Interview with Jane Perrone, VP of U.S. Operations, audifon
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Topic: Introducing audifon
CAROLYN SMAKA: This is Carolyn Smaka, and today I am pleased to be speaking with Jane Perrone, who is the VP of U.S. Operations for audifon. So Jane, can you start by telling us a little bit about your background? What did you do before joining audifon?
JANE PERRONE: I worked for a major hearing aid manufacturer, in many different capacities. I started in quality assurance, went to data entry, came back as the manager of quality assurance, then went out and received my hearing aid dispensing license. I'm currently a licensed hearing aid specialist in the state of Florida. After that, I came back into sales and was promoted into management from there. Then I joined audifon as VP of U.S. Operations in 2007.
SMAKA: So, people reading this interview might say, "audifon? I've never heard of that. Who is audifon?" Can you give some background about the company?
PERRONE: Sure. audifon is a hearing aid manufacturer based in Germany with distribution in over 65 countries worldwide. The company has a long and successful history and is part of one of the largest companies in the industry. The group is still family-owned.
SMAKA: Where is the worldwide corporate headquarters based?
PERRONE: Our worldwide headquarters is based in Germany. Along with our broad distribution network, audifon runs and owns manufacturing and distribution hubs in several countries, with the U.S. operations located in Florida.
We are one of very few companies that still design and manufacture solely in Germany. All of our BTEs are made in Germany. All of the custom hearing systems that we build here in the U.S. are built using the engineering and design-work of our staff over in Germany.
Our custom production in Florida is using the latest technology including 3D printers and CAD design systems.
SMAKA: Can you give an overview of the current audifon product portfolio?
PERRONE: Yes with pleasure. All audifon products use our latest DSP platform called «STORM». This platform offers higher processing efficiency at reduced power consumption and supports sophisticated algorithms. «STORM» also enables us to offer wireless sound processing and synchronization solutions.
A good example for this technology is our new CROS/BiCROS technology: We are just launching a dedicated CROS/BiCROS solution called via that offers wireless ear-to-ear transmissions and our innovative easyclick synchronization feature.
audifon's via is a CROS/BiCROS solution that offers wireless ear-to-ear transmissions and audifon's easyclick synchronization feature.
Our hearing aid portfolio features elia, a premium line, offering Sound Dynamix technology, which enables it to adapt to different sound environments automatically. elia is available in a variety of styles including receiver-in-the-ear, BTEs, and custom instruments. With the excellent feedback management system and low battery consumption of the «STORM» platform, the elia custom power line even includes a power CIC with up to 70 dB of gain.
There is a lot of flexibility in the elia line for the professional to ensure a successful fitting. The elia M has a variable rocker switch, so you can modify it to be a volume control, just a memory button or both.
audifon's premium line, elia, includes this elia M BTE model with a variable rocker switch that can serve as a volume control, memory button or both.
The business segment features our prado line: At a great price-performance-ratio prado offers all the essential hearing aid features in very attractive styles - from receiver-in-the-ear, BTEs to custom products. prado also includes a high power custom line with up to 70 dB of gain.
arriva and avero are offered in our entry-level value segment: arriva is a four-channel, six-band hearing system. arriva is a complete family of BTEs and custom products, suitable for every type and degree of hearing loss. In addition, certain models are capable of open fitting with thin tubes adding to this products versatility.
Last but not least avero is our non-programmable digital product. It's a trimmer-based digital family of BTEs and custom products, with simple to fit two-channel processing.
SMAKA: I also noticed that some of your products come in tinnitus solutions, right?
PERRONE: Yes, they do. In the U.S. right now we carry the switch TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy) which is just a noiser and switch 8 TRT which is a combi unit. We also have jump, an analog noiser, but we are awaiting 510(k) approval from the FDA for a new digital device that will replace the analog jump noiser. So our entire tinnitus product line is not yet available within the U.S., but we hope to have them available by the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2011.
SMAKA: It sounds to me that it's a full portfolio with entry level through premium solutions, the full range of models and tinnitus solutions as well. It's not a niche company that is just making one or two products.
