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Morag MacPherson Joins Orbital Sound Inc as Vice President
Orbital Sound reports that it has appointed acclaimed entertainment industry professional Morag MacPherson (pictured) as vice president of its US company with immediate effect. Morag joins Orbital at an important stage in its evolution, and will be working closely with international managing director Chris Headlam to position the company's successful brand in the US market. Her outstanding track record and extensive theatrical experience will help drive Orbital forwards, with the goal of becoming one of North America's leading theatrical touring and resident theatre sound system suppliers.
Chris Headlam explains: "Morag brings a new dimension to Orbital as a recognized force in the theatrical world. Morag is extremely well-versed in all things audio, as well as commanding immense respect within theatre production, and she will be a great hands-on ambassador for Orbital. Morag has literally grown up in the business, mentored by her father, the late and highly respected theatrical manager and producer George MacPherson. We are hugely excited to bring her into our team at such an early stage in our development – she is going to play a vital role in helping us achieve our ambition to become a key supplier in the theatre sound industry."
Morag has a long history in theatrical production, specifically in road management, all of which prepared her for later appointments that included director of programming for Broadway Across America, director of professional and international licencing for Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and director of industry relations at Masque Sound. Commenting on joining the Orbital Sound Inc team, Morag said: "Orbital Sound is one of the most respected names in the international theatrical audio industry, and helping the firm establish its brand in the US market is an exciting challenge. It is an absolute pleasure to be joining Orbital at such a dynamic period in its growth, and I see my broad background in theatrical production complementing the company’s structure and aspirations. Orbital’s team is meticulously professional, with an unrivalled skill set in terms of technical expertise, careful project management and practical approach. I believe Orbital has an extremely strong future, and I look forward to contributing to its success."
10th May 2013
Bandit Lites Appoints new Director of Technical Services
Bandit Lites has announced the promotion of Jake Tickle (pictured) to director of technical services. He will oversee all technical aspects of Bandit including support for road staff, research and development, training and repairs.
"Jake’s tireless efforts to ensure that our technical department reflects the high standards our clients have come to expect has made Jake an integral part of Bandit for some time," said Pete Heffernan, Bandits’ president. "We are proud to have him in such a position where he will continue to guarantee Bandits’ success for years to come."
Tickle joined the Bandit family in 2006 and was promoted to tech service manager in 2007.
He previously worked for Carnival Cruise Lines as an entertainment technical coordinator.
8th May 2013
Craig Burross Receives HES Lifetime Achievement Award
At an intimate gathering in Austin on March 26, High End Systems national sales manager Craig Burross was presented an award from his peers and company founders for his achievement of $200,000,000 in sales of High End Systems' products. The Lifetime Achievement Award for $200m revenue is the culmination of Burross' seventeen years of sales leadership and contribution to High End Systems. In addition to High End Systems co-founders Lowell Fowler and Richard Belliveau, Vice-President of Worldwide Sales Renaat De Wilde, members of the HES sales team and other key employees were also in attendance for the evening's festivities.
Craig joined High End Systems in March of 1991, and was instrumental in the company's sales of Intellabeam HX, Trackspot, Cyberlight, Studio Color and other revolutionary products in the midwestern US region.
In picture: Lowell Fowler, Craig Burross and Richard Belliveau.
26th April 2013
J. R. Clancy names Backstage Service Specialist
In its continuing efforts to provide the services its customers need to ensure backstage safety, J. R. Clancy, Inc., has named Anthony Seifritz (pictured) to the new position of Backstage Service Specialist.
Anthony’s new responsibilities include facilitating repairs at customer venues, providing links to qualified professionals who can conduct backstage inspections, making training available for new and experienced operators, and writing complete equipment estimates.
Anthony came to Clancy in 1988 as an engineering designer. Over his 25-year career with Clancy, he also has served as an applications engineer and dealer project manager, leading projects that range from elementary school stage rigging to complex systems on cruise ships. His recent projects have included large automated rigging systems for Centro Cultural Corpartes in Santiago, Chile and Messiah College in Grantham, PA.
