René Garza | President / Managing Principal
As President and Managing Principal, René’s focus is on building and maintaining WJHW’s business and managing a wide range of projects. In addition, René leads the San Antonio office and performing arts group.
René’s professional experience includes K-12 and higher educational facilities, churches, corporate users, collegiate and professional sports arenas and numerous performing arts theatres. His hands-on experience with such a broad range of technical systems, combined with his understanding of the construction process and strength as a project manager, has given him valuable insight into how all of these elements must work together in order to produce a successful project which not only meets but exceeds client expectations.
Jack Wrightson | Director / Principal
Jack has extensive experience in sports and public assembly work. He has worked in the field of acoustics since 1978. He specializes in assessing the needs of owners and tenants prior to design efforts. His association with sports events and their venues has given him deep insight into the technical problems and requirements of high-quality presentations and promotions. Jack oversees WJHW’s work on sound systems, acoustics, and noise control, and the environmental noise impact of outdoor events. Jack has also served as Adjunct Professor of Acoustics at the University of Texas – Arlington School of Architecture.
Julie Otte | Controller / Officer
Julie has been WJHW’s Controller since 2017. She oversees the day-to-day financial, administrative, and human resource operations of the firm. She ensures compliance with federal & state laws and project specific requirements as well as professional standards.
Brad Lundy | Principal / Operations Manager
Brad serves as a Principal and the Operations Manager for WJHW. His primary responsibilities are project management for corporate facilities, training centers, churches, hotels, schools, judicial facilities, stadia and arenas, and convention and civic centers. He is also a design resource for large format sound systems, IPTV and AV systems.
Todd Semple | Principal
With a background in project management, Todd has the ability to provide expertise in developing, managing and coordinating successfully integrated audio-visual systems in a diverse range of project types, including university sports facilities, professional arenas and stadia, medical facilities and operating rooms, private residences, and civic and commercial facilities.
Since 1987, Todd has been involved in radio, television, print, live music, digital video production and audio-visual presentation production. These hands-on experiences coupled with his project management skills give him valuable insight into producing a successfully integrated finished space.
Greg Hughes | Principal
Joining the firm in 2002, Greg is the lead of WJHW’s Acoustical Group. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering, Greg has worked on a diverse range of projects throughout the U.S., including college, university and K-12 education projects; public assembly spaces, arenas and sports facilities; hospitality and residential developments and corporate, civic and commercial facilities.
Kevin Day | Principal – Director of Venue Services
Kevin’s career as sound system specialist began as a successful contractor installing arena and stadium systems in the 80’s and 90’s . He designed and operated many of the systems he installed for a wide range of clients including professional sports franchises, university music departments and performing arts venues. Since joining WJHW Inc. in 1997, Kevin has been lead sound designer and project manager for stadium, arena, and theater projects . Kevin has used his knowledge and experience of construction and systems operation to bring thoughtful, efficient designs to many of the firm’s highest profile clients and projects. As the Large Format Sound design leader, he has set the company standards and maintained WJHW’s reputation for excellence in service. As Director of Venue Services, Kevin provides operational assistance to the venue operators as they move into new systems, and also assists as advisor and liaison to production companies as they host concerts and various event types.
Charles Adkinson | Principal, SVP Sports Development
Charles actively pursues prospective clients, negotiates fees, develops strategic business relationships and manages projects for WJHW. Charles has worked with in nearly every facet of the entertainment electronics industry from theatrical stage technician to executive leadership for large scale vertically integrated manufacturers. .
This unique blend of experience has provided Charles with the knowledge of each discipline and process required to complete modern Stadiums, Arenas, and Convention Centers. His experience has given him a special insight into not only the consulting business but the entire construction process from equipment manufacturing, to system design; procurement, and installation; as well as commissioning.
Mark Graham | Principal
Mark Graham has provided design engineering for professional audio systems from distributed speaker systems for large sports arenas and stadiums to a variety of other spaces, including meeting and convention center spaces. Mark has also provided system designs for recording studios and sound reinforcement for performing arts centers specialized to serve both dramatic theatrical presentations as well as musical performances.
Mark came to WJHW with an expansive technical background. In addition to his design experience, his experience in project management and installation for a Rocky Mountain region integration firm enables him to adapt system designs according to the client’s performance requirements, their budget parameters, and constructability within the Architectural parameters. He is also capable of commissioning systems and training users once the installation is completed.
Fritz Schwentker | Principal
Fritz leads the Theatre and Entertainment Venue consulting group and serves as a project manager working in venue types across the full range of those for which WJHW provides design and consulting services. His extensive background in technical design, experience with backstage operations, and deep knowledge of core technology systems gives him a practical understanding of how a successful entertainment venue operates. Throughout his career, Fritz has had hands-on experience with multiple aspects of entertainment technology and production, from programming and development of mechanical automation systems for live shows to technical direction and production management. He has brought this background and knowledge of technical design and production, gained at multiple varied professional and academic venues, to the broader world of Architectural & Engineering Services for close to two decades.
Fritz maintains close relationships and credentials in the entrainment industry – he is a longtime member of the American Society of Theatre ASTC, has served as the US Delegate to the OISTAT Technology Commission, is a past Commissioner of the Technical Production Commission for USITT, and is an ETCP certified rigger for both Theatre and Arenas.
David Vieira | Principal
Dave has worked in theatre and opera production since 2004. The majority of his professional experience is in technical direction, rigging, and automation for universities, regional theaters, and Las Vegas showrooms. His most significant experience comes from the years he spent as the Assistant Technical Director for the Santa Fe Opera. There he worked on realizing large-scale design for world class opera performance that has been re-presented at the LA Opera, Royal Opera House- London, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Dave earned his master’s degree studying a self-designed program blending Theater Design and Construction Engineering Project Management in the Cockrell School of Engineering at UT. This combined knowledge of construction-based project management and theatrical design and production experience makes him an ideal resource for project collaboration.
Daniel Riess | Associate Principal
Daniel leads the Video Production group at WJHW. He joined WJHW in 2015 after working as a broadcast and venue engineer and brings that experience and understanding to help our clients meet their goals. Daniel has extensive working knowledge of video production, LED, and broadcast cabling. He is experienced working with both end users and project teams in projects ranging from high schools to Non-Governmental Organizations, to top tier professional arenas and stadiums. Daniel has extensive experience with cutting edge, next generation technology; with this expertise he has led work on the first IP based production system in stadiums, the first 4K video production system in stadiums, and the first continuous 360 LED displays in sports. These challenges have given Daniel the tools needed to assist clients in working with manufacturers on developing solutions to meet unique needs and bring new and creative solutions to fruition.
Greg Swindle | Associate Principal
Greg comes to WJHW with a diverse background. He has provided design engineering for professional audio systems and distributed speaker systems for a variety of spaces including professional stadiums/arenas, college arenas, NASCAR speedways, and education facilities. He has also provided system designs for sound reinforcement for performing arts centers specialized to serve both dramatic theatrical presentations as well as musical performances.
In addition to his design experience, Greg’s experience in sound systems installation allow his designs to be customized according to the Client’s performance requirements and their budget parameters. He is also capable of commissioning systems and training users once the installation is completed.