodley of Future Ready Solutions, and fellow dealer members: Jason Voorhees of Cantara Designs; Kim Michaels of Electronic Environments; Don Dixon of Definitive Electronics; and Kevin Lambidonis of DES.
Sept. 22, 2015
ProSource has strengthened its member support staff through the additions of Lani Godfrey and Susan Hinojosa. Godfrey will manage the South East District, and Hinoiosa will work for ProSource as an administrative specialist.
DSG Distributors LLC has hired Charo De Pretti as an outside account manager. In her role with DSG she will cover the five boroughs of N.Y., and Northern N.J.
De Pretti comes to the company with years of experience within the industry, having spent the last four years as a regional sales manager for ICC, a Structured Cabling Solutions Company.
Sept. 18, 2015
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced today that Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, one of the country’s oldest and most established residential real estate franchises has joined CEA as a new member.
QSC has announced that Joey D’Angelo has joined the company as director of systems solutions.
In his new role, D’Angelo will contribute to QSC’s strategic direction, including its sales, marketing and training. He will also work to form and cultivate partnerships in QSC’s key market segments to serve as an informed advocate for its systems solutions. Additionally, D’Angelo will contribute to product conceptualization and roadmap discussions as QSC.
Sept. 15, 2015
Vantage Controls announced that VP of sales, Jerry Calder, is moving to a new role leading a key strategic project within Legrand’s Building Controls Systems division. In his new role, Calder brings decades of industry knowledge and experience from his time at Ultimate Electronics, Circuit City and Legrand’s On-Q Builder Program where he has a proven track record of thought provoking ideation which created successful new models for an ever-changing marketplace.
With Calder’s move, Vantage Controls is pleased to announce the addition of Dave Keller as VP North American sales. Keller brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to Vantage Controls, including executive roles with Furman, Panamax and Core Brands and Board of Director roles in both CEDIA and IPRO.
Long-time industry veteran Joe Finn has been named director of sales for Bogen Communications’ NEAR division. Finn has more than three decades of industry experience, including career stops at B&O, Velodyne, Definitive Technology and Control4, and according to NEAR, he will report directly to general manager Bill Kieltyka.
From 2005 and 2013 Jason Dominique worked for Core Brands’ Proficient Audio brand. Two years later Dominique has rejoined the company to serve as Core Brands’ national sales manager of its security channel.
The remote services company ihiji has hired Evan Marty as its new director of technology services. The long-time industry veteran member’s role with the company will be to help dealers develop effective RMR (recurring monthly revenue) streams.
Sept. 9, 2015
Paul Mudlaff has joined ihiji as director of sales.
Mudlaff comes to Ihiji with more than 15 years of sales experience, including time spent with Austin-based goTransverse, Informatica, TrialPay & Coremetrics.
Volutone, a regional distributor in the Southern California and Nevada territories, and member of the PowerHouse Alliance, has announced that Tina Metz, has joined the company to serve as its outside sales representative.
Metz, a long-time consumer electronics industry veteran or to Volutone, with more than 20 years of experience, has worked with several generations of Volutone’s leadership.
Sept. 8, 2015
SVS, has relocated its global headquarters to Youngstown, Ohio. The move gives SVS additional space for design, engineering and operations as it continues to expand in the U.S. and abroad. Since its founding in 1998, SVS has grown from a direct-to-consumer subwoofer manufacturer selling in the U.S., to a multi-national audio company with online and retail availability across Asia, Europe and North America.
The facility upgrade comes four years after CEO Gary Yacoubian and a new management team assumed leadership of the company.
Roland’s Professional A/V Division has announced the appointment of two new manufacturer’s representatives. Lienau AV Associates, Inc., has been appointed representative for the Mid-Atlantic region, and AudioPros will now represent Roland Pro A/V in the Northeast region. The announcement was made by Christian Delfino, vice president of sales and marketing for Roland Professional A/V Division, and it represents the division’s ongoing growth and expansion nationwide.
