Industry Veteran Brings Key Experience to Solid Distributor Team
Van Nuys, Calif. — Dec. 1, 2005 — AVAD, LLC, the preeminent U.S. distributor of custom home entertainment technology, today announced that it has appointed Bill Johannesen to the newly created position of vice president of sales. Effective this month, the new appointment is intended to strengthen and streamline AVAD’s nationwide sales operations.
Johannesen will be responsible for driving the company’s strategic sales direction, which includes setting sales and distribution standards, coordinating national sales campaigns, and overseeing dealer support, marketing and training programs throughout AVAD’s twelve territories. Additionally, he will be responsible for increasing dealer partnerships and overseeing the quality standards for existing dealer partners.
“We are pleased to add Bill to our management team,” said Bob Gartland, president of AVAD. “The creation of a vice president of sales position puts additional fire power behind AVAD’s expansion goals and our ongoing commitment to bring a new level of service to the custom installation market. Bill’s deep sales knowledge and vision for our industry will be critical to further cementing AVAD’s position as the leading distributor of home technology.”
Johannesen brings more than twenty years of experience in sales and sales management, directing sales and business development initiatives at some of the top consumer electronic companies worldwide. During his career, he has led highly successful sales teams as well as participated on a number of editorial boards and event panels contributing to the development of the custom installation industry. Most notably, he served as assistant vice president, business-to-business sales for Sharp Electronics, and spent ten years at Bose Corporation where he led the company’s North American initiatives as director of sales.
“I have always been impressed with the AVAD model and with its overwhelming success,” stated Johannesen. “I feel privileged to join such an energetic team and eager to apply my experience to ensure the company continues its growth pattern and reaches its sales goals.”
Johannesen will be based out of AVAD’s new headquarters, located in Van Nuys, California with an office in AVAD Central’s suburban Chicago location as well. The company is a subsidiary of Ingram Micro, the world’s largest technology distributor. AVAD serves approximately 8,000 dealers through 28 multi-functional facilities that combine product showrooms, distribution centers, training locations and will-call capabilities under one roof.
About AVAD, LLC
AVAD, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ingram Micro, Inc., is the most complete home integration solutions provider in the United States. Its in-depth technology offering of the most trusted names and progressive continuing education programs provide all the support necessary to design and implement complete home solutions.
AVAD stocks products for home theater, lighting controls, distributed audio/video, central vacuum, and more for just-in-time delivery from each of its 28 locations nationwide. With complete technical training and certification for industry hallmarks like CEDIA’s Installer Level I and Level II Certification, AVAD is unparalleled in its commitment to expanding dealers’ bottom line.
AVAD exemplifies this concept with the Dealer to Builder (D2B) program, which links members of its 8000+ dealer corps with homebuilders across the United States to outfit new homes with in-demand, cutting-edge electronic systems.
Product lines that AVAD distributes and supports include: Acme Brackets, APC, Aprilaire, Artison, Atlantic Technology, Belden, Bose, Carlon, ChannelPlus, Coleman Cable, H-P Products/Dirt Devil Central Vacuum Systems, D-Link, Draper, Fujitsu, Gefen, Harman Kardon, InFocus ScreenPlay, Key Digital, Lutron, Marantz, Middle Atlantic Products, Inc., NetStreams, Niles Audio, OnQ Technologies, OpenHouse, Panamax, Panasonic Phones, Peerless, Philips, Polk Audio, PROconnect, ProFlex, RTI, Samsung, Sharp, SharpVision, Spaun USA, Terk, Universal Remote Control, and more.
In July 2005, AVAD was acquired by Ingram Micro, Inc., making its parent company the leading distributor for solution providers and custom installers serving the fast-growing consumer electronics and home automation markets in the United States. For more information about AVAD and its services, visit their website at www.avad.com.
# # #
