The 2026 Industry Awards nominees demonstrate an ability to balance confidence and humility, learning more about themselves in the process.
20// Hall of Fame: Creative Innovation
Through inspiration from this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, how might we innovate to find our own way forward?
40// Model Mentor: Not the Final Chapter
David Black has been blessed with treasured colleagues, unique opportunities and the chance to leave a legacy with a historic video production.
46// Strategy and Tactics: Mastering the Sales Conversation
Dan Bowman—2023 Sales Pro of the Year— shares his strategies on client interaction and how to close the sale.
EDITOR’SFORUMROSASOPHIA• EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BALANCING PASSION WITH PRACTICALITY
Everyone agrees we’ve got to do what we’re most passionate about, but how do we balance our interests with careful planning?
At KnowledgeFest Fort Worth, we celebrated the second round of inductees into the Mobile Electronics Hall of Fame. Last year, I spoke about standing on the shoulders of those who came before us—looking at their stories, learning from them and considering how we might apply their lessons to our own lives. This endeavor remains an important one. During the awards banquet this year, friends and family shared stories of these industry veterans, shedding light on their processes, their accomplishments and what inspired them.
USE COMMON-SENSE TOOLS TO BUILD A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
On the show floor, I visited with David Black and his wife, Jan. In their booth, they displayed part of a set of collector’s edition posters—check out www.thealpinetouch.com to learn more—and spoke about the upcoming release of what’s sure to be a wonderful DocuCast. In this month’s Model Mentor feature, Black talks about his career and what led him to become one of the original founders of Alpine Electronics in America. While it might seem cliché, perhaps it’s cliché because it’s so true. Black states that he and his mentors and co-founders had an essential factor in common: Passion.
passion for writing and automotive technology—and today I’m combining those interests as I write this column for you.
While passion is essential there’s something else that’s equally important: Practicality. Business owners recognize the struggle. While passion drives us to get started, it’s careful planning, processes and procedures, and organizational skills that keep us going. How might we balance our passion with other less-exciting aspects of daily life? We need more than passion. We also need common-sense tools to complete daily tasks and craft a vision for the future.
While passion is essential there’s something else that’s equally important: Practicality. “ ”
Most of us know when we’re lacking passion, a fundamental drive that fills us with excitement and pushes us forward. All of us recall a time in our lives when we were doing something that failed to excite us, something that felt uninspired or soulless. We pushed to get out of the slump, to find something meaningful and worthwhile to do with our lives. Ever since childhood, I’ve followed my
CONSIDER YOUR LEGACY AND THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees turned their passion into a lifelong career. In November, the documentary “The Alpine Touch” will begin streaming. This passion project is an expression of the determination and perseverance that Black and his colleagues poured into their work. When it comes to your own work, consider what practical elements make up your daily life. How do you weave passion and practicality together— or is this something you’re missing? If you feel like you’re floundering, consider where a carefully implemented plan might help to cement the foundation of your career. If you’re not doing something you’re passionate about, how might you find a way to do more of what you love? Consider your legacy, and the steps you can take today to impact your own future—and consequently, the future of our industry.
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THE EMBODIMENT OF TEAMWORK
Ben Freeman shares his thoughts on teamwork, while Carlos Ramirez reflects on education. Philip Lindsley and Jeremy “Taco” Patterson discuss balance and making connections.
“My biggest mistake was not delegating more to my team, especially earlier in my career. I would try to do it all by myself because I had issues trus ting others to do things the way I liked them done. I have learned to trust others and rely on everyone’s unique talents. Not only has that made longer projects more bearable, but we all collectively learn from one another and we all grow. I think this is key in a well-run shop. It’s the embodiment of teamwork.”
- Ben Freeman, Traffic Jams Motorsports, Buford, Ga.
“One of the reasons I started doing videos for motorcycle audio was that I saw a need. I have customers come in with expensive equipment and cheap wiring. In the motorcycle audio world, it’s even worse. The motorcycle environment is ten times worse than the car environment, so wiring is even more crucial. Do a solid install, use
good wire and good installation practices. Speakers and amplifiers have advanced so much it doesn’t really matter what name is on the product. If you leverage this, and prove you’re an asset, [clients will] chase you instead of you chasing them.”
- Carlos Ramirez, NVS Audio, Roselle, NJ
“Being a people person is my greatest strength at work. I immediately connect with most of our clients the moment they walk through the door, even if I don’t end up being their salesperson.”
- Jeremy “Taco” Patterson, Speakerbox Auto Sound & Accessories, Huntsville, Ala.
“Our biggest mistake in the past was putting all of our eggs in one basket—whether it related to a wholesale account, client or employee.”
- Philip Lindsley, Titan Motoring, Nashville, Tenn.
FORECAST OBSERVATIONS
FORECAST OBSERVATIONS
Dollars
Dollars
WHAT TO READ
Grit, Spit, and Never Quit
BY ROB RIGGLE
Stand-up comedian and retired marine Rob Riggle has penned a funny and inspirational memoir about how the lessons he learned while serving in the military prepared him for life, especially when it came to pursuing his comedy dreams. Before he was in movies like The Hangover, Riggle served as a Marine for 23 years. He helped liberate an embassy in Liberia, served at a refugee camp in Albania before going into Kosovo, and did search and rescue at Ground Zero. He learned the hard way that you need to embrace tough times and never give up if you want to get anywhere in life. This lesson helped when he faced tough crowds while launching his comedy career. Even though he was heckled, shot at and flopped frequently, he stayed in the game
WHERE TO GO
If it’s November 4-7, then it’s time for SEMA, an opportunity to see product innovations from over 2,000 exhibitors, check out custom vehicle trends, and network. Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it will have dedicated areas like the Battle of the Builders, the FutureTech Studio and outdoor activations such as the HorsePower Rodeo. After the show, stay for the one-of-a-kind event, SEMA Fest, which celebrates music, motorsports and car culture. Also located at the LVCC, in the Bronze Lot, it will showcase Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees. Your SEMA badge does not get you entrance. You will need to purchase a ticket for this special event.
