Amplified Lifestyles’ smart home projects range from historic mansions in Pacific Heights to a tropical oasis in the British Virgin Islands. The results can appear magical because these systems integrate elegantly into the design. If you peek behind the curtain, a team of outstanding Amplified technicians installs and maintains the systems while providing technical support. One of the team members is Senior Production Field Specialist Jorge Flores Jr. Jorge learned his craft from his father, Jorge Sr., who also works for Amplified. With the recent birth of his son Jorgie III, there may be a third generation.

AL: What drew you into the world of home technology?

JF, Jr: I followed in my father’s footsteps right out of high school. During my summer breaks in high school, I would go to work with him, and I fell in love with the tech industry. My father is also a part of the Amplified Lifestyle family. He has helped develop a strong work ethic that I follow today, from pulling wires to installing TVs to building racks. He was/is my role model. 

AL: What’s your favorite aspect about being a part of the Amplified Lifestyles team?

JF, Jr: The effort and time that Amplified takes to ensure their employees feel welcomed, heard, and understood. I believe it plays a massive role in providing great results. It feels as if I have an extension of my family. It’s a pleasure to be a part of what makes this company so successful.

AL: Who is your ideal client?

JF, Jr: My ideal client is a person or family open to creativity,  knows what they want, and has a vision of the result. 

AL: Favorite app?

JF, Jr:  It’s hard to just choose one. I have two. Savant and Crestron are my two favorite apps. Savant is great because you can go from project to project, and the app layout and functionality will never change, which is something I love. But I like Crestron because it is fully customizable, from the layout of the main page to the button layout to the background color. It would be a one-of-a-kind build, which I also like.

AL: What have been some of your most challenging projects you have worked on? 

JF, Jr:  Some of the most challenging projects I have worked on have been projects that we tackle remotely, from projects in Malibu to projects in Lake Tahoe. Working in a remote environment away from the resources of a warehouse or the capacity to have extra help on the fly has been the most difficult. However, the jobs themselves have been some of Amplified’s biggest ones. 

AL: What’s something you’re proud of?

JF, Jr: I am proud of the family I have built. I have come very far in this industry. Being able to provide mentorship and being a person of contact for guidance is a gratifying part of my life in which I take pride.

AL: Who are the special people in your life?

JF, Jr:  My wife, Karina, and my baby boy, Jorgie III, my wife is my most significant support and greatest cheerleader. She’s my lifeline; my job is not easy, and she keeps me grounded. 

AL: When you are not installing systems, what do you enjoy doing? 

JF, Jr:  When I’m not working, I’m out on the lake fishing or in the duck blind doing what I love. 

AL: What is your favorite place in the world?

JF, Jr: Anywhere I get to be with my family. We love being outdoors. You will usually find us fishing in a lake or ocean.

AL: If you were not in home technology, what would you do?

JF, Jr:  My childhood dream was to become a Marine Biologist. I love nature, I love the water, and I like being outdoors.

Amplified Lifestyles’ principal, Timothy Johnson has 50 years of electronics experience, which he utilizes incorporating high-end A/V systems into the aesthetics of private estates. As an award-winning chief engineer, he mentors the next generation of home electronics specialists with his vast knowledge of audio, video, controls, integration, networking, communications, life safety, security, surveillance, lighting, and climate control. Due to his extensive experience, Timothy is a practical audiophile, he enjoys revisiting Genesis’ eccentric classic Selling England By The Pound when not delivering the highest quality service to Amplified’s clientele.

AL: Where did you grow up?

TJ: I was born and raised in Fresno, where I stayed until I was 20, moving to Sacramento and eventually the Bay Area. 

AL: What drew you into the world of home technology design? 

TJ: When I was a Junior in high school, I fixed stereo gear at a local stereo shop. In the late ’70s & early ’80s, I worked for Sacramento-based ESS Speakers, where I met Oskar Heil, the German-born scientist and electrical engineer who invented the Air Motion Transformer. Moving to Northern California, I worked with contractors on professional and commercial sound, signal, and control installations, learning skills I applied to the new field of residential integration projects.

AL: How did your involvement with Amplified Lifestyles happen?

TJ: I worked for a pioneering integrator for almost 17 years as Chief Engineer and Senior System Designer. Kevin Cook was the Director of Client Services, and Casey Webster was the Service Manager. We formed Amplified Lifestyles in 2015 with two other partners. We and our team share a dedication to the client experience, giving them what they want, ensuring it works, and leaving them smiling.  

