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Martin expands Maxxyz software team

Details: 14 March 2016

Belgium - Martin Professional has committed further resources to the Maxxyz lighting console by adding programmers to the Maxxyz software development team. The move is in response to the console's increased demand as a professional lighting console for stage, studio and events, as well as the further incorporation of networking and integration functions.

The new programmers, located at R&D International in Belgium, are experienced in hardware control through real-time application software. Essentially, this permits the team to produce software updates more quickly while concentrating on other key areas such as networking between consoles and other devices like the Maxxyz Tablet Remote, integration between the Maxxyz and Martin's new media server Maxedia, multi-user environments and more.

(Jane Cockburn)

Randy Green goes to D-Tools

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - D-Tools, a leading system integration software company, has appointed Randy Green, the former vice-president of Stardraw, to its senior management team. Green will head up a new team within D-Tools aimed specifically at the commercial system integrator market.

"We are very pleased about the addition of Randy Green to our team," said Adam Stone, president of D-Tools. "His knowledge of the commercial system integrator's software needs in the United States is second to none, and we look forward to his spearheading our charge into this market."

Green's appointment coincides with a major expansion of D-Tools' proven Si Software into the commercial market. Amongst the newest features being shown at InfoComm, will be a product data library featuring over 140 commercial manufacturers as well as the company's newest add-on, the Business Manager module, used f

CEDIA appoints new education facilitator

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association), the trade association representing the fast-growing home automation industry, has announced that Michael Eden is to be its new education facilitator. This new appointment further underlines CEDIA's on-going commitment to delivering the training and educational structure required by the industry it says.

Michael Eden has most recently served as a head teacher at a large secondary school in Surrey. In this role, he was responsible for developing training programmes, as well as teacher induction and assessments. He has also worked with several government departments on training and education related issues.

"Michael brings to this role considerable experience in many areas of education, which will be a great asset to CEDIA in the UK," said Stephen Gough, chairman of CEDIA. "In his previous roles he h

Obituary: Hugh Laver

Details: 14 March 2016

L&SI has learned of the death of Hugh Laver, on 4 May in Adelaide, Australia. Laver, a well-known figure in the UK's lighting industry, had suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years.

Simon Corder writes: "In my life there have been a few people of great importance; mentors and teachers who have inspired and taken the time to share their experience. Hugh was my chief at the Bubble Theatre in 1979; we toured London in a big yellow tent. He was a good man who is fondly remembered."

Jon Cadbury of VLPS adds: "Hugh and I had worked together for the Joint Stock Theatre Company, where he always had the clearest view on the right way to service and support theatre and entertainment technology. He was a teacher and an inspiration to everyone who came into contact with him. He will be missed by many people.

"Paul Turner had started Zenith Lighting to service the conce

Woods (centre) is shown with Hall Stage design team members Richard Clarke (left) and Darren Green.

Peter Woods joins Hall Stage

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Hall Stage Limited are very happy to announce another new addition to their staff. Peter Woods joins the company as engineering design manager after many years in the industry with Glantre Engineering and most recently Stage Technologies, where he spent four years as mechanical designer and site engineer.

"Peter adds a tremendous amount to our business" says Charles Haines, Hall Stage managing director: "He obviously brings a wealth of experience in engineering design and project management and he fits in with our core work ethics! We needed someone with his qualities and qualifications to support the development and supply of new products, such as the 2004 ABTT Rigging & Engineering Product of the Year award-winning DGS counterweight drive - and we're absolutely delighted to have him here."

Woods adds: "Its a great opportunity for me to be part

Carlsbro announces further changes

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Carlsbro Electronics has announced further changes to its management structure, designed to cater for its continued growth. With effect from 1 July 2004 John Roberts has been made head of sales and marketing for Carlsbro products worldwide. In his new role, Roberts will co-ordinate sales, marketing and promotions, ensuring that Carlsbro (which dates back to 1959) continues as one of today's fastest-growing British amplifier brands.

