About Your Mid-Atlantic
Vehicle Customization Experts

Founded in 1992, Sound FX has provided the Delaware and the Eastern Shore area with years of courteous and professional products and services. We take pride in our ability to design and install great sounding and easy to use systems for our clients.

Sound FX has a long list of awards and recognition. Some of our favorites are having been voted “Best of Delaware” by the readers of Delaware Today Magazine and 2019 Retailer of The Year for the entire U.S.A. by Mobile Electronics Magazine.

Our success has been from forming great relationships with our clients.

Call us today to arrange a meeting about your car, truck, motorcycle and/or boat. We assure you that we are knowledgeable, low-key, and fun to talk to.

A Letter From Our Visionary

Reflecting back on my thirty-plus years in this community, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I pause and exhale, all the while smiling.

Simply, Sound FX is blessed to have over fifty great teammates.

My co-workers bring a Vince Lombardi quote to mind:

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

The Sound FX team has many wonderful things to share: opening our 2nd retail location in Bridgeville, DE, the launch of our new website, exciting new technology in the automotive field, and our ever-evolving showroom transformations. These new changes reflect our desire to better serve our clients. Our passion aims to make your life a little easier, and a whole lot more fun.

From our grass-roots clients that started this wild-and-crazy adventure in 1992 to each new individual we meet on a daily basis, the Sound FX team Thanks YOU!

If you have not called or visited us in a while, we invite you to. If we have not yet had a chance to meet, we look forward to welcoming you into our Sound FX family.

Make today great!

Brian Layton, Co-Owner

Why We're Different

  • OUR TEAM IS COMPROMISED OF LONG-TERM, NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED, CAREER INSTALLERS.

  • RELIABLE, PROMPT SCHEDULING. LOANER VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO YOU WHILE YOUR INSTALLATION IS BEING PERFORMED. WE RESPECT YOUR TIME REQUIREMENTS!

  • UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE ON THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND INTEGRATION TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE.

  • UNCOMPROMISING BEFORE AND AFTER-THE-SALE SERVICE.

    COMPETITIVE PRICING ON “VALUE-ORIENTED” PRODUCT WITH THE ABILITY TO TAILOR TO YOUR BUDGET.

  • GREAT CARE IS TAKEN TO ENSURE YOUR VEHICLE IS DELIVERED IN AS PRISTINE CONDITION AS WHEN IT ARRIVED.

  • OUR COMBINED HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED 20,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITIES ENSURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO DELIVER MOSTLY ANYTHING YOU CAN DREAM UP.

  • LIFETIME LABOR WARRANTY ON ALL THE WORK WE PERFORM. IT’S SIMPLE; WE STAND BEHIND THE WORK WE DO, PERIOD.

  • WITH OVER 300 YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS, YOU CAN REST EASY KNOWING WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO DELIVER EXCELLENCE FOR OUR CLIENTS.

Our Team

Aaron Crooks

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Aaron now resides on the Eastern Shore. He has been honing his skills over the course of his time in the industry by obtaining his MECP Certification and graduating from the Installer Institute in Florida. He is always impressed with seeing the finished product, but he really enjoys the process behind the scenes.

Aaron likes to work on custom audio projects, hang out with car enthusiasts, and play video games. There’s no telling what the future holds, but Aaron hopes the future brings building a 60’s Nissan Fairlady Datsun.

Aaron won Employee of the Year 2020 and Technician Team Champion February 2023.

Aaron Johnson

GraFX Lead Designer

Salisbury born and raised, Aaron brings his years of experience to the Sound FX family in Delaware. A self-professed "Gigantic Art Nerd", Aaron has been drawing since he could hold a pencil. Musically trained in guitar & piano (theme song here we come?), being multi-faceted with traditional art mediums (abstract acrylic on wood is a favorite), and having skills in the digital art arena, Aaron brings a lot to the team. He graduated from Salisbury University and holds two degrees; English and Graphic Design. He has experience with company related marketing campaigns, design overflow, theme-song composition, defense against the dark arts, custom fabrication, and PPE manufacturing.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Julie, marathon running (especially 5ks), hiking, national park trips, and an overall outdoor/healthy lifestyle. Aaron and Julie also have two cats : Nora the Siamese cat, and Sirius Black (who is a black cat; surprise!).

Aaron won the Newcomer of the Year 2022 award!

Adam Lewis

Road Warrior

Adam is the Sound FX on-the-road technician, and has 20+ years of industry experience. Adam was named one of the Top 12 Installers and one of the Top 5 Most Trusted Techs in North America in 2018.

Every day Adam travels and performs services on site at clients homes and businesses in any element mother nature delivers. When Adam, “The Road Warrior,” arrives he greets clients with his big red beard and friendly personality. Adam looks forward to his ever changing office landscape and meeting new people. His favorite thing to install is remote starts. He has installed thousands of remote starts during his career so he has a firm understanding of how to install them and how they're supposed to work. Clients always sing Adam’s praises, and speaking of singing, Adam has a pretty good singing voice too.

