To coincide with the NAMM Show taking place in Anaheim, CA, AVANTE Audio is pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Varela as National Sales Manager for the USA. With a wealth of experience, both as an audio engineer and equipment retail manager, Ray is ideally suited to lead a new season of growth for AVANTE Audio in the US market. This will begin with the release of the new Akro Series of touring line array speakers, which is to be showcased at NAMM on the ADJ Arena Plaza stage.
Part of the ADJ Group of Companies, AVANTE Audio is a professional audio brand born from a passion for audio excellence. Having initially found success with the Achromic Series of active point-source speakers, popular with performers, event companies and integrators alike, the brand expanded into larger audio systems through the innovative Imperio ‘mini’ line array system. The next phase of expansion for the AVANTE Audio range is the Akro Series, which is a full-size line array system designed for large stages and touring applications.
In his new role as National Sales Manager, Ray Varela will lead AVANTE Audio sales throughout the USA. He will work with the company’s in-house sales team and external sales representatives to support AVANTE Audio’s dealer network as well as developing new opportunities for growth. Ray will focus on building customer relationships, carrying out product demonstrations, hosting focused team training events, and providing merchandising support for both online dealers and bricks and mortar stores. He will attend all ADJ Group roadshows and trade shows and will also set up dedicated AVANTE demo events at strategic locations throughout the US, providing opportunities for audio professionals to hear the AVANTE experience. Working in collaboration with the company’s Product Engineer, Tony Mirador, Ray will analyze the audio market and help to develop new and innovative audio products to continue the expansion of AVANTE Audio’s product range.
“I am excited that Ray is joining the AVANTE Audio team as a dedicated Sales Manager for the USA,” comments Tony Mirador. “Ray’s extensive background in the audio field and decades of experience – both as a user and retailer of professional audio equipment – will help to drive AVANTE Audio forward. I’m confident that he will boost the level of support provided for our customers both in the pro audio and retail markets.”
Ray has over 30 years of industry experience, but his passion for audio goes back even further. At 12 years old he began to help his older brother with local DJ gigs, and as a teenager built his first speaker boxes. He began his professional career working at ProSound and Stage Lighting (pssl.com) in Garden Grove, CA, while still doing his own events and helping out many local production houses at the weekend. After more than a decade Ray moved on to Sam Ash Music, where he spent 18 years as an Operations Manager, working on new store openings and renovations at locations all across the West Coast. In 2022 he joined the ADJ Group, handling sales across the company’s entire product catalog in Northern California and Nevada.
“I have enjoyed the last few years at ADJ Group, which is a great place to work,” enthuses Ray. “I am now excited to transition into this new role, where I will have the opportunity to fully focus on my passion for audio. I look forward to teaching others about audio, sharing my passion and helping them to expand their knowledge. I am also looking forward to working with people from across the country and finding out what I can learn from them, while at the same time expanding awareness of the AVANTE Audio brand. We have an excellent catalog of products which combine great sound and versatility with excellent ROI to deliver precisely what users need, both at the retail and pro audio levels.”
Ray will begin his new role immediately by attending the NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center in California which will run thru Saturday, January 25. The ADJ Arena Plaza Stage, featuring an Avante Audio Akro Series line array system is located between the Anaheim Convention Center Arena and the ACC North Hall, alongside the pedestrian entrance to the site from W Katella Ave. AVANTE Audio products are also being exhibited on the show floor from booth #11120.
