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.

  • 2019 MOBILE ELECTRONICS RETAILER OF THE YEAR

  • 2018 MOBILE ELECTRONICS RETAILER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP

  • HOME OF THE 2016 MOBILE ELECTRONICS INSTALLER OF THE YEAR

  • 2014 MOBILE ELECTRONICS RETAILER OF THE YEAR

  • VOTED “BEST OF DELAWARE” BY COASTAL STYLE MAGAZINE

  • VOTED “BEST OF DELAWARE” BY DELAWARE TODAY

A Letter From Our Visionary

Reflecting back on my nearly thirty 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 to have nearly fifty great assets, our employees.

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!

Andy Tavolario

Certified Business Leader

Andy’s like a boomerang. He has lived in Delaware almost all his life except for a short stint when he moved to the city. He quickly decided the city life was not for him and returned to Delaware. Likewise, Andy’s six year tenure at Sound FX had a short break, in which he exited briefly and returned.

As an installer, Andy enjoyed being creative with alarms and automation. Now, as a motivator of staff, he focuses on sales techniques and business development. If Andy tells you to Go Fish, he isn’t playing card games. He is referencing the Fish Philosophy, which promotes individuals being alert and active in the workplace. Andy's passion is trying to help people realize their fullest potential, which is why he also encourages learning how to "Choose Your Attitude,” and suggests it has been impactful in his own life.

Andy gets down with DIY projects, and some of his work can be seen in the Sound FX showroom. It’s no surprise that Andy also likes LEGO given his building skills.

Long term, Andy looks forward to retiring to the San Francisco Bay Area where he can support the 49’ers. However, given his boomerang past, if Andy leaves chances are he will return to good ole' Delaware.

Aubraa Jernigan

Service Advisor

Aubraa was born in Sussex county, ended up traveling since her dad is in the military, and has now returned to where it all started in Delaware. She's friends with Sales Specialist Scott Thomas (which we won't hold against her) and recommended she join the team. Being familiar with the Sound FX culture, she came on board as a Service Advisor. , She's a self-proclaimed Jane-Of-All-Trades, having a variety of career backgrounds, and she brings that multi-faceted skill set with her to maximize the client experience.
When she's not at work, she loves going to the beach , reading (thrillers and mysteries are solid go-to choices), dancing, and teaching preschool ballet and tumbling. She also has two dogs: Samson and Muffin.

Aubraa is the winner of the February 2023 Service Team Championship.

Austin Mortan

Graphics Technician

Born and raised in Delaware, Austin decided to join the Sound FX Family because he wanted to join a company with a friendly culture and career-driven options. Working in construction and installation made his transition into technician a natural fit. He loves to see a completed project, and brings that mentality to the team.

Outside of work, Austin loves to go fishing ( I mean really loves it, he mentioned it 3 times during out conversation). He spends time with his girlfriend and their two dogs, Sullivan and Molly.

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 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.

Bunky Griffith

Transportation Engineer

Bunky moved to Delaware in 1974, and has quite a varied work history under his belt. He's excited to be a part of the team; he was a client that had a remote start installed, saw his former coworker Ronnie was working here, and he decided to come onboard!

In his spare time, he likes to do a lot of reading, travel with his wife, and stay active in his church. He and his wife have been married for 50 years, and they have a Shihpoo named Asia.

Charles "Ty" Scott

Window Tint & Glass Technician

Coming from Federalsburg, MD, Ty brings over a year of tinting experience to the Sound FX team. Ty has always had a passion for working with his hands on vehicles - cars, trucks, suvs; you name it, he's worked on it.

When he's not at work he enjoys outdoors activities like hunting, fishing, and riding 4-wheelers. He also spends times with his Scottish terrier, Whiskey.

Christy Ray

Executive Assistant

Originally from Maryland, moving to LA to then move to Delaware to be near family (that's quite a hike from one coast to the other!), Christy joins the Sound FX family as an Executive Assistant. She been in the Assistant game for over a decade, working for Fortune 500 companies, so she brings a lot of experience to the table. She is a fan of the Sound FX culture, and is looking forward to helping our team thrive!

