Women In CE - Women in Consumer Electronics

Advisory Board

Carol Campbell

WomenInCE Resource: Job Bank and all other resources

For nearly 20 years Carol Campbell has been a driving force in the consumer electronics industry. A well recognized and respected expert in advancing the art of home theater interiors and marketing technical products and luxury goods to women, Ms. Campbell utilizes her considerable experience and industry expertise as the publisher of CustomRetailer and CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles®. She is also the co-founder of the Elf Foundation that builds “Rooms of Magic” in Children’s Hospitals.

Jayme Schwartz

WomenInCE Resource: Young People Starting Out in the Consumer Electronics Industry

Jayme Schwartz is the co-founder of social4media, a company born from the belief that brand awareness and loyalty are a unique collaboration of social media and creative public relations. Nimble and dependable, social4media is an extension of the client’s marketing team, fluttering to where conversations are happening about the brand and engaging future customers, using new means of media every step of the way. Enthusiastic even before her coffee in the morning, she’s consistently attentive and eager to make things happen. She’s a persistent sponge for everything that is creative public relations and prides herself on going the extra mile, no matter what that means.

Bonnie Perella

If Bonnie had been told she would be involved in Consumer Electronics in her college years she would have laughed, made a face or both.  She was in the midst of her studies as a psychology major when her priorities changed. What she did not know at the time was she liked making and better yet spending money! The summer job she got by walking into a business to meet a friend for lunch and answering an annoying ringing phone was going to turn into a 30 + year career. She started in the electronics industry as an office manager to do a various number of tasks.  She answered sales calls, processed orders and made collection calls for a family owned business at the time named Adcom.  Adcom brought Bonnie to her first CES and she was hooked. She was interested in moving to Boston for personal reasons (yes, a “boy”) and was introduced to a brand new speaker manufacturer named Boston Acoustics.  This job formed her career and strengthened her love for the CE Industry.  She was trying to find her niche and figure out what she liked and did best.  She held positions over six years ranging from credit manager, to office manager including responsibilities of inside sales including traffic management.  Her mentors were a pair of brilliant entrepreneurs who built a quick rise to popularity and large-sized, successful company.  She made the most of her tenure at Boston Acoustics soaking in every bit of knowledge she could from her mentors and job positions. They say humans are creatures of habit, and Bonnie is no different as once again she followed her heart across country. After arriving in California she became an independent rep in San Francisco at Parasound; where she learned National Sales Management.  A few years later Panamax was entering the CE market and hired Bonnie to establish and grow this new channel for them.  Much like her experience at Boston Acoustics, they sold the right product at the right time. Coupled with a great product and marketing launch strategy, Panamax quickly became the industry leader. With growth and relationship successes under her belt she was hired at Monster Cable focused on e-commerce, her first sales call was to a growing business in Seattle known as Amazon.  Being a dog owner and lover Bonnie remembers that sales call because they allowed dogs in their workplace. Bonnie worked with the Monster family for two years. Following those many years she took some time off pursuing personal goals and passions, she returned to the Industry well rested. She held sales positions at Atlantic Technology and Furman further developing her fantastic ability to build relationships and build brand recognition in the industry.  Bonnie is currently employed (and living) back on the east coast working for Milestone AV Technologies based out of Minnesota. Officially her title is Regional Sales Manager for the East Coast Region. Unofficially she is an inspiration and mentor for many young women within Milestone and across the industry. Bonnie’s magnetic personality is truly something to be witnessed; she is generous, kind, funny and not only is she knowledgeable about the CE industry – she also is a self-professed foodie. If you have the opportunity to go out to dinner with Bonnie it is guaranteed you will not only have a delicious meal, you will learn a few things about food and wine. You will have a stomach ache not from the food but from laughing! It is no wonder why Bonnie has made many friends over the course of her career.  She can truthfully say the vast majority of them are from CE.  She chose this industry to make a career and she has not regretted her choice one bit, she is thrilled her life fell into place with such a great Industry and friends she calls family.