Outdoorsy
WWW.OUTDOORSY.COM
There are sites like VRBO and Airbnb where you can book entire homes, condos and other vacation rental properties for short-term stays. But you can also reserve an RV. Lots of people own RVs and lots of folks want to rent them. Outdoorsy is how they can meet. Over 17 million RVs in North America sit unused 350 days a year. With over one billion days of available RVs inventory, Outdoorsy helps people access the world outside. The platform, a peer-topeer marketplace, connects RV owners with other campers like them who want the experience RVing without ownership. The selection includes vintage Airstreams, toy haulers, fifth wheelers, Class A, B, and C of RVs, as well as garden variety trailers and motorhomes. Safe, easy and fully insured, Outdoorsy is free to join with no membership fees.
WHAT TO READ Read Your Mind
BY OZ PEARLMAN
Drawing on over 30 years of experience, Oz Pearlman reveals the techniques and habits that propelled his career. In this book, he shares secrets that will teach you how to unlock your full potential. Build confidence, sharpen your memory, connect more authentically with others and eliminate your fears—all through simple, easy-to-master strategies that can be learned in minutes and applied for a lifetime. Turn your focus inward and identify the mental blocks that hold you back, master the art of influence to read people, win trust and shape outcomes, sharpen you emotional intelligence, and overcome rejection, procrastination and self-doubt.
The 2026 Industry Awards nominees demonstrate an ability to balance confidence and humility, learning more about themselves in the process.
Ever taken part in the Industry Awards? This year’s Top 10 Trusted Techs includes Jim Rogers of Conway, Ark.-based Audio Innovations. Rogers said the process isn’t as bad as you might think, and encouraged mobile electronics professionals to take part. “Go for it,” he said. “If you don’t try, you’ll never know [what you might accomplish]. The biggest challenge for me was realizing that I’m good enough to be at this level—and getting out of my own head.”
Jeremy “Taco” Patterson—up for the Sales Pro award—echoed this feeling, adding, “I have a hard time selling myself because I’m ‘bragging-adverse.’” The awards process, he said, has pushed him to think of himself in a more positive light, helping to instill confidence. Patterson said he aims to present this positive attitude during the process, “without coming across as arrogant.” It’s a balancing act, he said, adding, “but it makes for opportunities for growth.”
Even if an individual or a retailer doesn’t win, the awards process presents an opportunity to improve. Additionally, Patterson said, “I’ve learned that having a sales dynamo on staff—former Top 5 Sales Pro Dustin Williams—forces you to up your game to new levels.” This year, Williams is also on the list for Top 20 Sales Pros. May this year’s Industry Awards nominees inspire everyone in the industry to continue to grow, both personally and professionally.
Alan Lindgren SPEED OF SOUND LLC Memphis, Tenn.
Andrew Buchok AUDIOCRAFT Lubbock, Texas
Angel Lopez RGV DYNAMIC Harlingen, Texas
Andrew Sadowski TUNES CAR AUDIO Concord, NC
Angel Rivera LAKETOWN SPEED AND SOUND Draper, Utah
Archie Speaks SAVANNAH CUSTOM CAR AUDIO Savannah, Ga.
Austin Moore TITAN MOTORING Nashville, Tenn.
Austin Newby ACT AUDIO Vernon, Conn.
Austin Thorne TUNES-N-TINT Lakeland, Fla.
Ben Freeman TRAFFIC JAMS MOTORSPORTS Buford, Ga.
Carlos Ramirez NVS AUDIO Roselle, NJ
Chad Schreiber SCHREIBER AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN San Diego, Calif.
CJ Silvey FOSS AUDIO AND TINT Puyallup, Wash.
Chris Reed STEREO AND VIDEO CENTER Tyler, Texas
Dalton Trainer CAR-TUNES, INC Greenville, Miss.
Dan Wilson TRAFFIC JAMS MOTORSPORTS Buford, Ga.
Daniel “Camp” DiCampli WESTMINSTER SPEED AND SOUND Westminster, Md.
Danny Torres DTS CUSTOMS Palos Hills, Ill.
Dave Koz TITAN MOTORING Nashville, Tenn.
Devin Dial STEREO AND VIDEO CENTER Tyler, Texas
Ephriam Frizzell KRAKEN CUSTOMS Fayetteville, NC
Gabe Rimel
JML AUDIO OF ST. LOUIS Fenton, Mo.
Jack Judson DES OF WILMINGTON, INC Wilmington, NC
Jacob Myers SLANGIN SOUND AND TINT Mesa, Ariz.
Jaime Palafox AGOURA AUTOSOUND Agoura Hills, Calif.
James Cowan
CUSTOM CR STEREO Owensboro, KY
Jason Singer PDA ROAD GEAR Littleton, Colo.
Jeremy Overby AUDIOCRAFT Lubbock, Texas
John Phillips DR. DASHBOARD Evansville, Ind.
Joshua Thaxton DES OF WILMINGTON, INC Wilmington, NC
Justin Hosek HI-PRO AUDIO Victoria, Texas
Kevin O’Reilly DES OF WILMINGTON, INC Wilmington, NC
Kyle Shaw NVS AUDIO Linden, NJ
Leon Winchester VERNONS SIGNATURE AUDIO Lubbock, Texas
Mauro Serrano EXTREME CAR AUDIO LLC Marrero, LA
Michael Bischoff TRAFFIC JAMS MOTORSPORTS Buford, Ga.
Michael Martinez
VERNONS SIGNATURE AUDIO Lubbock, Texas
Mike Hungerford
KARTELE MOBILE ELECTRONICS Waterbury, Conn.
Oscar Rodriguez
OSCAR’S AUDIO DESIGN Corpus Christi, Texas
Richard D Millard
STEREO AND VIDEO CENTER Tyler, Texas
Rob Miller
JML AUDIO OF ST. LOUIS Fenton, Mo.
Roop Gossal INC RIDEZ Surrey, BC
Samuel Walker WALKER AUDIO DESIGN Nampa, Ind.
Scott Eisner
TRAFFIC JAMS MOTORSPORTS Buford, Ga.
Terry Dawson TITAN MOTORING Nashville, Tenn.
T.J. Carlson MUSICAR NORTHWEST Portland, Ore.
Tim Wilkinson AUDIO ENVY AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN Manassas, Va.
Victoria Jessee SLANGIN SOUND AND TINT Mesa, Ariz.
William Coats CUSTOM AUDIO CREATIONS LLC Florence, Ala.
William Pearsall CAR AUDIO & SECURITY Wake Forest, NC
Absolute Electronix Rockville, Md.
ACT Audio Vernon, Conn.
Advanced Car Creations Inc Garden Grove, Calif.
AJ’s Car Audio Terryville, Conn.