AL: What was one of your favorite projects to work on? 

TJ:   A 550-acre Sonoma vineyard lake estate for a wonderful family whom Amplified has worked with on multiple residential and commercial projects. We collaborated with interior designer Ken Fulk, Ken Linsteadt Architects, and Van Acker Construction. Because a Victorian hotel inspired the architectural style, we hid all the Great Room’s technology. The antiqued mirror behind the bar slides away to reveal a TV. When there are dance parties, four Claypacky moving headlights lower from the ceiling, and the hidden line-array speakers and subwoofers take the music up to discotheque levels. Outside the home, we designed a long-throw audio system for the lake that magically projects a concert across the water. 

AL: What was one of your least projects to work on? 

TJ: I have been fortunate in my career that 98% of my clients have been excellent to work for, and I forget the 2% who weren’t. 

AL: How do you collaborate on a project with a GC, architect, and interior designer?

TJ: I prefer to get in early and be included in the construction drawings so that the electronics blend seamlessly into the home’s interior or landscape design.  

AL:  What is your most treasured memory?

TJ: Designing Loudspeakers at ESS in the late 70’s & early 80’s.

AL: What would it be if you could learn one skill instantly?

TJ: Sing and play piano & guitar.

AL: What album can you listen to repeatedly without getting sick of it?

TJ:  Genesis – Selling England by the Pound.

AL:  Do you have a favorite affirmation or quote?

TJ: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Amplified Lifestyles Principal and General Manager, Jeremy McKenzie started his career in 1995. As with many of his colleagues, he approaches custom residential integration as a craft. Jeremy has engineered, installed, programmed, and directed a comprehensive selection of platforms through the years. He takes pride in the process, not just the outcome, and values client and team relationships. When not working, he explores the vast Western landscape on his motorcycle or enjoys live music venues with his family. 

AL: Do you have a favorite affirmation or quote?

JM: Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. 

AL:  What motivated you to become a partner in Amplified Lifestyles?

JM: From the beginning, the group’s guiding principles and goals aligned with my own. With 20 years of experience in the industry at the time, I had a lot to offer to the team in my role, and I was ready to commit to having Amplified become a part of my personal identity and daily life. I wanted to bring my total effort and attention to help build a great environment to work in and a better option in the market. 

AL: What have been the challenges and opportunities that you have found as a partner at Amplified Lifestyles?  

JM: The greatest challenge has been growing the company while working to maintain what makes Amplified special: how we conduct ourselves and support each other and our project partners. The most significant opportunity this has afforded me is the ability to work day-to-day with such dedicated and incredible people. To see people learn and grow in this industry and enjoy what they do. It is a tremendous blessing.

AL: What would be your dream project?

JM: For Amplified, the ultimate reward comes in a job well done. Regardless of the size and scope of work, the dream job is any project we complete with a satisfied client, a happy build team, and ongoing relationships with both. Many of us got into this industry because of the awe you see on a person’s face when they experience their first great Home Theater; it all grows from there.

AL: If you were not in home technology design, what would you do?

JM: I would have ended up somewhere in mechanical engineering, likely in the automotive or motorcycle industry. I am fascinated by complex mechanical devices, emphasizing internal combustion engines (which appear to be on their way out!). I often relax on the sofa with a technical manual.

AL: Song you can listen to on repeat?

JM: Right Where It Belongs by Nine Inch Nails. Moving but not too heavy.

AL: If you made a documentary, what would it be about? 

JM: Something so compelling to me is the nature of how we as people express and feel love for each other. It is incredible how some people can be so giving and selfless, putting their needs, wants, and interests aside to care for someone they love in the face of great tragedy or perhaps due to sickness or injury of the other. A parent who dedicates their life to caring for their special-needs child, or a spouse who does the same for their partner, it is incredible to see people flourish in the face of such tremendous adversity, and at the core of it is the power of love.

AL: What are three things you can’t live without?

JM: My wife Jennifer, a motorcycle, and extra toasty Cheez-its!

AL: How do you recharge?

JM: Riding motorcycles is a spiritual experience for me. It is a part of who I am, and I will ride until I physically cannot. It offers a wide variety of soothing and intense experiences, from cruising along a deserted highway in the vastness of the Nevada desert to scraping the ground at the apex of a corner, pushing the physical limits of man and machine.

AL: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?

