Toronto, Canada, August 3rd, 2022 – Alexandre Pecqueux, Vice-President, Operations Canada, Innovation & Operational Excellence Global, is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Jacobs as Operations Director of Solotech’s Toronto office.

After a prolific career in the aeronautical field, mister Jacobs joins our Toronto brigade with the mandate to supervise and accompany our design, planning, and execution teams in the various Sales & Systems Integration Division projects.

“It’s been a nice adventure so far,” declared Stephen Jacobs. “I see an openness of spirit. The team wants to connect, work well together, and open lines of communication.”

“Stephen Jacobs’ arrival within our organization is excellent news for our Toronto activities,” said Alexandre Pecqueux. “We can count not only on his vast technology experience but also on his qualities as a natural leader. Our entire team in the Ontario metropolis will benefit from his presence.”

The new Operations Director added: “Solotech grants me the potential to make a real impact on the company and I am grateful for that opportunity.”

The entire Solotech team wished him great success in his new role!

Solotech introduces the talent behind its unparalleled world-renowned expertise.

Solotech UK Head of Sales Ryan Thomas reflects on his 20-year career in pro AV, what it takes to make a great company culture, and the time he spilled Tango on Missy Elliot’s shoes.

Q: Ryan, how long have you been with Solotech?

RT: I joined in august 2011 and have been here ever since.

Q: Give us a quick look into your background.

RT: I started 20 years ago and gained experience in the industry with a manufacturer. That’s where I picked up the sales bug.

Q: What’s the best thing about your job? 

RT: It is definitely the customers. They make the day and job what it is, and without them, we wouldn’t be who we are.

Q: Which projects are you proud to have worked on? 

RT: One of the things I’m most proud of is setting up the SSE Audio North office, as it was the first organic expansion of SSE in the UK and opened the company to new opportunities. The sales department has grown year after year over the last decade, and I’m pleased to be a part of it with the team.

Q: What makes Solotech a great employer?

RT: It’s got to be the culture and the teamwork. Everyone on the sales and systems integration team work together to bring our services forward to the next level.

Q: What excites you most about working in pro AV?

RT: It’s the people and the passion the industry has for what it does and what it delivers it’s infectious. I didn’t set out to work in this industry 20 years ago, but I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

Q: Do you have any funny stories from working for Solotech?

RT: I dropped a bottle of Tango on Missy Elliot’s shoes once.

Solotech introduces the talent behind its unparalleled world-renowned expertise.

We sat down with Jean-François Huot, Corporate Global Market Leader.

Summary of our chat with this specialist of corporate projects, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, including more than two decades with the Solotech team.

Q: Jean-François, thank you for speaking with us. First, talk to us a bit about yourself!

JFH: I have been working with Solotech for the past 21 years, and it’s been 28 years since I got into the industry. Time flies! My education brought me into the AV market from the start. I started as an installation technician in the corporate market before occupying other positions, such as operations coordinator, project manager, and systems designer. These positions allowed me to understand various aspects of the job. I eventually became a sales representative.

Because I was based in Quebec City, I had the opportunity to get involved in both Live Productions and Systems Integration projects. Today, I focus on the corporate market: everything related to meeting rooms, customer experience, digital signage, etc., even if I still have clients in the live performance venues industry.

Q: What is your role as a Global Market Leader?

JFH: Solotech has made many acquisitions in the past few years, which have brought us diverse cultures and ways of doing things. My role is to get the best out of each method, share our best practices, and ensure we have constant communication and similar methods everywhere.

We want to make sure that all Solotech offices offer the same expertise with a dedicated and market-oriented approach to assert our position of strength in corporate business solutions.

Q: What brought you to work in the corporate market?

JFH: It’s in my DNA. From my first day in the business, I worked in the corporate market with people from the industry, deployed solutions, and reassured clients, saying: “I take care of the tech, just take care of the message.”

I collaborated with many companies and convention centers, so I naturally mastered the corporate market culture.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

JFH: Every day comes with a new challenge, which offers something different. My day at the office is never like the day before or the day after.

Q: What excited you the most about your industry?

JFH: The constant evolution. Technology is advancing so fast but is always at the service of humans. This is what people are constantly looking for in my industry. How can I use technology for it to be scalable and for it to be a communication tool that helps me in my daily life?