Alpha Omega Auto and Marine Taylorville, Ill.
Amplified Autosports St. Petersburg, Fla.
Audio Craft Lubbock, Texas
Autosound Lab, Inc. Fresno, Calif.
BLVD Customs of Lakeland Lakeland, Fla.
Branded Customs Rockwall, Texas
Car Stereo One Toledo, Ohio
Cartunes Atlanta Atlanta Ga.
Clear Vibrations Inc. Quakertown, Pa.
Custom Car Stereo
Owensboro, KY
DES of Wilmington, Inc. Wilmington, NC
Efficient Integrations Republic, Mo.
Extreme Car Audio LLC Marrero, LA
Gregs Custom Audio & Video Pikeville, KY
Hi-Pro Audio Victoria, Texas
High Volume Car Stereo Lawton, Okla.
Horizon Audio N. Canton, Ohio
iNNovative Concepts
Wilbraham, Mass.
JC Audio Jackson, Tenn.
JML Audio of St. Louis Fenton, Mo.
Kartunes Auto Stereo and Alarm Seaside, Calif.
Kartele Mobile Electronics Waterbury, Conn.
Laketown Speed and Sound Draper, Utah
Mobileworks/Tintworks Santa Maria, Calif.
NET Audio Wichita Falls, Texas
Next Level Car Audio, Inc. Orlando, Fla.
NVS Audio Roselle, NY
Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security Anchorage, Alaska
Real Audio Erie, Pa.
Revolution Audio Pennsauken, NJ
Sanford Sound Sanford, ME
Signature Audio Scottsdale, Ariz.
Sound Connection Inc Brainerd, MN
Soundsgood Auto Coquitlam, BC
Soreal Sound Stoneham, Mass.
Speakerbox Autosound & Accessories Huntsville, Ala.
Stereo and Video Center Tyler, Texas
Sturgess Customs Lexington, SC
Sudbury Car Audio Val Therese, ON
Titan Motoring Nashville, Tenn.
Traffic Jams Motorsports Buford, Ga.
Tunes-N-Tint Lakeland, Fla.
Tune-Town Sandusky, Ohio
Vernons Signature Audio Lubbock, Texas
Walker Audio Design Nampa, ID
Westminster Speed and Sound
Westminster, Md.
2026
Ben Turansky CLEAR VIBRATIONS INC Quakertown, Pa.
Conrad Leduc SUDBURY CAR AUDIO Val Therese, ON
Daniel Miller WESTMINSTER SPEED AND SOUND Westminster, Md.
Dustin Daigle EXTREME CAR AUDIO LLC Marrero, LA
Dustin Williams SPEAKERBOX AUTOSOUND & ACCESSORIES Huntsville, Ala.
James Halter
STEREO AND VIDEO CENTER Tyler, Texas
James Hurley SOUND OF TRISTATE Dover, Del.
Jay Ivey BRANDED CUSTOMS Rockwall, Texas
Jeremy Boyd FOSS AUDIO & TINT Everett, Wash.
Jeremy “Taco” Patterson SPEAKERBOX AUTOSOUND & ACCESSORIES Huntsville, Ala.
Joshua Landau
JML AUDIO OF ST. LOUIS Fenton, MO
Josh Kelly PHANTOM ELECTRONICS Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Let’s find inspiration in this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. How might we innovate to find our own way forward, revitalizing our collective vision for the future?
A CREATIVE INNOVATION
t KnowledgeFest Fort Worth in August, the industry announced this year’s inductees in the Mobile Electronics Industry Hall of Fame. At an intimate gathering on the last day of the show, friends and family honored those who paved the way for the 12-volt industry as we know it today.
We don’t know what the future will look like—but the hard work and dedication of these industry leaders have certainly helped to shape the present.
WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA
Hall of Fame
DAVID BLACK
David Black is a veteran executive with over 40 years in the mobile electronics industry. As one of six founding members of Alpine Electronics of America’s U.S. team, he helped establish the brand in North America and later served as Executive Vice President of Aftermarket (1979–1994). He went on to leadership roles with Clarion, where he advanced aftermarket technologies including early telematics platforms, and with McIntosh Labs’
Sales Corp., where he restructured operations as President. In 2002, Dave founded On-Board Engineering & Sales Inc. (OBES), pioneering marine audio innovations that became standards for major OEM boat builders. Today, he resides in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, with his wife Jan, their three sons, and seven grandchildren. A former racing enthusiast, he is currently producing a DocuCast on Alpine’s entry into the U.S. market.
DAVID NAVONE
David (Dave) Navone, founder and President of Navone Engineering, Inc., is widely regarded as a “godfather of car audio.” Since launching his first company in 1976 and evolving it into Navone Engineering in 1986, he has spent nearly four decades creating inventive audio solutions and advancing automotive sound quality. Respected as both an innovator and educator, David has authored numerous technical publications—including The Art of Grounding—and is celebrated for his expertise in speaker placement, noise filtering, and amplifier design. His enduring passion and influence continue to shape both the industry and enthusiast culture.
RICHARD CLARK
Richard Clark of Autosound 2000 is a renowned authority on the Buick Grand National (1984–1987) and GNX, operating the famed Grand National Garage in Burlington, NC. His passion began in the late 1980s and has since grown into the world’s largest private collection of GN and GNX vehicles. Known for his unmatched tuning expertise and restoration skills, Richard hosts annual gatherings that draw enthusiasts nationwide for dyno sessions, contests, and drag races. Featured in documentaries like Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary, he is celebrated as both a preservationist and innovator whose garage remains the hub for all things Buick GN.
RICH COE
Richard (Rich) Coe has built a distinguished career in the car audio industry, beginning with Paul Stary’s Audiomobile team before joining Alpine Electronics of America in 1980. Rising to AVP of Technology, he led Product Development & Engineering for over a decade and launched the Global Alpine Technology & Education (GATE) project, which advanced international installation standards and training. He and his team also
developed the Car Audio Nationals Judging standards and organized consumer contests nationwide. Rich is widely recognized for pioneering car audio innovation, most notably designing and installing the industry’s first commercial subwoofer system—nicknamed the 1KWVW—in a 1967 VW Bug. This groundbreaking system, capable of being heard nearly a mile away, helped usher in a new era of high-performance mobile audio.
