SIGNALS
Trade Regrets: David Yake,
Founder of Yake Engineered
Multimedia Systems
David Yake, the
founder of Yake
Engineered Mul-
timedia Systems
in Kitchener, ON,
passed away
suddenly on Feb.
12, 2020, at the
age of 71.
“It’s probably
a safe bet that
if you asked
100 churches in
Ontario if they
worked with
or knew David and his crew, they would say
‘certainly,’ and say great things. David was the
real deal,” says his friend Bill Coons, director of
Contact Distribution.
Yake Engineered Multimedia Systems has
been one of the top design and installation
companies serving the worship market for
decades. David’s colleague, Jon Hisey, took
over the company a number of years ago
after David suffered a stroke.
“Dave’s passion for music gave him the
rare perspective of understanding the needs
of the performer, the technical staff, and the
listener. Dave was always the type to assist
in any way he could, often adding technical
assistance, but in many instances, I saw him
take other technical people under his wing
and help them through difficult personal
issues,” Hisey tells Professional Sound. “When
you talked with Dave, you could always
count on a good laugh and a smile. He was
always interested in new technologies, and
how those technologies could be integrated
into a sound system to improve the listen-
ing environment. Dave did not follow the
crowd when it came to marketing hype, and
frequently expressed his opinion when clients
would base their decisions strictly on price or
on something they’d heard. This led to many
long-term clients who developed a relation-
ship with the company, not just a quick bill
of sale.”
Professional Sound sends our deepest
condolences to David’s family, colleagues,
and many friends.
12 PROFESSIONAL SOUND
(L-R) KELLY PRINCE, PHILIP GIFFARD, DAVID SHOEMAKER, ROD SINTOW, MARTIN TREMBLAY & FRANK SNIPES
Solotech Acquires Pro Sound Inc. & Affiliate Brands
Groupe Solotech Inc. has announced its acquisition of Pro Sound Inc., an audio, video,
lighting, and broadcast integration company headquartered in Miami, FL. Solotech also
acquired Pro Sound’s Stage Equipment and Lighting (SEAL) brand, as well as affiliates
Pro Sound CA Inc. and Show Systems Inc. This acquisition significantly increases Solo-
tech’s systems integration and live production presence in the U.S. market.
“Pro Sound Inc. and its divisions have an incredibly strong reputation in the North
American marketplace,” says Solotech President and CEO Martin Tremblay. “Rod [Sintow,
CEO,] and his team share our unwavering dedication to quality work, innovative solu-
tions, and best industry operational practices. The Pro Sound & Video, SEAL, and Show
Systems brands will be strong additions to the Solotech family, perfectly complement-
ing our corporate goals and propelling our systems integration capabilities, as well as
our footprint in the United States.”
Pro Sound & Video, SEAL, and Show Systems will each continue to operate under
their current names, with the unified branding of “A Solotech Company” added.
Sintow will continue in his role as CEO of Pro Sound Inc. and will work with Philip
Giffard, president of Solotech’s Sales and Systems Integration Division, and Mickey
Curbishley, Solotech’s president of live productions in the U.S. and U.K.
For more information, contact Solotech: 514-526-7721, [email protected],
www.solotech.com.
Solotech Appoints Frédéric Sujobert as GM of
Quebec City Office
Solotech has announced the appointment of Frédéric
Sujobert as general manager of its Quebec City office.
Under the joint leadership of Martin Chouinard,
president of the Live Productions Division for Canada,
and Philip Giffard, president of the Sales and Systems
Integration Division, Sujobert will supervise operational
and sales performance for the Quebec City/Saguenay
region. He will also oversee the development of new
business opportunities while promoting synergy across
the company’s two divisions.
For more information, contact Solotech Quebec
City: 418-683-7656, [email protected],
www.solotech.com.
FRÉDÉRIC SUJOBERT