At his homestead, Adam and his family have two dogs, one cat, six chickens, several fish, two crabs, and a partridge in a pear tree. In his spare time, Adam enjoys playing with his son, riding 4-wheelers, shooting guns at the range, taking his wife’s Jeep out on the beach, chopping firewood, wrestling bears, and miscellaneous lumberjack activities. Who knew all of that could be happen in DelMarVa?

Adam is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 and Technician Team MVP 2018!

Amber Vaughn

Service Advisor

Amber is a Delaware local, joining the team from Harrington. She has spent numerous years in the automotive world, and brings a passion for customer service and a sense of pride in helping to make sure client's visions for their vehicles are completed.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, baseball, fishing, spending time with her family, and taking care of her cat, Slim.

Andy Tavolario

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Spend any time in either of the Sound FX stores (or one of our events), and you’ll see some guy running around but nobody really knows who he is. Well that’s Andy, one of our business leaders here. He tends to get his hands dirty in every division and project we do around here.
Starting way back in 1992 when Sound FX first opened, Andy was a freshman at Salisbury University (that was so long ago it used to be called Salisbury State College back then). He was commuting back and forth from his hometown of Seaford and wanted to make his ride more enjoyable. Discovering that passion for car audio and electronics led to Andy joining the team in early 1993 as a technician. His work was featured heavily on the east coast as a demo vehicle for Eclipse Mobile Electronics at the time.
Andy’s journey took him away from Sound FX for a moment in time. After 3 years, he changed from the "World of Automotive" to the "Land of the Cellular Phone". During that time, Andy focused his efforts on learning sales and service behaviors which led to him earning “Comcast Cellular One Salesperson of the Year”. Even though flip phones and Razr’s were dominating his days, the passion for building stereos and alarm automations was filling up his nights.
In mid-2001, Sound FX was starting the process of opening its Lewes location when Andy was asked if he’d be interested in helping to physically build the new store. He jumped at this opportunity due to the challenge. This reignited his love for the Sound FX brand and a few short months later he left the cellular industry and was back on Team FX! It was here that Andy and Brian started the foundations of the partnership that is still going strong today.
Cingular/AT&T was not done yet with Andy and they pulled him away from Sound FX once again in 2003, where he remained for 15 years. During that time Andy learned a lot from some extremely talented leaders. It was this experience that earned Andy such accolades as a 2-time Regional Manager of the year, 6-time District Manager Quarterly MVP, 14-time Retail Store of the Month, and culminated with an opportunity to be a Market Director overseeing 63 total stores throughout the mid-Atlantic area.
The Sound FX allure once again popped up with a parking lot meeting between Brian and Andy in early 2018. It was Brian’s desire to take Sound FX to unprecedented levels in its industry, along with Andy’s need for a new challenge that brought them back together and put Sound FX on the path that it is on today!
Andy's tenure now has over a decade of combined Sound FX experience. “I couldn’t be luckier in life as I am now!” says Andy. “I get to work with people that mean the world to me every day,” as he is referring to his partnership with Brian as well as his brother-in-law Travis. “Brian and I challenge each other every day to be the best we can be for our team. Also getting to see Travis grow and develop into one of the best-ever at what he does makes me so proud.”
Andy spends his down-time with his better half Jamie on all kinds of hijinks such as concerts, 49ers games, LEGO stores, Broadway shows, and way too many projects around the house. Maybe one day he will slow down, we know he is getting old… but it’s highly unlikely.

Ben Cardell

Transportation Engineer

Moving from New Jersey to DE in 2016, Ben joins the team as a Transportation Engineer, and also happens to be the father of Brian Cardell, one of our 12-Volt Technicians. When we say we are a family here, we really mean it! Ben enjoys being on the road, which is a great thing when you're driving vehicles daily for Sound FX.

Ben retired from banking in New Jersey, and enjoys spending time with his wife of over 50 years; Bernadette. They both love spending time with their 2 grandchildren and taking care of their dog Jo-Jo.

Brandon Pizzoferrato

Bridgeville Inventory Assistant

A native of Philly, Brandon brings his years of experience to the Sound FX Family, joining our Inventory team. Moving to Delaware and seeing what internal culture of Sound FX was gave Brandon the perfect opportunity to come onboard. He enjoys the familiarity of the auto world, and his attention to detail is an asset to the team.

Outside of work, he enjoys fresh water fishing, boxing, and basketball. He has a mini-zoo of animals : Jynx the cat, Kash the dog, Fendi the lizard, and Mr. Smalls the hamster. He and his significant other Brianna are also expecting their first child!

Brian Cardell

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Hailing originally from New Jersey, Brian has called Delaware his home for the last 15 years. He's been working in the automotive industry for 13 of those years, and brings his passion and experience to the Sound FX team. He loves the variety of projects and upgrades he gets to work on daily; everyday is a new challenge with no mundane routine!