LUCIO PRONI
Lucio Proni, founder of JL Audio, has spent 50 years shaping one of the most respected brands in mobile, marine, and home audio. Born in Italy and raised in the U.S., his passion for acoustics and electronics led him to co-found JL Audio in 1975, turning a small speaker project into a thriving business. In the 1990s, Lucio’s innovative car audio installations and competition wins propelled JL Audio to industry prominence. Under
his leadership—with his wife Maria and a dedicated team—the company expanded into electronics, marine, powersports, and home audio, earning a global reputation for engineering excellence and U.S.-based manufacturing. Now retired, Lucio leaves behind a legacy of innovation, craftsmanship, and commitment to sound quality that continues under JL Audio’s ownership by Garmin.
GEORGE “DOC THUNDER” REED
George “Doc Thunder” Reed is a legendary figure in the mobile electronics industry and founder of Marketing Pro’s Inc. in Conroe, Texas. With more than 40 years of experience, he helped pioneer car audio “sound-off” competitions in the early 1980s and built Marketing Pro’s into one of the industry’s most respected rep firms, earning over 50 “Rep of the Year” awards and multiple Firm of the Year honors from Mobile Electronics magazine. Known for his integrity, mentorship, and dedication to service, George retired in 2021, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape Marketing Pro’s and the rep community.
LAURA PUENTE
Laura Puente was a respected industry leader and President of Premiere Services, where she helped grow the company alongside her brother, Mark, into a trusted provider of mobile electronics and vehicle safety installations. She championed initiatives like Operation Safe Road, which introduced rear-view cameras, parking sensors, and collision-avoidance systems, reflecting her commitment to protecting
families on the road. Remembered for her integrity, generosity, and compassion, Laura blended sharp business acumen with genuine care for people. She also guided Premiere’s philanthropic efforts with organizations such as Wounded Warrior and Kids and Cars. Laura passed away on October 27, 2023, leaving a legacy of innovation, ethical leadership, and dedication to community safety.
JOHN J. SHALAM
John J. Shalam is the pioneering founder of Audiovox, launched in 1965 with a single order of car radios that grew into a billion-dollar enterprise. A Wharton graduate, he led Audiovox—later VOXX International—through decades of expansion, taking it public in 1987 and diversifying into cell phones, consumer electronics, mobile video, and vehicle security. Through strategic acquisitions, Shalam built a powerful brand portfolio including Klipsch, Acoustic Research, Jensen, Onkyo, and Directed Electronics. His leadership culminated in VOXX’s 2025 sale to Gentex, cementing his legacy as a visionary who transformed a small import venture into a global leader in electronics.
RICK SNELSON
Rick Snelson (1955–2021) was a pioneering entrepreneur and founder of Car-Fi, a leading car audio and electronics retailer in Springfield, Missouri. Launching the business in 1986 with a small installation bay, he grew it into multiple locations and built enduring partnerships with top brands like KENWOOD. Widely regarded as an industry legend, Rick combined
innovation with community service, founding Springfield’s Best and supporting charitable efforts such as the “Take a Coat, Leave a Coat” program with his wife, Reba Brew. After more than 50 years in mobile electronics, he retired in 2021 and passed away later that year, leaving a legacy of leadership, generosity, and passion for the industry.
High Profit Margin for Motorcycle Audio Keeps Kustom Wings Rolling
WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA
At KnowledgeFest Fort Worth, Mobile Electronics magazine caught up with Jay Ford of Denton, Texas-based Kustom Wings. Ford’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle build is featured in last month’s Installs section. Both Ford and his bike are featured in the photo with this article. The business focuses on motorcycle audio only, and Nemesis Audio is one of its top brands.
“We’ve been open for 10 years and we have three employees,” Ford said, adding that the team is very efficient and works on two to three bikes per week. “We try to do more on some weeks, but it depends on the flow. I came into the industry doing car audio. Then I left and was doing wheels and tires, and I came back and started on
motorcycle audio.” He added that he prefers this category in part because of the high profit margins: Two motorcycles might provide a $6,000 ticket for each bike, and they only take a day or two to complete. Cars can take a lot longer, he said.
Most of Kustom Wings’ customers are older people, such as retired military and truck drivers. “We have a different clientele. It’s their gift to themselves when they retire. They buy a bike and the bikes don’t change much, so they’ll just add to them.” In this way, he said, the project will simply continue evolving—and so does the equipment.
“One month it might be a paper cone speaker, and a few months later, a carbon fiber comes out. They’ll
upgrade. You have to be on top of what’s new. It’s an awesome market right now.” This can also help a shop to enter other categories, he said, such as side-by-sides and marine audio.
If a retailer is interested in expanding into motorcycle audio, Ford said it’s important to get educated about the category. “Get a good understanding of what your customer wants,” he said, adding that Sound Stream—which often exhibits at KnowledgeFest—makes it easier for car audio shops to jump into the motorcycle audio category. “It’s not too much of a learning curve. There’s a learning curve with a car because the sound is inside a cabin. With motorcycles, this is more like a concert that’s playing [beyond the bike], so the tuning is a little different.”
VENDORS FIND SUPPORT AT KNOWLEDGEFEST
In this continued coverage of KnowledgeFest Fort Worth, Trulli Audio and DOW Technologies offered additional support and sales strategies, while Precision Power displayed its product in a HarleyDavidson demo vehicle.
DOW TECHNOLOGIES SMART SERVICES SUPPORT PROGRAM
Smart Services is a Support Program for DOW Technologies’ dealers. With a monthly fee, dealers receive exclusive benefits including free shipping and freight credits for defective item returns. Enclosures and sub boxes are also delivered free. The agreement allows retailers 18 days to get the customer into the store, replace the unit and send it back to DOW. After receiving the item, the retailer receives full credit, plus the cost of shipping. Retailers also have access to other perks, discounts and exclusive promotions. Recently, DOW has added new lines to its offerings, including Memphis Car Audio and Kicker. DOW Technologies will also assist dealers with marketing, online graphics, logos and much more. For more information, reach out to a local rep.
The Precision Power HTW.692 is a pair of 6- by 9-inch two-ohm horn-loaded two-way speakers designed to deliver extreme output, clarity and durability, according to the company. Built for open-air environments, these speakers produce powerful mid-bass and crisp, detailed highs that cut through wind, engine and road noise, keeping your music clear even at highway speeds. Ideal for fairings, saddlebags and tour pack enclosures, the HTW.692 is engineered for riders who want louder, cleaner sound on every ride. With full weather-resistant construction, including a hydrophobic textile over the horn, a tapered rubber gasket, and a rugged polypropylene-coated cone, the HTW.692 is designed to handle rain, heat, and vibration without sacrificing performance. This product features a one-inch titanium ring radiator tweeter, integrated horn design and low-mass neodymium magnets, providing loud, clear and distortion-free sound.