PERRONE: No, in fact, with our large engineering staff we are planning exciting products for 2011 that will help us strengthen our portfolio even more.
SMAKA: For some people, the question may be "Well, there are so many choices today and there are a lot of great products on the market, so why should I try audifon? What are the benefits for me?"
PERRONE: At audifon, we focus on good products, quality of service, and a great value. We're a small company in the US but at the same time we're part of a larger, international group. The service is fantastic. We have a staff here and in Germany that have taken ownership of this company and work diligently towards its success.
Our fitting software audifit is very efficient and intuitive. As a very helpful option MySound!, a tool for interactive fittings, is fully integrated into audifit. MySound! creates realistic sound worlds and incorporates a feature demonstrator and an interactive expert system that makes it very easy and fast to successfully fit our products.
audifon's audifit software includes MySound! tool for interactive fittings
Another reason to try our products is our realistic price point. You will get similar or better products from us as from other manufacturers at a value.
Last but not least audifon's MyPrint! is a great marketing on demand tool. It grants our customers access to a huge database of tried and tested marketing collaterals.
MyPrint! is a marketing on demand tool that enables audifon's customers access to a database of marketing collaterals.
Customer service is very important for us. When you call audifon you don't get a recorded message saying, "Push this button to go to here;push that button to go there." You actually get a live person here in our Florida facility.
We keep each other informed of any issues a customer may be having so we are all working together to assist all of our customers. This way we can ensure we are all coordinated in bringing you what you need for your patients and your business. For me and all of the audifon team this is most important.
SMAKA: Jane, what can we expect to see down the road from audifon?
PERRONE: Well, given our focus on high-class engineering you can expect more innovative products from us in the future.
Right now, connectivity and synchronicity are hot topics. Those are things that we're looking at. We were very, very lucky within the last two years to acquire a world-class engineering group to add to our already great team of engineers. This addition to our engineering staff has allowed us in last year to develop our new products. This year, our roadmap is just as aggressive.
SMAKA: Where would you direct people to learn more about audifon?
PERRONE: Our website is www.audifon.com and we also have a Web Channel on AudiologyOnline. We'll offer online courses about our products, software and programs on AudiologyOnline. Martin Kinkel, Ph.D. is our Director of Audiology at audifon corporate and he will be doing our first online class. We'll also be exhibiting at AudiologyNOW in Chicago so professionals can come by, see who we are and all we have to offer.
We really enjoy informing and educating professionals about our products and technology. This is a really exciting time for us with a lot of opportunities.
SMAKA: Thanks for meeting with me today and introducing us to audifon. Best of luck with everything this year, Jane.
PERRONE: Thank you.
For more information, please visit www.audifon.com or the audifon web channel on AudiologyOnline.
JANE PERRONE: I worked for a major hearing aid manufacturer, in many different capacities. I started in quality assurance, went to data entry, came back as the manager of quality assurance, then went out and received my hearing aid dispensing license. I'm currently a licensed hearing aid specialist in the state of Florida. After that, I came back into sales and was promoted into management from there. Then I joined audifon as VP of U.S. Operations in 2007.
SMAKA: So, people reading this interview might say, "audifon? I've never heard of that. Who is audifon?" Can you give some background about the company?
PERRONE: Sure. audifon is a hearing aid manufacturer based in Germany with distribution in over 65 countries worldwide. The company has a long and successful history and is part of one of the largest companies in the industry. The group is still family-owned.
SMAKA: Where is the worldwide corporate headquarters based?
PERRONE: Our worldwide headquarters is based in Germany. Along with our broad distribution network, audifon runs and owns manufacturing and distribution hubs in several countries, with the U.S. operations located in Florida.
We are one of very few companies that still design and manufacture solely in Germany. All of our BTEs are made in Germany. All of the custom hearing systems that we build here in the U.S. are built using the engineering and design-work of our staff over in Germany.
Our custom production in Florida is using the latest technology including 3D printers and CAD design systems.
SMAKA: Can you give an overview of the current audifon product portfolio?
