The latest from this influential buying group.
PROSOURCE, THE LARGEST AUDIO, VIDEO AND SYSTEMS INTEGRATION BUYING GROUP in the United States, recently announced its 2020 Members of the Year annual honorees. “Each of the members selected meet or exceed the established criteria for this award,” said Dave Workman, CEO and President of ProSource. “The award is based upon a member’s participation within the group, support of group brands, conducting business in a manner that stands as an example to other members, and selection for industry awards and recognition. The common attributes of each of the 2020 honorees is the ability to evolve and adapt to the rapid changes in technology and market trends with an emphasis on investing in their people to create a culture of success.”
The PRO Member of the Year is Electronic Express — Sam Yazdian, President and CEO and Abe Yazdian, Vice President of Merchandising.
The Power Member of the Year is Lewis Audio Video – Dennis Lewis, Owner.
The 2020 Members of the Year, listed by region, are:
– Northeast: Audio Video Intelligence — James Shapiro, Founder and CEO
– North Central: Xtend Technologies — Tony Fabrick, Owner
– Southeast: Fusion Audio + Video – Aaron Cowden and Daniel Adair, Owners
– South Central: Multimedia Solutions Inc. – John Carter, Owner
– West: Brilliant AV – Matthew Walin, Owner
ProSource also announced the 2020 Vendor of the Year Awards that were presented recently at the organization’s Summer Conference in San Antonio. ProSource members were asked to vote using the following criteria for selecting the Vendor of the Year:
1. The Vendor, through engagement with the group, that has helped our class of trade more than others in the category.
2. The Vendor that has shown a continued commitment to developing products for our class of trade.
3. The Vendor that has allocated the proper resources to our individual account and can be exemplified as a company that is responsive and easy to do business with.
4. The Vendor that has had the most positive financial effect on our performance in the category.
The 2020 Vendors of the Year are:
- Video Vendor of the Year — Sony
- Specialty TV Vendor of the Year – Samsung (Frame/Terrace)
- Audio – Electronics Vendor of the Year – Sound United
- Audio – Speakers Vendor of the Year – Klipsch
- Headphones – Vendor of the Year – Focal
- Audio – Digital Content/Streaming Devices – Vendor of the Year – Bluesound
- Specialty – Accessories – Vendor of the Year – SurgeX
- Specialty – Custom Integration
- Vendor of the Year – Origin Acoustics
- Specialty – Technology – Vendor of the Year – Savant
- Lighting/Shading – Vendor of the Year – Screen Innovations
- New Vendor of the Year – AudioControl
- Overall Vendor of the Year – Sony“ProSource is proud to partner with the very best vendors in the consumer technology industry,” said Dave Workman, CEO and President of ProSource. “The 2020 Vendor Awards honor the brands that have been instrumental in helping our members succeed in every category.”
ProSource also proudly announced that over $180,000 was raised by the organization for Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas during a team-building event held at the ProSource Summer Conference last week. The unprecedented amount represents a 55% increase over the amount raised in 2019.
The ProSource event challenged 20 teams to compete against each other in race-themed games of skill culminating in a hysterically funny tricycle race around the ballroom. The first-place-winning team, AudioControl, earned a generous $25,000 donation in their name from ProSource to the Foundation.
“We won the tricycle race and donated $7,000, paying it forward to Make-A-Wish,” said Chris Kane, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, AudioControl. “We are so glad we could be a part of this great effort and watch all of our colleagues step up to raise so much money for the less fortunate. We are a great industry!”
Origin Acoustic’s Marc Fisher served as the evening’s emcee and rallied the crowd to open their hearts and wallets, raising the balance of the grand total. Very special guests Wish Kid Joshua and his family were in attendance when the wish reveal, a state-of-the-art golf cart, was rolled into the ballroom, delighting him, his family and the audience in attendance.
“We are fortunate that the ProSource culture is so strong and that you have included our wish families in your circle,” said Kathrin Brewer, President and CEO, Make-A-Wish Central and South Texas. “Our family had such a great time and was really grateful to tell their story and to have the support of such a great group of people.”
“We set ourselves a goal of $120,000 this year, and we want to thank everyone for their generosity in helping us exceed the target,” said Jessica Paskon, Vice President of Finance and Operations, ProSource. “Tens of thousands of volunteers, donors, and supporters advance the Make-A-Wish vision to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness. The overwhelming success of this team event is a reflection of the heart and passion of our organization. We believe in doing well by doing good.”
