We talk to Electrosonic on their 60th anniversary

At Christie, we love to celebrate anniversaries (and not just our own!). Recently, I had a chance to catch up with Electrosonic, a Christie partner and AV and technology services company celebrating its 60^th anniversary. From its start in 1964, Electrosonic has delivered bold, innovative solutions for its customers and relies on Christie AV products for many of these projects.

We spoke with Chris Conte, executive consultant, and Sean McChesney, Electrosonic’s Chief Revenue Officer about the company’s beginnings, its evolution, and where you can help them toast their 60^th year in business.

Before we get started, could you tell us a little about yourselves?

Chris Conte (CC): I’ve been with Electrosonic for over 20 years, and I work with the Design Consulting Division and Systems Integration teams to help guide projects to success. I’ve worked on projects around the world in theme parks, museums, and World Expos, and I was recently honored by the Themed Entertainment Association as a Master of Audiovisual Technology Design and Technical Direction and as one of Blooloop’s Top 50 Theme Park Influencers.

Sean McChesney (SM): I’m the Chief Revenue Officer at Electrosonic and a member of the Global Executive Leadership Team. I’m responsible for developing and executing a global revenue strategy and further strengthening Electrosonic's commitment to our customers and partners. I joined the company as a graduate apprentice in 2013, in Electrosonic’s START Program, and I’ve held various key technical and business roles since. I was chosen as Young AV Professional of the Year at the 2020 AVIXA Awards.

Could you talk a little about Electrosonic’s beginnings, and what brought the founders, Robert Simpson, Michael Ray, and Denis Naisbitt, together?

CC: I think it’s fair to say it all began with a chance meeting. Bob Simpson was working for Recorded Sound, a recording studio, in the early 1960s and was also the technical manager responsible for providing sound and synchronized lighting control for exhibitions. When he advertised for an additional engineer, Michael Ray responded, but persuaded Bob that he should hire himself and his friend Denis Naisbitt on a freelance basis. Mike and Dennis brought extensive knowledge of electronics and switching systems, which soon enabled Recorded Sound to complete several significant projects.

Eventually, the three decided to set up a separate business, which was originally based in the founders’ homes. Once the company was registered in March 1964, the new venture moved to premises in Greenwich Vegetable Market - two unfurnished rooms above a potato stall. Bob, Mike, and Dennis recognized the growing business for multimedia presentation systems, the desire for new and innovative audiovisual and control technologies, custom integrations, and that working internationally was extremely important to their future. And that was the birth of Electrosonic and the foundation of the audiovisual industry.

How has the focus of the company changed or evolved since its conception?

CC: Electrosonic quickly achieved early success, creating high-profile audiovisual shows at venues such as Madame Tussauds and Expo 67 as well as solving complex show control problems for clients. Later, the focus changed to product design and manufacturing with a wide range of Electrosonic dissolve units and show control systems coming off the production line. While the initial emphasis was on innovation and adoption of new technology, the company later recognized the growing importance of services as it moved out of manufacturing.

Today, Electrosonic provides a ‘start-to-finish’ service by designing, building, and supporting impactful spaces in 44 countries on every continent. However, despite the changing technologies and business models, the essence of Electrosonic has remained unchanged – to make experiences better with technology. We believe in pushing the boundaries of technology to tell amazing stories and create great experiences that bring a client's vision to life.

To what do you attribute Electrosonic’s longevity?

SM: It’s our people who really make the difference. From the founders onwards, we have been able to attract innovative designers and engineers and strong project managers with a passion for technology and a breadth of project delivery knowledge who act as consultants, guiding our clients through ideation, build, and support while working with other trades and specialists.

That breadth of knowledge is essential because, as consultants who integrate, we need to know about much more than just our scope. We must be able to guide our partners and clients through all the challenges - architectural, construction, content, and experiential. Technology interfaces with all of it, so we have to understand that intersection.

It's also true that we enjoy continuity, with many employees - Chris included - having more than twenty years’ service with Electrosonic. They don’t just bring vast experience; they act as valuable mentors to the next generation of employees. We also recognize the important contribution of our partners. Great experiences require a combination of talents and we’re fortunate to have worked with some of the best.

What’s ahead for Electrosonic? Are there specific markets that the company is focused on and where do you see growth?

SM: I’m responsible for shaping a global strategy that drives sustainable business growth in our key markets. While entertainment has traditionally been a major focus for Electrosonic, we have recently increased our presence in commercial spaces.

In the entertainment sector, our AV solutions continue to elevate premier museums and heritage sites, sports arenas, resorts and casinos, live performance venues, theme parks and attractions.  In the commercial business, we are developing custom AV solutions that engage and inspire visitors in transportation hubs, retail, customer experience centers, corporate offices, mixed-use spaces and more. Regardless of their sector, we remain committed to serving our clients and partners around the globe with valuable guidance and delivery capabilities.

Are there any projects that you’re particularly proud of? Why?

SM: One of my favorites is One World Observatory – a project where Christie was a key partner. Our work spanned multiple floors, experiential elevators, and the welcome areas of New York’s One World Trade Center. The breathtaking views were great in themselves, but the immersive, interactive placemaking technologies such as the virtual sky walk on glass, a projection-mapped 3D wall for the ultimate cityscape reveal, and an enormous, curved LED welcome wall have created a vibrant, highly personalized visitor experience.

There has never been a simple project. It took innovative engineering, expert audiovisual design, seamless integration, rigorous testing and deep collaboration with our partners to create a fully inclusive experience that we feel set the standard for observation decks and transformed the way people discover cities. Known as the ‘fist pump’ of New York, it’s now a world-class attraction, bringing hope and inspiration as the adjacent attraction to the September 11^th Memorial Museum. And, it gained independent recognition as a winner of a coveted THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Attractions category.

How are you celebrating Electrosonic’s anniversary?

CC: We’re celebrating 60 years in AV at this year’s IAPPA Expo in Orlando, where we’ll be hosting a Happy Hour. IAPPA is a significant venue for us because it brings together the top professionals from the global attractions industry and gives us the opportunity to celebrate with our customers and partners who now shape the industry we founded 60 years ago.

In the UK, we’re holding separate celebrations with our employees and partners at our headquarters in Greenwich, which is a short distance from where Electrosonic was founded.