Electro-Media.com/People

Key Staff

Jeff Loether, President & CEO

Jeff established Electro-Media Design, Ltd., in 1990. During the past 20 years he has overseen production of the hundreds of designs created by Electro-Media's audiovisual engineers. Jeff remains active in the development of new products and design approaches that sometimes converge different technologies to enhance functionality, reduce system complexity and cost, and improve reliability. Through this work, Jeff has distinguished himself as a consultant's Consultant. He serves on technology committees for a number of industry associations and is a frequent guest lecturer at their conferences throughout North America. He has authored numerous articles for trade publications. Prior to EMD, Jeff managed the A/V Systems Design for the Marriott Corporation's Architecture and Construction Division from 1980 to 1990. He completed more than 250 projects for Marriott, including five-star resorts, convention/conference centers, corporate and educational facilities.

Michael Tobolski, COO

With over 35 years experience in the hospitality industry, Michael brings extensive leadership, operations management and financial expertise to Electro-Media. In addition to working for hospitality leaders such as Marriott International and Walt Disney World Resorts, Michael also has previous entrepreneurial experience, cofounding and operating a three-restaurant company in Northern Virginia.

Most recently, Michael was Senior Director- Diversity Initiatives at Marriott International, where he established the first formal supplier diversity program in the hospitality industry and was recognized as a leader in business development and diversity. Michael has held various hotel operations positions including Food & Beverage Director at the Key Bridge and Gaithersburg Marriott hotels, Hotel Controller at the Dulles Marriott hotel, Food & Beverage Manager at Disney’s Polynesian Resort and President/COO of Quicksilver Restaurants.

Eric Bracht, Senior Consultant - AudioVisual Operations

Eric has been in the hospitality industry for over twenty years, with a primary focus on hotel audio visual department operations and sales. After graduating from Ohio University with a degree in Telecommunications, Eric moved to Nashville, TN where he was a freelance audio engineer before becoming the AV Operations Supervisor at the Nashville Marriott. Eric continued his career with Marriott until March of 2009, holding various positions in AV management until becoming the Director of Event Technology at the largest Marriott in the world, the Orlando World Center Marriott. Eric brings these years of field experience to Electro-Media, where he will be instrumental in developing and overseeing the Operations Consulting practice.

Robert Hendricks, Consultant - AudioVisual

Beginning with a degree in Radio, Television and Film from the University of Maryland in 1983, Bob’s career encompasses over 25 years of experience in video production, engineering and audiovisual systems. Before joining EMD, Bob was a designer and installation team leader with CCS Presentation Systems where he was responsible for a wide variety of project types including audiovisual systems for both corporate and educational facilities. Before CCS he was Project Manager and Senior Designer for Systems Installation Group, providing design and installation of audiovisual and security systems for commercial and government clients. His career began in the video studios of the Westinghouse Defense & Electronics Systems Center, followed by seven years as a member of the professional staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he specialized in video production and engineering. Later, while working in Europe, Bob founded Hariaste Ltd., a firm that provided design and installation of professional video production systems for a new television studio in the newly independent Republic of Estonia. Bob is an experienced programmer of Crestron and AMX control systems. He is conversant in Russian and Estonian.

Luis-Eduardo Soares, MSc, BSc Principal Consultant - Acoustics

Luis-Eduardo brings many years of experience as an Acoustician and Designer to the EMD team. Before joining EMD, he was a senior consultant for Archicoustics (Florida) where he provided engineering and consulting in sound system design, architectural acoustics, sound reinforcement, and noise and vibration control to clients from around the globe. Prior to Archicoustics, he was a researcher at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (University of Southampton, England). Luis-Eduardo has also worked as an independent sound systems consultant in his native country of Brazil. He has a Master of Science degree in Acoustics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the National Council of Acoustical Consultants, Acoustical Society of America, and Audio Engineering Society. Luis-Eduardo is proficient in English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Italian and Japanese.

Kether Darshan, Designer - AudioVisual

Kether Darshan holds a Masters Degree in Audio Science and Acoustics from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelors Degree in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music.

Kether’s experience includes Consumer Electronics, Acoustics and Custom Installation industries, working on all levels of these industries, starting with Research and Development, Manufacturing, Design, Sales and Installation. Before coming to EMD Kether worked as an engineer for Crestron Electronics, Polk Audio and Pure Acoustics. He is a member of the Audio Engineering Society, and is certified in AutoCAD and Crestron Control Systems.