(Lee Baldock)

New arrival at Starlite, New Jersey

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Starlite Productions of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has appointed Keri Hall as a lighting sales associate. In this role, she will handle both retail and wholesale sales within the company's lighting group. Hall returns to NJ from Orlando, Florida, where she was most recently an event coordinator with Disney's Wild World of Sports. In addition, she spent several years as a lighting, pyrotechnic, and special effects technician at Pleasure Island and Disney-MGM Studios. She holds a BFA in Theater Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

(Lee Baldock)

A.C. appoints audio sales manager

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - A.C. Lighting recently announced a staff promotion at the company's Northern sales office in Leeds. Peter Butler has been promoted to audio sales manager in a newly created position which reflects the exponential increase in audio sales for the group, driven by Butler since joining the company in January 2003.

Butler's extensive experience in the industry places him in an ideal position to further establish A.C. as one of the leading suppliers of professional audio solutions in Europe, through the distribution and support of leading brands. Jonathan Walters, sales director at A.C. Lighting North commented: "We are delighted to promote Peter to this new role. He has played a key role in the expansion of our audio business and product portfolio since joining us at the formation of the division."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Apogee appoints Western RSM

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Bogen Communications Inc, parent company of Apogee Sound International, manufacturer of state-of-the-art sound reinforcement products for the professional audio industry, has appointed Barry Ray Luz Western regional sales manager for Apogee, Bogen, and NEAR product lines.

The Western Regional territory includes California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, the Dakotas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas. Luz will report to Dominick Buonantuono, national sales manager of the Commercial Audio Division of Bogen Communications, Inc. "Barry Luz will be responsible for selling Bogen, NEAR, and Apogee products," Buonantuono said. "His diverse industry background in both the contracting and live sound industries makes him uniquely qualified to represent this wide spectrum of products."

Luz brings more than 2

XL Video Corporate expands

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - XL Video UK has expanded the corporate side of its live video operations with the addition of two new account managers - Phil Goddard and Greg Rice. The appointments reflect the growth and new confidence in this sector, say the company.

Phil Goddard brings 29 years of experience in the AV business to the company. He has recently worked with some of the leading rental companies in the market, and before then was an event manager for major corporate financial institution Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), handling all their events worldwide. Greg Rice, meanwhile, joins XL Video having worked for Blitz Vision and Stagestruck, technically project managing many of their corporate events. Immediately before, joining XL Video, he was freelancing. He's already familiar with many of the XL management team and crew, and is enthusiastic about joining the company.

(Lee B

Phil Mercer joins XL Video

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Phil Mercer has joined XL Video's project management team, where he'll be concentrating his energies on the application of video in live music and theatre, and on the rapidly continuing creative fusion of lighting and video media and technologies. Having spent the previous four years working for leading moving light manufacturer High End Systems, Mercer first became involved in video via their award-winning Catalyst product. XL Video was one of the first UK rental operations to invest in Catalyst digital media servers and their DL1 moving projection heads.

Mercer's experience in overseeing large Catalyst shows includes working on the last three Eurovision Song Contests and Peter Gabriel's recent tour. "It's hugely exciting to be working with the UK's leading live video company," he says. "I'm looking forward to working with a growing number of lighting desig

Walpole returns to Leisuretec

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Jay Walpole has returned to Leisuretec Distribution Ltd, strengthening the sales development team. Walpole left Leisuretec in January 2003 to travel the world, he journeyed across America before landing in Australia. After spending a number of months in Melbourne and Sydney, he realised that the beach life was not for him and he returned to the UK joining the Professional Audio division at Arbiter.

Following Arbiter's decision to close this division of their business, Walpole then moved to a customer services role at Music Marketing Services in Chelsea. The decision to return to Leisuretec Distribution was made after Walpole contacted Suzannah Griffin; business development manager at Leisuretec, where it appeared a position within the sales development team was about to be available.

