Core Brands Names Jeff Costello Vice President of Sales

To maximize sales of its home technology solutions through all key sales channels, Core Brands, LLC today announced the appointment of award-winning multi-channel sales leader Jeff Costello to the position of Vice President of Sales. 

“Jeff Costello is a very important hire for us, bringing more than 20 years of sales excellence with innovative companies across the electronics and technology sectors.  He is a ‘customer–first’ leader and a welcome addition to the team,” Core Brands President Joe Roberts said today. “He has already helped transform two of our sales channels, and with Jeff’s previous successes in driving CE, distribution and enterprise channel sales, he’s going to play a major role in helping Core Brands achieve our growth objectives.”

Now leading all aspects of Core Brands worldwide sales, Costello is no newcomer to Core Brands. For the last year he was in a senior consulting role directing major account and channel alignment strategies, as well as leading the new UMAP compliance initiatives for Core Brands and its sister company, Linear (now Nortek Security and Control).  

Previously, Costello served as Vice President of Sales at Smith Micro Software, where he led sales for the consumer, B2B, distribution and strategic accounts channels for this developer of wireless, productivity and graphics software, where he grew annual revenues and earned two ICE Awards (Internet Commerce Excellence) for launch and partnership promotions.

Costello preceded this with a ten year history of success as Vice President of Sales at Broderbund, where he ran North American reseller sales, growing annual software revenues and achieving a #1 position in 11 different categories. 

“This last year working with Joe Roberts and the sales teams at Core Brands has given me a clear understanding of the strengths of the company and what needs to be done to maximize our revenues,” Costello said today.  “I will be working closely with our sales management teams, independent reps and distributors in the United States and around the world to execute the strategies that will deliver a larger share of market for our award-winning brands.  I am excited to join the Core team as we bring to market innovative new smart home control, audio, connectivity and power management solutions to our worldwide customer base.”

Core Brands Continues Receiving Rave Reviews For New Products Debuted at CEDIA 2014

The awards just keep on coming for leading home entertainment and control technology solutions provider Core Brands, a Nortek company. At CEDIA 2014, the company’s new product introductions received critical acclaim from Residential Systems, Technology Integrator and CE Pro. And now, rAVe Publications raves about the Xantech XtraNet IP line and the new SpeakerCraft AIM 2 Series.

The rAVe publications editors judged the 2014 Best of CEDIA Awards from the show floor at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The awards were presented to the most distinguished products displayed at the show in twenty-five individual categories. The Xantech XtraNet IP line received the title Best New CI Install Tool, and the SpeakerCraft AIM 2 Series was named Best New In-Wall/In-Ceiling Speaker.

“The enormous amount recognition we’ve received during and after the show has been most gratifying and it’s an honor to receive these two awards from rAVe Publications,” said Joe Roberts, Core Brands Vice President of Products and Marketing. ”The Core Brands team is thrilled to bring dealers the solutions they need for their future success.”

Core Brands received a total of 12 awards at CEDIA 2014 for new product innovation. The rAVe Publications 2014 Best of CEDIA Awards announcement was made online at www.ravepubs.com.

Core Brands Takes the Cake at CEDIA 2014 With Ten Awards For New Product Innovation

Leading home entertainment and control technology solutions provider Core Brands, a Nortek company, may have served a lot of cake at CEDIA 2014 with the appearance of Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, but it went home with something much sweeter — a record-setting ten awards from Residential Systems, Technology Integrator, and CE Pro for new product innovation!  The ten awards were the most awarded to a single manufacturer at CEDIA 2014.

Core Brands was awarded two Residential Systems Best of Show Awards for the ELAN UltraMatrix series of HDMI-Audio Switchers and the Niles Auriel MRC-6430 Multi-Room Audio System. CE Pro awarded two CE Pro BEST Awards for the SpeakerCraft AIM “Series 2” speaker family and ELAN g1 Entertainment and Control System. Technology Integrator gave six EXC!TE Awards to the SpeakerCraft AIM Series 2, the ELAN g1 Controller, the ELAN UltraMatrix, the Niles Auriel MRC-6430 Multi-Room Controller, the Panamax Power360 Surge Protectors with USB Charging, and the Panamax SM3-PRO System Manager.

“Innovation spoke for itself at CEDIA 2014,” said Joe Roberts, Core Brands Vice President of Products and Marketing, “and we’re honored to receive awards from Residential Systems, CE Pro and Technology Integrator in all our categories—Control, Audio and Power. However, we’re even more honored by the excitement these new products generated among dealers.  Our focus is to delight dealers with innovative products that exceed their expectations. We think we did that at CEDIA 2014, and our dealers’ customers are going to enjoy the benefits of each of these best-of-class brands.”

The Residential Systems Best of Show Awards recognizes outstanding products exhibited at the CEDIA EXPO. Winners are selected by panels of professional users and editors initially based on product descriptions but ultimately by judges’ inspections at the convention.