JM: Don’t worry so much about school and whether you leave it with a direction. Hard work, dedication, and moral character will take you wherever you need to go; doors will open when you are ready for the opportunity.

Kevin Vawter joined Amplified Lifestyles in the New Year as a Technology Advisor. The native San Franciscan entered the world of residential integration 22 years ago and has a particular affinity for interior design. As a teenager, Kevin visited his mother’s place of work in Presidio Heights, the historic Le Petit Trianon, and later had his wedding reception there. When it became the 2019San Francisco Decorator Showcase , he helped designers blend technology seamlessly into the mansion’s rooms.

AL: Congratulations on joining Amplified Lifestyles as a Technology Advisor! What attracted you to the company?

KV: Thank you so much; I’m excited to be part of this fantastic team! I was drawn to Amplified because of its impact on the Bay Area integration market in the past eight years. Everyone I spoke with, from architects to owner’s reps, had nothing but positive things to say about the company. On top of that, going back to the early 2000s, I have wanted to work alongside some of my new co-workers!

AL:  What drew you into the world of home technology design?

 KV: Much like many of my colleagues, listening to music and watching movies on a high-quality system is a hobby of mine. I was drawn into the A/V industry in 1995 when I walked into a home theater store called Cambridge Soundworks looking for a part-time job so I could afford a ring for my now-wife of 25 years, and they hired me on the spot! In 2001 I entered the world of residential integration, and for the past 22 years, I have been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of home technology. Those were the days when a remote control that allowed our clients to listen to a 5 Disc CD changer was roughly the size and weight of a brick. I remember purchasing the very first iPad the week it came out to figure out how to use it for integration for our clients. Current technology gives them thousands of hours of on-demand entertainment controlled by their cell phones!

AL:  How can technology be integrated into interior design and architecture? 

KV: My professional mission statement is, “I believe beautiful design, architecture, and craftsmanship can and should blend harmoniously with reliable, easy-to-use technology.” My favorite projects are where there is proper planning and foresight on the design team’s part, so the home technology is sufficiently hidden and disguised. I’ve enjoyed collaborating at the annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase, where I worked with designers to blend technology seamlessly with their incredible visions for their rooms.

AL: What modern design trend makes you cringe?

KV: This one is easy- Dinner-plate sized speakers! It makes me so frustrated to see prominent speakers in ceilings and walls (even more so if they aren’t color matched to the surface) because there are so many hidden and disguised options.

AL: If you were not in home technology design, what would you do?

KV: That’s a tough one! It’s possible that I would still be involved in the design or maybe the art world because when I was a teenager, my mom was the curator/designer/director of operations for Le Petit Trianon in San Francisco, which at the time housed one of the most extraordinary private collections of Egyptian artifacts, Russian Icons and the Impressionists in the world. I loved how she blended the historically significant antiques and artwork with the architecture and design of the home.

AL: How do you maintain a work/life balance?

KV: First and foremost, I stay grounded because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. I enjoy hanging out and watching movies with my family and friends, hiking and taking wildlife photographs on trails overlooking the ocean, and singing. Being a 5th generation San Franciscan, I’m a huge 49er, S.F. Giants, and Golden State Warriors fan, and over the past 12 years, I’ve been absolutely spoiled with what seems like an endless supply of post-season sports!

AL: What are some of the podcasts you listen to and why?

KV: My favorite podcast, and the only one I listen to regularly, is called “Real Men Connect.” I love it because what I learn from listening helps me to be a better husband, father, family member, friend, and coworker.

AL: Song you can listen to on repeat?

KV: Boyz 2 Men’s rendition of Yesterday because their harmony is as tight on that song as any I’ve heard (and I love to sing along with it, especially the high parts!)

AL: What are three things you can’t live without?

KV: My relationship with God and my family, Singing, and Chocolate and Coffee are tied for 3rd (That’s 5, but who’s counting?)

AL: What’s inspiring you in life right now?

KV:  I’m part of a men’s group called “Real Men 300” because it is true that iron sharpens iron, and finding people that can be real with each other is very rare.

For Amplified Lifestyles’ principal Casey Webster his eighteen-year career in the home electronics industry has made him committed to the client experience. It is a philosophy that Casey shares with the other managing partners. While Amplified is always searching for the latest integrated system technologies and solutions, the team and their dedication to customer service make the company unique.

AL: What drew you into the world of home technology?

