One aspect of running a business that provides custom audio and video solutions is abundantly obvious — a good company very much depends on the company it keeps.
“It’s key, having good people,” said Ryan Heringer, owner and president of Sound Concepts. “I mean, we started in 2002, and I’ve still got the first three people I hired that year, so that definitely helps, having long-tenured employees. Over time, our customers typically come back and buy from us time and time again.”
Jurek “Jerzy” Makowski has run InstallAV in Little Rock for the better part of 30 years, and among all the aspects of the business he has learned during that time, he knows that people have to come before technology.
“You can purchase the best equipment in the world and still end up with a bad system if it is poorly designed or installed,” Makowski said. “I tell people that the intelligence of a smart system is directly related to the knowledge of the integrator behind it.”
Jennifer Wells is chief operating officer at Advanced Alarm Technologies in Benton, which has been working in the security technology sector for more than 35 years. Over that time period, Wells said, the faster-than-ever advances in the field made clear the importance of hiring the right people with the right training and keeping them.
“Training is one of our biggest investments,” Wells said. “Our technicians regularly attend manufacturer certification courses, industry conferences and continuing-education programs. We also conduct hands-on training in-house so our team gains real world experience before installing new products in the field.”
Needless to say, when it comes to security technology, the stakes are always at their highest — and it helps to bring the right credentials. Wells’ grandparents began working as locksmiths in 1969, and her parents founded Knight Guards Security in 1989. Back then, technologies such as smart doorbells, instant phone alerts and high-definition video cameras powered by artificial intelligence could hardly be conceived. Now they are part of the daily lives of most anyone who wants to keep their residential or commercial property secured and their family safe.
“Customers are looking for convenience just as much as security,” Wells said. “Video doorbells, smart locks, security cameras and smart garage door control have become some of our most requested features.”
Ironically, the more technology that becomes available, the more the personal aspect matters, and it does not take long to figure out why. Running any kind of AV business — whether the focus is security, entertainment, troubleshooting or some combination of all three — often involves installation in homes and commercial spaces. That is why, before any screw is turned or any wire inserted, Sound Concepts begins the process with an in-person on-site consultation. The purpose is to zero in on what clients are looking for within their budgets and to make sure there is a level of comfort when technicians enter homes or office spaces.
With locations in North Little Rock and Jonesboro, Sound Concepts also welcomes customers who want to come by, peruse the equipment and get their questions answered.
“We typically try to get them in the showroom,” Heringer said. “We have all these products in the store, so you can go touch it, feel it and get an idea of what this is going to look like. A lot of times, people go to somebody else’s house and see what they’ve done, and they’re like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you could do that. Where’d you get that from?’”
Makowski, likewise, has seen waves of change. With an educational background in electric engineering, Makowski started InstallAV with a focus on home theaters, structured wiring and audio. Today, InstallAV still offers up-to-the-minute automated lighting solutions to go with automated systems that serve households and businesses from both the outside and the inside.
“Today, we are integrating lighting, motorized shades, climate control, energy management, audio-video, networking and other technologies into one environment,” Makowski said.
A major evolution of InstallAV’s business has involved branching out from just doing installations and installations only. InstallAV is now a KNX Automated Certified Training Center. KNX is considered an industry-recognized credential for automation and installation. With technological advances now in overdrive, professional development in audio-video products is continuous and nonnegotiable.
“Technology is always changing, so training isn’t something you complete once, it’s an ongoing process,” Wells said. “We’re proud to have highly certified technicians, and we encourage everyone on our team to continue learning throughout their careers.”
The rapid state of change begs the natural question of what is popular now and what is on the horizon. At Sound Concepts, Heringer is seeing more and more customers inquire about outdoor setups, which can include TV installations, outdoor lighting, outdoor heaters, and even motorized vinyl screens that allow for privacy and better temperature control while keeping out insects. Makowski, meanwhile, talks to plenty of clients about Wi-Fi installation — something that sounds simple until all the automation options are considered.
“People sometimes think of Wi-Fi as just internet access,” Makowski said, “but today, the television, audio system, cameras, thermostats, appliances, lighting and automation systems can all depend on the network.”
Whatever is just around the bend, Arkansas’ leading AV companies are prepared, offering trained staff, personal attention, and the leading equipment for home entertainment, climate control, and the all-important task of keeping people safe in their homes and businesses.
Even with so many bells and whistles, it is still a people business, and surely always will be.
“We are truly local,” Wells said. “Our technicians, our office and our families are all based right here in Arkansas. We support local schools, attend local churches, serve on nonprofit boards, volunteer and raise our families in the same community as our clients. We care so much because these are not just the communities we work in; they are the communities that we call home.”
SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE
