Safety and Driver Assistance becomes its own category, separate from security

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – April 20, 2016 – The Mobile Electronics Group has made a change to the vendor category of this year’s Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. The Safety and Retention category will now be split into two categories: Vehicle Security and Convenience, and Safety and Driver Assistance. The change enables industry participants to recognize companies that have excelled in providing vehicle and content protection as well as companies that help drivers stay safe and informed on the road.

“Each year we take an in-depth look at the awards makeup to ensure that it is in step with the current trends and practices of the mobile electronics industry,” said Solomon Daniels, program administrator. “Last year we noticed that there were several companies—those that solely produce safety or driver information products—that were not adequately represented. We’re taking steps this year to ensure that they have a proper place in the awards process.”

Prior to this change, safety was a subcategory of vehicle security, stemming from the fact that alarm and remote start manufacturers were also the driving force behind the industry’s first security-related features, such as GPS tracking, roadside assistance, and stolen vehicle recovery.

Today, safety has evolved into products and services that arm the driver with information to improve road awareness, increase efficiency, and minimize mishaps. This includes maneuvering aid cameras, dash cameras, radar detection, and the emerging line of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) products that provide lane departure and crash warnings.

As part of the awards, industry participants will vote for nominated companies in five categories. The company with the highest number of votes will earn the Top Vendor honor in that category and be eligible to win Vendor of the Year. Vendors have until May 6 to nominate their companies for inclusion in the awards process.

5-3-2017 -- The Mobile Electronics Industry Awards 2017 are officially underway with nominations now open. The awards celebrate companies and individuals that best exemplify the highest standards of quality and service excellence. Winners represent the industry at-large to consumers and act as ideal examples to better their peers within the industry.

To begin the nomination process, click the following link and follow the steps: CLICK HERE. 

This awards process begins with the selection of nominees through industry voting. The two main categories of retailers and installers are narrowed down to the "Top 50," then through peer and consumer voting, the list is narrowed to the “Top 12” retailers and installers, and these finalists submit materials to be judged by Mobile Electronics magazine’s editors and select industry judges. The winners are chosen and announced at a special awards ceremony during the Mobile Electronics Group KnowledgeFest event in August.

In addition to those categories, other industry professionals are recognized for their outstanding service. Those categories include Most Improved Retail Chain, Best Customer Retention Program, Expeditor of the Year and new to this year's awards, Salesperson of the Year. 

"It’s been a while coming, but as of this year, the Industry Awards will recognize the in-store individuals who are most responsible for bringing in the revenue and filling up the bay," according to a statement on the official website, meindustryawards.com. "Sales professionals can submit their nomination videos and let indusrty peers and their customers vote for them." 

Additional awards are given for vendors and sales representatives. Vendors and representatives nominate themselves to be included in the industry voting and submit videos and other materials to encourage industry professionals to vote for them. Then the three top vote-getters in each category are considered finalists, with the winner announced at KnowledgeFest.

To learn more about the Industry Awards, visit meindustryawards.com. 

North Andover, MA – July 21, 2020 – The Mobile Electronics Industry Awards for 2020 are officially underway with nominations closing today, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. The awards celebrate companies and individuals that best exemplify the highest standards of quality and service excellence. Winners represent the industry at-large to consumers and act as ideal examples to better their peers within the industry.

To sumbit your nomination, click the following link and follow the steps: CLICK HERE. 

This awards process begins with the selection of nominees through industry voting. The three main categories of retailers, sales professionals and installers are narrowed down to the "Top 50 (Top 20 for Sales Pros)," then through peer and consumer voting, the list is narrowed to the “Top 12” retailers, sales professionals and installers, and these finalists submit materials to be judged by a select and trusted panel of industry judges. The winners are chosen and announced at a special awards ceremony during the Mobile Electronics Association's KnowledgeFest event in September.

In addition to those categories, other industry professionals are recognized for their outstanding service. Those categories can be reviewed at https://meindustryawards.com/. 

"It’s been a while coming, but as of this year, the Industry Awards will recognize the in-store individuals who are most responsible for bringing in the revenue and filling up the bay," according to a statement on the official website, meindustryawards.com. "Sales professionals can submit their nomination videos and let indusrty peers and their customers vote for them." 