Outside of work, Brian likes to relax with a good movie (he's a self-professed cinephile, with horror being his favorite genre) and and upgrading/playing his retro video game collection ( Mario and Zelda games are the top of his list).

Brian is our Technician Team Champ for December 2022!

Brian Kocher

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Moving to Lewes from Pennsylvania, Brian joins Sound FX to continue his storied career. A 29-year industry veteran, Brian is a graduate of Luzerne County Community College with a degree in Mobile Electronics. He also attended Mobile Dynamics in Canada and has been MECP Certified for a number of years. His expertise focuses on exotic cars with Ferrari being his specialty.

Like most of the technician teammates here, Brian enjoys working on vehicles in his spare time, and riding motorcycles. He takes care of his two cats; Jack and Manny.

Brian Layton

President

Brian’s passion for Rock N’ Roll music was instilled at an early age. Brian’s father, Bruce, is an avid drummer, focusing heavily on music from the 70’s. Great music selection, accurate sound reproduction, and a passion for automobiles morphed into his Mobile Electronics career. While earning an Accounting Degree from Salisbury University, his industry experience dates back to late 1998. Brian’s greatest accomplishment came in the form of the ultimate team award in August 2014 & 2019; Sound FX was named the nation’s Mobile Electronics Retailer of the Year. Brian is thankful for the many friendships along the way, from clients and employees alike. Brian is married to his beautiful high school sweetheart, Lisa. Together, they enjoy spending time with their yellow lab, Steiner, and rooting for the Washington Redskins. Hail!

Bryson Dewalt

Off-Road Director

Bryson is our local renaissance man, and does not shy away from adventure or a challenge. Bryson served in the U.S. Air Force for nine years until he retired in 2014. He is a sponsored competitive archery shooter and has raced quads in New Mexico.

Bryson relocated from Pennsylvania to Delaware in 2011, and now he serves the clients of Sound FX to help them achieve their off-road wish list. Since he started driving, Bryson has had an interest in lift kits and vehicle upgrades, and he enjoys working on his 2019 F250 and '88 Mustang. Bryson always hits the target when it comes to achieving his goals. He has been rocking his sales at Sound FX month after month.

At home, Bryson enjoys spending time with his wife, their two sons, and their two dogs. He takes note from his father by trying to be a modest man willing to teach and give life lessons needed to succeed.

Chris Dukes

Bridgeville Inventory Manager

Chris comes to the Sound FX family as a long-time customer and automotive enthusiast. He's always wanted to work in the industry, and saw this as a great opportunity to join the team. He loves the work that's been done for his vehicles, the family-oriented Sound FX culture, He's looking forward to bringing his automotive passion and vehicle-oriented skills to the team to best help our client's needs.

Outside of work, Chris likes to spend time with his family (his wife of 20 years and triplet, teenage daughters) traveling, sightseeing, fishing, and taking care of his pet Yorkie, Fonzy. Ayyyy!

Chris is the winner of the Unsung Hero Award 2021!

Bunky Griffith

Transportation Engineer

Bunky moved to DE in 1974, so he was a little ahead of joining the Sound FX Team at that point (since we didn't exist yet). After retiring, and becoming a client, he saw the opportunity available to come on board as a Transportation Engineer and enjoy the flexible schedule while helping out.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading (especially Self-Help books), going to church, traveling with his wife, and raising their Shitzhu-Poodle hybrid; Asia.

Cyndi Ramos

Transportation Engineer

Colorado-born, Cyndi moved to Delaware 20 years ago and brings a wide variety of experience to the Sound FX family. She's a team player and excited to join our team of Transportation Engineers.

She enjoys doing activities outdoors; riding bicycles, hunting, and traveling. Cyndi spends time with her husband, two kids, three dogs, five cats, and eight chickens (that's quite a menagerie!).

Dave Ellers

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Dave’s closest friends call him “Pooh Bear,” and he is the longest running employee at Sound FX Automotive. Dave is First Class MECP and has a HVAC degree. How has Dave been successful for this long with Sound FX? Dave states he is grateful to work with such a good crew each day, and he just tries to do the best he can and have fun while doing it.

He looks forward to working on new and different vehicles, and trying new products. Always up for a challenge, he likes to find solutions when others say something cannot be done.

Dave likes to spend time with his two kids, watch movies, play tennis, and drive go-carts. He would love to go from driving go-carts around the track to driving an F1 car around the track. The Sound FX crew will be there to greet him at the finish line when he crosses it.

Dave is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement 2020 Award!

Dave Johnson

Transportation Engineer

Originally from Baltimore, and with over 4 decades of experience in the automotive world, Dave joins the team as a Transportation Engineer. He was previously at Boulevard and the Truck Store, so he knows his way around a vehicle. His daughter-in-law is Brian's sister, so he also already had a connection to the Sound FX family.

Dave enjoys spending time with his family outside of work, playing guitar, and previously did stand-up (so he still likes to write jokes to stay on the comedic ball).

