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 Steve Rowell · 8:00-5:30 M-F · 607-766-3501 x101
When he was just 13, Steve began building speakers and playing
electric guitar. His enthusiasm for high fidelity grew as he devoured
audio magazines, and visited any audio store he happened upon. While in
college he was well known for his audio systems. He would invite his
friends to listen which frequently led to being asked his advice on
purchasing a system. Steve saw the opportunity to earn "pocket money" so
he built more speakers, and began buying and selling used equipment. Best
of all, he truly enjoyed doing it! After receiving his BA in
communications, and a minor in music theory from Ashland University in
Ohio, Steve moved to Walton, NY and worked producing radio shows at a
recording studio in Binghamton, NY. He was a frequent customer of the
local McIntosh dealer and had one of their systems in every room of his
house. It was here that Steve met Frank Gow and Ernie Schleider. In
1979, the dealer went out of business and Steve bought their remaining
McIntosh inventory. While on the way home with the components, Steve made
stops to visit local audio enthusiasts that he knew, selling several
pieces. This became the beginning of the part time Audio Classics
business. Five years later, Steve devoted himself full time while working
out of the basement of his home. The operation soon outgrew this
location, so he moved Audio Classics to the basement of the Walton Post
Office in 1987. A devastating flood struck ten years later, and with the
help of friends and family, he was able to save his inventory, and
realized it was wise to relocate to higher ground. Steve searched for the
right building and chose our Vestal, NY location, where Audio Classics has
been doing business since 1997.
 Mike Sastra · 8:30-5:00 M-F · 607-766-3501 x102
Listening to music is a lifelong passion of Mike's. It started
with his Mom when he was just a kid, she always had music playing morning till night in the house or in the car. At age 8 he swept the floor's and emptied the
garbage at the local music store to earn enough to buy his first hifi system, a early stereo setup with detachable fold out speakers. His mom realized how much
he enjoyed listening to music, so on his fourteenth birthday she bought him a Lafayette integrated amplifier and tuner with separate speakers. Over the years he
developed an affinity for panel speakers and owned several from Magnapan, Acoustat, Sound Labs and Martin Logan. He would pair these speakers with various
amplifiers including Krell, Levinson and Counterpoint trying to get it right. Then in 1989, while working a full-time job, Mike began helping out part time
at Audio Classics until Steve mentioned he was looking for full time help in sales & shipping. From this point his hobby turned into a job and still is his hobby
to this day. In addition to sales, Mike specializes in physical detailing and mechanical functions of pre-owned equipment. He also evaluates new audio products as
they are introduced and performs critical listening trials to pair components that work well together. There is always music playing somewhere in his house from
one of his McIntosh systems, this must run in the family. If you email him your likely to get a fast response most any time of the day, evening or weekend.
 Frank DeFonda · Syracuse, NY location · 315-445-3065
After graduating from Henninger High School in Syracuse, Frank immediately
became a professional musician as a drummer. He performed at local venues
and toured the upstate I-81/90 circuit. He then moved to Boston and was
surprised at how easy it was for him, a self-taught drummer, to make
connections with many musicians and recording artists. Frank was soon at
work in every studio in Boston! He met a producer-artist named Andy Pratt
from Cambridge MA. He did sessions for him and later was asked to audition
for his band, his drummer was leaving for California. Frank passed an
exhaustive audition and got to tour the United States, west to California,
south to Houston, TX, north to North Dakota, east from Vermont to Florida.
The band finished it's tour six months later. Studio time dried up because
of the change in music. Frank wanted to return to Syracuse, his
relationship with his future wife was becoming very important. Clark Music
in Syracuse was looking for a Warehouse Manager, he was hired over the
phone and started work the next Monday. This was the beginning of his
association with Steinway and he began piano lessons. Frank became a
salesman and helped manage their audio-video department. He later managed
their piano department and attended Steinway seminars, traveling to the
factory in Queens, NY, Steinway Hall, Manhattan and Denver, CO. and met
many of the management for Steinway. Frank worked closely with
Tuner/Technician, Rod Gorzka, a member of the Piano Technicians Guild,
learning how to string a piano and do small repairs. With over 30 years
experience at Clark Music, Frank gained a wealth of knowledge about hi-end
audio and Steinway and Son's family of fine pianos.
