April 8, 2020 · Genelec Selects Audiologic as Manufacturer’s Rep
Genelec has announced the appointment of the distributor, Audiologic, to handle distribution of the brand’s growing AV loudspeaker range throughout the U.K.
According to the company, Genelec’s long-term partner in professional monitoring, Source Distribution, will continue to be responsible for the U.K. distribution of Genelec’s full range of studio products and systems.
Based in Harlow, Essex, Audiologic was established in 2004 specifically to supply the professional AV integration market with quality products, advice and service. The company is now one of the U.K.’s most successful dedicated AV suppliers offering a range of services, including system design, site surveys, help with tenders and much more.
Audiologic MD, Andy Lewis, feels that Genelec is a perfect fit the company. “We see this as a unique opportunity for us,” says Andy Lewis, managing director, Audiologic.
“As a company, we feel that it’s very important to put the right products into the right place. In other words, quality first. Genelec’s philosophy perfectly matches our own in that regard – they are a high end, aspirational brand that we are very proud to represent in the U.K.”
April 2, 2020 · Sound United’s Phil Jones Hosts Training Sessions
Sound United’s global director of training, Phil Jones, is hosting a series of webinars over the next month to ensure the custom installation (CI) channel can continue learning how to best serve its customers and emerge out of the lockdown better equipped for future success.
Jones’ presentations will run on these dates and times:
Getting the most out of HDMI 2.1 from upcoming and existing A/V products
Date: Wednesday, April 8
Times: 8 a.m. PST/11a.m. PST (please choose 1 session)
Session Length: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Session Description: Many customers aren’t interested in 8K TV sets yet, why should they care about HDMI 2.1? There are more consumer benefits to HDMI 2.1 than just 8K resolution. In this session, Sound United will discuss additional benefits of HDMI 2.1, including a smoother user experience, enhanced gaming and improved sound quality. After this webinar, integrators will be able to spec the right products into their jobs so customers can get the benefits of HDMI 2.1.
Session 1 April 8 8:00am-9:00am PST Registration URL
Session 2 April 8 11:00am-12:00pm PST Registration URL
How to conduct effective Virtual Home Consultations
Wednesday, April 15
Times: 8 a.m. PST/11 a.m. PST (please choose 1 session)
Session Length: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Session Description: We all know that the best way to find out the needs of your customer is to visit them at home. But sometimes, it can be challenging to physically go to your customer’s location. In this session, Phil Jones will show you how to use every day social media tools to conduct virtual and effective “home” visits.
Session 1 April 15 8:00am-9:00am PST Registration URL
Session 2 April 15 11:00am-12:00pm PST Registration URL
The importance of Smart Remote Management
Date: Wednesday, April 22
Times: 8 a.m. PST/11 a.m. PST (please choose 1 session)
Session Length: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Session Description: When things go wrong, customers want a fix right away. There are times when it’s just not convenient to be in the customer’s home. Smart remote management makes it easy for integrators to troubleshoot and monitor a customer’s system from any location. In this session Jones will explain how various products can be used with popular smart remote management systems like Domotz, ihiji and OvrC.
Session 1 April 22 8:00am-9:00am PST Registration URL
Session 2 April 22 11:00am-12:00pm PST Registration URL
Advancements in Multizone High Resolution Music Distribution
Date: Wednesday, April 29
Times: 8 a.m. PST/11 a.m. PST (please choose 1 session)
Session Length: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Session Description: Customers don’t have to sacrifice audio performance for the convenience of multizone streaming music. In this session, Phil Jones will walk you through the latest streaming services and user enhancements in a variety of audio products.
Session 1 April 29 8:00am-9:00am PST Registration URL
Session 2 April 29 11:00am-12:00pm PST Registration URL
More news from Sound United: New Receivers from Marantz Support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
March 30, 2020 · Catalyst AV Cleerline Training
Cleerline SSF is hosting a “Dealer’s Guide to Specifying Fiber” with a series of 45 minute webinars starting Wednesday, April 1.
During these Catalyst AV and Cleerline SSF training sessions, dealers will learn the fundamentals necessary to specify fiber.
