Key Personnel

ACOUSTICS

Christopher Savereid, President

Chris consults on a wide variety of building types including office buildings, schools, condominiums, and theaters. Since 1977 his extensive experience has covered all phases of projects, including noise measurements, development of acoustical design criteria, recommendations and detailing of noise attenuating treatments, and monitoring of construction. Chris has a special interest in acoustical privacy in the work place and has lectured extensively on the subject. He holds a B.A. from Willamette University.

Carl Rosenberg, Principal

Carl, a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), specializes in architectural acoustics. His consulting career began in 1971 when he joined the country’s leading acoustics firm, Bolt Beranek and Newman. He then co-founded Acentech in 1988. His projects encompass a variety of building types, including performance halls, churches, office building, athletic facilities, and private residences to name just a few. Carl not only consults with architects across the US, but also contributes to the acoustics industry by serving on the Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics (TCAA) for the ASA. He especially enjoys teaching courses in architectural acoustics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Princeton University. Carl holds BA from Princeton and Masters in Architecture from MIT.

Eric Wood, Principal

Eric has applied his talents for more than forty years to hundreds of clients’ projects. He directs and provides technical input to the measurement, evaluation, and control of noise and vibration during the design, construction, and operation of major energy works, transportation systems, and industrial plants. Eric holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hartford. He is very active in the both the US and International Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE), presently serving as Vice President in the US and member of the International Technical Study Group on Global Noise Policy.

J. Christopher Jaffe, Principal Consultant

A pioneer in the in the field of acoustical design, Chris brings over 40 years of experience Acentech's Studio A team. He has worked on such prestigious projects as the acoustic renovations to the Hollywood Bowl in California, the acoustic design for the Arthur and Judy Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as the renovation of the John F. Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, DC. Among Chris's many achievements has been to bring the "surround hall" experience to the Western Hemisphere in the Sala Nezahualcóyotl in Mexico City. His innovative "Concert Hall Shaper" revolutionized acoustic design for multi-use halls, giving them the resonance and richness of the world's best concert halls. Chris has held professorships at the Juilliard School, the City University of New York, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he developed a Masters Program in Architectural Acoustics. Chris holds a B. Ch. E from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a M.A. from Columbia University, and an honorary doctorate from Rensselaer.

Ramon Nugent, Director, West Coast Office

Ray has over 38 years of experience and manages projects for industrial, transportation, community, environmental noise and vibration studies and more. He has conducted numerous CEQA and NEPA environmental noise studies on light and heavy rail transportation, highway and street traffic, as well as urban and suburban development. Ray’s projects have included computer models for noise prediction and evaluation. His work incorporates noise models and the application of meteorological data to determine long-range noise propagation and detection. Ray is a Registered Professional Engineer and holds a B.S. in Engineering Science from Iowa State University.

Jeffrey Fullerton, Director, Architectural Acoustics

Jeff not only directs Acentech’s Architectural Acoustics and Mechanical Systems staff, but is also a leading proponent of incorporating acoustical considerations to green building initiatives. He is a member of Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s Boston Chapter and was instrumental in the development of the LEED CI 3.0 rating system which includes specific acoustical performance criteria. His projects involve architectural acoustics, mechanical systems noise and vibration control, and environmental acoustics consulting for institutional, commercial, industrial facilities and residences. Jeff holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University.

Jim Barnes, Senior Engineer

Jim's projects cover interior and community noise control studies for existing power and industrial plants, prediction of construction and operation noise levels, and ambient sound studies for proposed industrial sites and transportation corridors for environmental impact statements. During the course of his 35+ years of acoustics consulting, he has developed specialized knowledge of industrial noise and vibration control, with an emphasis on serving the power industry. Jim is also versed in the evaluation and resolution of potential vibration problems at proposed sites for microelectronics and optics facilities. He holds a Masters of Engineering from Cornell University.

AUDIOVISUAL AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM DESIGN

Richard Closs, Director, Audiovisual and Sound System Design

Ric’s 25 years of design experience includes a multitude of audiovisual and sound systems for a variety of spaces, particularly large venues -- arenas, stadia, worship spaces, conference centers, and performance centers. He has organized and managed the integration of audio design/build systems from contract phase to completion for hundreds of projects. Ric leads Acentech’s Systems Group of AV, sound, and IT consultants. He earned the designation of Certified Technology Specialist Design (CTSD) by the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA) in 1995.

Ernest Schirmer, Director, Information Technology

Ernie puts his expansive experience in technology evaluation, business planning and business process integration to good use on a broad range of projects. A 23-year veteran of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure design, Ernie leads Acentech’s IT consulting initiatives in voice, data, multimedia, wireless and intelligent building networks. His expertise includes excellent platform, communication, inter-personal, writing and teaching skills. He is a frequent presenter at industry conferences. Ernie holds an MBA in Information Systems and Marketing from State University of New York, Binghamton, and a B.S. in Economics from SUNY, Oneonta.

