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Major Transition Hits Specialty Stalwart Parasound as Founder Retires

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Parasound Halo JC1+ amplifier
Parasound Halo JC 1+

Parasound is a unique company. A long-time specialty segment stalwart, the company has been delighting audio enthusiasts for more than forty years! That is no small achievement when you consider the twists and turns of the specialty segment over that time frame.

And the credit for that success is largely due to the commitment to quality – and, frankly, just the bulldog temerity – of founder and CEO Richard Schram. So it is a development worthy of note that, yesterday, Schram announced his retirement from the company and its sale to a new owner.

Learn more about Schram’s retirement and Parasound’s transition to new ownership

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In Executive Team Expansion, Fidelity Imports Appoints Director of Finance and Operations

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Fidelity Imports logo

Fidelity Imports, a U.S. importer and distributor of fine, upscale audio products, announced this month the appointment of Derek Kolterman as Director of Finance and Operations. The move is said to be the result of dramatic company growth driving the need for personnel expansion.

See more on Fidelity Imports and Derek Kolterman

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Sonance Names National Sales Manager for Canada Biz Transition

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Sonance logo with slogan

Sonance announced last week that it was transitioning its business model in Canada from one centered around a distribution model with an in-country partner responsible for all sales and servicing in the country to a new direct one where Sonance HQ will directly handle all sales and service of its products there. This week, we learn that the company has appointed a new National Sales Manager for Canada, responsible for implementing this new business model, building an all-new sales team, and managing their sales operations there.

That new executive is Toronto-based sales professional Brad Middleton.

Learn more about Sonance appointing Brad Middleton

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Draper Adds Muscle to Residential Push, Promoting Two from Within

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Draper with its Draper@Home division

Draper Inc., a major manufacturer of shades, projection screens, solar control solutions, and more, announced this week a move to build up its management infrastructure to support its push into the residential custom integration channel. As part of this process, it has promoted Chris Sitarov and Pat Herron from within to two new Director of Sales roles overseeing the company’s sales force.

See more on this move by Draper

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AVNation Features Ted Green on Special Episode Discussing CEDIA Board Election Issue

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AVNation graphic on panel where AVNation Features Ted Green

This week, AVNation features Ted Green – me – on a special episode discussing the CEDIA Director Elections taking place right now. As you may know, there was some controversy surrounding this election as CEDIA’s board decided to change the normal election process where association members pick from a selection of nominees to vote on those they want on the Board of Directors. Instead, this year members vote with a simple yes/no on a predetermined slate of candidates selected by the Board’s Governance Committee.

See more on this special AVNation episode featuring me

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Nationwide Sets Sights on Custom Integration & Luxury Home Dominance

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Nationwide tiny home with home automation display

See My Interview w/Nationwide President Tom Hickman

In the days leading up to the recent CEDIA Expo in Dallas, Nationwide Marketing Group, one of the largest buying groups in the U.S., announced that former ProSource VP Andy Orozco would be joining Nationwide as its Senior Vice President of Custom Integration. That news grabbed my attention as it came less than a year after Nationwide’s acquisition of one of the top custom integration buying groups, Azione Unlimited, back in October 2021.

Clearly, something big is going on at Nationwide…

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CEDIA Board Elections Now Open, But Did Org Violate Its Own Bylaws?

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CEDIA HQ
CEDIA’s headquarters building in Fishers, Indiana

Why Did an Anonymous Source Call My Attention to the Bylaws?

On Tuesday, CEDIA members received an email from David Weinstein, the well-known VP of Lutron who also serves as the Chairman of CEDIA’s Board of Directors, informing them that the election process to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors was now open. There are three seats to be filled and Weinstein’s email helpfully/confusingly names just three candidates the Board’s Governance Committee has selected to fill the three open seats. It was the first indicator that something was different with this election as compared to the usual process.

I read this announcement carefully, as only hours before it was distributed I had received a cryptic message from a source exhorting me to find and read “the current Cedia [sic] bylaws.” Something was definitely brewing…

See more on the CEDIA Board elections…

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Former ProSource VP Andy Orozco Named Nationwide Senior VP of CI

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Nationwide Marketing Group logo

Nationwide Marketing Group (Nationwide) continues to hit the accelerator pedal as it seeks to build upon its plans to expand the custom integration segment for the group, first indicated when it acquired another CI-centric group, Azioned Unlimited, back in October of 2021. Now Nationwide is announcing that Andy Orozco, a former top (and long-time) executive with ProSource, has joined the organization as its Senior Vice President of Custom Integration.

See more on Orozco joining Nationwide Marketing Group

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Masimo Names Blair Tripodi as Replacement for Former Sound United CEO Kevin Duffy

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New Masimo W1 smart watch

Tripodi to Head New Masimo Consumer Division

Masimo, a medical products company that acquired Sound United in February 2022, announced on Monday that it is naming Blair Tripodi as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for its new Consumer division. At this time, the Masimo Consumer division consists almost exclusively of the Sound United business. Tripodi moves into the role originally given to former Sound United CEO Kevin Duffy, although Duffy was offered the title of President.

See more on Tripodi’s ascension to COO of Masimo Consumer division

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First PrepTECH Grads Hit Dallas Market; Company Seeks More Sponsors

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PrepTECH, a for-profit workforce service company that finds, vets, trains, and places new entry-level techs into the custom integration space, has had its first graduating class enter the industry in the Dallas market. A “pilot” or proof-of-concept initiative, the company says it was quite successful and a great learning experience for them – as well as for their participating students and the industry.

Now the company is looking to scale the concept.

Learn more about PrepTECH…

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