Cleerline SSF will cover fiber optic essentials, including connector types and installation best practices. Additionally, enclosures and other solutions to manage cables will be discussed.
Use this link to add a session to your calendar: https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=&u=ff538dfa0e9cd8d9038782a2a&id=6896134b4f
Dates for the Cleerline training sessions are as follows:
- Wednesday April 1 12 p.m. EST
- Wednesday April 8 12 p.m. EST
- Friday April 3 p.m. EST
- Friday April 10 12 p.m. EST
- Friday April 17 12 p.m. EST
More news from Catalyst AV: Catalyst AV, AVPro Edge Recognize Karp
March 27, 2020 · Enclave Audio Hires Paul Burgess
Enclave Audio, a manufacturer of immersive wireless audio systems for home entertainment environments, has announced that Paul Burgess, longtime industry veteran, has joined the company as its new executive vice president of sales.
Burgess’s career in consumer electronics spans over three decades where he help to develop and directing sales organizations from small start-up companies, such as Mohu, to global giants, such as LG and Panasonic. Within the new role, Burgess is responsible for leading the development and execution of Enclave’s channel and market strategy as well as managing the internal processes of the sales organization.
“An established sales and marketing leader, Paul is a natural addition to the Enclave team,” say Rob Jones, co-founder, CTO, Enclave Audio.
“His years of experience as a CE [consumer electronics] retail merchant has given him unique perspective and the ability to understand and anticipate the needs of channel partners and support the dynamic demands those partners face every day.”
“The innovative technology within the Enclave CineHome wireless surround sound systems, the level of performance and simplicity of setup sold me and made me want to become a part of the organization,” comments Burgess.
“I am looking forward to providing a best-in-class product and service to retailers and empowering them to deliver an outstanding experience to their customers.”
More from Enclave Audio: Enclave Audio Systems Deliver Easy Wireless 5.1 Setups
March 26, 2020 · Dwayne Husbands Returns to Key Digital
Key Digital, a manufacturer of digital video and control systems, has announced to the return of Dwayne Husbands to the company in the role of vice president of global sales.
Husbands held a variety of positions with Key Digital from 2009 to 2018, rising up through the ranks as his skill set continued to grow and impress the Key Digital management team. With his return as the newly appointed vice president of global sales, Husbands will use his industry knowledge and a comprehensive approach to help lead the company further down the path of success.
Key Digital emphasizes Husbands’ 14 years of sales experience and driven attitude are a welcome addition to the company.
More news from Key Digital: Key Digital
KD-Pro8x8D all-in-one professional HDBaseT/HDMI matrix switcher
March 23, 2020 · Catalyst AV Announces AVPro Training Schedule
Catalyst AV member Custom Partners, serving the New York metro area, have ramped up their training during this unprecedented time in history.
Group members are set to host a full schedule of online trainings so dealers can remain up-to-date on AVPro products and emerging technologies.
