Harman Professional Expands Relationship With Dobbs-Stanford: Adds AKG And Florida To Manufacturer’s Representative’s Responsibilities

NORTHRIDGE, California — As part of its ongoing commitment to provide dealers, contractors and customers with standardized, quality sales and support services for its range of professional audio technologies, Harman Professional today announced an expanded relationship with manufacturer’s representative, Dobbs-Stanford, that sees the longtime partner add AKG microphones and headphones to its line of products supported. In doing so, Dobbs-Stanford will provide audio professionals in its territory with comprehensive sales and support for the entire range of Harman Professional brands including Soundcraft, Studer, Crown Audio, JBL, BSS Audio, dbx and now also AKG.

In addition to the added opportunity of AKG, Harman Professional also announced today that Dobbs-Stanford will assume sales responsibility for the entire Harman Professional product line in the state of Florida effective January 1, 2009.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with six regional offices located throughout its territory, Dobbs-Stanford was founded in 1968 and covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and western Tennessee. The company serves the professional audio-video, consumer electronics and digital signage markets and is led by Fred Dobbs, Woody Taylor and vice president and professional division manager Larry O'Neill.

Today’s announcement was made by Michael MacDonald, Harman Professional Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales, who pointed to Dobbs-Stanford’s comprehensive professionalism, organizational strength and sales leadership as key drivers for the decision to award AKG and the Florida sales territory to Dobbs-Stanford’s responsibilities.

“There are a lot of choices out there when it comes to mic lines and we are really pleased that the Dobbs-Stanford team has chosen to represent AKG’s outstanding products. AKG enjoys an enviable heritage in transducer design and manufacturing and an unparalleled opportunity to leverage that pedigree into the broader, larger contracting, MI and pro sound markets,” MacDonald said today. “Couple this with the exciting range of new products that the company has planned and the opportunity for sales growth at AKG is among the strongest in the Harman Pro portfolio. I’m very pleased that Larry O’Neill and his team have seized on this opportunity and will be representing AKG across their expanded territory. Dobbs-Stanford is the model rep organization with a strong emphasis on training and education, a proven commitment to customer and dealer care and unparalleled professionalism throughout the organization.”

Commenting on the announcement, Larry O’Neill noted, “AKG is a brand with tremendous potential and we’re very pleased to bring their excellent headphones and microphones to our dealers and their customers. We look forward to working with the distribution team here in the United States and with the headquarters in Vienna to bring the heritage, quality and innovation to the broadest customer communities within our territories. We’re eager to deliver our brand of professional, fast and friendly service to the professional audio dealers, contractors and customers of Florida.”