24th April 2013
PR Lighting Sales Promotions will boost Global Strength
PR Lighting has announced some strategic personnel changes as it strives to consolidate its expansion across the globe.
The experience and dedication of both Anna Zhang and Mary Ma have been recognised — with the former promoted to the important role of sales manager (for the Americas) and the latter to sales assistant supervisor.
Both are long-serving and loyal members of the successful sales team. Anna has been working with PR Lighting for the past seven years, developing through the ranks, first as sales assistant and sales supervisor, before being confirmed as sales manager.
Confirming the new appointment, sales director Ernie Armas said: “Anna’s career development has been impressive over such a short amount of time; she is also the first to have reached the key position of overseeing sales in the most important territory, after starting in an entry level role.”
He added that her passion and customer devotion resulted from her willingness to understand regional markets, and research the best strategies to further develop them. “She is someone who is very much in tune with both the logistical considerations of the industry as well as the creativity required to achieve sales goals.”
During her eight years with PR Lighting, Mary Ma has developed a wide global knowledge, assisting the sales mission in every territory. “With such a broad lateral experience, she is a kind of Wikipedia of the International Sales Dept,” continued Armas. “She has a keen sense of organisation, grasps concepts very quickly and effortlessly integrates the philosophy of the company into her daily activities.”
The two appointments take place with immediate effect.
In picture: Anna Zhang and Mary Ma
10th April 2013
Adamson Continues to Strengthen Their Support Network
Adamson Systems Engineering has announced the addition of applications engineer Brian Fraser (pictured) to the sales and support team at their international headquarters. Brian will bring more than a decade of experience working in the live, touring and installation markets to Adamson as they continue to expand their global market share. Brian brings his experience in production management, front of house, and monitors, to the technical sales and support departments.
Brian has had the chance to work in a broad range of environments from small clubs to arena-size venues with world renowned artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rick Springfield. His more than a decade of experience on the road working in pro audio will lend well to the broad range of products available in the Adamson line up.
Jesse Adamson, Adamson's VP comments: "Brian has a wealth of hands-on experience in the industry. We brought him on because of his ability to navigate through complex technical proposals with very clear and pragmatic direction. He will be a strong technical addition to our team."
Brian couldn’t be more thrilled about coming into the company that is launching so many new and innovative products. "I am pretty excited to be a part of the Adamson team. They are a dynamic, energetic organization, that strives to build technology that is second to none," he said. Most engineers know that the Energia series is very high-performance, but I'm also looking forward to getting the new Point Concentric series out there. These cabinets sound amazing and can cover such a wide variety of applications."
3rd April 2013
QSC Strengthens its Sales and Marketing Teams with Senior Management Promotions
QSC Audio Products, LLC. has announced the promotions of several senior managers to new leadership roles within its powerful global sales and marketing teams. Gina Bergmann has been promoted to senior director, sales operations and US sales; David Fuller has been promoted to senior director, international sales and technical marketing, and Ray van Straten has been promoted to senior director, marketing communications and training and education.
"I am very excited about these management changes and the opportunities they represent for our company’s future," states Joe Pham, QSC president and CEO. "David, Gina and Ray each have proven track records of success, building teams from the ground up and being advocates for approaching our business differently. In addition, they all have a strong background in sales which gives them a unique perspective on how they approach the non-sales aspect of their roles."
Gina Bergmann will be leading both the Sales Operations and US Sales Teams at QSC. Gina originally joined QSC Sales Operations 12 years ago and has worked in both the Retail and Concert divisions, moving on to manage QSC Strategic Accounts, and most recently managing both Sales Operations and Strategic Accounts. Gina will also maintain responsibility for Channel Management Strategy.