Q: What makes Solotech different from its competitors?

JFH: I like Solotech’s sustained growth, both organically and through acquisitions. If we look around us, the people who collaborate with us are passionate and dedicated. Being part of this team leads you to surpass yourself constantly.

I don’t know of any other company that takes care of a client by organizing the launch of their new product, their new office, putting on a spectacular event, and at the same time providing them with all their audiovisual needs in a permed. It’s one point of contact, one company, which can do everything. It doesn’t exist anywhere else.

Q: What makes Solotech different as an employer?

JFH: Even if we are becoming a larger company, we still have the agility to create a typical work environment for each region. Each office has its color and culture. The working atmosphere and the teams in each region are the keys to success.

Q: What would you say to someone who is considering joining Solotech?

JFH: What is pleasant about us is that we roll up our sleeves, work together, and collaborate with passion. We are here to innovate and surpass ourselves daily, but always with respect for the human being behind the employee.

If you are ready to challenge yourself and grow in your work, Solotech is the best place to do it. It doesn’t mean that the position you occupy today will still be yours tomorrow. That’s the beauty of it. We evolve. We’ve seen many employees change jobs and grow within the company according to their ambitions. You don’t often find that in the private sector in 2022.

Ottawa, Canada, June 9, 2022 – Philip Giffard, Global President, Sales and Systems Integration Division, Solotech, is pleased to announce the appointment of Samantha Dougall as Business Developer in the Ottawa region.

In her role, Samantha will be in charge of developing new and existing business accounts in the federal government, education and corporate segments.

In addition to her solid background in sales, marketing, sales management, and project management, Samantha is known for developing strong relationships with new and existing customers across the country. Through innovative ideas and a customer-oriented approach, she focuses on business growth.

She has nearly twenty years of experience in various AV businesses, namely Middle Atlantic Products. Her strong analytical and planning skills, and proven ability to develop sales potential in new market areas will be a great asset to the company.

The team at Solotech wishes her great success in her new role.

About Solotech

Founded 45 years ago, Solotech is a world leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology with 18 strategic locations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and China. Thanks to an inventory encompassing over 300 renowned manufacturers, Solotech is the single source for audio, video, lighting, rigging, soft goods, control and collaboration solutions and services. The company is internationally recognized for its expertise in Live Productions and Systems Integration in various markets, namely music, sports, business, culture and education. Clients can also benefit from its Service Center, Online Store and virtual technology know-how. Solotech is fully supported by three major shareholders: Claridge, Desjardins Capital and Investissement Québec. The company employs 1,360 professionals in its offices located in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saguenay, Halifax, Macau and Hong Kong.

Find out more at: solotech.com

Contact

Héloïse Meunier
Corporate Communications Advisor
media@solotech.com 

Solotech introduces the talent behind its unparalleled world-renowned expertise.

We sat down with Jonathan Henri, Transportation Global Market Leader. Jonathan celebrated his fifth Solotech anniversary in January 2022.

Summary of our chat with this AV expert, who rose through the ranks of the company and discovered a passion for transportation, which directly influence the lives of the users.

Q: Jonathan, thank you for meeting with us. Here’s a simple question to start: Who is Jonathan Henri?

JH: I have always been an audiovisual enthusiast. When I was young, I wanted a disco ball, or old speakers I found at yard sales. I had no amp and no lighting for the disco ball, but I liked the gear. When we had school trips to see plays or shows, I only had eyes for the technical team. When I started high school, I had been waiting for years to be able to enroll in stage technical activities. Aside from most little guys’ dream of becoming a police officer, I’d be lying to say I’ve touched anything else. For me, it has always been AV.

Before I got to Solotech, I have picked, rolled, and cleaned wires, I was a sound technician, I dabbled in electricity, I was a lighting designer in bars, I worked in electronic stores, and I studied business at CEGEP du Vieux-Montréal, which allowed me to work on CÉGEP’s show productions.

I then started to work in an AV store, where I realized there was a market for installs. I started designing and installing the systems we sold at the store. I then joined Solotech and have been here for the last 5 years.

Q: What is your specialty?

JH: I have a more technical than sales-based approach. Do I have a born salesperson in me? No. Am I passionate? Yes. I think that is where my sales success comes from. I believe my clients are reassured to see that I have mastered what I offer them.