Additional awards are given for vendors and sales representatives. Vendors and representatives nominate themselves to be included in the industry voting and submit videos and other materials to encourage industry professionals to vote for them. Then the three top vote-getters in each category are considered finalists, with the winner announced at KnowledgeFest.

To learn more about the Industry Awards, visit https://meindustryawards.com/. 

146 awards to be presented to top industry professionals

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS., April 18, 2016 – Mobile Electronics magazine, the premier resource for business growth and expertise among its industry's retail professionals, officially kicked off the 2016 Mobile Electronics Industry Awards this week. The nomination, voting and judging stages of the four-month process culminate in the announcement of winners at the Industry Awards celebration during Mobile Electronics’ annual KnowledgeFest® tradeshow and conference in Dallas. This year’s event takes place August 20-22.

The Mobile Electronics Industry Awards celebrate companies and individuals that best exemplify the highest standards of quality and service excellence. Winners represent the industry at-large to consumers and act as ideal examples to better peers within the industry. The process starts with self-nominations submitted online and via video. A panel of judges selects the Top 50 Retailers and Top 50 Installers, which are eligible to move on to the second phase of the awards process.

Industry professionals as well as consumers then cast votes to narrow the Top 50 down to the Top 12 Retailers and Top 12 Installers. These finalists then become eligible to compete for the third and final segment: the coveted Retailer of the Year and Installer of the Year honors. 

Additional awards recognize top industry sales representatives and vendors, as well as retail businesses that excel in specific aspects of their operation. The winners of these awards are selected by votes from industry professionals.

“The Industry Awards process is one of the most anticipated events in the mobile electronics industry,” said Solomon Daniels, program administrator. “It’s the one time when professionals are called on to promote themselves in one phase, then reach out to their peers and customers for support in the next phase. The final phase is a grueling preparation of materials for judging that often reveals aspects—both positive and negative—of a person’s character or work ethic, or a business’ focus and direction. Most who have gone through the process say it is as fulfilling as it is challenging.”

Mobile Electronics is accepting nominations through its special website at www.meindustryawards.com. Nominees submit a short video outlining their qualifications. Retailers, installation technicians, vendors and sales representatives have until May 6 to submit nominations.

Complete information on the Industry Awards, including rules, award descriptions, past winners, eligibility requirements, instructions and submissions can be found at www.meindustryawards.com. For additional information, contact Solomon Daniels at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – May 12, 2016 – Mobile Electronics magazine today announced the Top 50 Retailers, sponsored by Sony, and the Top 50 Installers, sponsored by K40 Electronics. The Top 50 award is the first component of the magazine’s annual Industry Awards competition. Recipients of this award have the honor of being considered the premier mobile electronics retail outlets and installation technicians in the U.S. and Canada, according to the magazine.

“As magazine editor, you get to see how hard these individuals work to perfect their craft and present themselves as problem solvers and dream fulfillers,” said Solomon Daniels, editor-in chief of Mobile Electronics and awards administrator. “In turn, the retail stores have become the authority on vehicle-specific solutions for autosound enhancement, security and safety. I’m very proud to announce these awards and present certificates to the winners.”

In addition to the Top 50, award recipients are eligible to compete for the next phase of the Industry Awards, which through industry and consumer voting narrows the list to 12 retail and installation finalists. The “Top 12” would then submit judging materials to be considered for Retailer of the Year and Installer of the Year. These final awards will be announced at the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards celebration during the KnowledgeFest trade show and conference in Dallas, August 20-22. For more information, visit www.meindustryawards.com.

Tim Baillie – HzEmall – Surrey, BC

Barry Barth – Prestige Car Audio & Marine – Metairie, LA

Charles Brazil – First Coast Auto Creations – Jacksonville, FL

John Cage – Spokane Audio Video Experts – Greenacres, WA

Jeff Cantrell – JC Audio – Jackson, TN

TJ Carlson – Kingpin Car & Marine Audio – Wilsonville, OR

Dan Castro – The Car Audio Shop – High Ridge, MO

Steve Coogle – Discount Audio – Louisville, KY

Matt Cropper – Stereo King – Portland, OR

David Cruz – Soundscape Car Audio – Plano, TX

B.J. Curcio – After FX Customs – Stamford, CT

Daniel DiCampli – Windward Audio – Kaneohe, HI

Brandon Douglas – Adrenaline Autosound – Clayton, NC

Andrew Emelander – GNC Customs – Goshen, IN

Andrew Evens – Industry Auto Designs – Las Vegas, NV

Nicholas Frazier – Innovative Concepts – West Springfield, MA

Aaron Garcia – Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security – Anchorage, AK