CW: I wouldn’t say I was drawn to the world of home technology. Honestly, I fell into the industry without any knowledge or expectations, just a need to put myself through college. My roommate worked at Starbucks next to an electronics store, and one day while waiting for her to get off, I filled out an application to pass the time. The funny thing is when they called to offer me a job; I initially turned it down. It was summertime, and I was too busy being a “College Student” enjoying the San Diego weather. Later in the year, I got another call requesting I reconsider their employment offer, and this time the timing was right.

AL: Since you have experience in many facets of the industry, which do you enjoy most and why? Systems design, installation, or operations management?

CW: Customer service. I enjoy working with our customers and building partners to establish lasting relationships, solve problems, and create unique experiences.

AL: Can you elaborate on your mantra, “Flash and flare are fun, but at the end of the day, all that matters is if it works?“

CW: Many A/V companies get caught up wanting to say “Yes, we can do that” to win their clients. They jeopardize the reliability of aspects of home technology used 99% of the time for the one-off use case. Often less is more. 

AL: What have been the challenges and opportunities that you have found as a partner at Amplified Lifestyles?  

CW: The biggest challenge is also our greatest opportunity. Before starting Amplified, I founded another home technology company still operating in Southern California today. That experience opened my eyes to the biggest problem in our industry, and I was one of them, “The AV Guy”.

My second time around, I wanted to ensure I built a Team for our clients to outlast any individual. Everyone experiences life changes; your home technology’s serviceability shouldn’t hinge on whether your “AV Guy” decides to move out of state or retire.

Intending to build a Team, I was fortunate to meet incredibly talented people early on with Jeremy McKenzie, Kevin Cook, and Tim Johnson. It was clear that restructuring Amplified with this Team as equal partners was the best way to put an end to “The AV Guy,”

AL: Who is your ideal client?

CW: My ideal client is someone who values our time and expertise. As the industry has evolved, the products we provide become more commonplace, and our true offering is our people.

AL: How would you define your work in three words?

CW: Creative, Controlled, Chaos

AL: How do you maintain a work/life balance?

CW: I think most people would say my work-life balance is out of balance, but I genuinely enjoy working. It’s not the work that is always enjoyable but seeing the results of your hard work is the reward. That being said, my family is my pastime, and having a flexible schedule to be a part of my children’s lives and experiences makes it all worth it.

AL: A skill you’re working on mastering?

CW: Parenting.

AL: What are three things you can’t live without?

CW: Friends, Family, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

AL: Who would it be if you could switch lives with someone for a day?

CW: I don’t have a particular person I would switch lives with, but I would love to experience the world in a different period in time. Time travel would be my superpower if I could have one; switching lives with someone from the distant past would be awesome.

Jessie Brady recently joined Amplified Lifestyles as a Lighting Specialist, but her connections to some of her colleagues go back almost twenty years.  As with all of the company’s team, she is service-driven and creates lighting solutions customized to the homeowner’s needs. Jessie balances knowing the latest residential systems with a nuanced understanding of how lighting paints a room, changing mood and tone. 

AL: What drew you to become a Lighting Specialist?

JB: Being a lighting control specialist appeals to both my mechanical and creative sides. On the one hand, I get the satisfaction of designing and implementing systems that function well on a technical level. On the other hand, I work with clients personally to create a completely custom interface to interact within their homes. It can be a fun puzzle to solve.

AL: How can lighting transform a space and affect mood?

JB: Lighting is quite bossy; it can calm or energize you. It can hide flaws or train your eye on a focal point. It can draw you in and invite you to stay or set the tempo to your next destination.

AL: What might lighting and home automation look like in 10 years?

JB: I believe lighting and personal wellness will be even more integrated and automated. We’ll have the ability to adjust the environment in even more detail and anticipate the user’s desired experience automatically with more accuracy.

AL: What’s your favorite aspect about being a part of the Amplified Lifestyles team?

JB: The people. I’ve had the honor of working with some of my colleagues for almost two decades in different capacities and still enjoy how excited they get about the technology we get to work with; their expertise and enthusiasm remind me why I love what I do.

AL: Who is your ideal client?

JB: Someone who is genuinely excited about the technology and participates in the design process with decisive feedback for me to implement a system that exceeds their expectations.

AL: Favorite app?

JB: I have so many! Obviously, Lutron. Also, Spotify and Stitcher for music and podcasts, Headspace for some reflection, AllTrails so I don’t get lost in the woods, and Overdrive/Hoopla for all my books and graphic novels.

AL: The most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?

