BizVoice May/June 2016

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92 BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – May/June 2016
Harman-izing
MAKING BIG
NOISE IN ELKHART
Address: 1718 W. Mishawaka Road
Elkhart, IN 46517
Telephone: (574) 294-8000
Web site:
Management: Dinesh C. Paliwal,
chairman, president and CEO
Andrew Luck sprints across the goal line during one of the bearded quarterback’s trademark scrambles. The
crowd goes wild and a roar can be heard throughout downtown Indianapolis. More than just Colts’ fans are
making noise, however, in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Much of the stadium’s sound system is outfitted by audio company Harman International, a $7 billion
global manufacturer and designer of a variety of products for cars, consumers and professionals. Its professional
division, which boasts an operation of approximately 300 workers, is based in Elkhart.
“Lucas Oil Stadium is a perfect example of a system that employs many Harman technologies to provide a
game-day experience that people expect,” explains Marc Kellom, Elkhart site leader.
He adds that in addition to all major athletic venues at the University of Notre Dame, nine of the 12
Brazilian stadiums that saw action during the 2014 FIFA World Cup used Harman’s sound equipment.
“It’s well north of 70% of all major league sports in the United States that use our equipment – football,
basketball, baseball, hockey,” he adds.
The evolution of the sports experience has benefited the company in a booming way.
“There’s a higher standard of audio and video that’s present than what you would’ve seen 10 to 15 years ago,”
he asserts. “If you go to the beginning of your favorite university’s basketball game, there’s a giant sound and light
show happening while the players are being announced, and they run video clips. All these things are going on.”
Surround sound
Harman’s clientele includes far more than just sports venues.
“We provide audio and video and lighting and control technologies for a huge variety of commercial spaces –
movie theaters, cruise ships, rock concerts, sporting facilities, convention centers, retail establishments,
restaurants and churches,” Kellom lists.
While customers vary, they’re all grateful they can rely on Harman’s quality.
“For our customers, reliability is the most important thing,” Kellom notes. “They also want a global support
structure and someone who can support them at scale. If you’re doing business with a restaurant chain with
3,000 locations, it’s hard to do that if you’re a tiny company.”
Expectations are always increasing.
By Matt Ottinger
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Harman’s sound equipment has made a booming impact
on the sports world, as it’s used in some of the largest
stadiums around the globe. In fact, Indianapolis Colts fans
are privy to sweet sounds through Harman components in
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts photo).