Jay Walpole commented "I am looking forward to establishing myself in this new rol

Medvitz named principal at Lightswitch

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Design consortium Lightswitch has announced that highly respected industry veteran Chris Medvitz has joined their team. Medvitz has been designing theatrical, corporate and concert event lighting for well over a decade, having been a staff lighting designer for The Obie Company and director of lighting design at the Juice Creative division of The George P. Johnson Company, as well as working as an independent designer for a number of years.

Medvitz's corporate client list is extensive, with companies such as Chrysler, Hummer, Jeep, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nissan, Samsung and Toyota making use of his talents. His theatrical credits include various productions for the Newport Theater Arts Center, Long Beach Playhouse, Theaterfaire for Children, Irvine Barclay Theater and Opera Pacific.

Recently Medvitz has broadened into creative and visual direction, designing product launc

New addition to Carlsbro sales team

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Carlsbro Electronics has appointed Peter Ward as the latest addition to its sales team. Ward has taken over from John Roberts as the sales manager for the northern region and brings with him many years' experience from the music industry, having worked for Academy of Sound Leeds for three years, the last year as sales manager, and as a gigging musician. Ward is now the main point of contact at Carlsbro for all northern retailers.

(Lee Baldock)

Eric Loader (left) with CEO Troels Volver, who himself marked 10 years with Martin Pro earlier this year.

Loader's top 10 years at Martin

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - 2004 marks a 10-year anniversary at Martin Professional for Eric Loader, sales director of the company's top subsidiary sales department based in Florida. Loader's career started in a DJ supply store in the San Francisco bay area, followed by stints in Los Angeles with Towards 2000 (T2k) and American DJ Supply. In 1994 he was hired by Martin Professional to open a sales office in LA to serve the entire west coast. Three years later, he transferred to the Florida office to assume his current role of sales director.

Reflecting on his time at Martin Professional, Loader commented: "When I began, the RoboScan 1220 was our top product and DMX was just starting to be offered in our products. Martin was a strong player back then but certainly not a market leader. Then we went into expansion mode with changes in leadership, an expanding product line, reorganizations, lawsuit

ARX appoints regional sales director

Details: 14 March 2016

Australia / Singapore - ARX Systems has appointed Robert Yeo as its new Singapore-based regional sales director. A well-known industry veteran, Yeo has been involved with all sectors of the region's pro audio industry for many years. ARX managing director Colin Park comments: "Over the years ARX has developed a major presence in the South East Asian pro audio community as a product solution provider, and with Robert joining the ARX team, this can only be enhanced further."

"Robert's brief is to develop new partners and markets amongst the installers, contractors, production companies and broadcasters in Singapore, Malaysia and the surrounding region for our existing product ranges and of course the exciting new products ARX is releasing through into 2005."

Robert Yeo can be contacted at the e-mail address below.

(Lee Baldock)

Change in management at EVI Audio

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - Long-serving EVI Audio general manager Hans-Peter Richter has retired, and is succeeded by Detlev L. Heiringhoff, a graduate in business administration. Richter joined the company as early as 1973, as general manager of the TV-equipment dispatch department. Two years later, he was appointed deputy general manager of Dynacord and Echolette. From 1981 onwards, he occupied the post of general manager of finance, materials administration and production, the post which Heiringhoff now fills.

Heiringhoff graduated in business administration from the University of Dortmund and has worked in logistics and finance. From 1994 to 1996, Heiringhoff served as administrative director of Peek & Cloppenburg KG of Düsseldorf, later taking manageemtn positions at Telecom AG in Frankfurt, Suzuki International Europe in Munich.

(Lee Baldock)

Staff changes at Autograph

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Pro audio distributor Autograph Sales has further expanded its team with the appointment of Louis Van Niekerk. South African born, Van Niekerk moved to the UK to further explore his passion of audio. He has previously worked as a freelance sound operator and has a sound engineering diploma. At Autograph he will serve in a technical support and logistics role, backing up the sales and service department and dealing with the company's wide range of audio products. Other personnel changes include the promotion of Susie Alterman to sales coordinator, after two years working with the company in a support role.

