frank ward, partner
Mr. Ward has been involved in sound and acoustics work since 1980. He has experience in design, installation, consulting, live sound, and theatrical lighting. He has taught seminars on system design and operation. He has consulted with churches, schools, businesses, and government organizations, managing the technical aspects of a wide range of theatrical and musical events. He is a principal with Acoustical Design Associates, Inc., and holds a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Frank's experience from 1980 to 1986 consisted of final system installation, adjustment, and troubleshooting for several communications contracting businesses. He worked with pro audio systems, nurse/patient call systems, paging, intercom systems, and telephones. These projects included churches, auditoriums, gymnasiums, courtrooms, outdoor sports facilities, schools, medical and corporate offices, and industrial facilities. 

Since 1987 the scope of his work expanded to include control systems, video, and theatrical /performance lighting. Sound, lighting, and staging for indoor and outdoor live events was also added to the mix of projects that Frank personally supervised. Permanent installation work experience expanded to include video conferencing facilities, presentation rooms, hotel meeting rooms, and acoustics/noise control work. 

In 1996, Acoustical Design Associates, Inc. began providing technical services to contracting and design build companies that needed to outsource certain aspects of their business. Since that time, there has been a further increase in purchase of software, test equipment, and training in order to support services that are now being provided to other firms. 

As of 2003, he has been directly involved in over 1200 separate projects. His responsibilities included the following:

• System sales: worked with clients to assemble portable and installed systems.

• System design: provided design services to sales and installation departments. Also performed on site troubleshooting when systems did not operate properly. 

• Field service technician: repaired systems after they were installed. Included warranty and non warranty work.

• Live sound , lighting, video engineer: responsible to set up, adjust and operate systems for live events (audiences of 100 to 10000). Work included musical events, presidential speeches, political rallies, military events, festivals, etc.

• System installer: worked on an installation crew installing systems in new and existing buildings.

• Project manager: supervised installation team during installation of systems. Performed planning, equipment ordering, coordinated installation crews with other contractors and subcontractors and did final system performance testing with the consultant.   Corrected problems that included ground loops, gain structures, equalization, loudspeaker alignment and alignment delay settings, frequency shading (in loudspeaker clusters), impedance matching (loudspeakers as well as line level signals)

• System optimization and testing: worked with the owner to perform acoustical measurements to correct problems with noise, sound system equalization, setting alignment delays, signal routing, and loudspeaker aiming.
  
  While many were one time installations, these projects also included live events, some of which were annual events. Currently projects ranged from low cost renovations to projects in excess of $500,000.00 
  

SEMINAR EXPERIENCE 

• Sound system operation seminars - training for church sound system operators

• Theatrical lighting and sound system operation
  

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 

• Letourneau University, Longview Texas, BS Electrical Engineering

• Synergetic Audio Concepts 

• Sound System Design NSCA 

• Advanced Sound System Design NSCA

• Audio Sound System Optimization 

• Acoustical Room Modeling 

• Small Room Acoustical Measurments

• Acoustic Test and Measurements

• SIA SmaartLive Level I, SIA SmaartLive Level II 

• Autocad 2000 training course on fundamentals of CAD

• TEF Level I

• EASE 4.0 Level II

• DSP programming: Lectrosonics, Soundweb, Crown IQ, TOA, Biamp/Audia, QSC DSP3, Mackie

• Training seminars in acoustics, noise control, sound system design, presentation system design, lighting system design and installation, RF interference and troubleshooting.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• National Sound Contractors (NSCA) 

• Synergetic Audio Concepts - advanced

• Chamber of Commerce