TRULLI AUDIO BASS 50
PROVIDES RETAILER OPPORTUNITY FOR EASY ADD-ON SALES
At KnowledgeFest Fort Worth, Trulli set up the BASS 50 in the back of a demo car to show retailers how they might utilize it as a sales tool. A salesperson can use the BASS 50 to easily demonstrate bass in a vehicle, the rep noted, adding, “You can take it out, pop it into the back of their car and set it up in less than five minutes. There’s no labor loss. It doesn’t tie up an installation day, and it’s an easy form of revenue. You’re showing the client real bass inside their car. From there, it’s a top-down selling strategy.”
The BASS 50 from Trulli Audio is the industry’s first no-install subwoofer, according to the company. It features a built-in battery and seven hours of play time at full, heavy bass, or 20 hours of moderate bass. It comes with a 600watt built-in amplifier, and Bluetooth. A vehicle kit allows the subwoofer to connect to the car using SKA technology. Additionally, a phone application guides the user, step-by-step, for time synchronization and alignment. Then, a profile is saved for the vehicle. If the user wishes
to switch vehicles, the BASS 50 can be moved to another car, and another profile can be saved. Trulli is currently developing software to help correct for time delay and correction in relation to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Drivers won’t need to sacrifice any functionality, either: According to a Trulli rep, everything works seamlessly with steering wheel controls. The BASS 50 is portable and can be moved to any car. It can also be used in any other location, such as a garden or garage.
NOT THE FINAL CHAPTER
From bottling sodas to building stereos, David Black has been blessed with treasured colleagues, unique opportunities and the chance to leave a legacy with a historic video production.
WORDS BY JAMIE SORCHER
One might think after a dynamic 40-year career and a 2025 Hall of Fame induction, a car audio executive would be ready to shift gears and cruise toward retirement. Not the case with David Black, founder and COO of On-Board Engineering & Sales Inc., who is in final production of a passion project—the historical DocuCast on Alpine Electronics’ introduction to the United States, where he was one of six founding members.
Car stereos were just a hobby in high school during the mid-1960s, according to Black. “The car radio business was just beginning to mature, but I was involved with four-track and eight-track tape players,” he said. “Those weren’t really radios, but under-dash equipment. That was where it all started for me, and my hobby turned into a career that’s lasted four decades.” According to Black, such an outcome had never been his intention.
The Birth of a Brand
In high school, Black’s main focus was football. After an injury dashed his hopes of earning an athletic scholarship and possibly attending Ohio State, Black took a job at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant in Los Angeles. The next opportunity came with the Japanese company Brother International, known for building printers, label makers and fax machines. When he joined, Black said, it was focused on typewriters and sewing machines. His role was a combination sales and marketing position that provided him with a unique opportunity.
“Brother did something that not a lot of the other typewriter companies were doing back then. They were building Spanish keyboard typewriters,” he said. “With California sharing a border with Mexico, I was up and down and all over Mexico for years, promoting these Spanish keyboard typewriters. We were unbelievably successful.”
The next part of Black’s career was marked by mentors, life-long friends, and what he ultimately calls his co-pilots. After leaving Brother, he aimed to get into car audio—an industry that was
booming at the time. “An unusual situation happened next. I was looking for a guy, a rep up in Northern California, to help launch a speaker line. I spent over two hours interviewing this character and at the end of the interview he said to me, ‘You’re not interviewing me. I’m interviewing you. I want you to join me in this company called Alpine Electronics.’”
Black knew nothing of Alpine Electronics, but Reese Haggott pulled out spec sheets of products. The company hadn’t been formally introduced in the U.S. at that point, but the rest, as Black said, is history. “I spent the next 15 years on what is probably the wildest ride I have had in my entire career. I was one of the six U.S.based founders of Alpine. There are very few car audio companies that I know of that have had the growth, brand positioning, fun and energy that this company had over the course of its first 15 years. That is what our DocuCast is all about.”
Haggott, a well-known leader in the car audio industry, was a visionary. He is credited with helping to transform 12-volt from its low-rent roots to high-end inclusion in Lamborghinis. From 1978 to 1986, he led Alpine Electronics as SVP, building a nationwide network of Alpine specialty retailers who numbered 600 at the time. He is credited with creating a business distribution model that became the gold standard.
“It was just the two of us at that point,” Black said. “Together, we had plenty of assets from each of our histories, and we spent a substantial amount of time figuring out the right type of team, the best type of sales and distribution policies, and ultimately, how to take Alpine Electronics to the U.S. and be successful. There was product, but no brand. In 1978, the decision to make the brand happen took place in a little hotel, the Captain Cook, in Anchorage, Alaska, because it was the center point to fly in for both the U.S. and Japanese teams. That is where the brand was born—right there.”
Lesson #1: Failure is a Better Teacher Than Success
Many of Black and Haggott’s colleagues were located in California, and
already reasonably successful in car audio. One of them was Harry Brix, the owner of Pana-Pacific, based in Campbell, Calif. Black said he and Brix had worked together in the past. “It was one of those relationships where you didn’t have to work that hard at it,” he said. “Harry was successful in the category, with retail and redistribution, and he was an invaluable mentor of mine.”
Brix assisted with product design, sales and distribution for high-end product, he added, noting that he and Haggott “mentored with him for quite some time before we put together the infrastructure at Alpine, and then introduced it to the U.S.”
Brix had a casual approach, Black said, and always seemed in a great mood no matter what was happening. “He led with a big heart, but an iron fist. Without question, he was one of the most balanced human beings I have ever known, especially for someone leading a company that was valued at $200 million.”
He was humble, yet tough: “His company probably had in excess of 300 employees at one time. As Harry told me, he could buy anything he wanted— houses, automobiles, whatever. But he drove a regular old van to work every day. He never put a reserved parking spot in the lot for anyone, not even himself. Whoever got to the lot first in the morning had their choice of parking.”
From Brix, Black learned about the importance of taking risks. “He is the first guy I ever had a chance to work with who believed that failure is part of life. That’s how you learn to make things happen, when you make mistakes. It’s nothing to fear. We made some big mistakes at Alpine—which we talk about in the DocuCast—but I learned more from those kinds of experiences than I ever did from winning, and it has made me a better executive.”
