Our Principals
Kerry Blessing, Chief Executive Officer
Kerry began her career over 30 years ago on the sales floor of a Bay Area hi-fi store. She went on to become co-owner of one of the country’s most prestigious and respected regional chains, San Francisco Stereo & Theater Systems. She shepherded the company through the period of greatest technological change since the advent of recorded sound: the shift from analog to digital (vinyl to CD), the dawn of home theater equipment and technology, the rise of the personal computer and the resulting explosion in integration technology. During this period of change, Kerry built a staff of dedicated experts, but always kept them focused on the customer. She sees Sound Cinema Integration in the same mold: technology in service of the customer’s dreams.
“I’m a nut for music, for movies and gadgets,” Kerry admits. “I get as excited as anyone about the latest cool piece of gear. But I use these technologies in my own home, and I know how important it is to match technology to lifestyle.”
Kerry is a lifelong resident of the Bay Area, a wine collector and fan of the WNBA. She is a former columnist for “Builder/Architect,” where she published a column for the building trade on integrating home entertainment technology into home design and construction.
Andrey Pereverzev, Chief Technical Officer
Andrey was born in Belarus and began his career there after receiving a degree in electronics from Minsk State Higher Radiotechnical College. He spent the next three years in electronics maintenance and repair for the Russian Navy, then worked as a military plant systems designer for another three years. Andrey immigrated to the United States in 1995, where he spent three years as technical manager for SkyView Satellite Company in the Bay Area before coming to work with Kerry Blessing at San Francisco Stereo & Theater Systems. Andrey ran SFS’s growing custom install department as a system designer and head technician, and received extensive training in the programming that is an integral part of today’s complex integration controls. He holds an Intermediate Certification in Crestron programming and is an ISF Certified Calibration Technician, to mention only a few of his credentials.
“It is no longer possible to take any piece of equipment out of the box and just plug it in,” says Andrey. “Even the most basic plasma TV or surround processor has to be set up right, and controls need the right programming just to operate. A good programmer can take it to the next level: a system that works in a way that’s unique to the user.”
Perhaps because he spends so much time inside other people’s walls, Andrey loves the outdoors. He’s a pro-am photographer, loves to barbeque for friends and family, and is a huge fan of the San Jose Sharks hockey team. He blames Kerry for introducing him to the pleasures of fine wine.
Our Supporting Cast
Bob Hodas, Acoustician
For the past 16 years Bob Hodas has been analyzing and correcting studio control rooms, home theaters, and high end listening rooms. He travels the world for clients ranging from Sony Music Entertainment in Tokyo to the esteemed Abbey Road Studios in London. He has tuned home studios for Oscar winning mixers such as Alan Meyerson and Chris Boyes and award winning composers like James Newton Howard and John Debney. His home theater clients include George Lucas, Shaquille O’Neal, Stewart Filmscreen, George Clooney, and Francis Ford Coppola.
Since entering the studio scene in 1971, Bob has made excellence in audio a primary goal – from live mixing with The Doobie Brothers to remixing Aladdin for Walt Disney’s World on Ice. Bob has consulted on the development of many successful products for manufacturers such as Meyer Sound Laboratories, Dolby Labs, and AKG Acoustics. As a contributing editor for Recording Engineer/Producer, Mix, and RevolutionHomeTheater.com, he has written articles that contribute to the advancement of audio quality.
Willy Hermann, Analog Technician
After studying electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, Willy founded dB Audio in the 1970’s, and quickly became the guru to the Bay Area’s high-end audio fixated. In 1984 he co-founded Stereo Plus, which eventually became San Francisco Stereo, where he partnered with Kerry Blessing until they sold the business in 2006. His education has been ongoing; he has twice traveled to the Glasgow headquarters of Linn for training, is a certified service technician for Krell and many others. Willy lends his expertise in analog equipment (that’s vinyl and turntables) and other electronics to our team through his business, Willy Hermann Services.
Karen K. Ford, Art & Marketing
Karen has spent a lifetime working in advertising and marketing (or perhaps it just feels that way.) After graduating with a Communications degree from Cal State Fullerton and stints with a few ad agencies in Southern California, she moved to Oregon and became marketing director for a winery. She was lured away from her first love (wine) by her second love (music) and went to work for high-end audio manufacturer TARA Labs. She took over as marketing director and was with the company for eight years, during its period of greatest growth. She returned to L.A. and the bosom of her family in 2002, where she works as a freelance writer and designer. She is part of Sound Cinema Integration’s creative team, writing for the website, doing print design and collateral pieces for marketing and education. Karen is a pre-published novelist working on her second book. She still loves wine and music, and is never happier than when she can combine the two in the company of her other loves, her husband, Sid, and their Welsh Corgi, Indigo.