Q: You are the Global Market Leader for transportation. What does it involve?

JH: Every Solotech office has its specialties. In Nashville, they are super strong in the House of Worship market. In Florida, our offices are great with amusement parks. In Québec, Solotech must have around 90% of the market shares in terms of transportation. The Global Market Leaders Program identifies resource persons for each market.

Some markets change from place to place, such as education. We don’t manage business opportunities in the same way at McGill, Oxford, or Harvard. On the other hand, it does not change when it comes to transportation. If you fly from Montreal in the morning, when you land at Charles-De Gaulle in Paris, the standards, the laws, and protocols have not changed. It is the same principle in rail transport, public transport, etc.

My role is to take advantage of our different internal tools: procurement, legal, marketing, etc. It’s to take Solotech’s corporate services and establish strategies to increase Solotech’s market shares in our other offices by responding to calls for tenders, doing canvassing, going to see clients, expanding our products portfolio, by introducing new technologies that we did not use before, but which, in certain regions, are more appropriate. We set up contracts and partnerships to be able to break into this market.

Q: Where does this connection between transportation and you come from?

JH: It all started at Solotech. When I started, Solotech was already heavily involved in transportation. We were well-positioned. The people who managed this market moved on to other roles and I took over some of their accounts. I discovered new technologies and new ways of working, and I found a notion of importance.

I like to serve people directly. In transportation, we do two things: first, information communication, which is super important. When you are at the airport, you want to know which gate to go to, and where your luggage is. At the bus stop, you want to know how long the bus will take to get to you, and if it is the right route.

Above all, we do emergency communication. If there is a fire alarm, if we need to evacuate, or on the contrary, if we need to trigger a lockdown, our systems can communicate these messages. It spoke to me. In our job, we often say that we don’t save lives. But in transportation, our systems can save lives! That is what spoke to me. What we do matters because it serves a primary need: everyone’s safety.

Q: What is the best part about your job?

JH: The best feeling is probably going to see an install. When you think about your project, you win the contract, and you empower your team to make it happen. A year or two later, you go on-site, and you are in the environment you had imagined. It’s fun to go to the end of things like that.

Q: What is the difference between Solotech and its competitors?

JH: The individuals. The team at Solotech. The people at Solotech are skilled and love what they do. It shows in a project. Having a team that is interested, dynamic, and takes ownership of a project changes everything.

Solotech’s management team is very solid, and it shows too. A company that has solid, established leadership flows all the way down the ladder. We have excellent leaders.

Q: What do you see in Solotech’s future?

JH: From my side, there will be lots of development in the transportation market. I see Solotech investing in hiring and training the next transportation experts. We are going to take what we do well in Quebec right now and expand it globally. I would like us to be able to put Solotech’s name on big airport projects in the United States, or a high-speed train in Europe.

Solotech introduces the talent behind its unparalleled world-renowned expertise.

We sat down with Phil Goldsworthy, UK Head of Systems Integration, who counts over 19 years of experience working for Solotech’s UK companies. During this time, he has been involved in exciting projects in the world of festivals, theme parks, attractions, and in the house of worship market.

Q: Phil, how long have you been with Wigwam, SSE Audio, and Solotech?

PG: I started at my full-time job with Wigwam back in January of 2003, so it’s been 19 years! I was working with Wigwam for nearly nine years as part of SSE Audio and have worked for just over three years with Solotech.

Q: Give us a quick look into your background.

PG: I have always been involved in music, first when I was playing in a band at the local Church. I quickly started taking an interest in gear and what was happening behind the consoles, so I moved into setting up the PA and mixing. This began when I was studying Live Performance Technology at Derby University and started working for Wigwam during holiday breaks, and in the summer for festival work. My early years as a full-timer at Wigwam were spent prepping gigs or working on-site. After a few years, I moved into the sales department.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

PG: My role has changed and evolved quite a bit over the 18 years, but now as a leader of a department, I love the opportunity to work with so many different talented people. I really like the Jack Welch quote: “When you were made a leader you weren’t given a crown, you were given the responsibility to bring out the best in others.” Working with my team and ensuring we all develop both individually and as a team is my favourite part.