Derek West

Brand Ambassador

Derek was deeply fascinated by paranormal phenomena, even during his time working with Ray Stantz and Peter Venkman at Columbia University. He and Ray frequently studied paranormal literature in their spare time, and Derek was especially interested in John Horace Tobin’s works, including Tobin’s Spirit Guide, along with theories of reincarnation. The film’s novelization mentions that Derek’s mother is alive; after losing his position at Columbia University, he finds a payphone to call her and explain his situation while Peter and Ray discuss plans for the Ghostbusters business, explaining Derek’s absence in that scene.

Derek was typically the first to interview case subjects, reinforcing their slogan, “we’re ready to believe you.” Notable examples include Dana Barrett, following her Zuul encounter and the carriage incident with Oscar. Even individuals Peter dismissed as “schizo” preferred to speak to either Derek or Ray to share their paranormal experiences, no matter how unusual their claims. In a rare moment of appreciation, Venkman took back every negative comment he had made about Derek and rewarded him with his favorite candy bar—a Crunch bar. Derek’s only notable weakness is his love of junk food (or snacks in general), often seen indulging in candies, crackers like Cheez-Its, and the occasional egg roll.

When searching for a location for their headquarters, Derek was initially against Peter’s interest in leasing the firehouse on North Moore Street due to its poor conditions, outdated wiring, and crime-ridden neighborhood. However, Ray was attached to the building, fond of its bronze fireman’s pole and the affordability it offered given their limited budget at the time. Eventually, they renovated the firehouse to meet their needs as their business grew.

With Ray’s assistance, Derek developed the technology behind essential tools like the P.K.E. Meter, the Proton Pack, the Trap, the Aura Analyzer, para-goggles, and the containment facility. Derek invested considerable effort into ensuring the stability of the containment unit and was wary of the potential for dangerous P.K.E. surges. He was especially critical of Walter Peck’s actions, believing the Ghostbusters were unfairly blamed for the explosion of the containment unit when Peck instructed a utility worker to shut it down. Following their encounter with Stay Puft, Derek suggested an unconventional solution: crossing the proton streams to reverse the particle flow and send Gozer back to its dimension. Despite the considerable risks, he understood the high-stakes nature of the situation and pushed for this bold approach.

Donald Passwaters

Transportation Engineer

Donald "Smashed Derek's Halloween Candy Jar By Busting Through A Wall During A Remodel" Passwaters is one half of the Passwaters brothers that work at Sound FX. Donald spends his days on the road; picking up vehicles, driving clients between locations and retrieving parts for vehicle upgrades across the east coast. There's no such thing as an average day when you're a Sound FX Runner!

Donald likes to spend his free-time relaxing in the great outdoors while fishing or hunting.

Ed Crockett

Vehicle Transportation Engineer

Born in Maryland but moving to DE at the age of 1 (so that's essentially local from the start, right?), Ed joins the team as a Transportation Engineer. He has over 3 decades of experience as a UPS Driver, which is a skill set that perfectly translates to his position here at Sound FX. His love of the open road, jamming out while driving, and delivering vehicles/materials in a timely and safe fashion makes him a great addition to the team.

Outside of work, Ed like to stay active playing racquetball, and volunteering in local ministries. He also enjoys spending time with his wife of many years, Tammy.

Gabbi Milliken

Window Tinting Division Sales Coordinator

Gabbi brings years of Customer Service experience to her new role here at Sound FX. While it's her first time working in the automotive industry, she's no stranger to making sure client's needs are met. She's always ready to make sure to greet the day with a smile.

Born in Delaware but also having lived in Maryland, Gabbi enjoys spending time outdoors on the beach and hanging out with friends!

Gabbi has won Teammate Of The Year 2021, and Service Team Champion for December 2022 and January 2023!

Gage Daniel

Graphics Technician

A self-described "chill dude who likes to work on cars", Gage joins the Sound FX team as a local Delawarean with an enthusiastic attitude and a passion for wrapping cars. As with many of the rest of the Sound FX Squad, it's that passion for vehicles that brought him here!

Outside of work, he likes to snowboard, surf, and take care of the animals on his farm (which also includes dogs and cats)!

Gary Smith

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Gary got into the automotive upgrade business straight out of high school, having a passion for electrical and sound systems. He brings over 20 years of experience with him, and joined the Sound FX family to grow his varied skill set. He enjoys the satisfaction of troubleshooting an issue (and then solving it!), and is excited to get more involved in fabrication.

Like most of the Sound FX team, Gary is involved with vehicles outside of work as well, and enjoys going to/participating in Car Shows. He's been married to his wife, Desirae, for 21 years and enjoys spending time with her and his three sons.

Gary is the winner of the Technician Team MVP Award 2021!

George Passwaters

Transportation Engineer

George is one half of the Passwaters Bros who work here at Sound FX.
George likes to spend his free-time relaxing in the great outdoors while fishing or hunting.

Holden Hampton

GraFX Installation Team Leader

Hailing from MD and moving to DE, Holden joins the Sound FX family with over 2 years of automotive experience. He brings his attention to detail and knack for perfecting a job to the Sound FX GraFX division, making sure the client's visions are brought to life every time.