Sept. 4, 2015
Draper, Inc. has announced the company’s new Regional Sales Manager for the mid-Atlantic region. A/V industry veteran Jody Zarbano comes to Draper with 26 years of experience in business development and engineering. He will be responsible for all of Draper’s product lines in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
For the past nine years Zarbano worked for Whitlock, where he was responsible for sales of design/build integrated AV systems to government, higher education, and the corporate market in the greater Washington. D.C. area.
“Jody brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our sales team,” according to Draper Field Sales Manager Lee Denhart. “He has a proven track record of strategically penetrating key markets, developing loyal customer relationships, and adding value to a company’s brand. We are extremely pleased that Jody has chosen to join the Draper team.”
Previous to Whitlock, Zarbano was a Regional Sales Manager for nine years at NEC Display Group, where he managed sell through of NEC display product through the AV integrator channel in the mid-Atlantic territory. Zarbano also worked as a Regional Sales Manager for AmPro Corporation and General Electric Projection Display.
Sept. 3, 2015
Southern California custom integration company Candlelight Systems announces the addition of Bob Cusey. He has spent 15 years in the industry in systems integration specializing in controlled lighting solutions and automated window coverings. Cusey holds a C10 Electrical Contractor license and is a designated Lutron Specialist with certifications in Homeworks, Radio Ra2, Quantum and Sivoia systems.
The 325-member Z-Wave Alliance has announced that home improvement company Lowe’s has joined its membership with the Iris by Lowe’s smart home solution.
“As the awareness of the smart home concept becomes more prevalent among consumers with big players entering the market, the demand for DIY smart home solutions grows,” said Mitchell Klein, executive director for the Z-Wave Alliance. “As with construction and home repair, we need retailers like Lowe’s to offer a combination model of do-it-yourself with knowledgeable staff and education to help consumers get started.”
Launched in July 2012, Iris by Lowe’s is a smart home solution created to monitor and control virtually everything in the home anytime, anywhere from a computer, smart phone or tablet. Lowe’s was among the first companies to target the mass consumer market with a broad home automation solution and to introduce a truly open platform, with the customer support that consumers have come to trust from Lowe’s.
“Partnering with the Z-Wave Alliance is an important next step in offering an even more expansive array of smart home products and further advancing technology in and around the home,” said Mick Koster, vice president and general manager of Iris Home Systems. “Together, Iris, the Alliance and its diverse ecosystem of members have a larger opportunity to propel home automation forward, delivering innovative and smarter devices to consumers.”
Sept. 2, 2015
The Z-Wave Alliance has announced the appointment of Mitchell Klein as its new executive director. Klein comes to the Alliance with nearly 30 years of industry experience that includes the ownership of a custom installation company and a recent career stop at URC.
Listen Technologies Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of assistive listening products, announces the appointment of Maile L. Keone to the position of vice president of sales and marketing.
Sept. 1, 2015
OneVision has added Brian Righetti, formerly of Via, as its director of finance and operations. OneVision states that Righetti ran one of the most profitable regions at Via, and OneVision says that his 20 years of experience will help to grow the company.
In addition, the company has also hired its first employee solely dedicated to sales—-Zach Hurvitz will be joining OneVision as director of Sales. Previously Hurvitz worked for Stewart Filmscreen where he was the North American sales manager.
International Audio vision Inc. (IAVI), a global distributor of professional A/V products has opened a new distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The company explains the new facility will serve as a strategic hub for its West Coast customers, and it will enable it to serve 97 percent of its customers with two-day delivery through standard ground services.
Aug. 31, 2015
The Rockleigh, N.J.-based manufacturer’s rep Atlantic Integrated is now offering the S1Digital line of streaming audio servers.
Atlantic Integrated points out the company is a 10-year-old manufacturer of streaming media solutions that provide homeowners a range of product choices at approachable price points.
“S1Digital is an exciting new addition to our product offerings” says Michael Pawlowski, vice president of Atlantic Integrated. “We are very pleased to offer our integrators the best quality product and customer service team in the streaming audio category.”
Aug. 24, 2015
Lenbrook Americas, the North American distributor for NAD, PSB, and Bluesound, has announced the immediate appointment of Adrian Santana as the company’s U.S. Western regional sales manager.