"When I first joined QSC, I couldn’t imagine having a role informing the direction of the company," says Bergmann. "Today, I could not be more excited about the opportunity to work alongside such an incredible group of people in shaping the direction of the Sales and Marketing teams of the future, and propelling our next phase of growth."
David Fuller will be leading both the Technical Marketing & International Sales Teams at QSC. David came to QSC three years ago, first managing the Asia Pacific region, then relocating to the headquarters in Costa Mesa facility to head up the Technical Marketing team. In this role, David built an extraordinarily high caliber of talent and tools for the benefit of QSC customers. "Becoming a global organization is a critical component of QSC’s mission statement, and I’m very excited at the prospect of playing a part in that. Furthermore, the International Sales Team at QSC has never been stronger, and it is my privilege to lead such a talented group of industry professionals."
Ray van Straten will be leading both Marketing Communications and the Training & Education Team at QSC. Throughout his ten years with QSC, Ray has served as Retail Market Manager, Director of Entertainer Solutions, and most recently managing the company’s Marketing Communications Team. In addition to assuming the new Training & Education responsibilities, Ray will also continue to oversee Worldwide Artist Relations and Public Relations.
"Being asked to serve the needs of our growing company in this way is both an honor and a privilege," expresses Ray van Straten. "The caliber of talent at QSC is second to none in the industry and our brand’s success is a reflection of that. I truly look forward to what lies ahead."
25th March 2013
J. R. Clancy Expands Technical and Design Staff
J. R. Clancy, Inc., has added two people to its sales and estimating staff, maintaining and expanding its technical services and expertise to serve its customers.
Eric Huss has joined Clancy as technical salesman. Prior to joining JR Clancy, Eric worked for Artec Consultants on projects including Darat King Abdullah II Performing Arts Center in Amman, Jordan; Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla.; Grand Theatre du Bouregreg in Rabat, Morocco; and the Star Performing Arts Center in Singapore. Eric worked as a project manager for Global Scenic Services, where he managed the 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, a national tour of South Pacific, several projects for DKNY and Holland America Cruise Lines, and two Broadway shows: Hedda Gabler and Irena’s Vow. Earlier in his career, Eric served as a technical designer with Auerbach Pollock Friedlander and Sachs Morgan Studio as technical designer, where he was involved in drafting and engineering machinery for major performing arts venues across the country and beyond. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Technical Production from Boston University.
Scott Uhrig joins J.R. Clancy as an estimator, coming to the company from The Oncenter entertainment complex in downtown Syracuse. As the complex’s technical services manager for nearly twenty years, Scott was responsible for the technical operations of three facilities: the John H. Mulroy Civic Center Theaters, the Onondaga County War Memorial, and the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center. During his tenure, the complex hosted Broadway tours including The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, and Wicked, and major touring companies including Cirque Du Soleil, Disney on Ice, the Syracuse Auto Show and the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships. Earlier in his career, Scott served as technical operations manager for the Landmark Theater in Syracuse.
Dean Arpajian joined Clancy in 2012 as a controls designer, responsible for design and commissioning of rigging control systems. His design projects have included the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif., and the Jenison Performing Arts Center in Jenison, Mich. Recently commissioned systems Dean designed include Butler University's Schrott Center for the Performing and Visual Arts, and the San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center at California Polytechnic. Before joining Clancy, Dean worked as a stagehand and rigger, and a consultant in the code-for-hire sector. Earlier in his career, he designed neurological research systems for a facility at Syracuse University. Dean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Syracuse University.
Alex Pranjkovic joined the technical and design staff as a mechanical engineer. A recent graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Alex has been the lead designer on a variety of dealer and contract jobs at Clancy, including Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Pueblo Memorial Hall in Pueblo, Colo. He has also taken on the task of managing standard product drawings.