Holden (like most of the team) enjoys upgrading his own truck when he's not at work, as well as fishing, cornhole, hanging with friends and playing with his Beagle; Turbo.

Holden is the recipient of our Teammate Of The Year 2022 Award!

Jamar Hollingsworth

Off-Road Technician

Jamar grew up in Delaware with a passion for vehicles. He worked for Volkswagen for over 7 years, spent years upgrading older muscle cars, race cars, and in general fixing vehicles. He's bringing his specialties to the Off-Road division and is looking forward to upgrading trucks, jeeps, and SUVs.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his daughter and girlfriend. He likes to upgrade race cars and spend some time at the track, as well as landscaping his own yard.

Jamar is Hunter Engineer Certified.

Jason Friedel

Chief Sales Officer (CSO)

Jason began his journey, which led to his professional career, in high school in the year 2000 as he started work part time for a car audio retailer in Delmar, DE. His love of music and passion for upgrading vehicles lead him down his career path. It’s at this time Jason was introduced to Brian Layton and “The Road Warrior” Adam Lewis.

Early in his career, Jason not only assisted his clients with designing audio systems and outfitting vehicles with Off-Road upgrades, but he also assisted in the installation of the products he sold. This gave Jason a unique perspective of understanding his client’s needs, developing and providing a solution, and knowing the details of the installation to assist his fellow teammates.

In 2016, Jason decided to take on a new challenge and entered the Home A/V world where he used his versatile skillset he had developed over the years to Engineer, Sell, Install, Project Manage and Program Home A/V, Lighting and Automation projects for his clients. He educated himself to become a certificated technician with companies such as Control 4, Crestron, and Lutron.

In 2021, he challenged himself to expand his skillset and became a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams and The Griffin Higgins Team. Jason was a quick learner, and the impact of his capabilities was quickly seen by his fellow teammates. Jason has a passion for real estate to this day.

A unique opportunity present itself in 2022 which allowed Jason to return to Sound FX alongside his longtime friend Brian Layton. Having been a few years removed from the automotive world, Jason quickly got himself up to speed on the advancements that had taken place in the aftermarket 12-Volt Industry. He then began to educate others around him to further improve their skillset. His goal is to educate and train the next generation of talented individuals, as well as ensuring Sound FX client’s have a great experience with their automotive upgrades. He is often involved in more complex projects such as Mobile Office Van Builds, Solar Charging and 110V Systems for Vans and RV’s. He also assists in many of the Marine Audio projects at Sound FX.

Jason Jerez

Graphics Technician

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ca, Jason moved here from the City of Angels in his middle school years. Having a few years of automotive experience under his belt, he joined the Sound FX family with interest and a passion for Graphics Upgrade work. Being mechanically inclined and an artist, he's a great addition to the Sound FX team!

In his spare time, Jason enjoys creating art with classic pencil on paper, and has started dabbling in acrylics on canvas. He has quite the crew of animals he takes care of: his pitbull, Hazel, a white husky, Mia, and a quintet of geckos (Leo, Peach, Daisy, Tushy, and Ponyo)!

Jeff Ciprich

Off-Road/Accessory Installation Specialist

Jeff joins the Sound FX family with over 6 years in the automotive industry professionally. He's always had an affinity for upgrading vehicles his whole life; working as a dealer tech, tire tech and even as a hot rod restoration technician. His move to Sound FX is a natural fit.

Outside of work, he spends time with his girlfriend and their two kids, as well as restoring old vehicles (like cars, trucks and even tractors).

Jeff is Hunter Engineer Certified and won Employee of the Year 2022.

Jim Helmstetter

Transportation Engineer

Jim joins the Sound FX family as a transplant from the far-off land of Pennsylvania. A bowling buddy of his recommended Sound FX when Jim said he was looking for a place to work, and that was his start in the industry!

Jim is married and has three daughters. He likes to spend his time bowling, golfing, wood-working in his basement, going to the beach, and fishing.

Joe Mensack

Companywide Inventory Manager

Hailing from Salisbury, Joe joins the team for his first professional entry into the automotive world, but not his first in general. He's always had a passion for cars since his teenage years, upgrading vehicles and doing custom builds, as well as maintaining CIMA certification for 6 years in a row.

Outside of work, he still enjoys upgrading vehicles, as well as spending time doing outdoor activities (such as visiting Assateague Island) with his daughter, his girlfriend, and his girlfriend's daughter.

Joe won Employee of the Year 2022 and Service/Admin Team MVP 2020!

Joe Oneal

Transportation Engineer

Joe joins the team as a local Delawarean looking to bring his upbeat attitude and love of cars with him. He has over a decade of experience in the automotive world, and is excited to be part of the Sound FX crew.

Joe enjoys bowling and golfing, as well as watching baseball. He and his wife take care of their three dogs; Rose, Jim, and Bruce.