Q: What projects have you enjoyed working on the most over the years?

PG: From a Live Productions perspective, I used to love the variety of gigs we did from working at the New Wine Festival to mixing monitors for jazz legend Herbie Hancock. The Grand in Clitheroe was a special installation project, as it was the first live music venue in Europe to have both a high-end live music venue and a recording studio linked together. York Minster was also a great cathedral project to work on due to the technology that was integrated successfully into a very important, historic building with absolute sympathy to the heritage and architecture of the space.

Q: What makes Solotech different as an employer?

PG: For me, it’s all about the culture and the working environment that is created by all the great people who work here. Many organisations will talk about culture, but very few deliberately set out to create or change one so that it is collaborative. This is where I believe Solotech is very different. It makes recruitment an exciting challenge because I am trying to find people that fit from both a cultural perspective as well as have the necessary skill sets.

Progression is at the heart of great work culture. The most important thing to remember is that we need to work at a high level and always improve from show to show and project to project. This is also when having excellent co-workers pushes you because they are always helping you further the limits of the technology by finding the best ways to create a seamless and immersive experience for the people who are using the spaces.

Work is a big part of your life, so you want to work alongside good people in a fun and friendly environment.

Q: What is the most memorable experience you have had while working here?

PG: Well, I was once following the MD to an installation in my car, when a car pulled out in from of him. I stopped, but he stopped quicker, and I ended up smashing into the back of his car… Oops! I’ve still not lived that one down!! Sorry Mick.

Mr. Frederic Senay, Sales Director of our Montreal office, is pleased to announce two important additions to his expert Business Development team with unparalleled knowhow: Benoit Fortin and Maxime Perreault.

With 25 years of experience in the office solutions industry, Mr. Benoit Fortin becomes the very first business developer in Solotech’s history to be exclusively dedicated to service plans.

Mr. Fortin joined the Montreal office in November 2021. Since his arrival, he has reviewed all the service plans Solotech has to offer, to carry out a global restructuring. He will also be called upon to share his expertise with all Solotech offices.

“Benoit will become a true ambassador for the service department,” said Frederic Senay. “We are very happy to count on his great expertise in that field.”

For his part, Maxime Perreault has joined a team of dynamic, young salespeople, who will solidify Solotech’s position as a leader in the Montreal market.

Mr. Perreault has ten years of experience in the industry, both on the side of integrators and distributors. He is recognized for his market knowledge, his passion for AV, and his teamwork qualities. “Maxime has immense talent. I am thrilled to be able to support him in this new stage of his career,” said Frederic Senay.

“Including our colleagues from CBCI, a Solotech company, our sales team will have impressive and enviable strength in the Greater Montreal Area. We aspire to great things very soon.”

Contact

Roch Carignan
Advisor, Social Media and Digital Content
roch.carignan@solotech.com

Eric Thibault, Senior Sales Director, Sales and Systems Integration Division, Solotech, is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Brito as Sales Director of the company’s Ottawa and Maritimes markets.

As a natural leader and expert in his field, Mr. Brito is a prime addition to Solotech’s management team. He will be responsible for the leadership of the sales teams to optimize Solotech’s business position in the federal government and corporate markets, as well as developing two strong markets in the Ottawa area: crown corporations, and museums. Outside of Ottawa, Mr. Brito will also be responsible for developing new business opportunities in our recently added territory: the Maritimes.    

With over 28 years of extensive experience in the AV and related industries, including the last five as Senior Account Manager at CBCI, Mr. Brito had the chance to collaborate with the best in his field around North America. During that time, he has led, designed, programmed, or installed more than 500 projects, which allowed him to master both technical and creative aspects of multimedia integration. His deep understanding of Federal Government clients and procurement makes him the perfect person to lead Solotech’s sales team in the nation’s capital.   

As Canada’s prime integrator, Solotech is proud to add Mr. Brito’s experience to its pool of seasoned professionals, reinforcing its positioning as the sole Canadian company listed in 2021’s  Systems Contractor News’ Top 50 Systems Integrators. 

Contact

Roch Carignan
Advisor, Social Media and Digital Content
roch.carignan@solotech.com

Toronto, Ontario, April 12, 2022 – Philip Giffard, Global President, Sales and Systems Integration Division, Solotech, is pleased to announce the appointment of Yasser Abdelkader as Sales Director of the company’s Toronto office. 

