Owner, Steven Lester Co.
San Francisco Bay Area
- Current
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- Owner at Steven Lester Co.
- Past
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- Partner at Sonic Marketing
- Sales at The Audible Difference
- Store Manager at Audio Excellence
- Audio Sales at Sound Systems
- Assistant Store Manager at Stereo West
- Education
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- See Resume
- Recommended
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9 people have recommended Steven - Connections
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245
connections
- Industry
- Consumer Electronics
- Websites
Steven Lester’s Summary
Nearing 33rd year as a notably successful content driven residential A/V professional.
Previously a partner with Mike Avilla at Sonic Marketing, a specialty AV rep company which earned many awards for sales and service while showing consistent and substantial growth with brands including: Marantz, Meridian, Monitor Audio, Snell Acoustics and Krell.
Top Runco salesman during brands' early years with the Model 800, then 900, the first "line doubled CRT" at Audio Excellence San Francisco. At Stereophile Shows and on the sales floor, earned industry wide reputation as exceptional in two channel audio, front projection and surround sound at both set up and sales, along with a distinctive demo style which many have tried to emulate to this day.
"Content driven" because connecting end users with media has been the driving force and key to wide ranging successes over my career.
The next 15 to 20 years will be spent building a specialty rep business around core brands with similar goals.
Steven Lester’s Specialties:
Selling. Brand building. Category creation. Mentoring.
Building "equity" in AV to increase value proposition to end users.
Energizing salespeople, including industry veterans and those new to the vocation.
Communicating complex topics in a positive and invigorating light. Making impressions which last a lifetime using AV and careful content selection.
Front projection and high performance audio.
Turning "Challenging customers" into lifetime clients.
Always learning.
Steven Lester’s Experience
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Owner
Steven Lester Co.
(Consumer Electronics industry)
January 2006 — Present (3 years 11 months)
Residential Audio Video Specialty Representation in the advanced independent AV/Integration channel. Northern California, Hawaii and Northern Nevada.
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Partner
Sonic Marketing
(Consumer Electronics industry)
July 1996 — December 2005 (9 years 6 months)
Sonic Marketing had been in business for over two decades having been associated with some of the true greats in audio, from Raymond Cooke at the "real Kef", Peter Walker of, "the real" Quad. Bob Stuart's Meridian was the marquee brand. Marantz was the line which was rebuilt in the US from scratch, single handed in Northern California, Hawaii and Reno by Mike Avilla before Steven Lester joined. The team won rep of the year, tech support and other awards consistently. Krell, was added to the mix and developed as a great enhancement to the offerings. No other rep firm had the experience and in field, hands on knowledge that this group brought to the market combining two piece projection know how with advanced surround sound and two channel audio. Sonic Marketing ended on a high note in December 2005.
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Sales
The Audible Difference
(Consumer Electronics industry)
July 1995 — July 1996 (1 year 1 month)
Hired to increase connection of high end video and audio sales.
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Store Manager
Audio Excellence
(Consumer Electronics industry)
1982 — 1995 (13 years )
Originally started as boutique high end audio salon in 1975. Excelled in two channel while adding video, using prosumer video projectors before adding a newcomer to the channel called Runco. Number one US volume Runco dealer five years running. Also high ranking in ARC, Thiel, Theta, Meridian, Martin Logan and others. Audio Excellence was internationally known and respected.
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Audio Sales
Sound Systems
(Consumer Electronics industry)
1981 — 1983 (2 years )
San Francisco and Palo Alto. B & O, Nakamichi, Kef, Yamaha, AGI, Quad.
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Assistant Store Manager
Stereo West
(Consumer Electronics industry)
1977 — 1980 (3 years )
Second largest regional chain in Northern California competing directly with Pacific Stereo. ESS, Harmon Kardon, Citation, Pioneer, Kenwood, EPI, Technics, AIWA, Akai and DWD! First Onkyo dealer. Youngest Manager in company!
Steven Lester’s Education
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See Resume
Additional Information
Steven Lester’s Websites:
Steven Lester’s Groups:
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CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) -
The Audiophile -
Integration Pros -
Consumer Electronics Association -
Consumer Electronics Professionals 25 Plus -
A S I D -
Consumer Electronics -
AV Industry Professionals -
Cinevidia Digital Home Entertainment Enthusiasts -
TechHome a division of CEA -
DVD-Audio
Steven Lester’s Honors:
Most Improved Territory Tannoy Residential 2007
Best Tech Support Marantz (3 years)
Rep of the Year Meridian
Ancient History: Number One Runco Dealer in US five years running (CRT days)
Steven Lester’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- getting back in touch