John Bartolin

Transportation Engineer

Living in Delaware for the last few years, John is originally from New Hampshire. He retired from the military (after 22 years) and started his own electronics business. He upgraded vehicles doing installs, then started Door Dashing as well. He brings his vehicle know-how and positive, customer service oriented attitude to the Sound FX family.
John volunteers at the Shepherd's Office in Georgetown and does traveling missionary work. He enjoys bicycling, walking on the boardwalk in the early am, and spending time with his wife and their dog; a headstrong Australian Shepherd named Suki.

Kevin Richardson

Graphics Print Room Manager

Kevin joins the Sound FX team as a Delaware local with years of experience in the Graphics Industry. Kevin has been wanting to join the team for over a few years and finally made the change to sign up with the Sound FX crew. Kevin really likes the creative aspects on how to tackle jobs and produce different outcomes. He's not a fan of communication breakdowns during the overall process, so he's bringing his solid communication skills and team-building to the GraFX Division.

Outside of work, he loves to shoot pool. He's in an amateur pool league, and has years of experience shooting pool, so don't get sharked! He also served in the military before moving into the private sector, and as always, we are thankful for that service.

Larry Buchert

Transportation Engineer

Moving from PA in 1964, Larry has lived in Seaford ever since. He started in the industry, working at DuPont in 1973. Like a lot of the Sound FX team, Larry joined up already knowing another coworker (in this case, it's Ronnie).

Larry likes to cut grass in his neighborhood and collects coins. The oldest coin he has is a penny from 1794. He has a son and daughter, and has been married to his wife, Doris, for over half a century.

Lisa Layton

The Real BOSS Around These Parts

Born and raised in Delaware, Lisa joins the Sound FX family in an official capacity, but has already been a part of it for quite a long time - she married her high school sweetheart, who happens to be Brian Layton! Just like her relationship at home, she also wears the pants at the office. Keeping Brian in line is a full-time job, and she's ready to tackle it in a professional setting as well. After years of elementary education and being a medical lab scientist, her greatest challenge will be taking on the automotive world that is Sound FX!

Outside of work, Lisa likes to read (mostly murder mysteries), blowing off some steam at the firing range, presiding over the local chapter of the Kevin James Fan Club (she has a type), and taking care of her two trucks : "The Black Widow" and "Old Reliable". (Wait a minute....murder mysteries, firing range, the "Black Widow".... WATCH OUT BRIAN!)

Lori Sigismondi Kaiss

Accounting

An expert in accounting, martial arts, and bird-calling, Lori has accomplished a lot in before bringing her varied expertise to the Sound FX family. She runs a marathon, eats two dozen eggs and practices karate every day….and that’s all before sunrise. She holds doctorate degrees in finance, astrophysics, underwater welding, and one degree so top secret we are not allowed by law to say anything else about it. She went camping in Death Valley only to be bitten by a rattlesnake….and after three rough days, the snake finally died.

Lori loves to spend her weekends wrestling alligators in-between her hang-gliding excursions over the rainforest. She is such an accounting wizard, she figured out how to make a brand new car increase in value when she drives it off the lot. Some of Lori's world-renowned accomplishments include holding the land speed record for riding a unicycle while juggling chainsaws, carving her name on the moon with a laser and inventing the question mark.

Lori won the Service/Admin Team MVP 2020!

Matt Schaeffer

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Matt has been driven to excel from an early age. He tributes his grandfather as being his life mentor. Matt’s grandfather taught him to be a man that provides for his family, the importance of working hard every day, and living each day better then the previous day. It is evident that Matt took note of these lessons. He graduated high school early, and at the young age of 20 he purchased a home, tied the knot, and had his first daughter. Wow, what a trifecta!

Matt was the 2016 Mobile Electronics Installer of the Year, 2015 Mobile Electronics Installer of the Year Runner-Up, and one of the Top 50 Mobile Electronics Installers in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He is continually building his skills, and he currently is MECP Master Certified and ASE Certified. He is also trained in Hunter Road Force Balancing and Section 609 CCA Refrigerant Recycle & Recovery. He graduated from Universal Technical Institute on the Director’s List with a 4.0 GPA.

He loves tuning cars and views each project as a big puzzle. Each project comes with obstacles to overcome for sound staging to be perfect within the vehicle. Matt truly feels fulfilled when he sees a client hear music like they have never experienced before.

Matt along with his wife, two daughters, and their pint-sized Yorkie are enjoying the “Beach Life” as residents of Lewes, DE. When he isn’t creating sound and visual masterpieces, he enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and attending concerts. He has an eye for detail when working on projects, and also has an eye behind the camera as well. Matt’s photography of his projects becomes an art of its own.

He may be all business when he is focused on a project, but he can be found being silly at times too. Matt finds ways to insert levity into his surroundings. It may come in the form of a video, a photo, or a social media comment, and when it happens it brings smiles to many.

Matt is the recipient of the Technician Team MVP 2019!