Along with that, Black said, it’s critical to have management who supports you. “When you make those mistakes, you want the kind of boss who has your back and doesn’t turn into some Godzilla because of what you’ve done. If the management team is sensitive and
understanding, they will come down with the proper stewardship and guidance to turn you into an ace.”
Also from Brix, Black learned to look at the big picture and avoid getting caught up in the details. “Harry wasn’t worried about minutiae,” he said. “He just wanted the big things done correctly.”
Lesson #2: Understand the Culture of the Marketplace
As Black built Alpine, one of the most demanding yet rewarding opportunities
was establishing relationships with Japanese executives. Black considers Seizo Ishiguro a mentor—the President of Alpine Electronics of America. “He was relatively young, too, and was selected to handle the branding and introduction of Alpine worldwide, but he started the process in the U.S.”
Alpine of Japan, Black said, had a unique approach to global marketing. The company was interested in local markets, but it had more of a global perspective. At the time, he added, the U.S.
was influencing the rest of the world through its music, videos and films. Therefore, anything that happened in America would likely happen elsewhere.
“That stuck with me the entire time at Alpine. When we did something— whether it was launching a new product or implementing a new marketing program, developing a new category—we did it here in the States first. We tested it, then ran to Japan with 15 other nations and explained to them in detail what the U.S. was doing.”
Then, he said, those countries went
Dave Black and Rich Coe worked together at Alpine, then continued their collaboration through On-Board Engineering & Sales, Inc.
back to their local markets and implemented whatever had been successful in the U.S. “It made Alpine a global hotshot. For every quarter from 1980 to 1994, I was in Japan four times a year for what they called a marketing corporate identity meeting. That’s where I met with those 15 other countries and kept explaining what we were doing. They all followed based on Seizo’s guidance.”
From Ishiguro, Black learned that being bilingual wasn’t important. What is critical, he said, is being bi-cultural.
“If you don’t understand the culture of the marketplace in which you’re trying to sell, you lose. But if you are culture-sensitive, and you make sure everything you’re doing culturally is lining up with the folks in those markets, then the chance for success is greatly improved. That’s something many people never understood.”
Instead, he said, they’d try to figure out the language “when it had nothing to do with launching the products successfully.” It’s the cultural connection, he said. “That’s the most important part— and it still is today.”
Lesson #3: Cultivate a Strong Support System
Jim Minarik, the CEO at Clarion from 1992 to 2000, convinced Black to make a move and join the team at Clarion. “Jim was in the process of working this AutoPC situation and I knew at that point in time where Alpine was headed—and nothing like that was on the horizon,” Black recalled, adding that although his main focus was marketing and sales, he was technical, too. “I saw things Jim was trying to do at Clarion, and felt convinced he was going down the right road.”
Black also felt concerned that his own company hadn’t yet considered the kinds of things Clarion was working on. “It seemed like they were setting up a whole new world order,” he said. “The San Jose people and all the software folks were headed to the automotive industry. And Clarion, through Jim, accelerated that situation.”
Black had an interesting ride at Clarion. First, the company had a slightly different
approach to the marketplace than Alpine, and had a group specifically dedicated to marine. That intrigued Black, but first he was asked to head up a subsidiary of Clarion, called McIntosh Labs in Binghamton, New York.
“I was sitting at a bar in Tokyo, and I got a call from Jim. He told me I was going to run McIntosh until a new president for
that company was found. For the short time I was there, just under two years, it’s probably one of the most fun experiences I ever had.”
Black remained a loyal co-pilot of Jim’s for almost everything he did. “I rejoined Clarion 16 months later and believed that marine audio was going to have a metamorphosis. You need
COMING SOON: THE ALPINE TOUCH
The DocuCast—brought to viewers by On-Board Engineering & Sales, Inc.—is called “The Alpine Touch: First 15 Years.” It will begin airing around Thanksgiving. The mission is to share “the captivating history and inside story of how Alpine Electronics of America revolutionized the car audio market starting in 1979,” according to the website. For more information, and for details on a Collector’s Set of images from over the years, please visit www.thealpinetouch.com.
waterproof stuff on a boat. You can’t use regular aftermarket radios. First time they’re hit with salt or fog, they just blow up. So, I set out on a mission to be the leanest and meanest waterproof guy you’ve ever seen in your life, building platforms that were virtual submarines.”
Clarion started to wind down the marine part of their business because they were suffering the slow but certain reduction in sales of head units, according to Black. Soon, he was ready to make another move, and shifted to his own company in 2004— On Board Engineering & Sales.
He ran the new company with Rich Coe and the two focused on marine audio. Coe was involved on the engineering side, Black said. He’d been Black’s “right hand” the entire time he’d been at Alpine, and remained a cherished friend. “Our families have known each other for years. We’ve probably gone fishing together more days than we worked. He comes with a long list of credentials and he’s humble.”
Also, Coe often told jokes and played pranks. “He’s extraordinary. He was an entertainer at one point in his career so he was comfortable getting up in front of people and speaking and telling stories. He just understood audiences. When we had dealer conferences, which sometimes involved 1,000 people, the audience would laugh, cry and they were ready to write orders. I still see him every week.”
The strongest part of his support system, Black said, is his wife Jan—his high school sweetheart. “I was on airplanes and in hotels six months out of the year,” he said, noting that he never could’ve pulled it off without her support.
The thread running through everything, he added, is passion. “Harry Brix, Seizo Ishiguro, Jim Minarik, and Rich Coe—all of them have passion. If you can find a way to identify people like this in your career, you want them along for the ride. Throw a hook in the water and see if you can link up with the kind of colleagues who will be your lifelong friends. I did it primarily by luck,” he said, adding, “If you can pull it off, then do it.”
Black credits his wife, Jan, for being his greatest source of support. The two first met in high school.
“DO
YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COOL?”
Dan Bowman shares strategies on client interaction and how salespeople can ditch the script, get past their fears and help customers find what they need the most.
WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA
Dan Bowman, 2023 Sales Pro of the Year, prioritizes making clients feel comfortable before anything else. To that end, he spoke on conversational sales at KnowledgeFest Fort Worth. Negative past experiences stick with a person, he said, adding that his wife was lied to at a dealership. “They told her she needed brake pads, a wheel bearing, and all this other stuff. They lied to her.”
