Harman Professional has formed a new global group to support live sound and rental professionals with advanced programs, including technology, systems, training and support.
The group is led by Brian Pickowitz, newly promoted to associate director, Global Live Sound and Rental Systems, and also includes tour sound veterans Raul Gonzalez, application engineer, Live Sound and Rental for North America, and Vincent “Vinnie” Perreux, application engineer, Live Sound and Rental for EMEA and Asia.
“The formation of a new Global Live Sound and Rental Systems group within Harman Professional will serve our customers well and I am pleased and encouraged to have a professional of Brian Pickowitz’s expertise and experience to lead the group,” states Scott Robbins, executive VP of sales, Harman Professional. “Brian understands his market, his technologies and his clients’ needs and makes it his business to ensure their productions meet their highest expectations. Brian has demonstrated his capacity as a client-partner and I am confident that he will make a significant contribution to our success and the success of our clients around the world.”
According to Pickowitz, the group is extending the depth of partnership to which Harman Professional engages its customers in this community. “We recognize that partnership extends beyond a transaction and requires a considerable commitment before, during and after the sale,” he says. “Our strengthened commitment to training and support will ensure that customers in the live sound and rental communities extract optimal return from their investment in our platform.
“If we can provide customers with greater consistency in terms of system performance and setup efficiency, then we’ll help improve their businesses and therein lies the goal of this new group.”
Pickowitz joined Crown Audio as an electrical design engineer in 2004 and has since been heavily involved in the development of Crown Audio’s tour sound business, assuming the marketing leadership of that sector in 2010. He has played a key role in the design and implementation of business-critical live sound products, including the I-Tech HD, Vrack and Macro Tech I Series. A 2004 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Brian Pickowitz holds a BSEE in Electrical Engineering.
Vincent “Vinnie” Perreux has more than 30 years experience supporting worldwide tour sound productions and working closely with front of house and monitor engineers. He has served as sound system engineer, crew chief and product trainer for Clair Global & Clair Brothers. Perreux’s experiences also includes work with Clair/ShowCo, SSE Audio Group, Agora, Westfalen Sound and Eighth Day Sound other companies and with bands including Muse, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Leonard Cohen, Gloria Estefan, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Green Day, Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson and Elton John among others.”
Raul Gonzalez is similarly qualified with18 years of experience in the audio industry. During the last 13 years, he has worked for Harman’s JBL Professional supporting tour sound & rental clients as Market Development Engineer for Latin America, tour sound produce manager and tour sound field engineer. Prior to joining Harman, Gonzalez was systems engineer for the Julio Iglesias World Tour, and audio systems designer for Concert Sound Consultants.
“Just as our live sound and rental customers rely on talented, hardworking crews to represent their businesses and support their artists, Harman Professional now has one of the most talented and hardworking teams on the road to support its customers. I look forward to working with Vinnie and Raul to develop support and training programs that provide customers with deeper care and more forward-looking training than anyone else in the marketplace,” Pickowitz concludes.