Founder
Carol Campbell
Advisory Board
Christine DeJoy
Veronica Esbona
Veronica Esbona is the president of InGear, an integrated marketing communications agency that specializes in the consumer technology, professional and residential AV markets. With more than 20 years of agency experience, Esbona has worked closely with manufacturers, distributors, and dealers alike by employing creative marketing, event management, public relations, and social media strategies that effectively build brands by reaching their intended audiences while delivering results. Veronica holds a B.S. in marketing and international business from Florida Atlantic University.
Kimberly Fabiano
Diligent, passionate and energetic, Kim is a master at getting things done. When it comes to clients, their needs come first and no task is too challenging or too trivial. She’s a social butterfly, both personally and professionally, that takes social media marketing and public relations very seriously. She's a devoted fan of green living, red wine, black nail polish and purses of many colors – but if you really want to see fervor, ask her about Philly sports or her fluffy Maltese, Bella.
Norma Garcia-Muro
Krista Haughey
Krista brings more than 20 years of experience, including 17 years as Director of Strategic Accounts at Sonance. Haughey is responsible for managing, Cleerline, Planet Waves and IAV LightSpeaker’s sales teams and promoting all brands.
Helen M. Heneveld
Heneveld is a well-respected and recognized industry expert who speaks and consults worldwide in the converging home systems industry. Her early entry in the 1980’s into the home automation business with a successful installation company and her years in industry training have given her the knowledge and experience to succeed. Passionate about the industry, Heneveld founded Bedrock Learning, Inc. to serve the fast growing industry with effective, convenient and affordable educational materials and training. Bedrock Learning, Inc. focuses on the fundamentals including structured wiring, home networking, audio/video, home theater, lighting management home control, energy management and installation business operations. Heneveld holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education, and an MBA, from the University of Michigan. She is well qualified in the industry with certifications for CEDIA Installer 1 and CEA-CompTIA DHTI+ (Digital Home Technology Integrator). Heneveld serves on the Board of Directors of CEA, Tech Home Division. She also is an active member of CEDIA having served several years on the Board of Directors and as chair of the Systems Integration Council, leading the effort for industry standardization of symbols and icons for residential electronics and wiring. Her dedication to sharing her knowledge continues with several published industry resources including the first and second editions of DHTI+ Home Technology Integrator All-In-One Exam Guide by McGraw-Hill, a pocket guide - Residential Technology Terms and Definition, numerous course guides and also electronic versions of various forms critical to business success in the industry.
Jeannette Howe
Jeannette Howe is the Vice President of Sales for Transformative Engineering. Transformative Engineering distinguishes itself by developing products and solutions that are truly Designed By Installers, For Installers. The company’s founder, Jay Trieber, is also President and owner of an integration company [Home Theater Concepts in Norwood, MA]. Transformative Engineering evolved out of his personal and professional need for products that work reliably - right out of the box. Primary product categories include HDMI Extenders & “Fixers”, AV/IP and TE still sells lots of baluns. Previously, Jeannette was the founder and Executive Director of Specialty Electronics Nationwide [now HTSN], the specialty CI/CE buying group. Once upon a time she was National Membership Manager for Home Entertainment Source [now a division of ProSource]. Many will remember Jeannette as the Director of Member Services for the Professional Audio/Video Retailer’s Association [PARA]. There she discovered her true passion: being a crusader for the independent channel. In the early 1990s, she was the Audio Buyer at Magnolia Hi-Fi, where she managed the $30 million audio category. From 1985 – 1989, Jeannette worked at Tweeter etc. in a variety of positions including Audio Buyer, Swill Master and Store Manager in an attempt to save New England from bad Hi-Fi. In her spare time, Jeannette enjoys cooking (and eating) gourmet foods. She will blissfully spend an entire weekend making Lasagna, complete with hand-cranked pasta, homemade ricotta and a Bolognaise to die for.