 Ryan Kilpatrick · 8:30-5:00 M-F · 607-766-3501 x104
As a self taught musician, Ryan grew up with an ear for music. He began learning to play guitar at age eight then went on to play bass guitar and has been performing
in local bands for 25 years. Ryan has twenty years experience working with Audio Classics and is one of our knowledgeable audio sales consultants. Being a
musician also helps Ryan suited for helping out with our Taylor and Martin guitar sales. In addition to sales, Ryan also manages our service department
and personally oversees all work brought into Audio Classics for service or reconditioning. He acquired service knowledge from working along side McIntosh technicians and
engineers, and received formal training from manufacturers. He's an active contributor to various audio related Internet forum groups and hosts social gatherings
with international audiophile clubs. Ryan's an enthusiast of new and vintage two channel McIntosh equipment and rotates auditioning various components for listening
at home. Contact Ryan for new and vintage sales or if you have a component in need of service or reconditioning.
 Ernie Schleider · 12:00-5:30 M-F, 11:00-4:00 Sat · 607-766-3501 x105
Ernie served in the US Army from 1969 to 1971 as an E5 Sergent and after completing his term, enrolled at Broome Community
College and SUNY Binghamton. While a student, Ernie began his audio career working with Frank Gow at Weeks & Dickenson,
one of Upstate New York's largest full service audio and music retailers. The store encompassed five floors of showrooms,
studios, repair facilities, an auditorium and a radio station. Ernie became the manager of the audio department during his
first year of employment. It was here that Ernie met Steve Rowell, president of Audio Classics. Steve was a frequent McIntosh
customer and the two became friends. Ernie earned his associates degree while working at the store and remained working there
until the company closed it's doors in 1978. Ernie later worked in sales or management positions at a variety of retail
companies ranging from pharmaceuticals to furniture and he owned a part time business making custom golf clubs. Ernie kept
in contact with Steve throughout the years and purchased audio components from him. As Steve's audio business grew, a position
became available and Ernie came to work for Audio classics in 1997. Ernie has five systems at home, consisting of new
McIntosh, vintage tube, electrostatic speakers, Klipsch Cornerhorns, Mirage, Sonus Faber. Give him a call to place your next
order or get friendly advice to find the right gear for your application.
 Andy Butt · 9:00-4:00 M-F · 607-766-3501 x112
Andrew Butt divides his time between managing the Parts and Receiving
Departments along with working in sales. Andy has an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Broome Community College, and puts his organizational and
management skills to good use in these critical areas. Thanks to his family background, Mr. Butt brings a great deal of high-end audio DNA to the Audio Classics
family. His father, Pete Butt, was Production Manager, then Director of Operations at McIntosh Labs. His mother, Sharon Butt, is a Customer Service Representative
in the Service/Parts Department at McIntosh. Please, contact Andy if you need parts for your McIntosh equipment.
 Dave Newmark · 8:30-4:30 M-F · 607-766-3501
Dave Newmark has recently joined our sales staff. Dave graduated from Vestal High School and attends Binghamton University. He is enthusiastic and
knowledgeable about audio and home theater and is a guitar player of 12 years. He is ready to help you start, complete, and maintain your dream system! His
audio/video background began when he was just a kid, when his father introduced him to the world of hi-fi audio! Since then, he has tried, owned, and tested
hundreds of audio components spanning from speakers, amplifiers to receivers. Dave just recently completed his McMasters Mcintosh training and is excited to
become a part of the Audio Classics team. Before coming to Audio Classics, Dave worked in sales with Best Buy. He was a top ranked salesman and is always up to
date on the latest products. While at Best Buy, Dave spurred a massive growth of their high-end audio/video product sales. He is ready to answer any questions you may have.
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George Melnyk
Richard Modafferi
Dave Pipher