Outside of work, she likes to go to the beach, hike, and write (mostly inspirational musings). She has two cats: Hoppy-Churro and Arlo.

Chris Dukes

Inventory Assistant

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!

Courtney LaRose

Graphic Designer

Originally from Florida, Courtney moved around with her husband who was in the Airforce until settling in Delaware a few years ago. She joins the Sound FX Family with years of experience in Graphic Design and an eagerness to complete projects. She's a whiz at Adobe Suite and is always excited to meet new challenges and bring a client's vision to life.

Outside of work, she spends time with her husband, 2 kids, and her beagle-mix dog; Penny. She enjoys woodworking, designing custom vinyl, and screen-printing.

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!

David Truitt

Transportation Engineer

Born and raised in Delaware, David joins the Sound FX Family as a retiree. He's a team player and excited to join our team of Transportation Engineers.

He enjoys anything new as a challenge for fun - driving stock cars, riding motorcycles, jumping out of airplanes - good times! He's been married for over 3 decades, and is the father of one of our technicians; Zach.

Dawn Garrette

Accounting

Dawn is her name and numbers and balancing books is her game. With her Accounting I and Counting II Certificates, Dawn has kept the Sound FX books balanced for over a decade! Along the way, she has also picked up some knowledge of the industry. Dawn is crushing it with her skill set; becoming a member of American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, and adding Certified Bookkeeper to her repertoire.

Dawn is originally from Baltimore, MD, but has called Delaware home for 15 years. Outside of Sound FX, Dawn balances her time between her husband, two children, six grandchildren, and her cat, Lucy. Dawn enjoys a good NASCAR race and adventurous camping trips. One trip she plans to take is to “The Big Island” in Hawaii.

Dawn is the recipient of the Service/Admin Team MVP Award 2018 and Lifetime Achievement Award 2021!

Derek Reed

12-Volt Installation Specialist

One of the highlights of Men In Black is the delightfully gross performance of Derek Reed as Edgar The Bug. The bug in question is a large, cockroach-like alien who has come to Earth in search of a MacGuffin and walks around in the skin of a dead farmer named Edgar. This skinsuit isn't a good fit, so Edgar The Bug's skin is sagging off his face and his movements are jerky and unnatural. One of the most famous scenes in the movie is just after Derek has eaten the real Edgar and taken his skin, and it goes to Edgar's wife Beatrice demanding sugar water.
One detail Men In Black viewers might miss in the scene where J and K come to visit Beatrice after Edgar escapes is when she serves them lemonade. J subtly spits a mouthful back into the glass; this is because Edgar The Bug had used up all Beatrice's sugar and it was too sour.

Derek West

Brand Ambassador

Derrico13 is a fictional superhero and one of the four main characters of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media. He is co-creator Peter Laird's favorite Turtle.

He is usually depicted wearing a purple eye mask. His primary signature weapon are his (2) effective bō staffs. In all media, he is the smartest of the four turtles. He is listed as 4' in height on the original action figure release. Derrico13 often speaks in technobabble with a natural aptitude for science and technology. He is the middle of the turtles, and third-in-command. Like all of the brothers, he is named after a Renaissance artist; in this case, he is named after model Donna D'errico.

In the first three live action films, Derrico13, like Leonardo, is arguably less mature than he was in the original comics and the 1987 animated series, as he is shown joking around more. The first movie never officially identifies Derrico13 as the group's resident "whiz kid", though he is occasionally shown tinkering with various devices and is seen to have a vast knowledge of obscure topics (he is shown to be a master at 'Trivial Pursuit' when playing against the other Turtles and later astutely labels Casey Jones a claustrophobic). He takes his time deciding on the most appropriate victory cheers, though his choices are sometimes quite perplexing (for example, "Bossa Nova!"). However, the second film clearly established Derrico13 as the most scientifically-minded turtle as well as the most introspective, feeling dejected when he learns that the ooze that created the Turtles only exists because of an accident, although Splinter consoles his dejection by pointing out that the circumstances of their origins cannot define their present worth.