Bonnie Schnitta

Dr. Bonnie Schnitta has used her degrees in Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Signal Processing to pioneer vast improvements in residential and commercial acoustics.  Since 1981 she has worked to combine her experience in acoustical engineering, academic research in signal processing (inclusive of active noise cancellation), and patented concepts to create a unique design-build acoustical engineering firm, SoundSense, LLC.  Additionally, Dr. Schnitta has researched and patented a line of proprietary acoustical products and created an installation division to guarantee the optimum acoustic environment. Dr. Schnitta has authored numerous articles on such topics as signal processing and acoustics management, inclusive of the Harvard award winning theory on semantic data compression.  Dr. Schnitta holds several patents, including an acoustical plumbing trap system, a method for analyzing activity in a signal, and the Paradise Effect™, a proprietary algorithm for the creation of an acoustically correct and soothing environment. In 2011 Dr. Bonnie Schnitta was awarded three additional patents.  The first patent was the “Sound Focusing Mechanism and Method of Estimating Acoustic Leakage of an Object and Method of Estimating Transmission Loss of an Object”, also known as the dB Focus Tube. The dB Focus Tube is a small, portable acoustic testing mechanism designed to help determine the presence of construction or design deficiencies in ceiling/floor assemblies, wall partitions, etc.  These deficiencies compromise acoustical efficacy and lead to unwanted “sound leakage”.  SoundSense engineers use the device in a variety of applications, such as home theaters, media rooms, single-family residences, luxury condominiums, multi-family dwellings, windows, doors, etc. The final two patents awarded in 2011 to Dr. Bonnie covered the following new SoundSense products: Tuning tubes that can be used to correct the acoustic environment of a room and are typically hidden in unique architectural elements, such as molding, beams, and baseboards that improve the acoustics of the room and allow the room design to be released from the standard design constraints of fabric wrapped panels, subwoofers, or diffusers, A speaker back with a fire rating that inhibits sound from going to adjacent rooms, or apartments, while simultaneously enhancing the resultant sound of the speaker, and A recessed light acoustic enclosure which prevents sound that has entered into a ceiling or wall by means of a fixture from traveling to the room, or apartment above.  SoundSense provides acoustic consulting and design services, integrated delivery solutions, efficacy and compliance testing, site inspection services, and innovative acoustical products. Through 30 years of extensive research, development, and collaboration, SoundSense has developed an expansive portfolio of acoustical products and project experience.

Helen Heneveld

Heneveld is a well-respected and recognized industry expert who speaks and consults worldwide in the converging home systems industry. Her early entry in the 1980’s into the home automation business with a successful installation company and her years in industry training have given her the knowledge and experience to succeed. Passionate about the industry, Heneveld founded Bedrock Learning, Inc. to serve the fast growing industry with effective, convenient and affordable educational materials and training. Bedrock Learning, Inc. focuses on the fundamentals including structured wiring, home networking, audio/video, home theater, lighting management home control, energy management and installation business operations. Heneveld holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education, and an MBA, from the University of Michigan. She is well qualified in the industry with certifications for CEDIA Installer 1 and CEA-CompTIA DHTI+ (Digital Home Technology Integrator). Heneveld serves on the Board of Directors of CEA, Tech Home Division. She also is an active member of CEDIA having served several years on the Board of Directors and as chair of the Systems Integration Council, leading the effort for industry standardization of symbols and icons for residential electronics and wiring. Her dedication to sharing her knowledge continues with several published industry resources including the first and second editions of DHTI+ Home Technology Integrator All-In-One Exam Guide by McGraw-Hill, a pocket guide - Residential Technology Terms and Definition, numerous course guides and also electronic versions of various forms critical to business success in the industry.

HOLLY SALK

Fearful of being a lifetime dog-walker, took a chance on becoming an adventerous marketing professional. This opportnutiy has been in the consumer/retail marketing arena - with over 15 years experience launching 2 new technologies to the retail marketplace.

Jamie

Jamie is the Sr. Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA). She has been in the CE industry since 2001. She is a graduate of Ball State Univeristy, the recepient of Dealerscope’s 40 Under 40 and is active within the American Marketing Association. She has passion for content marketing, social media and engaging with home technology professionals to undertsand thier business needs and challenges.

Jeannette Howe

Jeannette Howe, Executive Director of Specialty Electronics Nationwide, established the CE buying group for specialty home theater and custom installation dealers under the Nationwide Marketing Group umbrella in January 2006.  SEN helps dealer members increase profits with group deals, money saving programs and better access to merchandise. Prior to SEN, Ms. Howe was the Director of Member Services for the PARA.  There she helped deliver training, strategic planning and financial initiatives to PARA members across North America.  In the early 1990s Ms. Howe was the Audio Buyer at Magnolia Hi-Fi, where she managed the $30 million audio category.  From 1985-1989 she worked at Tweeter Etc. in a variety of positions including Audio Buyer and Store Manager.  At times in her Tweeter career, she was the only woman working in sales and/or management.

Jennifer Carey

Jennifer Carey is Senior Documentation Project Coordinator for Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc in Irvine, California. However, most of her technical experience has been within the Consumer Electronic Industry as a technical writer, control systems manager, and a corporate trainer for AudioVisions, a subsidary of Best Buy, Inc.  Jennifer is a strategic leader, building cross-functional teams and projects, and she easily transitions between the roles of leader and team member. In addition, Jennifer has been an adjunct English instructor at Santa Ana College since 2001. She is especially proud of Women In CE’s mentor program and its ability to help women network and navigate the complicated CE industry.

Petro Shimonishi

Petro Shimonishi is currently the Senior Global category manager for Headphones at D&M Holdings Inc.  Shimonishi earned her MBA at Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management in Arizona, speaks fluent Japanese, and has an extensive background in consumer and commercial electronics.  Prior to joining D&M Holdings, Shimonishi was Vice President of Russound / Colorado vNet and has held several executive level positions in audio at NetStreams, Sonance, Kenwood and Pioneer Electronics USA.  Shimonishi has served on several CEA boards, including the Multi-Room Audio Video Council, the Audio Board, and the International Advisory Council for CEA.