JB: It’s a tie between riding on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle through the Central Highlands of Vietnam for a few days or scuba diving with sharks. Maybe not smart, but definitely an adventure.

AL: Dream country to work in? Or a dream project to take on?

JB: One of my many job perks is that I get to travel and experience places and spaces that I probably wouldn’t have thought to seek out or have access to; I will always jump at the chance to work on a tropical island or remote ski chalet. If I get to dream, I’d like to see what lighting control in an underwater residence could be. 

AL: How do you define beauty?

JB: I think beauty is the ability of a person, place, or thing to convey emotion without yelling it.

AL: How do you maintain a work/life balance?

JB: I‘ll let you know when I figure it out! Our industry is exciting but tends to expect you to be available and responsive at all times. The pandemic has made it a bit more challenging, but I try to carve out a little time each day to put the phone down and connect with others over food/drink and going outside.

Did you know that Amplified Lifestyles has an Automated Shade Division? In March, window covering expert David Arbogast joined the Amplified team bringing over thirty years of experience developing shade solutions for interior designers, architects, and general contractors. David has designed automated shade solutions for skylights, curved windows, slanted windows, and crooked windows; he is up for any challenge.

AL: Congratulations on joining Amplified Lifestyles as Shading Project Manager! How did you get your start in Automated Shading Systems?

DA: Back in 1990, I answered an ad in the newspaper. I previously worked as a metal fabricator, doing welding, forging, machining, and foundry work. I was planning on purchasing a small machine shop but couldn’t reach a fair deal with the owner. On my first day installing shades, I discovered a new way to apply my skills of precision fabrication and the joy of clean hands at the end of the day! The variety of job sites over the years keeps things interesting. Each window I hang a shade in provides a new view of life!

AL: What are the benefits of having automated shades as opposed to manual? 

DA: I would say the primary benefit would be ease of use. For most windows, the shades are only needed for part of the day.  They don’t need to be deployed all the time. With automated shades, you can have your view back at the push of a button, saving you the chore of going around the house and manually lifting the shades. Automated shades can also be set to operate on their own at pre-programmed times. Not only is this helpful for regular day-to-day life, but it also helps keep the house looking lived in while you are away on vacation. 

AL: At what stage in the project should the automated shading expert be brought in and why?

 DA: It’s best to bring us in as the floor plans are being laid out. For automated shades built in, to conceal the hardware, we sometimes need a thicker wall than normal. Being involved early on helps the shading system look like part of the original, intentional design instead of an afterthought.

AL: What have been some of your most challenging window solutions? 

DA: The ones that come to mind are windows that don’t have right angles or have curved sections. These are even more challenging when they slant in or out (not plumb). Thankfully, it seems my life experiences have provided me with an advanced degree from the “MacGyver” Institute. I enjoy being able to design unique window shading solutions. One of my more memorable projects was in an operator’s cab of a large crane in the Port of Oakland. I was lifted up on top of a container!

AL: How have you seen shading solutions change over the last 30 years? 

DA: Traditional draperies and blinds have stayed pretty much the same, with some improvements to the durability of the fabrics. The most significant changes have been on the automated side of things. Electronic drives have become smaller, quieter, and much more robust. Battery-powered shades have come a long way, too, for those projects where it is not feasible to go behind the walls to run wiring. Some of these battery-powered shades can go 3-6 years before replacing the common “D” cell batteries. It has also become easier to pair automated shades with the various digital assistants in the market today.

AL: How do you collaborate on a residential project that can include a systems integrator, GC, architect, and interior designer?

DA: I’ve gotten used to the new “normal,” with zoom calls, emails, and texts. And I quite often resort to the “before time” habit of site visits!

AL: When you are not shading the Bay Area, what do you enjoy doing? 

DA: I enjoy spending time outdoors, whether hiking, mountain biking, playing golf, or sailing. While indoors, I enjoy cooking and watching old movies (the kind where the dialogue is more entertaining than the special effects!).

AL: Vintage or new? 

DA: I lean more towards vintage classics with original patina.

AL: A book that everyone should read? 

DA: I would unapologetically recommend the best-selling book of all time, known as The Bible. If it’s your first time, I suggest starting with the Gospel of John.

AL: What is one thing no one knows about you? 

DA: How much I treasure the personal connections made with others!

In March, Amplified Lifestyles welcomed veteran Senior Technology Advisor Robert Gilligan to the team. Robert brings over twenty years of experience in audiovisual, automation, and security technologies.  He is adept at collaborating with interior designers, architects, general contractors, and lighting designers to find the best technology solutions that blend seamlessly into their high-end residential projects.