The 6th Annual CE Pro BEST Awards recognizes the most noteworthy new product and technologies of 2014. A panel of custom integrators and CE Pro editors chose the winners of this year’s BEST Awards with their main goal to recognize products that make a substantial impact on integrators. Judging criteria not only analyzed the technical merits of the products, but also the ability of the device to help integrators open up avenues to a potential new customer base, enable integrators to design and install systems faster and thus more profitably, or help integrators gain a profitable margin on the equipment itself.

Technology Integrator’s 12th annual EXC!TE Awards were given to products that stand out for being innovative, high-performing and solutions-oriented for the custom installation professional. Technology Integrator looks for products that assist custom installers with the unique challenges they face every day on the job. The products are judged on how they increase installers' productivity, the dealers' profitability, the clients' satisfaction and the industry's vitality.

Core Brands Names Atlantic Integrated to Represent Elan Along With its Power and Audio Brands In The New York Metropolitan Area

Underscoring the growing and expanding market strength of its ELAN Entertainment and Control platform, Core Brands, a Nortek company (NASDAQ: NTK), today announced the appointment of Rockleigh, New Jersey based Atlantic Integrated, the former Savant area rep, to serve as the New York Metropolitan Area sales representative firm for Core Brands.

L to R: Ben Schreier, Dave Humphries and Mike Pawlowski of Atlantic Integrated with Adam Griffin and Jim Koenig of Core Brands.

“Atlantic Integrated is the most respected sales rep firm in the entire New York metropolitan area,” said Dave Keller, Senior Vice President of Sales, Core Brands, in announcing the appointment.  “The ELAN control platform combined with our audio and power brands and representation by Atlantic Integrated will more effectively present the complete Core Brands value proposition to dealers throughout the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut sales regions.  In doing so, we will be able to offer these dealers an exciting new series of profit generating sales programs leveraging the substantial product attachment opportunities between ELAN and our audio and power brands.”

According to Keller, the appointment of Atlantic Integrated also immediately streamlines and enhances the company’s dealer communications and programs throughout the region, making it easier for dealers to discuss all brands from Core Brands in a single meeting.

“In addition, Core Brands will now be able to utilize the Atlantic Integrated state-of-the-art training center to more rapidly on-board new CI dealers while keeping all of our dealers trained to expertly install and service our new products and system solutions,” said Keller. “This appointment represents a giant step forward in our service to customers throughout this critically important territory.

Dave Humphries, the principal of Atlantic Integrated, today commented that, “The entire Atlantic Integrated team is extremely excited to have the opportunity to represent the single most important brand family in the entire custom installation industry.  We believe that the brands of Core Brands individually make up the best-in-class products within each category.  Collectively, Core Brands is a unified solution that enables our integrators to offer their customers a comprehensive integrated solution.”

Atlantic Integrated (www.atlanticintegrated.com) is located at 22 Paris Avenue, Suite 208, Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647.  They can be reached at (201) 767-4230. The firm’s principal, Dave Humphries, can also be reached at (973) 634-3555 or at Dave@atlanticintegrated.com.

Core Brands Supports Gary Sinise Foundation's "R.I.S.E Outreach Program" Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment

Core Brands, a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTK), today announced that it is supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation by providing a range of audio, control, and power management solutions to be installed in five homes being built in 2014 for returning wounded military service members. According to Core Brands Vice President of Products & Marketing Joe Roberts, the commitment to provide solutions to each home stems from the company’s desire to support returning American military personnel who have made extreme sacrifices for their country.
 
“All of us who enjoy the benefits of freedom have an obligation to give back to those who have sacrificed so much to preserve those freedoms,” Roberts said today. “We think the work being done by the Gary Sinise Foundation to help wounded heroes live independently in the communities they call home is nothing short of extraordinary. We are honored to help in any way we can.”
 
Joel Berrettini of IT and Media Solutions, an Elite level dealer of ELAN Home Systems, initiated the relationship between Core Brands and the Gary Sinise Foundation.  His involvement with the Foundation began on September 11, 2012, when he saw Megyn Kelly on Fox News run a story on a Smart Home built by the Gary Sinise Foundation. “Here was a way that I could give back and have a direct impact on the quality of life for our Veterans,” said Berrettini. “There is a desire to give back and with the lifetime of skill sets acquired, I was all in.  I called Core Brands and they didn’t hesitate and gave me their commitment. As a result, five veterans are going to be able to live independently in their new smart homes.”
 
“Home is more than a house. It’s literally where we take comfort from the world,” said Judy Otter, Executive Director of the Gary Sinise Foundation. “When Joel Berrettini first contacted us, it was clear that he had a heart for our military.  He was extremely motivated to assist us, in any way that he could, and has been extremely generous with his time and resources.  The contribution being made by Core Brands will help to put 21st century smart home technology at the fingertips of some of the bravest Americans to have ever answered the nation’s call to serve.”
 
The experiences of war leave an indelible impact on servicemen and servicewomen. Upon their return to civilian life, the physical, emotional and psychological challenges they and their families face are often very difficult. As citizens, supporting our defenders is a responsibility each of us must carry – and the Gary Sinise Foundation is committed to ensuring that the sacrifices of our brave men and women are never forgotten.