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. George 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.

Ethan White

Designer, GraFX Division

Ethan joins the Sound FX family as our newest Graphics Technician in the GraFX division. Originally from VA and moving to DE, Ethan has built up an artistic portfolio with over 10 years of experience. He started with traditional mediums (pen, paper, etc) and quickly moved into the digital realm. He brings his artistic passion with him to any project he takes on.

Outside of work, Ethan enjoys gaming on his PC (Apex is his go-to, but there's always room for Halo or Minecraft). He has taken up fishing and archery, which are both great skills to have when he visits renaissance fairs in PA or MD.

Ethan is the winner of the Unsung Hero Award 2022!

Gabbi Milliken

Service Advisor

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!

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 "Beetle" Passwaters is one half of the Passwaters brothers that work at Sound FX. George 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!

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

Holden Hampton

Graphics Technician

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!

Hunter Gilliland

Window Tint Technician

Moving from Alabama to Delaware to join the Sound FX family, Hunter has been working in the automotive world since he was 18. He's always been a fan of tinting vehicles and learning the nuances to increasing privacy and improving vehicle inner temperatures while maintaining a solid outer aesthetic. Hunter saw all the great Google reviews Sound FX has online, came out to meet the team, loved the culture, and the rest is history!

Outside of work, Hunter likes doing things outdoors like hiking, golfing, and a bit of traveling (especially exploring big cities).

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 Buchanan

Inventory Specialist

Hailing from MD, Jason has been in DE for over 13 years. He rejoins the team with years of experience in the industry, and an already working knowledge of our inventory system. He brings his positive attitude and professional experience on the daily, meeting every new challenge head-on.

Outside of work, Jason enjoys watching football, and gaming (FPS & Sports games are his main go-to). He also spends time with his son and programs his own gaming content (Coldfusion software is back!).

Jason is the winner of the Service/Admin Team MVP Award 2019!

Jason Friedel

General Sales Manager

A Delaware native and long-time member of the Sound FX family, Jason rejoins the automotive sales team with his trademark passion! He started working on vehicle electronics in high school, eventually his career path crossed with Brian Layton's in the industry and the rest is history. Jason loves completing projects and satisfying our client's various upgrade needs.

Jason spends time with his girlfriend, Penny, and their French bulldog, Zoe, when he's not working in the auto-world. He also likes to go to the beach, spend time on the bike trails, and partake of the occasional adult beverage. Cheers!

Jason is the winner of our Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 and Sales Team Champion February 2023!

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.

Joe Mensack

Bridgeville 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!

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.

Kayla Fleming

Service Advisor

Kayla has always been involved the automotive industry her whole life. From holding a flashlight for her dad as a child while he was working under a hood to focusing on it as her area of study, cars and trucks have always been there. With years of experience under her belt, Kayla moved around the East Coast until finally settling in Delaware.

In her spare time, she helps her boyfriend upgrade his truck, attend car shows, and raises 13 dogs and a Sphinx cat named Niko.

Kayla has won our Teammate Of The Year 2021 award!

Leanne Kieswetter

GraFX Division Manager

Moving to DE four years ago, Leanne joins the Sound FX family with almost two years of automotive industry experience. She's a people person, enjoys helping clients, and brings a passion for providing solutions to the team.

Outside of work, Leanne spends time with her husband and two dogs (Sterling & Ella), and likes doing outdoors activities. Between archery, camping, and helping her husband fix up his dirt bike, she's one busy lady!

Leanne won Employee of the Year 2021.

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!

Mary Beth Tice

Service Advisor

Born and raised in good ol' Sussex County, Mary Beth is joining the team with a positive attitude and solid background of customer service experience. She met our teammate Vanessa, saw our many positive reviews online, and decided she wanted to become a part of our work culture.