Deborah Kassoff
Michelle Lueck
Michelle Lueck has been a leader in the CE industry for over 13 years. In her current role, she is Director of Strategic Accounts for The Retail Outsource, a provider of retail support programs for leading brands and retailers in CE and Wireless. Michelle started her professional career as an Elementary School Teacher, a job that has taught her lessons she’s used daily in working in the CE industry, including PATIENCE and PERSISTENCE. Michelle got into the CE industry while looking for a new career with great opportunity and challenge. Her insane passion for CE and her courage to pursue, has led her down a path of success. Michelle has served in various buying and sales roles, including Senior Merchant for Circuit City, where she managed everything from Imaging to PC Peripherals. During her time at DISH Network, she served as GM of National Accounts, where she built a portfolio of new business with key online and bricks-and-mortar CE retailers. She also facilitated DISH’s acquisition of Blockbuster and served as the VP of Merchandising and Supply Chain. Michelle has always subscribed to a leadership style of support and promotion for her team members. She’s an advocate for professional and personal growth (you really can have it all!), and for creating an environment for women’s success within CE.
Tricia Nystrom
22 years retail experience, including various positions at Target, Marshall Field's, Macy's, & Best Buy.
Bonnie Perella
If Bonnie had been told she would be involved in Consumer Electronics in her college years she would have laughed, made a face or both. She was in the midst of her studies as a psychology major when her priorities changed. What she did not know at the time was she liked making and better yet spending money! The summer job she got by walking into a business to meet a friend for lunch and answering an annoying ringing phone was going to turn into a 30 + year career. She started in the electronics industry as an office manager to do a various number of tasks. She answered sales calls, processed orders and made collection calls for a family owned business at the time named Adcom. Adcom brought Bonnie to her first CES and she was hooked. She was interested in moving to Boston for personal reasons (yes, a 'boy') and was introduced to a brand new speaker manufacturer named Boston Acoustics. This job formed her career and strengthened her love for the CE Industry. She was trying to find her niche and figure out what she liked and did best. She held positions over six years ranging from credit manager, to office manager including responsibilities of inside sales including traffic management. Her mentors were a pair of brilliant entrepreneurs who built a quick rise to popularity and large-sized, successful company. She made the most of her tenure at Boston Acoustics soaking in every bit of knowledge she could from her mentors and job positions. They say humans are creatures of habit, and Bonnie is no different as once again she followed her heart across country. After arriving in California she became an independent rep in San Francisco at Parasound; where she learned National Sales Management. A few years later Panamax was entering the CE market and hired Bonnie to establish and grow this new channel for them. Much like her experience at Boston Acoustics, they sold the right product at the right time. Coupled with a great product and marketing launch strategy, Panamax quickly became the industry leader. With growth and relationship successes under her belt she was hired at Monster Cable focused on e-commerce, her first sales call was to a growing business in Seattle known as Amazon. Being a dog owner and lover Bonnie remembers that sales call because they allowed dogs in their workplace. Bonnie worked with the Monster family for two years. Following those many years she took some time off pursuing personal goals and passions, she returned to the Industry well rested. She held sales positions at Atlantic Technology and Furman further developing her fantastic ability to build relationships and build brand recognition in the industry. Bonnie is currently employed (and living) back on the east coast working for Milestone AV Technologies based out of Minnesota. Officially her title is Regional Sales Manager for the East Coast Region. Unofficially she is an inspiration and mentor for many young women within Milestone and across the industry. Bonnie’s magnetic personality is truly something to be witnessed; she is generous, kind, funny and not only is she knowledgeable about the CE industry – she also is a self-professed foodie. If you have the opportunity to go out to dinner with Bonnie it is guaranteed you will not only have a delicious meal, you will learn a few things about food and wine. You will have a stomach ache not from the food but from laughing! It is no wonder why Bonnie has made many friends over the course of her career. She can truthfully say the vast majority of them are from CE. She chose this industry to make a career and she has not regretted her choice one bit, she is thrilled her life fell into place with such a great Industry and friends she calls family.
Holly Salk
Fearful of being a lifetime dog-walker, took a chance on becoming an adventurous marketing professional. This chance has paid off working in the Consumer Electronic industry with a focus on consumer/retail marketing. With over 15 years experience and launching 2 new subscription/hardware services to the retail marketplace, I continue to be motivated, intrigued with new technologies and excited to bring them to market.
