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With rock 'n' roll roots and an electronic soul, Biamp Systems has come a long way over 27 years in business. The company that, in 1976, got its start building sound reinforcement products for touring musicians has brought its dedication and commitment to sound into larger, mainstream markets where audio excellence has in the past been compromised. Today, you can find Biamp technology in courtrooms, schools, healthcare facilities and large arenas all over the world. Three changes in ownership have certainly influenced the company's direction, but steady management is to thank for its continued success.
In 1984, an 8-year-old, struggling Biamp was sold to Portland, OR- based Leupold & Stevens. Ralph Lockhart, a consultant working in Portland at the time, became familiar with the company and its struggles. "Biamp had a very good reputation for the quality of its products and sound, but they were in some financial trouble," recalls Lockhart. "Through an involved series of steps, I-and three other fellows-decided to buy it in 1986."
The four investors-Lockhart, Robert Doty, Jerry Payette and Ralph Tennant-saw an opportunity in purchasing Biamp, to take over where the company had been mismanaged, and capitalize on its sound reputation. "My career had been in process control systems, I really knew little or nothing about this industry when I joined it," admits Lockhart. "We thought Biamp was sick when we bought it, but then we found out that, instead, it was dead. We were jumping up and down on its chest trying to get it to breathe."
The new management proved helpful, with Lockhart taking the helm as president/CEO, and the team saw some success with its sound reinforcement products for smaller touring groups. And, with some new life breathed into it, Biamp was starting to push into new markets. "We started to take notice of a core of non-MI dealers, small contractors doing church and school installations, who...