Brandon Green – The Car Audio Shop – High Ridge, MO

Alan Hogan – Baileys Audio – Lake Charles, LA

David Kosakowski – Total image – McKees Rocks, PA

Brent Leavitt – Low Notes Garage – Boise, ID

Sam Lee – Audio Xcellence – City of Industry, CA

Dan Macilwain – Sound Advantage – Rochester, MI

Erick Markland – Markland Designs – Lithonia, GA

Aaron Markwell – Godspeed Rides – Sarasota, FL

Scott Miller – Explicit Customs – West Melbourne, FL

Rob Miller – JML Audio of St. Louis – Fenton, MO

Jeremiah Mojica – GNC Customs – Elkhart, IN

Jonathan Moore – Dreamworks Motorsports – Roxboro, NC

Michael Oechsner – Mobile Edge – Lehighton, PA

Chris Ott – Amplified Autosports – Tampa, FL

Christerfer Pate – Mobile Toys Inc – College Station, TX

Adam Perkins – Sound Wave Customs – Virginia Beach, VA

John Phillips – Stereo One Carbondale – Carbondale, IL

Bryan Piper – Resonance Auto Craft – Corpus Christi, TX

Carlos Ramirez – NVS Audio – Linden, NJ

Alain Sainvil – NVS Audio – Linden, NJ

Mike Sandoval – Sound Warehouse – Salt Lake City, UT

Matt Schaeffer – Safe & Sound Mobile Electronics – Chantilly, VA

Jon Schmitz – Mach 1 Audio – Washington, MO

John Schumacher – Audio Solutions StL – St. Louis, MO

Mike Schwitz – Sound Connection – St. Joseph, MN

Cj Silvey – Foss Audio and Tint – Puyallup, WA

Jason Stone – Stereo Solutions – Redding, CA

Vinny Tullo – VIP Customs – Earlysville, VA

Bryan Turvaville – Auto Trim Design – Amarillo, TX

Miguel Vega – Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN

Colton Wadley – Pro Audio – Provo, UT

Warren Williams – Hi-Tech Car Audio – El Cerrito, CA

Tyler Wilson – Spokane Audio Video Experts – Greenacres, WA

Absolute Electronix – Rockville, MD

Adrenaline Autosound – Clayton, NC

Al & Ed’s Autosound – Los Angeles, CA

Audio Designs & Custom Graphics – Jacksonville, FL

Audio Expert Car Stereo – Clearwater, FL

Audio Solutions StL – St. Louis, MO

Auto Trim Design – Amarillo, TX

Autosound Lab – Fresno, CA

Blvd Customs of Lakeland – Lakeland, FL

California Audio – WVC, UT

Cartronix – Valparaiso, IN

Cartunes – Atlanta, GA

Cypress Auto Sound & Tint – Cypress, CA

Distinctive Car Toyz – Pleasantville, NJ

Dr Dashboard – Evansville, IN

Dreamworks Motorsports – Roxboro, NC

Driven Audio Ltd. – Abbotsford, BC

Driven Mobile Electronics – Chantilly, VA

Elite Audio – Spartanburg, SC

Explicit Customs – West Melbourne, FL

Extreme Audio – Mechanicsville, VA

Foss Audio & Tint – Tukwila, WA

GNC Customs – Goshen, IN

Greg’s Custom Audio, Video & Car Stereo – Pikeville, KY

Industry Auto Designs – Las Vegas, NV

JC Audio – Jackson, TN

JML Audio of St. Louis – Fenton, MO

Kingpin Car & Marine Audio Inc – Wilsonville, OR

Mobile Toys – College Station, TX

Musicar Northwest – Portland, OR

NVS Audio – Linden, NJ

Ocala Car Audio – Ocala, FL

Prestige Car Audio & Marine – Metairie, LA

Radios Knobs Speakers and Things – Pontiac, MI

Sound Auto – Hamilton, NJ

Sound Depot and Performance – Gainesville, FL

Sound FX, Inc. – Lewes, DE

Sound Solutions – Gulfport, MS

Sound Wave Customs – Virginia Beach, VA

Soundscape Car Audio – Plano, TX

SoundsGood Auto – Coquitlam, BC

Spokane Audio Video Experts – Greenacres, WA

SRQ Customs – Sarasota, FL

Stereo King Oregon – Portland, OR

Stereo Solutions – Redding, CA

The Car Audio Shop – High Ridge, MO

The Sound Shop – Indian Trail, NC

Tip Top Customs – Morris, IL

Tunes-N-Tint – Lakeland, FL

Westminster Speed & Sound – Westminster, MD

North Andover, Mass., – December 28, 2021 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) announced the finalists for the 2022 Industry Awards earlier today, live on its Facebook page. MEA President, Chris Cook held the Finalists Presentation, in which The Top 12 Retailers, Top 12 Installers, Top 5 Technicians and new Top 5 Sales Professionals and other awards were announced. Also noted were the "Top 3" and "Top 5" awards for finalists in the vendor, vendor tech support, expeditor, sales rep, rep firm and distributor categories, as well as the top 5 Technicians denoting the finalists for the coveted Trusted Tech award. Each "Top" award recipient will receive a signed wall certificate. 