Outside of Sound FX, she likes to knit, read (especially mysteries), and drink tea (which pairs nicely with Agatha Christie novels). She is a Baltimore Orioles fan, and takes care of her cat, Reginald, with her husband Preston.

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!

Rachel Widmaier

Transportation Engineer

Hailing from the Far Away Land of Maryland, Rachel joins the Sound FX family as a Transportation Engineer. 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)!

Randy Gallaway

Graphics Technician

Randy joins the Sound FX Family with some unique experience under his belt: he used to run a small chain of donut shops before shifting to the automotive world. He's had a few years working in graphic wraps and brings a positive attitude, business know-how, and an eye for graphic design to the team.
Outside of work, Randy likes to fish, do outdoor activities, and race RC Cars (some with designs he's made himself).

Randy has won our Teammate Of The Year 2022 Award and is 3M Installer Certified!

Randy Gallaway, Jr.

Graphics Technician

Randy, aka Junior, joins the Sound FX team alongside his dad in the GraFX division. Growing up working with his dad on vehicles (and at the Donut Shop!), Junior was a natural fit when he came on board. He loves the hands-on learning experience he's getting, and is having a fun time as well.

Junior likes to relax at the beach when he's not working (originally hailing from Arkansas, he prefers the coastal life). He also likes to kick back with one of his favorite animes like DBZ, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, or That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (yes, that's a real show!).

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.

Robert Smith

Inventory Specialist

Living in Delaware his whole life, Robbie joins the team with over 13 years of experience in the automotive world. He's always had a passion for cars, and loves seeing them be upgraded, learning about new parts, and generally being in the auto-field. He brings that passion and drive to the team on a daily basis.

Outside of work, he enjoys going to car shows, his kid's games, and the movies (action films are his top pick!). He also has quite the animal menagerie going on : 2 goats, 6 pitbulls, and a ton of cats!

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.

Scott Thomas

12-Volt & Off-Road Sales Specialist

Scott, born and raised in Seaford DE, is an industry veteran. He serves as our Senior Sales Representative on our growing 12-Volt team. Scott has a high standard when it comes to customer satisfaction, as he has received 200 + 5-Star Google Reviews. Scott always put the customer first and is very passionate about making their dreams become a reality.

Scott also has a second job that he is truly passionate about, being a DAD to his daughters, Piper and Josie. Whether watching a tee-ball game, going to the beach, or shopping for toys, he wouldn’t trade spending time with his daughter for the world. Scott is also happily married to his beautiful wife Courtney, who is the backbone of the family.

Working in an industry that is constantly changing and evolving, Scott looks at each day as an adventure. He learns something new everyday and is excited to see what comes through the door next. Some people know Scott as just Scott, but most know him as #TheKingOfCarAudio!

Scott is the winner of the Sales Team MVP Award 2020 and Monthly Sales Champ January 2023!

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!

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!

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.

Vanessa Kelly

Graphics Administrator

Starting in finance and administration, Vanessa started shifted her skills into the automotive industry in 2010. This gives her a decade of experience she brings to the Sound FX family, along with her positive attitude, ability to multi-task and her affinity for being hands-on. Moving to DE from PA in 2018, she's looking forward to making a difference with our ever growing brand. She is always growing her personal and professional skill set, and has a role in multiple divisions at Sound FX.

When she's not at work, Vanessa enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and his daughter in the house they built and live in together. Vanessa likes to cook and bake (especially treats for Travis Parker and Brian Layton), and has started her own travel-based business; VK Destinations.

Vanessa is the winner of the Service/Admin Team MVP 2021!

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!).

Zach Truitt

Off-Road/Accessory Installation Specialist

Locally born and raised, Zach is actually rejoining the Sound FX family! He is a big fan of the work environment and being part of an amazing team. Zach has spent the majority of his adult life working on cars, it's his passion and hobby. He is committed to making our client's vision come true.

Outside of work, Zach likes to work on his car (as many members of the team do) as well as visit/race at the local racetracks!

Zach is Hunter Engineer Certified and winner of the Technician Team MVP Award 2021!

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.