Residential Systems – DaVinci Group Hires Jeff Francisco Following Soundcast Deal Collapse

Francisco, a longtime business partner of Speakercraft founder Jeremy Burkhardt’s, was planning to take over as CTO of Soundcast Systems as part of Burkhardt’s plan to purchase the wireless music systems manufacturer, a deal which was announced to have collapsed a week ago. [Read how Burkhardt’s Soundcast Deal fell through here.]Francisco held numerous positions with Speakercraft in his 20-plus year tenure, most recently as vice president of product development.

“Jeff Francsico is a tremendous addition to our team,” CEO and co-founder Daniel Kippycash stated in the announcement. “His reputation, ethics, experience, and worldwide relationships will be a great addition for the whole DaVinci family.”

Francisco commented, “As an entity, TDG may be a new enterprise, but the people behind it bring decades of industry specific experience to every aspect of the business. This is all backed by a solid financial foundation.”

The DaVinci Group designs, manufactures and sells products designed specifically for the custom integration channel, with a unique business model where ownership status is shared by employees, sales reps, and dealers, a concept Francisco touted in the company’s announcement. “TDG offers a truly unique model in which the concept of partnership isn’t just talked about or promised, but is built into the very foundation and operation of the business,” Francisco said. “The custom market has indeed changed in recent years, but the cornerstones of the business still remain. More than ever, dealers need a trusted vendor that provides them great products and profitable opportunities backed by lasting personal relationships.”

Recently, the DaVinci Group also announced a move into new headquarters in Ontario, California—about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles—housing all sales, technical support, product distribution, and engineering. The 12,000-square-foot warehouse and office space is just a few miles from major shipping and freight distribution locations, as well as the Ontario California Airport. The DaVinci Group’s new headquarters also features a sound lab; quality control; a design, showroom, and training center; as well as a lounge and de-stress zone for employees.