The Short Version

The Music People (TMP), a division of JAM Industries, has added four account managers to its sales organization. The newcomers are Chris Mehalso, Mike Harris, Jerry Wild and Ricardo “Richie” Cintron Jimenez. They report into a group headed by Austin Waynick, the company’s director of strategic accounts.

The group’s job is to look after the relationships TMP has with customers and with its partners. The work spans three areas: audio, video and lighting, often abbreviated AVL. If you’ve ever wondered who sits between a gear maker and the shop, church, venue or production company buying the gear, this is that role.

The hires come on the heels of Waynick’s own promotion. According to the announcement, they are part of a broader push to build out the company’s account management capabilities.

Meet the New Hires

Here is who joined:

  • Chris Mehalso, who carries the CTS-D and CTS-I credentials. Those letters are certifications from the commercial AV world, and the announcement lists them next to his name.
  • Mike Harris
  • Jerry Wild
  • Ricardo “Richie” Cintron Jimenez

All four hold the account manager title and work under Waynick. The announcement doesn’t break down who covers which territory or product category, so I won’t guess. What it does say is that the team as a whole will concentrate on customers in integration, production, broadcast and networking, and will also work on developing new business.

A quick glossary for those terms. Integration means designing and installing AV systems in fixed spaces. Production means the touring, rental and event side. Broadcast covers gear for getting audio and video on air or online. Networking refers to the data infrastructure that modern audio and video gear increasingly rides on.

Musicians Photo by Danik Prihodko / Pexels

What Leadership Says the Goal Is

Waynick framed the hiring in terms of capacity and understanding. He said his priority is a team that grasps how its customers’ businesses work and then follows through on what those customers need. In his words, the new people give TMP more room to deepen existing relationships and help partners push their projects forward.

Notice the emphasis on follow-through. In distribution, a rep who answers questions, tracks down answers and circles back is often worth as much as the price list. A company that announces new account managers is, in effect, promising more of that attention.

The Hires in Their Own Words

Each new manager offered a comment, and a few themes repeat.

Reach and opportunity. Mehalso described TMP as a chance to keep doing work he loves while extending his reach to new commercial AV integration and production customers in all 50 states. He also called the team amazing, the line card vast and the service excellent.

A line card, if the term is new to you, is simply the list of brands a distributor or rep firm carries. A long one means a customer can source many different products through one relationship instead of juggling many separate accounts.

Shared passion. Harris said he likes working with people who care about the industry as much as he does, and that this is what he found at TMP. He pointed to the line card and the team’s commitment to service, and said he wants to help partners make informed buying decisions, find the right solutions and move their organizations forward.

Music as a through-line. Wild said music has been a big part of his life and career, and that he enjoys being around people who share the passion. He said he is excited by the range of products on offer and by the chance to help customers find the right solutions while building and maintaining relationships.

Connections and scale. Cintron Jimenez said joining TMP Pro takes him back to what he likes most: helping friends and building connections through audio and music. He noted that the reach is now national, and said he looks forward to growing alongside top brands in integration, broadcasting and networking, backed by what he called a world-class team.

Across all four comments, the recurring words are relationships, service and finding the right solution for the customer. Nobody leads with a product, which tells you how the company sees the job.

Musicians Photo by Marc Schulte / Pexels

Why This Matters If You Buy Gear

Most amateur musicians never deal with a distributor’s account manager directly, and the announcement doesn’t claim otherwise. It is aimed at integration, production, broadcast and networking customers. Still, understanding the role is useful, because the same structure shapes how gear reaches the places you play and rehearse.

Here are a few general takeaways, offered as common-sense guidance rather than anything the announcement promises:

  1. Know who supports your purchase. If you’re involved in outfitting a church, school or community venue, ask the dealer or integrator who the manufacturer’s or distributor’s contact is. A named person is easier to follow up with than a generic support line.
  2. Describe your project, not just your shopping list. The new managers talk about helping customers choose the right solutions and move projects forward. You’ll get better recommendations if you explain what the room is for, who runs it and what the budget situation looks like.
  3. Ask about the whole system. The team’s stated focus includes networking, a reminder that modern audio and video gear rarely stands alone. When you price out one piece of equipment, ask how it connects to everything else.
  4. Value continuity. Several of the hires stressed building and maintaining relationships. Staying with one knowledgeable contact over time usually beats starting from scratch with every purchase.

Take it as a window into how the pro side of the business is organized. Companies at that level are investing in people who can listen, advise and follow through, and those are skills worth looking for in any gear supplier you rely on, large or small.

Sources

Four New Account Managers Join The Music People, www.prosoundweb.com