Long enjoyed a wide range of roles in EV marketing and sales over the years, most recently as a member of the product marketing management team, and contributed his technical know-how and communication skills to many aspects of the company's success, including the development of the 'PA Bible' - still a trusted reference guide today.
Long is well-known for his ability to relate engineering concepts in everyday terms, and his presentations educated hundreds of budding and seasoned professionals over the decades. For many, Jim's easygoing manner, tireless dedication to the industry and his customers, and attention to detail became synonymous with the Electro-Voice brand and its heritage; to many, Jim Long is Electro-Voice.
Jim Long first began work at Electro-Voice in 1963, when he was taken on as a summer engineering technician in the company's Buchanan, Michigan, plant. He stayed on after that summer, working in the microphone lab until the fall of 1964, when he left to pursue an MBA. He returned to Electro-Voice engineering in 1966 and remained with the company ever since. "I wanted to work in audio," he recalls. "I interviewed for jobs as far away as California, but I liked the idea of finding an audio company right in Michigan, where my family headed for summer lake vacations. I had become familiar with EV, and I liked both the people and the company."
"Having been instrumental in some of the most significant developments in the pro audio industry over the years, Jim's knowledge of both the technological and business sides of the industry are second to none," says longtime friend and colleague Tom Hansen, VP of key accounts with Bosch Communications Systems.
"Between the PA Bible, his excellent presentations, and his project support for countless contractors across the country, Jim has educated generations of pro audio professionals, sharing his passion for sound. He really personifies the EV brand, its values, and its personality, and has made many, many friends over the years as a result. He's acted as a trusted advisor on some of the most prestigious EV installations, bringing a discerning ear - fine-tuned by his love of classical music - to the designs of some of the best-sounding systems in the US."
Tom Hansen adds, "Everyone at Electro-Voice and Bosch Communications Systems wishes Jim all the best for a happy and healthy retirement - the world is a better-sounding place thanks to Jim Long."
(Jim Evans)