As a strategic-thinking and driven professional, Mr. Abdelkader will be responsible for the leadership of the sales teams to optimize Solotech’s business position, revenues and market share. He will oversee the development of existing accounts and new business opportunities while ensuring a solid diversification strategy to continue supporting activities in fast-growing market segments. 

 With 12 years of experience, including six years as Major Accounts Manager at CBCI (a Canadian leader in audiovisual communication services acquired by Solotech), Abdelkader is known for establishing strong relationships with customers, sales teams and key stakeholders to drive successful business outcomes. Previously, he worked at Meeting Zone, which provides a full range of Cisco Webex collaboration tools and services, as an International Operations Manager, in the United Kingdom and Canada.  

 Mr. Abdelkader holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto in Business Management and Communications Information Technology and numerous technological certifications. His in-depth knowledge of the business, vast expertise in systems integration, and leadership and management skills are key assets to the company.  

 As Canada’s prime integrator, Solotech is proud to add Abdelkader’s talent to its pool of seasoned professionals, reinforcing its positioning as the only Canadian company on the 2021 list of Systems Contractor News’ Top 50 Systems Integrators.   

 About Solotech 

 Founded 45 years ago, Solotech is a world leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology with 18 strategic locations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and China. Thanks to an inventory encompassing over 300 renowned manufacturers, Solotech is the single source for audio, video, lighting, rigging, soft goods, control and collaboration solutions and services. The company is internationally recognized for its expertise in Live Productions and Systems Integration in various markets, namely music, sports, business, culture and education. Clients can also benefit from its Service Center, Online Store and virtual technology know-how. Solotech is fully supported by three major shareholders: Claridge, Desjardins Capital and Investissement Québec. The company employs 1,360 professionals in its offices located in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saguenay, Halifax, Macau and Hong Kong.  

 Find out more at: solotech.com 

Contact 

Héloïse Meunier
Corporate Communications Advisor
media@solotech.com 

Solotech introduces the talent behind its unparalleled world-renowned expertise.  

We sat down with Allison Mutton Senior Business Developer and Theme Parks Global Market Leader.  

Summary of our chat with Allison, who joined Solotech in June of 2021.  

Q: What does a day in your life at Solotech look like? 

AM: It can be quite a mix…I spend time visiting potential and established customers, preparing quotations, following up on existing orders, planning product demonstrations for company/client events, researching different geographical and client markets to pursue new business, work with our integration team on installation projects. 

Q: What roads did you take to get to Solotech? 

AM: I started in the business on the manufacturing side in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I held a few different marketing and sales positions while I was there, one being for me to get the theme parks to incorporate specific products into their parks. Spending so much time in warmer climates prompted my move to Florida. Since being in Orlando, I have held sales and management positions with a few companies before starting with Solotech. 

Q: When you were growing up, what did you want to be? 

AM: I wanted to be a TV broadcaster! 

Q: What is the best part about your job? 

AM: I love getting to know my customers and vendors! Many of them have become good friends outside of the work environment. 

Q: What has been your favorite project to work on since starting with Solotech? 

AM: It is hard to pinpoint just one, but since I love theme parks, it is always fun to know that we had something to do with several major rides and venues at various parks around the US. 

Q: What sets Solotech apart from our competitors? 

AM: Our sales and project & installation staff are top-notch. Even though Solotech is a global company, we treat every customer, large or small, like they are our only customer. Because we are able to offer sales, design, installation, integration, and service of lighting, audio, and video, it allows us to provide for all aspects of a project. 

Q: What excites you most about the evolving tech in your division? 

AM: There is always something new to learn…new product development and offerings seem to change on a daily basis. 

Q: Do you have any unusual/crazy work-related stories? 

AM: When I was in grade school, my family took a vacation to one of the Orlando theme parks. I told my parents that when I grew up, I was going to work there! I never ended up specifically working at a theme park, but little did they know that my career would allow me to work with several theme parks on various projects! 

Q: Since we are a global company, where is your favorite place to travel? 

AM: My favorite place is the Caribbean! 

Q: What is your favorite food? 

AM: Thin-crust pizza!