David Cruz takes home Installer of the Year honors

DALLAS, – August 19, 2018 – Mobile Electronics magazine announced the winners of the 2018 Industry Awards at a celebratory event that ended the 2018 KnowledgeFest trade show and education conference in Dallas.  Editor-in-Chief Solomon Daniels hosted the gala and announced the winners, who were given commemorative trophies and an opportunity to speak to the crowd of more than 500 industry professionals. Eddy Kay, longtime professional sales trainer, received the 2018 Career Achievement award, while Sony was the recipient of the 2018 Vendor of the Year award, presented by the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA.) The coveted Installer of the Year award went to David Cruz, who was last year’s runner-up for the honor. Other award winners are as follows:

Installer of the Year
David Cruz – Avant-Garde Design – Palm City, FL

Installer of the Year – Runner-Up
Erick Markland – Markland Designs of Atlanta – Lithonia, GA

Sales Pro Award Winner
Amari Schwartz – Perfectionist Auto Sound – Anchorage, AK

Trusted Tech Award Winner
Shaughnessy Murley – Visions Electronics – Red Deer, AB

Retailer of the Year – Single Store
Sound Wave Customs – Virginia Beach, VA

Retailer of the Year Runner-up – Single Store
Sound FX – Lewes, DE

Retailer of the Year – Chain
Mobile Toys – College Station, TX

Retailer of the Year Runner-up – Chain
Certified Autosound – Maple Ridge, BC

Rookie of the Year
Edgar Diosdado – Mobile Toys – College Station, TX

Most Improved Store or Chain
Tunes-N-Tint – Lakeland, FL

Best Online Presence
Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security – Anchorage, AK

Best Customer Retention Program
JML Audio of St. Louis – Fenton, MO

Best Customer Experience
Columbus Car Audio & Accessories – Columbus, OH

Best Store Culture
Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN

Customer Choice Award
Lakes Audio – Baxter, MN

Career Achievement Award
Eddy Kay

Expeditor of the Year
Sound FX

Distributor of the Year
DOW Electronics

Rep Firm of the Year
Marketing Pros – Arlington, TX

Rep of the Year
Neal McSweany, AAMP Global

Vendor of the Year
Sony

Top Vendor: Autosound & Video
Sony

Top Vendor: Security, Safety and Driver Assistance
Firstech

Top Vendor: Accessories and Materials
Metra Electronics

Top Vendor: Infotainment & Multimedia
Kenwood

Top Vendor: Powersports & Marine
JL Audio

About Mobile Electronics®

Mobile Electronics strives to grow the mobile electronics industry by supporting its retailers, salespeople, technicians and manufacturers with integrated services built around the group’s 1100-plus member industry association, the Mobile Electronics® Association, its Mobile Electronics® magazine, KnowledgeFest® tradeshows, Partnership Program, point-of-sale system and data products. Through these offerings, Mobile Electronics delivers education, networking avenues, business and marketing resources, and promotes partnership between retailers and manufacturers to increase sales and profits. For more information, contact Mobile Electronics at 85 Flagship Dr., Suite F, North Andover, MA 01845, telephone: 800-949-6372, or visit mobile-electronics.com.