In addition, Clancy has announced the promotion of Paul Zagajeski to the position of product engineer. In this new position, Paul will work full-time on the development of future products and improvements to Clancy’s existing lines. Paul joined JR Clancy in 2003 as a mechanical designer, and he has designed equipment for projects including the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta, the renovation of the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, and the Palladium in Carmel, IN. He has also worked on the design of many of Clancy’s standard, off-the-shelf products. Before joining Clancy, Paul was a technical designer at the theatre consulting firm Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in San Francisco.
18th March 2013
J. R. Clancy Expands Project Management Staff
With projects in progress from a major performing arts center in Singapore to the beacon at the top of One World Trade Center in New York, J. R. Clancy has expanded its project management staff in the United States.
Kevin Auses has joined the Clancy team in its Syracuse, NY, headquarters as a dealer project manager. Prior to joining Clancy, Kevin worked as an associate with the theatre design firm Auerbach Pollock Friedlander (APF) in San Francisco, where his responsibilities included project oversight, technical design, and project drawing review for a number of completed projects. Kevin’s experience at APF includes technical design and project management. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama in Pittsburgh.
Michael Braico also joined Clancy in 2012 as a dealer project manager. Before coming to Clancy, Michael served as a technician for Production Resource Group, master carpenter for the Power Center at the University of Michigan, and stage operations manager with Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY, for the better part of a decade.
8th March 2013
Harman Professional Makes Key Promotions at Lighting Strategic Business Unit
With the completion of its acquisition of Martin Professional and the foundation of a lighting business unit within Harman Professional, Harman has announced two key promotions that, according to Blake Augsburger, president Harman Professional, will position the business unit for optimal development while capitalizing on selective shared resources and relationships with Harman Professional.
Effective immediately, Lars Dige Knudsen is promoted to vice president, general manager, Lighting Strategic Business Unit, Harman Professional (taking over from Martin’s previous CEO Christian Engsted), and Villads Thomsen is promoted to vice president, Global Sales, Lighting Strategic Business Unit, Harman Professional. Knudsen, a 17-year veteran of Martin Professional, previously held the position of CFO and Thomsen, previously vice president of sales, EMEA at Martin Professional, has held senior sales leadership positions over a 14-year career at Martin.
"Harman’s acquisition of Martin Professional makes excellent business sense from an economic, geographic and strategic point of view but also from a talent perspective as evidenced by the promotions of Lars Dige Knudsen and Villads Thomsen," Augsburger said today. "Both are experienced, accomplished and ambitious executives with a strong commitment to grow Harman Professional’s Lighting Strategic Business Unit and serve customers around the globe with the best possible professional lighting technologies. I look forward to working with Lars and Villads and providing them with all the resources and support that they need to make the very most of this acquisition."
As CFO, Lars Dige Knudsen was central to transforming Martin Professional into the world’s leading supplier of entertainment lighting. In addition to his general management responsibilities, he will continue to head shared services including finance, IT, legal and human resources. Lars Dige Knudsen holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance & Auditing from Aarhus Business College.
Commenting on his promotion, Lars Dige Knudsen noted: "Harman acquired Martin Professional because Blake Augsburger and his team saw value and potential. I am delighted to be tasked with realizing the value and achieving the potential of Martin Professional within Harman and to lead the new Harman Professional Lighting Strategic Business Unit. I look forward to working with the other professional division business units to evolve and grow together."
Villads Thomsen has led successful sales programs for Martin Professional in several key territories in Europe and Asia. Most recently, he led the consolidation of Martin Professional’s European and Africa organizations into a strong, unified EMEA region. He is a graduate of the Administration and Management program at Aarhus Business College, holds an MBA from Henley Business School and has participated in several executive programs at IMD and Insead.
Villads commented: "With new powerful ownership, I’m excited to take part in what is certain to take Martin ‘to the next level’. Being part of Harman will not only cement the current position of Martin Professional in the lighting industry but will also bring new innovations to the benefit of existing and new customers."
In picture: Lars Dige Knudsen (top) and Villads Thomsen.
7th March 2013