Here are the latest training seminars from the group partners:
Custom Partners
151 Fairchild Ave, Suite 4
Plainview, N.Y. 11803 Contact: Rich Radimer www.custompartners.com 516-352-7533
AVPro Training Schedule:
March 24
10:00 a.m. CST: ConferX – Solutions for the Classroom/Conference Room (Register)
2:00 p.m. CST: 4K and HDR Video Distribution in 2020 (Register)
March 25
11:00 a.m. CST: What is 8K? And how do I prepare for it. (Register)
3:00 p.m. CST:Beyond 4K Distribution with Matt Murray (Register)
March 26
10:00 a.m. CST: Fiber Optics in Video Distribution (Register)
2:00 p.m. CST: 4K and HDR Video Distribution in 2020 (Register)
March 27
11:00 a.m. CST: SEVEN Generator Training (Register)
3:00 p.m. CST: Beyond 4K Distribution with Matt Murray (Register)
March 30
10:00 a.m. CST: HDMI Testing and Troubleshooting with Murideo’s Fox & Hound (Register)
2:00 p.m. CST: 4K & HDR: Working with AVR’s and Non-18Gbps Products (Register)
March 31
11:00 a.m. CST: Building a Modern 4K Home Theater (Register)
3:00 p.m. CST: Building a Modern 4K Home Theater (Register)
April 1
10:00 a.m. CST: Advancements in Audio Downmixing (Register)
2:00 p.m. CST: 4K & HDR: Working with AVR’s and Non-18Gbps Products (Register)
April 2
11:00 a.m. CST: Extending HDMI with 4K and HDR (Register)
3:00 p.m. CST: JVC Projector Live Calibration (Register)
April 3
10:00 a.m. CST: Testing Audio with SEVEN Generator (Register)
2:00 p.m. CST: SEVEN Generator Training (Register)
More news from Catalyst AV: Catalyst AV, AVPro Edge Recognize Karp
March 19, 2020 · CEDIA Trade Group Offers Professional Development
CEDIA is responding to the rapidly-evolving effects of COVID-19 mitigation by announcing a slate of complimentary professional development opportunities for our members. As the business and personal lives of integrators continue to be disrupted, CEDIA is providing hours of valuable learning at no charge for members from the world leader in home technology integration industry training.
“We’re facing unprecedented challenges right now at work and at home and CEDIA is here to provide valuable resources to keep our members nimble, educated, and ready for what’s next,” says Tabatha O’Conner, president and CEO, CEDIA.
“Opening our courses and white papers up for all members and providing additional ways to grow professionally is the right thing to do. CEDIA is here to help members and the industry as a whole navigate the uncertainty.”
The professional development is fully open to members by logging on to the trade group’s website and it includes a large variety of eCourses, webinars, and white paper resources.
Additionally, CEDIA will be hosting live webinars and increasing the frequency of the CEDIA podcast to twice a week to offer even more value to members.
A schedule of all the upcoming live webinars will be available soon. Members can connect to more information at the trade group website, which will be continuously updated as more offerings are made available. Members are also encouraged to utilize the CEDIA Community as a resource to connect with peers and discuss issues making an impact on business. Current or prospective members can also reach out to CEDIA staffers or the membership team atmember@cedia.org.
More CEDIA trade group news: CEDIA Whitepaper Dives Deep into AV-over-IP
March 19, 2020 · ByDesign Vision & Sound Marketing to Represent Josh.ai
ByDesign Vision & Sound Marketing (VSM), an independent manufacturers’ representative, has expanded its scope to include home automation and control solutions with the recent addition of the Josh.ai platform to its line of products.
Dealers who undergo training of Josh.ai configuration and installation provided by ByDesign VSM will then be able to offer the voice control solution to their clients. The control software and complementary showroom or demo hardware are available immediately to trained and qualified dealers.
“Since the inception of ByDesign, we’ve considered it of paramount importance to stay on the leading edge of home technology, and the recent addition of Josh.ai helps us do just that — which allows us to maintain our reputation as a rep firm that offers the most innovative solutions available,” says ByDesign VSM founder Joaquin Rivera.
“Through its proprietary Natural Language Processing technology, the ability for end-users to launch commands through voice or an app, advanced security and privacy features, and seamless smart home integration, Josh.ai offers a completely new—and far better—approach to voice control in the smart home. The timing couldn’t be better for us to introduce this line to integrators in our territories.”
According to ByDesign, one of the biggest differentiators of Josh.ai is its ability to protect the privacy of its users. Data shared by end-users with the platform remains private, never shared for marketing purposes or third-party advertisements. The information Josh.ai collects is only used to make the system smarter and more intuitive.
Another feature of the automation system is its ability to understand compound commands and nicknames for products and scenes, and learn about the home environment over time. The time of day and the room in which a command is issued are all analyzed by the Josh.ai software to significantly improve reliability and accuracy.
More news from ByDesign: ByDesign VSM Rep Firm to Hold Barco Training
March 19, 2020 · Almo Hires Service Department Managers to Support Dealers
Almo Professional A/V, a Pro A/V industry distributor and creator of the E4 Experience, has announced the addition of three service development managers (SDMs) to provide support and expertise to partners using the Almo toolbox of AV Services for Integrators.
A newly created position at Almo Professional A/V, the SDMs are subject matter experts on Almo’s complete line of services, which include Almo AVaaS Financial Solutions, business communications, digital signage creative and hosting, control systems and DSP programming, hosted surveillance and security, remote asset management, labor and project support, and service and repair plans.
The Service Department Managers role is broken out geographically as follows:
- Leo Nickel, West Region
- Jason Terry, Central Region
- Jay Saret, East Region
“In 2019 alone, the Almo Managed Services Program grew 70 percent, which shows that our integrators and resellers are utilizing services more than ever before as a means to grow their businesses and offer more to their clients,” says Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V.
“Our SDMs have expertise in all of Almo’s service offerings and are able to not only provide technical insight but also have the ability to assist in designing and specifying key services. SDMs work in conjunction with the Almo sales team to ensure partners receive everything they need for a successful install that allows them to increase revenue and create lasting business opportunities.” Taylor hinted that new Almo Managed Services are expected to be added to the roster this year.
About Almo Professional A/V’s Service Development Managers
Leo Nickel, West. Based in Denver, Colo., Nickel started his career in broadcast television and holds more than 20 years of diverse AV industry experience, including system design, sales, project management, digital signage and content creation. He is AVIXA CTS-Certified and an AVIXA Certified Electronics Technician.
Jason Terry, Central. Working from Springboro, Ohio, Terry brings a demonstrated history of knowledge in the occupancy management and SaaS industries with skills in sales, go-to-market strategy, professional services, management and business development. He is the founder of GreenSpace Enterprise Technologies, Inc., a venture-backed occupancy management automation company specializing in occupancy management and meeting room scheduling solutions that are cost-effective, globally callable and easy to maintain.
Jay Saret, East. Located in the Boston area, Saret most recently served as a business development manager for Almo Professional A/V, focusing primarily on digital signage and installation services. During his career Saret has held many business development and project management-related positions, and he is AVIXA CTS-Certified as well as a Digital Signage Certified Expert (DSCE).
About Almo AV Services for Integrators
As the first distributor to create a path for integrators to expand their reach for growth and recurring revenue, Almo AV Services for Integrators create the opportunity for more margin and recurring revenue. Almo has gone beyond product fulfillment by offering access to professional AV services that extend a current business model without the need to maintain staff for those services. For more information about Almo AV Services for Integrators, go to https://www.almoproav.com/nobox.
More news from Almo AV: Almo Professional AV Announces E4 Experience 2020
March 19, 2020 · Hibersense adds New Staff Members
Hibersense, Inc., a company that designs and manufactures smart climate solutions, has announced the addition of three new team members.
The three new staff members provide the company a new product manager, a new director of customer success and a new channel manager.
“It is always exciting and rewarding to grow a brand like Hibersense and bring talented people into the fold,” states Bob Fields, COO, Hibersense.
“We anticipate continued growth and brand visibility in 2020 and beyond as these individuals enhance our products and services while enabling us to deliver smart balanced comfort to more homes and businesses.”
Here are Hibersense‘s newest employees:
Dave Burnham, Product Manager
Hired in January 2020, Burnham will support the company’s hardware development and oversee the shift of final assembly to a contracted partner. He will also support sales and customer success initiatives. Experienced in managing product development from concepts to prototype and production, Burnham also has extensive experience as a technical training manager for a Fortune 100 consumer electronics retailer in countries such as China, Canada and Mexico.
Mary Beth Sklar, Director of Customer Success
Brought onboard in February 2020, Solar will lead the charge to establish the highest level of support services to contractor partners, as well as commercial and residential end-users on behalf of Hibersense. In this role, Sklar will develop and improve customer communication channels, documentation, and other critical assets while sharing strategic insights that improve product value.
Jeff Skipper, Channel Manager
Hired in March 2020, Skipper is tasked with outreach to contractors and other aspects of sales within Hibersense. Skipper brings much experience in commercial technology integration markets including business development, strategy and marketing roles that have spanned a 20-plus year career.
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