Larry Philbrick, Supervisory Consultant

Since 1975, Larry has consulted on an array of projects in sound and audiovisual systems design as well as architectural acoustics. His experience includes speech reinforcement and sound systems for arenas, auditoriums, concert halls, hotels, churches, and conference centers in the U.S. and abroad.  He has designed audio-visual systems for conference rooms and boardrooms, teleconference rooms, and electronic masking systems (used to obtain speech privacy in offices).  In architectural acoustics and noise control, he has consulted on projects including concert halls, arenas, music practice and rehearsal rooms, residences, and offices.  Larry’s previous experience included training and work in physics, computer programming, architecture, and mechanical engineering.  He has taught architectural acoustics at the Boston Architectural Center.  Larry earned the designation of Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) by the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA) in 2004.He holds a M.Arch from Harvard University and an A.B. from Brown University. 

Brian Huff, Supervisory Consultant

Brian has over 25 years of audiovisual industry experience.  His principal expertise lies in the practical design, configuration and specification of large-screen presentation display systems and video conferencing/distance learning systems.  His notable experience includes the design of comprehensive audiovisual systems packages for Unilever, MIT, Princeton University, and the Harvard Business School.  Brian is highly experienced in the design and specification of corporate boardroom audiovisual systems, public address and performance sound systems and commercial sound masking systems.  To this work he brings a strong background in computer science, video projection technology and electronics systems integration.  Brian earned the designation of Certified Technology Specialist Design (CTS-D) by the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA) in 2004.  He holds an MBA in High Technology from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music.

VIBRATION

Jeffrey Zapfe, Director, Noise and Vibration

Jeff joined Acentech in 1998 and now leads Acentech's Noise and Vibration group.  His projects cover a variety of areas including the design and analysis of vibration sensitive facilities; dynamic structural analysis;, transportation noise and vibration measurement/analysis; construction vibration measurement and analysis; site analysis for vibration sensitive equipment; and high-performance vibration isolation system design.  His work includes the application of finite element analysis, signal processing, and experimental modal analysis.  Jeff's most recent projects include construction vibration effects on sensitive facilities, human response to rail vibration, footfall-induced vibration analysis, and environmental vibrations due to nearby rail systems.  He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

Eric E. Ungar, Chief Engineering Scientist

Eric has since 1958 been involved in research and consulting in vibration and in the related fields of structure-borne sound, structural and machinery dynamics, stress analysis, and noise and vibration control; he is considered one of the topmost experts in the vibration area. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers awarded him its Gold Medal for Noise Control and Acoustics for “fundamental contributions to noise and vibration control engineering involving structural damping, vibration isolation, vibration of complex structures as applied to aerospace structures, ships, machinery, and buildings.” He has received similar recognition from the Acoustical Society of America and the Institute for Noise Control Engineering, of which organizations he also has served as President, and he has been honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Shock and Vibration Information Center. Eric is a registered professional engineer and the author of over 200 publications, including over a dozen handbook and monograph chapters. He holds the Doctor of Engineering Science degree from New York University.

QUIET PRODUCT DESIGN

Richard H. Lyon, Chief Scientist

Dick has over 50 years of experience in acoustics and product noise. His innovative research and projects focus on machine dynamics, random vibration, sound generation, interaction of sound and structures, the application of statistics to engineering analysis, and propagation of environmental noise. He is a Professor Emeritus and former Division Head in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, and a Past-President of the Acoustical Society of America. In 2003, he was the recipient of the Gold Medal of the Acoustical Society of America, its highest award. Dick holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

David Bowen, Senior Consultant

With over 20 years of experience, David performs sound and vibration analyses associated with product noise studies. His work includes source and path identification efforts that lead to effective modifications; the development, implementation and evaluation of various signal processing procedures for use in machinery diagnostics, active noise/vibration control, and remote sensing. David is a member of Acoustical Society of America, the Audio Engineering Society, Society of Automotive Engineers, and served as Technical Program Chair at the 127th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America. He holds both a Master of Science Degree and Engineer’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT.

Gladys Unger, Senior Consultant

Gladys has over 10  years of acoustics and vibration experience.  Much of her efforts involve product noise analysis, sound quality studies, and machinery diagnostics.  Her work involves testing and measurement of acoustical signals, vibration, pressure fluctuations, and those quantities related to fluctuating forces within the machinery under study.  Gladys creates prototypes and assembles diagnostic systems.  She also handles the “human side” of jury studies: designing the jury forms, convening juries, administering the testing, and reducing the data.  Gladys is an active participant in the Greater Boston Chapter Acoustical Society of America. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from the University of Pittsburgh.