AL: Congratulations on joining Amplified Lifestyles! What attracted you to the company?

RG: Thank you! I’ve previously worked with many Amplified team members at a company that pioneered the home automation world. Tim Johnson, Amplified’s award-winning chief engineer, was my mentor and taught me almost everything I know about incorporating high-quality A/V systems into an estate home’s aesthetics. So, this feels like both a homecoming and the beginning of something exciting and new. I firmly believe that estate-level projects are best served by locally owned and operated firms, so I’m thrilled to join Kevin Cook, Casey Webster, Jeremy McKenzie, and this fantastic team that’s performing at the top of their game.

AL: What drew you into the world of home technology design? 

RG: My background is in recording studio engineering and special event production, like symphony galas and tech conferences. As luck would have it, the company I worked for at the time was doing a significant private event for a client in Atherton. We needed to tie in our event audio systems into the audio system of the house. I was thrilled to learn that the technologies we used in the live and studio production worlds were starting to be incorporated into Silicon Valley estate homes! This discovery coincided with my eldest daughter being born. It quickly became clear that the event world’s schedule was not family-friendly. 

So, I needed to take stock of my skills and find a way to leverage them for a career that would allow me to stay in the Bay Area and be home for dinner. These were the early days of home automation, with only a couple of companies providing those systems. So, I cold-called Engineered Environments, who were creating a dedicated Service Department for the company. Randy Stearns, the firm’s founder, took a chance on me and thought I would be great at leading that new team. The rest is history, but as I’ve grown in my career, I always keep coming back to that critical issue of customer service.

AL: How have you seen technology solutions change over the last 20 years?

RG: The primary change has been the transition of all A/V Home Technology systems to function over data networks rather than proprietary wiring or controls. This change enabled mobile app-based controls of these systems so homeowners could have complete control over their environments at a fingertip or voice’s reach. I think the next 20 years’ focus will be on leveraging these technologies into systems focused on health and well-being as much as entertainment. (Though I still look forward to the day when we have full, 8K holographic smell-o-vision!)

AL: Who is your ideal client?

RG: We’re fortunate to usually be introduced at the beginning of a project with the other design consultants. My ideal experiences are with clients and project design teams that are both inquisitive and decisive. They want to learn about Home Technology options but are self-aware enough to know what they want. My best experiences are with clients and design teams who are also empathetic to the rest of the family and staff’s needs. With the technology systems we design, everyone involved uses the audio, video, data networks, lighting and shades, surveillance, and access control systems. So, proper planning for multigenerational users and staff becomes a beautiful game of 3D chess.

AL: If you were not in home technology design, what would you do?

RG: My default answer to that question is always Astronaut! However, I’d more likely be involved in the production of films or music.

AL: What are some of the podcasts you listen to and why?

RG: The Daily, The Moth, and 10% Happier usually are in rotation to keep me informed and inspired. Still, I tend to listen to new music when I’m not on the phone, which is most of my waking hours. I’m constantly on the lookout for the next Radiohead or Beyoncé.

AL: What’s your current TV obsession?

RG Schitt’s Creek and The Mandalorian got me through the Pandemic. (That’s an interesting Venn diagram that describes me more than any Rorschach test could). I’m also planning not to watch anything on TV for the next year 🙂

AL: Song you can listen to on repeat?

RG: That’s constantly changing, and I tend to get obsessed with whole albums. The current rotation is “Razzmatazz” by IDKHow and the new Foo Fighters album “Medicine at Midnight.” I can also enjoy anything by Sarah Vaughan or Elbow at any time.

AL: Favorite app?

RG: The popular home automation apps from companies like Lutron, Savant, Sonos, and Nest are always at my fingertips. Still, apps like Calm and Noom helped me navigate the personal challenges of the last year. (And with all due respect and appreciation, I look forward to using my Zoom and Amazon apps much less in the immediate future!) 

AL: What’s inspiring you in life right now? 

RG: The reconnection of human relationships, both personal and professional, I’m currently talking to my friends and industry partners to schedule face-to-face get-togethers (when everyone is vaccinated and feeling safe). These calls fill my days with hope and optimism for the future. We’ve all just gone through an experience that will fundamentally change the way we think about home. I can’t wait to engage in this conversation with our fantastic design and building partners to help leverage technology to improve the quality of our client’s lives.