This means, he said, any time she goes into a situation where she might be making a purchase or buying a service, “she feels someone’s trying to get one over on her.” Often, due to similar bad experiences, the sales process can feel like an “us versus them” situation. “How do we talk to folks in a conversational manner to prove to them that we aren’t adversaries? We’re on the same side. I want the
client to be as comfortable as possible right away,” he said, adding, “Then you’re getting rid of that worry, [where they’re thinking] ‘You’re trying to rip me off.’”
At the first shop where Bowman worked, he said 71 percent of the business’s repeat clients were women.
“Females are 50 percent of the population and roughly 85 percent of the decision-making process,” he said. “So,
whoever isn’t giving you the time of day [as a woman], they just don’t know what they’re doing.”
By mastering conversational sales without a script, Bowman said the salesperson can move the conversation forward naturally, make the client comfortable, and lead to invitational questions like, “Want to see something cool?” The next step is closing the sale.
DITCH THE SCRIPT AND PERSONALIZE THE CONVERSATION
Salespeople might come to mobile electronics from a different industry, and a lot of times, Bowman noted, they come with their own ideas. They believe, he
said, that “if you can master a sales script, all you have to do is worry about getting in front of people. But selling a remote start, an audio system, a lighting package, wheels and tires, a custom interior, a full restoration, Starlight headliner—those are all drastically different conversations, and you can’t just plug buzzwords into the same thing over and over and over. It’ll feel too robotic.” The conversation must be personalized.
When a client comes into the shop, Bowman said he steps out from behind the counter. Remaining behind the counter creates a barrier which can be seen as adversarial. Making a client comfortable includes making sure they know
where the restroom is if they need it, and thinking about where they might like to sit. “But before we sit down and talk, I’ll say, ‘Let’s go take a look at your car.’ That’s a lost art.”
Bowman said he’s often been told by shops that the staff looks at customers’ cars before anything else—but when he visits, he doesn’t see it happen at all. The client’s car, he said, will tell the salesperson a lot. After looking at the car, he suggested giving the client a bottle of water. “Have you ever noticed that when you give someone a bottle of water, they’ll hang out until they’re finished drinking it? They feel like they need to return the favor. This gives you an opportunity to ask more questions.”
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If a client wants to install an audio system, he will ask, “Do we have to content with anything like strollers, duffle bags or sports equipment? Are we taking this on road trips? You might find out they have a trip coming up soon. Ask about it. I do that all the time. For one thing, someone might tell me about a place I’ve never been, somewhere I need to go. For another, the next time I talk to them, I can ask them how their trip went.”
Bowman also said it’s important to be interested in the client’s life—for more than one reason. Showing interest shows you care, but it also has practical applications. “How much space do you want to give up? It’s a sliding scale: Bass, space and money. If someone wants a lot of bass, but they don’t want to give up a lot of space, you have to
use an expensive subwoofer with a lot of power and a custom enclosure. Now we’re in the meat and potatoes of a subwoofer sale.”
The customer might say they didn’t plan to spend a lot, but they often lean toward the custom enclosure and a trim panel, “so when you pop the trunk, it doesn’t look like there’s anything there,” and no space is lost.
Speaking with an affluent customer requires a different approach, Bowman said, adding, “Affluent customers feel like people are trying to get their money all the time.” With one client, he said, it took a bit more time to get him to open up about the other vehicles he had at home. He aims to learn about other cars the client might own with the goal of eventually working on them.
With the goal of planting seeds for future projects, Bowman noted another scenario: “If a husband and wife come in, even though they’re there for his car, I’ll say to her, ‘What should we do with your car?’”
DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE CLIENT
When a customer comes in and wants to talk about car audio, Bowman asked, “How do you qualify them? What questions do you ask? I always ask, ‘Is there a car in your family that you like the way it sounds now? If so, why do you like it?’” In this way, the salesperson is able to get more information about other cars the family might own, and what the client considers good audio.
“Always try to find out what else they have at home. Lead the client
conversationally,” he said. “We are the experts. It’s not about a script. It’s about just a couple things to get you back on track or to shake the conversation up. [In some cases, depending on the situation] you want to normalize what you do. [Other times] you want to sensationalize what you do.”
When the discussion turned to budget, an audience member shared that he’s been trying to train his staff to avoid the term entirely: “It puts you in a box and it puts the customer in a box,” he said. “We don’t sell car audio. We sell experience. That’s what I want to sell the customer. I want them to have a positive experience.”
Bowman agreed this is important, then asked the audience to consider the steps required to arrive at a highticket sale. “Is $10,000 a big job in your store? How do you bring it up?” A
salesperson might not bring it up at all, he said. They might sell from their own wallet, instead, which is terrible—or, in the process of attempting not to make assumptions about a customer, they might inadvertently do just that.
Bowman described two regular clients whose outward appearances might cause salespeople to assume they didn’t have any money. Instead, over the years, the couple has kept coming back, spending thousands and thousands of dollars.
He recommended opening conversations with, “Do you want to see something cool?” Or, suggesting upgrades by asking, “Have you ever considered…?” He also advised looking for clues when it comes to interacting with customers.
“When someone says, ‘I’m not trying to spend a lot of money,’ do you look
for clues in the clothes they’re wearing? Maybe they’re wearing a $40,000 Rolex.” Bowman had one such customer who wound up spending $635,000 over the course of three and a half years. “Meanwhile, another guy will come in and there’s zero indications he has any money. Whether you’re a billionaire or not, I’m here to serve. But then, I find out he is a billionaire.” This client, he said, had an emotional attachment to an older vehicle and he wanted to restore it to original factory appearance. “The heart says yes. The logic says, ‘We’ll figure out how to pay for it.’”
CONSIDER ADDING NEW CATEGORIES AND SERVICES
If a business isn’t involved in particular categories, like motorcycle audio, marine or overlanding, Bowman said it’s a good
idea to get educated. “I don’t like motorcycle audio,” he said. “I pay zero attention to it. But one day, I had a guy call me up and say, ‘Hey, I want to put a 30-inch wheel on the front of my bike.’ That’s cool. So, on the way home, I stopped at Barnes & Noble and flipped through some magazines.”
