BUSINESS PROFILE AUDIO VIDEO EXTREMES 1131 2nd St S // Waite Park, MN 56387 (320) 217-5877 // audiovideoextremes.com Email: Info@audiovideoextremes.com Business Description: Residential, commercial and mobile audio/video needs, including home theater, home automation, custom lighting, remote starts, and more. Number of Employees: 10
Jodi and Rich Erkens
TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH
things,” Beck said. “But after we opened, we didn’t realize how fast it would take off.” Even with all of the chaos of opening a business, the couple still carves out time to do things together. “One of our favorite things to do is picking out merchandise for the store,” Malikowski said. Trips to flea markets before the Modern Barnyard opens or sitting on the couch together flipping through a catalog while watching their favorite TV show “Survivor” are how Beck and Malikowski not
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only stock their shelves, but squeeze in time for themselves. Malikowski said the hardest part of adjusting to working full time with Beck is understanding and balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “I think you just have to identify roles and appreciate each other for what you do,” Beck said. “You know, you both can’t do the same things. And you’re not going to be as good at the same things.”
Business Central Magazine // J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
When Rich and Jodi Erkens were first married Rich worked for Ultimate Electronics. When the St. Cloud store closed, the Erkens were at a crossroads. With a young family to provide for, the couple took the leap into entrepreneurship. “I said to Rich, ‘All of your customers have always come to you, you’ve always put the big systems together,’” Jodi Erkens said. “I said ‘We have enough in savings for six months, let’s get it done. Let’s start a business.’” So 13 years ago, the Erkens became the founders of Audio Video Extremes. Audio Video Extremes specializes in helping clients outfit their homes and vehicles with the latest in audio and video technology. The company, which employs nine people, provides in-home installation of theater systems, surround sounds, home automation and security systems. Those systems can range
PERSONAL PROFILES JODI ERKENS, 41 Owner/Business Manager, Audio Video Extremes Hometown: St. Joseph. Minn. Education: AAS Degree from the St. Cloud Technical and Community College Work History: Worked at the help desk for DeZurik right out of college for a few years, spent a few years at a computer consulting company , worked in administration for an advertising company then left that after Audio Video Extremes was started so I could do bookwork from home and spend time with our children. Family: Husband Rich; Riley, 13; Jack, 11; Reid, 7; Jacob, 2 Hobbies: Traveling in our motor home with my family. Attending the boys’ school and sporting events. Advice to a couple thinking about starting a business together: Make sure that you have strong lines of communication and a strong marriage as it can be trying, but the rewards are great. Once you throw children into the mix make sure you are flexible and learn how to plan and organize. ––––––––––––––––––––––––
RICHARD “RICH” ERKENS, 43 Co-owner/Chief Manager, Audio Video Extremes Hometown: Cold Spring Education: High School, School of hard knocks Work History: My parents’ company, Erkens All Season Service, Kirby, Radio Shack, Circuit City, Audio King/ Ultimate Electronics, Audio Video Extremes since 2005 Family: Married to Jodi Mohs Erkens 10/21/2000, four great boys with a great wife Hobbies: Motor home vacations with family and seeing the wonders of the United States