Pam Foulke

Graphic Designer and Production Assistant

Originally from Pennsylvania, Pam joins the team as a nearby Maryland resident. Her father was a mechanic, so she spent time growing up around the automotive world. She studied Graphic Design & Art, so she's a perfect addition to working in our GraFX department to upgrade client's rides with cool, new aesthetics!

When she's not at work, she likes to play D&D, hike, paddle board, visit farmer's markets, and generally spend time outdoors. She spends time with her BF, Cody, and their pet cat, Snips!

Patrick Morris

Off-Road Technician

Born and raised in Delaware, Patrick joins the team with a passion and drive for the automotive industry. He's always enjoyed upgrading and tinkering around with vehicles, from modifying German and Japanese imports, to air ride suspensions, exhaust, and new wheels on domestic trucks; he has a passion for vehicles! His enthusiasm and hands-on ability makes him a great addition to the Sound FX family.

Patrick likes to fish and is an avid PC gamer (FPS is his go-to genre, so heads up if you're playing Apex or Overwatch!). He, his wife, and their daughter have two cats, Luna and Socks, and a dog named Reed.

Patrick is Hunter Engineer Certified and won Technician Champ January 2023!

Paul Piper

Transportation Engineer

Paul is a Bridgeville local, and joins the team as a Vehicle Transportation Engineer. He has an interest in cars in general, a flexible schedule, and a positive attitude which is a great combination for Sound FX.

Paul was in the military for 26 years, and was deployed 3 times (we are thankful for his service). In his spare time, he likes to work-out, and ride his motorcycle.

Rachel Widmaier

Store Administrator

Hailing from the Far Away Land of Maryland, Rachel joins the Sound FX family as a Store Administrator. Currently dating Sales Specialist Travis (see, we really are a close-knit group!) she brings her upbeat personality and positive vibes to the team.

Rachel is currently a college student, studying Animal Science and on her pre-vet track. She has been starting to upgrade her personal car (which goes with the territory of working at Sound FX) and also takes care of her American Quarter Horse, Perry, which she also upgrades with speakers, wheels, and tires (just kidding, it's a horse, just making sure you're paying attention)!

Coming Soon!

Superstar!

Rob Killeen

Off-Road/Accessory Installation Specialist

Rob has been in the industry for 15+ years, and five of those years have been with Sound FX. Rob is ASE Certified. He enjoys the challenge of installing new products, especially vehicles that he has never worked on before.

He is happily married to his wife, and they are parents to, Jack, their German Shepherd Husky. Jack provides entertainment with his antics, which are often shared on social media.

Rob enjoys car shows and truck pulls and has a lifted truck of his own. Even though he likes "owning the road with his big rambling truck", he one day wants to own his dream car, a Dodge Challenger SRT.

Rob is Hunter Engineering Certified and won Employee of the Month 2018.

Robbie Smith

Lewes Inventory Manager

A lifelong resident of Delaware, Robbie joins the team with a positive attitude and the ability to work in the fast-moving world that is Inventory at Sound FX! Robbie thinks of Sound FX as almost a second home. Between his co-workers, the atmosphere, and his bosses Sound FX holds a special place in my heart.

When he's not at Sound FX, Robbie likes to spend time customizing cars ( a definite running theme with the Sound FX crew!), going to cars shows or going to the movies. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracy, and their children; Jai'mere, Na'Kayla, Le'Yiah, Raeshawn, and Amiyah. He also has quite a few pets:
dogs ( Sapphire, Bella, Diamond, Ruby, Henny) and cats (Madison and Patches).

Ronnie Gillespie

Transportation Engineer

Ronnie joins the Sound FX family as a native of DE and a retiree from AI Dupont. Having been a former client of Sound FX himself, he is looking forward to helping out the team and clients with vehicle delivery.

Outside of work, Ronnie likes spending time doing outdoor activities with his wife Lana (like camping), and taking care of their Shih Tzu Lilly.

Shane Murphy

12-Volt Installation Specialist

Like most of the team here at Sound FX, Shane comes on board with lots of experience and a passion for the automotive industry. A native of DE, Shane has grown up working on/around cars, his dad and uncle got him into upgrading vehicles at a young age. He's always eager to learn more within the industry to grow his skill set!

When not at work, Shane takes care of his pitbull (Bella), enjoys fishing, and restores classic video games and video game consoles (mostly NES and N64). His favorite game is Ocarina of Time, so you know he's a good dude.

Shane is the winner of the Technician Team MVP Award 2022!

Stephen Loeffler

Window Film Technician

Residing in Milford, DE, Stephen is a graduate of Lake Forest High School in Felton, DE, class of 2007. He earned his bachelors degree at Frostburg State University in 2011. His hobbies include skateboarding, going to the beach, and spending time with his family. Stephen has two children, 3 year old Mia and 2 month old Stephen II (SJ), with his fiancé Jazzmen.

Stephen has worked in the window film industry for almost 11 years, professionally installing for over 7 years. He has received installation training certification from Eastman Chemical Comapny, also known as LLumar Window Film, and also received accreditation from the International Window Film Association (IWFA) as an automotive and solar control window film specialist.