(Lee Baldock)

Brian Dowd joins Color Kinetics

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Brian Dowd, the well-known general manager and East Coast sales manager for TMB, is to join LED lighting effects manufacturer Color Kinetics on 16 August, overseeing sales in the Mid-Atlantic region. An experienced lighting designer and technician, Dowd oversaw sales, operations and business development at TMB, and the launch of the company's New York office. His 27-year career includes sales, management, and technical experience at entertainment lighting companies Main Light Industries Inc and McManus Enterprises, as well as corporate meeting design and technical direction for DuPont Company. Dowd has also been directly involved in the work of several industry bodies, including the ESTA Technical Standards Program.

Behringer US appoints president

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Behringer has appointed Stephen Fraser as its president at Behringer USA. Michael Deeb, the group chief executive officer, said: "Mr. Fraser brings with him a wealth of experience gained through an admirable history of industry achievements. This appointment heralds a new wave of exciting developments we are bringing to the American (North and South America) and Canadian markets. We are confident that Mr. Fraser will lead our business to even greater heights."

Fraser has previously held several senior-executive positions, predominantly in the financial and service industries. His career has seen a strong focus on customer relationship management, which has translated into consistent bottom-line revenue growth for the companies he has worked for.

(Lee Baldock)

A.C.'s Glyn O'Donoghue (left) introduces Lee House (right) to the Jands Vista console.jpg

A.C. Lighting appoints console specialist

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - A.C. Lighting has announced the appointment of Lee House as technical sales and support specialist for the company's Lighting division, with particular focus on supporting the new Jands Vista console, the MA Lighting grandMA range and WYSIWYG control software.

House was particularly drawn to the role by the prospect of working on the launch of the revolutionary Vista console with A.C. Jands development team contributors Neil Vann and Glyn O'Donoghue. The Vista officially launches in September at PLASA and represents a radical departure from the traditional method of lighting console programming and design. Having previously played a key role at Flying Pig Systems for four years, House is no newcomer to the console market and brings a wealth of experience to the role. During this time he helped set up the European Technical Support department and provided support for all Hog

New designer joins Spirit Design

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Spirit Design Limited has appointed James Hamilton to its design team. Hamilton, who has been living abroad for the past two years, joins the company as a lighting designer. After graduating from Croydon College School Of Art, he was employed at Midnight Design for a number of years, and then worked freelance as an LD for two years before going to the Far East, where he hosted discussions on lighting design in Kuala Lumpur for a performing arts seminar, and worked with Chameleon Touring Systems in Sydney, Australia where he worked on the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, amongst other events.

(Lee Baldock)

New staff at White Light

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Julie Harper joins White Light from DHA Lighting where she spent over 11 years in various sales, PR and marketing roles. Julie began her career on a West End followspot and after nine years decided it was time to get a proper job so she went to bag gobos for two days a week at DHA.

This proved to be less painful than anticipated so she joined the sales office and was soon writing press releases, which ultimately lead to her overseeing DHA's PR and marketing operations. Latterly, after expressing a conflicting desire to travel and a pathological fear of flying, she was given the role of sales manager for Asia-Pacific establishing and maintaining DHA's overseas dealer network.

Julie subsequently overcame her fear of flying and brings all her experience to White Light, where she is looking forward to in her new role as EPL sales manager, promoting the product ranges - Robert

New appointment at TLS Inc

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Alabama-based TLS Inc has appointed Alan Grant as a service and production technician to work with the company's growing list of lighting production customers. Recently employed as a pyrotechnics operator and designer, Grant also has experience as a rigger and lighting technician. He brings 12 years of touring and technical experience to his new job, including a number of large-scale productions such as NSYNC's No Strings Attached, Metallica's Garage Days Revisited and Reba McEntire's Starting Over.

(Lee Baldock)

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