Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2017 38 M O R E T H A N 4 0 0 L E A D E R S I N T H E C O N S U M E R T E C H N O L O G Y I N D U S T R Y C A M E T O G E T H E R F O R A D L' S N AT I O N A L C O N S U M E R T E C H N O L O G Y I N D U S T R Y A N N U A L D I N N E R , N O V E M B E R 1 2 T H AT C I P R I A N I W A L L S T R E E T I N N E W Y O R K C I T Y. T he annual event of the National Consumer Technology Industry paid tribute to Warren Chaiken and Gene Chaiken of Almo Corporation presented with the S. David Feir Humanitarian Award, Jim Ristow of AVB, INC./BrandSource with the American Heritage Award and William G. Crutchfield, Jr. of Crutchfield Corporation received the Patricia Rienzi Legacy Award. The guests were addressed by evening emcee Shelly Palmer of The Palmer Group and keynote Speaker Chris Magyarics-ADL's Investigative Researcher with an inspiring and remarkable presentation highlighting ADL necessary work. The Industry is chaired by Fred Towns of NewAge Electronics and Vice Chair Eric Schwartz of CTPG. 2016 HONOREES PATRICIA RIENZI LEGACY AWARD William G. Crutchfield Jr. In 1974, with only $1,000 in capital, William G. Crutchfield Jr. founded Crutchfield Corporation in his mother's basement. Since then, Crutchfield Corporation has grown into one of the nation's largest specialty direct retailers. Based on its superior level of customer satisfaction, Crutchfield Corporation has received BizRate's highly-coveted Platinum Circle of Excellence Award for the past sixteen consecutive years. From over 4,700 online retailers surveyed, Crutchfield is the only one that has achieved this distinction. Consumer Reports magazine has consistently ranked Crutchfield.com as one of the top online consumer electronics retailers in the nation. Virginia Business honored Crutchfield with its 2015 Best Places to Work award. Mr. Crutchfield was the Ernst & Young '1999 Master Entrepreneur of the Year' for Virginia. In 2000, Bill Crutchfield was presented the United Jewish Appeal—Consumer Electronics Division's 'Retailer of the Year' award. In 2001, he was inducted into Dealerscope magazine's Hall of Fame. In October 2007, he was inducted into the Consumer Technology Association's Hall of Fame. In 2011, Virginia Business magazine listed him as one of Virginia's 25 most notable entrepreneurs over the past 25 years. Mr. Crutchfield is a 1965 graduate of the University of Virginia. He has served on several of the university's boards including the Board of Visitors (Board of Directors). For over 30 years, Mr. Crutchfield has held an appointment as a visiting executive Lecturer at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. In recognition of his service to the University, he was presented with the Raven Award− one of the highest honors given an alumnus of the University of Virginia. A N T I - D E FA M AT I O N L E A G U E N AT I O N A L C O N S U M E R T E C H N O L O G Y I N D U S T R Y ANNUAL TRIBUTE AWARD DINNER

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