Stephen has extensive installation experience in automotive, architectural, decorative, and safety/security film products. He takes pride in the finished product and strives to satisfy each and every customer. Quality over quantity always defines Stephen's workmanship.

Stephen was won Employee of the Year in 2019 AND 2021!

Therese Lewis

Store Administrator

Hailiing from the far away Post-Apocalyptic Wastelands of Maryland, Therese is the better half of the Road Warrior and joins the team as a Store Administrator. She brings an attention to detail, a drive to succeed, and a positive attitude daily, helping to maintain Sound FX's commitment to excellence.

At her homestead, Therese and her family have two dogs, one cat, six chickens, several fish, two crabs- a veritable menagerie! Therese enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and reading.

Thomas Prentice

12-Volt & Off-Road Sales Specialist

Thomas is joining the Sound FX family from the Preston Group, bringing many years of varied sales experience to the team. He strives to maintain a track record of excellence, doing his best to make every client beyond satisfied with the automotive solutions he provides.

Outside of work, he spends time with his family and their large menagerie of over 40 pets! This includes 4 pigs, 2 goats, 14 chickens, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 9 reptiles, 6 beetles, 2 rats and a Flemish giant rabbit! If you are looking to upgrade your ark, you know who to call!

Thomas is the Sales Team MVP Award 2022 Winner!

Tina Wills

GraFX Director

Born and raised in DE, Tina joins the Sound FX family with over three decades of experience in the automotive industry. She is ready to take her skill set to the next level, and loves seeing a client's vision come to life.

Outside of work she likes to spend time with her grandchildren, going to the lake, and raising her husky and shepherd mix, Sheba.

Tony Laucirica

Window Film Technician

Being born the son of a military Sergeant Major in Thailand, Tony has had quite the locale jumping life (including Florida, South Carolina, and New England) before settling in Delaware. His love affair with vehicles started in his high school days; starting with electronics instatallations and moving onto his niche of Window Tinting. Tony checked out the local shops to see what would be a good fit for him, and like many of our team, found the combination of our friendly culture and professional car upgrades to be just what he was looking for.

Outside of work, Tony loves watching sports, being someone who has traveled so much, he has favorite teams from all over! He's a big fan of race cars, and has also recently gotten into Arsenal (UK soccer is on another level compared to the US)!

Travis Hovatter

12-Volt & Off-Road Sales Specialist

Travis is is the young buck of the Sound FX sales team, but is certainly no slouch. Although he prefers working on diesel trucks, he is knowledgeable in all areas and is able to help clients with anything to enhance their vehicle or boat. Travis is eager to learn as much as he can and help clients fulfill their vehicle modification wish list.

Playing soccer all of his life, Travis has some fancy footwork. He can be seen shufflin’ across the Sound FX complex as he hustles on the showroom floor. Those quick steps come in handy as a father to a young child and for playing with his poodle, Buddy.

Travis has won a bevy of awards at Sound FX : Sales Team MVP 2019, Million Dollar Club 2020, 2021, and 2022, and Sales Champ December 2022!

Travis Parker

Service Manager

A Delaware local, Travis has been working in the automotive industry for over 20 years. He wanted to leave the dealership aspect and become more hands-on with clients, so it was a natural fit for him to join the team at Sound FX. He enjoys the customizing aspect of the auto-world, especially Jeeps and Rams.

A husband and a father, Travis enjoys spending time with his family outside of work. He also likes to play pool (he will shark people in weekend tournaments, so watch out!) and the occasional round of golf.

Tyler Frombach

Window Film Technician

Tyler joins the Sound FX team after moving here from Pittsburgh. Tyler's step-dad worked with Brian back in the Home Electronics days, so he was already familiar with the culture and environment of Sound FX. He brings a positive attitude and a passion for being around a wide variety of vehicles (and being able to work on them).

When not at work, Tyler likes to be outdoors hunting and fishing. He also spends time with his family and their 3 dogs: Oakley, Cricket, and Basial.

Wyatt Hotchkiss

Graphics Technician

Born and raised in DE, Wyatt joins the team with over a decade of automotive experience. He loves being able to complete a client's vision, and the uniqueness that can come with each job. He came to Sound FX to be able to branch out more creatively when working on projects for our amazing clientele!

He enjoys drawing and painting (ball-point pen and digital are his respective mediums), gaming, and learning to code. He likes hanging out with his girlfriend and their 4 pets : 2 dogs and 2 cats who all get along (mass hysteria!).

Zeke Gutshall

12-Volt Installation Specialist

After a brief hiatus, Zeke returns to the team with his over 18 plus years of automotive experience! He's always up for a challenge, and loves the variety of upgrades & modifications that come with each new job. Seeing a unique build come to completion makes him proud.

Outside of work, Zeke spends time with his wife, kids, and cat. He enjoys motorsports when he's not upgrading vehicles.