Employee Spotlight! Scott Grigoletto
Ready to prep your home for summer movie nights? That's where our Employee Spotlight, Scott Grigoletto, steps in! Scott's been on our team at Abt for about three and a half years and started out in the Custom Audio Tech Support department. In other words, when something is wrong with something like a soundbar, sound system or whole-home AV, Scott's one of the knowledgeable Abt employees you could call and talk to on the phone. That being said, he'll soon be moving to Custom AV Design, where he'll help to build out the dream AV systems customers want. We're excited to chat with Scott as he makes his way from his old job to a new position at Abt, armed with years of knowledge and experience in home audio technology and the music that flows through it.
A Family Tradition
Scott's first introduction to Abt wasn't during a job interview. Like many who grew up in Chicagoland, he's had some experience with Abt through his family. "My parents have been purchasing equipment from Abt since 1980! All of the appliances growing up were from Abt." When Scott was young, we weren't at our current location in Glenview; we're celebrating our 90th year in business, and our Anniversary sale just ended. We're truly grateful to families like Scott's that have helped keep us in business throughout each decade.
A New Career in a Different Kind of Audio
Scott hasn't always been involved in the technical side of audio. "I was a high school music teacher for a decade and was involved in band, orchestra, jazz band, music production and more. I've always been interested in music production. My degree is in Percussion and Education, and while I had to leave education during Covid, I still wanted to stay in an audio-related field. I have a lot of experience with guitar amps and tech for that, and I figured I could apply that to amps and receivers here."
He was right. His experience translated perfectly. Helping students learn in an education space wasn't so different from helping Abt customers troubleshoot their devices, and folks often learned more about their AV equipment in the process. Scott's experience with production translated well to the AV product space as well. Abt has a vast range of equipment when it comes to audio and entertainment products, from classic Bluetooth speakers to amps you'd connect a guitar to more complicated systems, like fully-fledged smart homes with AV systems built into home theaters. Scott's job has been to help when folks bring the difficult questions, and his background gives him everything he needs to help find folks the answers they need when as they're talking over the phone.
What Happens in Custom Audio Tech Support?
When Scott first started at Abt, there was a lot to learn ... anyone who spends some time in our audio department can tell you we carry products for just about any user, and that means that when folks call in for help, we need to be able to assist everyone. Scott has learned more each and every day and is now an expert across the Custom AV department. "I progressed from support for simple soundbars to learning about networking and internet issues, all the way to learning home control systems like Control4 as well as Lutron lighting. I also serve as call support for installers when they run into an issue they have never encountered."
Working to become an expert in these fields was no small task, but our Employee Spotlight faced the challenge head-on, with help and support from his department. "Abt has been so gracious to offer to train me in every system we sell, and I always jump at the chance to learn a new system and help more people." With that kind of attitude, Scott could only succeed.
Going Beyond Soundbars & Speakers: Control4 and Lutron
As Scott grew more and more experienced, he learned more about the smart home automation tech we offer at Abt, like Control4 and Lutron. If you're not familiar, Scott could explain it to you, but we'll do our best here instead. Control4 and Lutron are both systems that help you customize and control different systems in your home in a way that works best for you. Lighting, audio, security, HVAC and video all connect in a single system, and you can program or control your home with ease. Lock doors, lower the lights and close the shades at once, manage your home through mobile apps on your phone, and control home theater elements with ease. And if something goes wrong or you'd like to make a change, Scott's team is there to help, and he's a bona fide expert in these systems. With help from Abt and experts like Scott, smart homes get smarter, and our clients are able to build their dream homes.
A First Day With Just Video Walls
One of the questions that we ask all of Abt's Employee Spotlights? "What's your favorite memory here at Abt?" And he had a great one from his first day. "I loved the very first day I started here, when the massive video wall was put up by the Dave Abt Theater. It was amazing to see people's reactions to the wall and see how quickly we started to sell them." These video walls are made by Just Video Walls, with screens that can be customized to meet the needs of your space and different panels that can play different programs. You can catch the news in one corner, a sports lover can watch the game in another corner, and someone can play a video game in another corner as well. In one entertainment space, everyone in the house can enjoy their favorite type of entertainment.
A Great Group to Learn From
As Scott prepares to move from Custom Audio Tech Support to Custom AV Design, he's excited to dive more into his field and grateful to those who helped him learn. When we asked him what he loves the most about his job, he said that it's all about the people. "I am so privileged to work with and learn from some of the absolute smartest people I've ever met in tech support, design, programming, installation and sales! I am truly grateful for the kindness that everyone has shown me since my first day."
We're just as grateful (if not more) to have someone like Scott on our team. Thanks to years of experience in the realm of teaching and professional music, he's been an incredible addition to the Abt team. From his days helping customers learn how to connect their speakers to his new position designing custom systems, Scott has spent his time both learning and assisting customers and other Abt employees. We can't wait to see what's next for him. If you're considering taking the next step in boosting your home's audio system and creating a customized space, why not come to Abt? You'll know that you have experts like Scott on your side every step of the way. Get ready to create your own AV system and fill out the form below.