While the final stage of the Industry Awards will be held in Las Vegas during KnowledgeFest, Cook noted that the announcement produced its own set of winners.

"It's important to recognize that making it to the Top 12, Top 5 and Top 3 categories signals a major achievement in this industry," he explained. "It means that these individuals, stores, brands and companies are part of a unique group that represents the best of our industry. We're overdue in recognizing the significance of their efforts, and I am proud to create a special event for that purpose. 

Some of the award categories are decided solely on industry votes. For these, the top vote-getter will be announced at KnowledgeFest as the ultimate winner of the category. For the Top 12 retailers, Top 12 Installers, Top 5 Technicians, Top 5 Rookies, and Top 5 Sales Professionals, each recipient will need to submit additional materials for judging to determine the winner in each category. 

The finalists lists can be viewed at meindustryawards.com by clicking on the Winners tab and selecting '2022' winners. To view the 2022 Industry Awards Finalists Presentation, visit the Mobile Electronics magazine page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MobileElectronics. The final awards will be announced at the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards celebration during the KnowledgeFest trade show and conference in Las Vegas, February 20, 2022. For more information, visit www.meindustryawards.com.

North Andover, Mass., – November 18, 2022 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) announced the finalists for the 2023 Industry Awards earlier today, live on its Facebook page. MEA President, Chris Cook held the Finalists Presentation, in which The Top 12 Retailers, Top 12 Installers, Top 5 Technicians, and Top 5 Sales Pros and other awards were announced. Also noted were the “Top 3” and “Top 5” awards for finalists in the vendor, vendor tech support, expeditor, sales rep, rep firm and distributor categories, as well as the top 5 Technicians denoting the finalists for the coveted Trusted Tech award. Each “Top” award recipient will receive a signed wall certificate. 

While the final stage of the Industry Awards will be held in Las Vegas during KnowledgeFest, Cook noted that the announcement produced its own set of winners.

“It’s important to recognize that making it to the Top 12, Top 5 and Top 3 categories signals a major achievement in this industry,” he explained. “It means that these individuals, stores, brands and companies are part of a unique group that represents the best of our industry. We’re overdue in recognizing the significance of their efforts, and I am proud to create a special event for that purpose. 

Some of the award categories are decided solely on industry votes. For these, the top vote-getter will be announced at KnowledgeFest as the ultimate winner of the category. For the Top 12 retailers, Top 12 Installers, Top 5 Technicians, Top 5 Rookies, and Top 5 Sales Professionals, each recipient will need to submit additional materials for judging to determine the winner in each category. 

The finalists lists can be viewed at meindustryawards.com by clicking on the Winners tab and selecting ‘2023’ winners. To view the 2023 Industry Awards Finalists Presentation, visit the Mobile Electronics magazine page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MobileElectronics. The final awards will be announced at the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards celebration during the KnowledgeFest trade show and conference at the Paris Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, February 5, 2022.