Bonnie Schnitta
Dr. Bonnie Schnitta has used her degrees in Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Signal Processing to pioneer vast improvements in residential and commercial acoustics. Since 1981 she has worked to combine her experience in acoustical engineering, academic research in signal processing (inclusive of active noise cancellation), and patented concepts to create a unique design-build acoustical engineering firm, SoundSense, LLC. Additionally, Dr. Schnitta has researched and patented a line of proprietary acoustical products and created an installation division to guarantee the optimum acoustic environment. Dr. Schnitta has authored numerous articles on such topics as signal processing and acoustics management, inclusive of the Harvard award winning theory on semantic data compression. Dr. Schnitta holds several patents, including an acoustical plumbing trap system, a method for analyzing activity in a signal, and the Paradise Effect™, a proprietary algorithm for the creation of an acoustically correct and soothing environment. In 2011 Dr. Bonnie Schnitta was awarded three additional patents. The first patent was the “Sound Focusing Mechanism and Method of Estimating Acoustic Leakage of an Object and Method of Estimating Transmission Loss of an Object”, also known as the dB Focus Tube. The dB Focus Tube is a small, portable acoustic testing mechanism designed to help determine the presence of construction or design deficiencies in ceiling/floor assemblies, wall partitions, etc. These deficiencies compromise acoustical efficacy and lead to unwanted 'sound leakage'. SoundSense engineers use the device in a variety of applications, such as home theaters, media rooms, single-family residences, luxury condominiums, multi-family dwellings, windows, doors, etc. The final two patents awarded in 2011 to Dr. Bonnie covered the following new SoundSense products: Tuning tubes that can be used to correct the acoustic environment of a room and are typically hidden in unique architectural elements, such as molding, beams, and baseboards that improve the acoustics of the room and allow the room design to be released from the standard design constraints of fabric wrapped panels, subwoofers, or diffusers, A speaker back with a fire rating that inhibits sound from going to adjacent rooms, or apartments, while simultaneously enhancing the resultant sound of the speaker, and A recessed light acoustic enclosure which prevents sound that has entered into a ceiling or wall by means of a fixture from traveling to the room, or apartment above. SoundSense provides acoustic consulting and design services, integrated delivery solutions, efficacy and compliance testing, site inspection services, and innovative acoustical products. Through 30 years of extensive research, development, and collaboration, SoundSense has developed an expansive portfolio of acoustical products and project experience.
Jayme Schwartz
Jayme Schwartz is the co-founder of social4media, a company born from the belief that brand awareness and loyalty are a unique collaboration of social media and creative public relations. Nimble and dependable, social4media is an extension of the client's marketing team, fluttering to where conversations are happening about the brand and engaging future customers, using new means of media every step of the way. Enthusiastic even before her coffee in the morning, she's consistently attentive and eager to make things happen. She’s a persistent sponge for everything that is creative public relations and prides herself on going the extra mile, no matter what that means.
Petro Shimonishi
Petro Shimonishi is currently the Director of Marketing for Home Audio at Xperi Corporation. Shimonishi earned her MBA at Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management in Arizona, speaks fluent Japanese, and has an extensive background in consumer and commercial electronics. Prior to joining Xperi, Shimonishi was Director of Brand Management for Tempur Sealy, Global Business Team Leader for Headphones at D&M Group, and has held several executive level positions in audio at NetStreams, Sonance, Kenwood and Pioneer Electronics USA. Shimonishi has served on several CEA boards, including the Multi-Room Audio Video Council, the Audio Board, and the International Advisory Council for CEA.
Michelle Troupe
Michelle Troupe has been at Definitive Audio since 1994. Originally hired in the accounting department, Troupe has been the company’s buyer for over 15 years. She relishes in the daily challenges of working for a mid-sized company — juggling all aspects of procurement, marketing, inventory, and events. Troupe specifically enjoys working for Mark Ormiston and Craig Abplanalp, who have placed a great deal of faith in her by granting her the autonomy throughout her career that has allowed her to flourish within the company. Troupe joined the Women in CE Mentoring Program in 2010 after completing four years of being a Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Pacific Northwest program. Currently in 2015, she volunteers for the local YWCA in the Working Wardrobe division. There she gets to assist others in putting professional business attire together for their jobs. She takes great pleasure in helping others and being a part of organizations that gives back to people and their local communities.