Employee Spotlight! Eric Bronke

By: Sean

Content Writer

6 min read

May is finally here, and with summer around the corner, we're excited for the fun everyone can find both indoors and outside. That's why for this month's Employee Spotlight, we're showcasing Eric Bronke. Eric has done work getting cars ready for car shows in the past, and now he works in our Custom AV department making sure that homes have incredible entertainment systems. And while in-wall speakers and unbeatable home theaters sound amazing, he started his career in mobile car audio. Read on to learn more about Eric's journey below.

Before Eric started here at Abt, he worked at a custom auto shop. There, "I collaborated closely with the Mobile Install Manager at Abt on a variety of high-end custom automotive projects." Eric's projects went between his former employer and Abt, included upholstery work involving custom interior projects, painting and finishing custom panels fabricated by Abt's in-house technicians, headlight and taillight tinting, as well as assisting in performance upgrades. His favorite project? Turning an RV into a complete entertainment system.

"We outfitted it with multiple screens, a projector, and strategically placed speakers in external compartments and on the roof—essentially turning it into a mobile concert setup." Eric said. "That project led to a much larger opportunity: retrofitting approximately 45 semi-trucks in the client’s fleet with custom AV systems. Another highlight was before the days of Apple CarPlay. I specialized in modifying vehicle dashboards to custom-fit iPads, seamlessly integrating them into the audio system via DSPs or aftermarket head units. These projects involved re-molding and refinishing dashboards to maintain a clean, factory-style look while adding modern functionality."

And if Eric can retrofit an iPad into a car's dashboard, just imagine what he could do for a home's AV system. With in-depth knowledge of how modern audio works, this month's Employee Spotlight can tackle any job head-on.

Once Eric started in earnest at Abt, this month's Employee Spotlight spent a full five years in our Mobile Installation department, where our team upgrades cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs and more.

Eric Bronke wearing glasses in front of a mountain

He didn't stay there forever, though. From our Mobile Audio department, he moved to a position in Custom AV at Abt. Our Custom Audio and Video department works to outfit our clients' homes with the right entertainment, automation and networking gear. From projectors and home automation to prewiring and ceiling speakers, our team of experts knows how to do it all—and Eric was ready to start on the job. With his knowledge of car audio, he was already a step ahead; after being a helper in Custom AV for nine months, he quickly became a lead.

When asked about his current position, Eric said, "Today, I operate independently as a one-man van doing programming, networking, audio/video systems, surveillance, and several out-of-state projects."

Our Employee Spotlight went from working on cars in garages to crafting unbeatable entertainment systems in out-of-state homes. Since these are more complicated projects, we figured we'd ask Eric what a job looks like from start to finish.

"A typical Custom AV job starts with the design and concept phase, where we work closely with the client to understand their needs and map out their ideal system. From there, we handle everything from pre-wiring during new construction or retrofitting existing structures, to building and programming the final equipment rack."

You could say that a Custom AV job is just a little more involved than setting up a normal TV on an entertainment center or installing one on a wall mount. Eric's main job is to listen to customers, explore their options and execute their vision to give each client exactly what they want. That way, when they're ready to lean back in their home theater and enjoy a film or listen to their audio in multiple rooms, they'll be able to do it. Even more exciting is home automation, where lights dim on timers and shades open and close automatically. It's this department that helps customers outfit their homes with these Custom AV options, and Eric makes it easy for clients to navigate systems that might seem complicated otherwise.

"As the project progresses, we install and configure all user interfaces—TVs, cameras, touch panels, speakers, and control systems—ensuring everything is fully integrated and easy to use. These projects are highly detailed and can take anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the scope and complexity."

One of Eric's favorite moments during his career in Custom AV was working on a project for the home of Guy Fieri, the famous chef, restaurateur and TV host. "One of my favorite projects was handling all the AV and networking for Guy Fieri’s house about six years ago. While it wasn’t the most technically challenging job, it was definitely one of the most fun and memorable. The system was fully customized to fit his lifestyle, and to this day, I continue to maintain and support it, mostly remotely."

Home theaters have been around for a long time, and while Abt always provides clients with the latest and greatest technology, Eric has seen incredible AV evolutions throughout his career. "One of the most exciting advancements I’ve seen in custom audio and AV is the rise of voice control and AI integration. These technologies are transforming the way people interact with their homes, making the user experience more enjoyable."

There are simple ways to access voice assistants, like with a smart speaker such as the Amazon Echo or Google Nest. But your home becomes a whole new world once AI integration is installed where you like it and customized to meet your needs. As Eric says, "(AI) adds a whole new level of convenience and personalization."

May's Employee Spotlight has fun upgrading our clients' dream homes no matter what they're looking for, and your home can be next on the list. Whether you're hoping for home automation or can't wait to build a multi-room audio system, the process is as simple as possible with Abt and Eric's department, our Custom AV team. Check us out at www.abt.com/help/custom-audio-and-video or call our specialists at 800-860-3577 to learn more about what you might need and how we can help.

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