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AAMP Global Acquires AudioControl

March 31, 2022 by Ted Leave a Comment

AAMP Global, a leading global manufacturer of a wide array of technology products for the personal and commercial vehicle markets, announced today the strategic acquisition of AudioControl – the well-known specialty manufacturer of electronics products for the automotive, residential, and commercial audio channels. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but AAMP says that AudioControl’s Seattle, WA-based operations and team will continue to operate as an independent facility under the AAMP Global umbrella.

I spoke with top executives of both companies to learn more about what drew the parties together and just what is meant by a “strategic” acquisition.

See more on the AAMP acquisition of AudioControl

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New CEDIA CEO Part 2: Keeping Focused and Making an Impact

March 30, 2022 by Ted 1 Comment

CEDIA CEO Daryl Friedman sharing a laugh

When Daryl Friedman was hired to become Global President and CEO of CEDIA, he was already aware of the fact that the organization was facing some heavy challenges and really needed someone ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. It was a challenge he says he was both ready for and was uniquely qualified to address, based on his previous association experience. Then he went to work digging up more evidence of the challenges ahead.

In order to get a sense of Friedman’s thinking and process, I spoke with him via Zoom for nearly an hour. It was a wide-ranging discussion on many key issues for an association that I’ve had some issues with over the years. This article is Part 2 of that interview.

See Part 2 of my interview with the new CEDIA CEO

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ProSource Expands Leadership Team; Appoints Jim Pearse as President

March 25, 2022 by Ted Leave a Comment

This week, ProSource announced that it was expanding its leadership team by adding well-known retail industry executive Jim Pearse as its new President. The duties of the president were once part of CEO Dave Workman’s role, but the group says this management team expansion is now necessary to support the group’s continued growth.

See more on Jim Pearse joining ProSource

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Future Ready Solutions Appoints Lawrence Davis as VP of Biz Dev

March 24, 2022 by Ted Leave a Comment

Future Ready Solutions (FRS), a distributor of cable and connectivity products, announced this week that it has appointed Lawrence Davis as Vice President of Business Development. Davis has a long career in tech, mostly in sales management for a wide range of prominent brands.

Learn more about Davis joining Future Ready Solutions

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New CEDIA CEO; Ignoring Distractions & Getting Down to Business

March 23, 2022 by Ted 4 Comments

*CEDIA Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman (L) looks positively terrified, doesn’t he? [Click to enlarge]*

PART 1: Identifying Membership ‘Stress Points’

In a Zoom interview last week, I sought to take more of a measure of the man who now runs CEDIA, its new Global President and Chief Executive Officer Daryl Friedman. We first met, and I first told you about Friedman, back when his selection was first announced to the world just a little over 100 days ago. Friedman was in a series of round-robin press interviews and we only had a few minutes to interact. Now, 106 days later (at the time of this interview) he’s traveled the country, gotten his feet wet, and had much more depth of thoughts to share with Strata-gee readers.

See more on Friedman and his plans for CEDIA

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Tech Takes a Stand on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

March 10, 2022 by Ted 3 Comments

Russian invasion - A Mariupol, Ukraine apartment building damaged by artillery shelling — *An apartment building in Mariupol, Ukraine damaged by artillery shelling [Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/Associated Press]*

Certainly, the biggest news story of the year has been the dramatic and horrific invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This invasion was undertaken for illegitimate reasons and has resulted in an almost unbearable amount of pain for Ukrainian soldiers and citizens. The dismal news coming out of the region has forced countries, alliances, and even businesses to reassess their relationship with the clear aggressor in the war, Russia. Now, this reckoning has come to the Tech industry as well.

See who in Tech has taken a stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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New Brand AVA Appears with Solid Founder Pedigree; But is Success Guaranteed?

March 9, 2022 by Ted 1 Comment

On Monday we learned of the launch of a new brand of wireless streaming music systems called AVA. Targeted towards the higher-end of the market, AVA features a more European design aesthetic, is targeted for distribution through the custom integration channel, and comes from a triumvirate of co-founders of respectable pedigree.

But does this pedigree guarantee their success?

See more on AVA

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Bob Weissburg Joins Fidelity Imports as Director of Business Development

March 4, 2022 by Ted 1 Comment

Well-known industry executive Bob Weissburg has joined Fidelity Imports, distributor of fine high-end audio gear, as its Director of Business Development. With a long career in top management with companies like Sony and D&M, Weissburg is well-respected by the dealer community.

See more on this new role for Bob Weissburg

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Joe Whitaker Leaves His Integration Company to Take a Position at Origin Acoustics

February 2, 2022 by Ted Leave a Comment

Joe Whitaker, a former partner in Thoughtful Integrations out of St. Louis, MO/Dallas, TX, is leaving his integration life behind to join Origin Acoustics as its Vice President of Business Development. Whitaker has been an active promoter of Origin products in his former life as an integrator and has already been consulting with the company on products for years.

See more on Whitaker at Origin Acoustics

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Dave Nauber, Head of Classé for Nearly 20-Yrs, Leaves Company at End of March

February 2, 2022 by Ted 6 Comments

BREAKING NEWS

In an internal email circulated to company employees on Monday, Joel Sietsema, Sound United’s Brand President of Marantz and Classé, announced a “change to the leadership structure of the Marantz and Classé organization.” That change is a big one – Dave Nauber, leader of the Classé brand for nearly 20-years, will be leaving the company at the end of March, “to pursue new opportunities.”

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AAMP Global Acquires AudioControl

See more on the AAMP acquisition of AudioControl

New CEDIA CEO Part 2: Keeping Focused and Making an Impact

See Part 2 of my interview with the new CEDIA CEO