He asked the audience if they were familiar with the overlanding category. Most weren’t. One audience member said he believed it was limited to the west coast. Bowman shook his head. “It’s everywhere,” he said. “Overlanding is a huge opportunity for your business, because what does 12-volt do better than accessory shops? [Overlanders] need batteries, invertors, chargers and lighting controls. What if I told you that you could add $100,000 to $200,000 in revenue to your business just by getting into lighting?”
Overlanders, he said, don’t always know where to go unless they have an overlanding shop in their local area.
“If you’re willing to get into it, there are plenty of magazines about it and lots of brands that will do business with you.” The products, he said, are good quality and easy to install.
Fleet work provides similar opportunities. Bowman advised thinking outside the box. “Are you near a racetrack? It’s not just about race cars—it’s about tow vehicles and all those related things. What about talking to forestry people, or the local construction company about their vehicles? Fleet work is great and it’s a great way to train new people because of the repetitive tasks.”
Those who do window tint, he said, are already familiar with this: “You start by training window tinters to clean glass. Then they’re running the plotter.” With each task, the staff member learns more and more, and the work keeps coming. “That’s the beautiful thing about fleet work. These vehicles will be
bought and outfitted no matter what’s going on in the economy.”
Bowman asked the audience what they were most concerned about. Someone raised a hand and said, “Selling from my own wallet.” Acknowledging this common issue, Bowman went on to describe a conversation he recently had with the son of Mark Miller, owner of Westminster Speed and Sound. “His son is 23 years old and his hangup is, ‘I feel like I’m going to come off too salesy.’” Many in the audience seemed able to relate. “He said, ‘I feel like if I offer them more than what they ask for, I’m coming off too salesy.’ I said, look—they got in their vehicle. They drove to you. They pulled into the parking lot. They got out of their car and walked in. They’re inviting you to sell them something.” He paused, adding, “The moment you believe that is the moment you will unlock. And then you’ll say [to the client], ‘Do you want to see something cool?’”
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SEAMLESS INTEGRATION
Audio Addiction completed a build in this 2025 Toyota Tacoma, which now serves to demonstrate the features of Memphis Audio’s equipment.
SUBMITTED BY:
CARLOS PARRA AND LINDA BRADSHAW, AUDIO ADDICTION, TEMECULA, CALIF.
Recently, Temecula, Calif.-based Audio Addiction completed a build in a 2025 Toyota Tacoma for Nick LoMonaco, the president of Memphis Car Audio. The vehicle features a full Memphis system including Memphis Audio PRX amplifiers and ViV speakers, complete with an eight-inch MOJO Pro subwoofer.
LoMonaco praised Audio Addiction, a Memphis Audio dealer. His goal, he said, was to have something that “integrated seamlessly with the truck while giving me the best sound Memphis can create.” He also added that he’s watched Parra’s growth over the years as a fabricator and installer, noting, “I was excited to have him and the crew at Audio Addiction work on my next vehicle.”
The Tacoma is being used at local shops to show off Memphis equipment and sound, he said, “and especially how feature-packed our DSP is. I’m extremely happy with the results.” Audio Addiction, he said, made the install “look clean and sound awesome.”
FROM THE PRESIDENT STILL LIVING UNDER A ROCK?
“ You don’t have to live under a rock. Step into the light, reconnect with your peers and embrace the knowledge and community that make this industry thrive.”
It’s time to learn, discover and connect with the industry.
Our industry moves fast. Technology changes overnight, vehicles get smarter every model year and customer expectations seem to double every time you blink. Yet, some people are still trying to run a business the same way they did five or ten years ago.
If you want to thrive in today’s mobile electronics landscape, you’ve got to stay plugged in to new ideas, new relationships and new ways of doing business. Fortunately, our industry already gives you the tools to do exactly that. You just have to use them.
The Best Investment You Can Make is in Yourself
Whether you’re an installer, salesperson or business owner, education is what keeps you relevant. At KnowledgeFest, you’ll have access to over a hundred hours of training from the best in the business—everything from technical sessions on OEM integration, DSP tuning and fabrication, plus business and leadership classes that help you run smarter. These aren’t lectures. They’re interactive, real-world conversations led by people who’ve been there and want to help others succeed.
What you learn at KnowledgeFest, you can put to work immediately. That’s what makes it so powerful. Walk out of an education workshop, head home and by Monday morning, you’re already improving your process, your customer experience and your profitability.
You don’t have to wait until the next show to keep learning. The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) provides year-round education through timely webinars, teaching you to use business tools designed to save or make you more money. MEA members have access to a network of experts and resources designed to help their businesses grow every single day, not just once a year.
Stay Current and Stay Ahead
If learning builds your foundation, discovery keeps you moving forward. You need to know what’s happening across the industry—the trends, technologies and people shaping what’s next. That’s where Mobile Electronics magazine comes in.
Every issue tells the stories of real retailers, real installers and real innovators pushing this industry forward. You’ll find new product insights, business features and technology breakdowns that connect
the dots between what’s happening in the vehicle and what’s possible in your bay.
Our Industry Awards features aren’t just about awards or the winners—they’re about learning what top retailers do differently and how you can apply those lessons in your own business. Visit me-mag. com to stay plugged in between issues. The website is updated constantly with news about product launches, event recaps and thought leadership. This information will help you keep your finger on the pulse of our industry. The magazine, the association and KnowledgeFest create a complete ecosystem for discovery. If you’re using all three, you’re never in the dark.
The Power of Community
The third piece of the puzzle is connection, and in our world, that’s everything. We’re a relationship-driven industry. The conversations you have at events, in hallways, or even over dinner often end up being the spark that drives your next big idea or partnership.
KnowledgeFest is the heartbeat of that connection. It’s the one place where everyone— from retailers and manufacturers to reps and trainers—comes together to learn, share and collaborate. The relationships you build there can change your business.
MEA membership keeps that spirit alive all year long. It’s the best place to stay connected and engaged. It’s not just networking, it’s community, and that’s what makes this industry special.
Of course, social media plays its part, too. Following MEA, Mobile Electronics magazine, and KnowledgeFest pages and groups helps you stay on top of the latest updates, educational opportunities and community stories that keep the conversation going.
If you’ve been buried in day-to-day business and feel a little disconnected, now’s the time to change that. Our industry is full of opportunities to learn, discover and connect. Read the magazine, join the Mobile Electronics Association, and get yourself to KnowledgeFest. This will form a foundation for professional growth and long-term success in mobile electronics.
You don’t have to live under a rock. Step into the light, reconnect with your peers and embrace the knowledge and community that make this industry thrive.