Santana comes to Lenbrook with extensive industry sales experience having served 12 years with Magnolia where he became market manager responsible for 34 stores in the southwest U.S.
PMC USA has restructured its consumer audio division, and the U.K.-based manufacturer says that all PMC two-channel and custom installation products will now be centrally handled by the company’s Irvine, Calif., office.
The restructured division will be run by Brent Esry, national sales manager for CI-HiFI, PMC USA, and Maurice Patist, president of sales and marketing for PMC USA, explains these moves will make the company more efficient.
“By binging all PMC USA operations under one roof, we can significantly increase our reaction times and offer much better support to our dealers and customers,” states Patist. “The new structure will also allow dealers and system integrators to access help and training from specialists with extensive experience in the Hi-Fi and CI markets, and from PMC’s professional loudspeaker team who regularly advises top producers, artists and recording facilities on the right pro monitors for their needs.”
Basalte, the Belgian manufacturer of iPad wall mounts and touch-sensitive controllers, has announced two independent reps for the U.S.: North East Rep Agency (NERA) for the New England region and Pro Act Sales for New York.
Aug. 19, 2015
The home entertainment industry’s The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) trade association commenced its 19th year with the announcement of its incoming Board of Directors.
The DEG’s voting member companies elected a new board of directors and officer to serve for the 2015-16 fiscal year (August 1 – July 31). New to the Board are Matt Strauss of Comcast, Phil Goswitz of DIRECTV, Jonathan Zepp of Google and Howie Singer of Warner Music Group.
The Officers of the Board are currently serving a two-year term. However, there was a vacancy for the position of secretary and Mike Fasulo of Sony Electronics was elected to that position. All Officers are responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the DEG’s agenda, which has a full slate of programs and activities aimed at growing the home entertainment industry.
Officers of the Board
Chair
Ron Sanders
President
Warner Bros. Worldwide Home Entertainment Distribution
Vice Chair
Mike Dunn
President
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Chief Financial Officer
Sofia Chang
Executive Vice President, Worldwide Digital
Distribution & Home Entertainment
HBO Home Entertainment
Secretary
Mike Fasulo
President and Chief Operating Officer
Sony Electronics
Members of the Board
Matt Strauss
Executive Vice President & General Manager, Video Services
Comcast Cable
Phil Goswitz
Senior Vice President, Video, Space & Communications
DIRECTV
Jonathan Zepp
Director of Entertainment, Content Partnerships
Google
Tom McDonough
General Manager of Intel Digital Media Services
Intel
Tim Alessi
Director New Product Development
LG Electronics USA
Ron Schwartz
President of Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate
Martin Sacchi
General Manager, Business Development
Media & Entertainment Group
Microsoft
Bob Buchi
President, Worldwide
Paramount Home Media Distribution
Marty Gordon
Vice President
Philips Electronics
Bill Lee
Vice President, TV Product Marketing
Samsung Electronics
Darren Stupak
Executive Vice President US Sales & Distribution
Sony Music Entertainment
Man Jit Singh
President, Worldwide
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Jim Belcher
Vice President Technology and Production Global Digital Business
Universal Music Group
Eddie Cunningham
President, Universal Pictures Worldwide Home Entertainment
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Dan Cohen
Executive Vice President, Pay Television & Digital Sales
Walt Disney Studios
Howie Singer
Senior Vice President & Chief Strategic Technologist
Warner Music Group
ZeeVee, a global manufacturer of video and signal distribution technology, has announced the promotion of Chris Scurto to the position of vice president of marketing and N.A. Sales. Scurto will continue to be responsible for ZeeVee’s North America market strategy and channel management, as well as his present sales-related functions.
In addition, he will now oversee ZeeVee’s global marketing initiatives, including marketing team management, lead generation, public relations and corporate communications.
Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH announces the unexpected death of the company founder and CEO Dieter Burmester. Dieter passed away after a short but severe illness in Berlin-Zehlendorf on Aug. 15
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