PERRONE: Yes with pleasure. All audifon products use our latest DSP platform called «STORM». This platform offers higher processing efficiency at reduced power consumption and supports sophisticated algorithms. «STORM» also enables us to offer wireless sound processing and synchronization solutions.
A good example for this technology is our new CROS/BiCROS technology: We are just launching a dedicated CROS/BiCROS solution called via that offers wireless ear-to-ear transmissions and our innovative easyclick synchronization feature.
audifon's via is a CROS/BiCROS solution that offers wireless ear-to-ear transmissions and audifon's easyclick synchronization feature.
Our hearing aid portfolio features elia, a premium line, offering Sound Dynamix technology, which enables it to adapt to different sound environments automatically. elia is available in a variety of styles including receiver-in-the-ear, BTEs, and custom instruments. With the excellent feedback management system and low battery consumption of the «STORM» platform, the elia custom power line even includes a power CIC with up to 70 dB of gain.
There is a lot of flexibility in the elia line for the professional to ensure a successful fitting. The elia M has a variable rocker switch, so you can modify it to be a volume control, just a memory button or both.
audifon's premium line, elia, includes this elia M BTE model with a variable rocker switch that can serve as a volume control, memory button or both.
The business segment features our prado line: At a great price-performance-ratio prado offers all the essential hearing aid features in very attractive styles - from receiver-in-the-ear, BTEs to custom products. prado also includes a high power custom line with up to 70 dB of gain.
arriva and avero are offered in our entry-level value segment: arriva is a four-channel, six-band hearing system. arriva is a complete family of BTEs and custom products, suitable for every type and degree of hearing loss. In addition, certain models are capable of open fitting with thin tubes adding to this products versatility.
Last but not least avero is our non-programmable digital product. It's a trimmer-based digital family of BTEs and custom products, with simple to fit two-channel processing.
SMAKA: I also noticed that some of your products come in tinnitus solutions, right?
PERRONE: Yes, they do. In the U.S. right now we carry the switch TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy) which is just a noiser and switch 8 TRT which is a combi unit. We also have jump, an analog noiser, but we are awaiting 510(k) approval from the FDA for a new digital device that will replace the analog jump noiser. So our entire tinnitus product line is not yet available within the U.S., but we hope to have them available by the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2011.
SMAKA: It sounds to me that it's a full portfolio with entry level through premium solutions, the full range of models and tinnitus solutions as well. It's not a niche company that is just making one or two products.
PERRONE: No, in fact, with our large engineering staff we are planning exciting products for 2011 that will help us strengthen our portfolio even more.
SMAKA: For some people, the question may be "Well, there are so many choices today and there are a lot of great products on the market, so why should I try audifon? What are the benefits for me?"
PERRONE: At audifon, we focus on good products, quality of service, and a great value. We're a small company in the US but at the same time we're part of a larger, international group. The service is fantastic. We have a staff here and in Germany that have taken ownership of this company and work diligently towards its success.
Our fitting software audifit is very efficient and intuitive. As a very helpful option MySound!, a tool for interactive fittings, is fully integrated into audifit. MySound! creates realistic sound worlds and incorporates a feature demonstrator and an interactive expert system that makes it very easy and fast to successfully fit our products.
audifon's audifit software includes MySound! tool for interactive fittings
Another reason to try our products is our realistic price point. You will get similar or better products from us as from other manufacturers at a value.
Last but not least audifon's MyPrint! is a great marketing on demand tool. It grants our customers access to a huge database of tried and tested marketing collaterals.
MyPrint! is a marketing on demand tool that enables audifon's customers access to a database of marketing collaterals.
Customer service is very important for us. When you call audifon you don't get a recorded message saying, "Push this button to go to here;push that button to go there." You actually get a live person here in our Florida facility.
We keep each other informed of any issues a customer may be having so we are all working together to assist all of our customers. This way we can ensure we are all coordinated in bringing you what you need for your patients and your business. For me and all of the audifon team this is most important.
SMAKA: Jane, what can we expect to see down the road from audifon?
PERRONE: Well, given our focus on high-class engineering you can expect more innovative products from us in the future.
Right now, connectivity and synchronicity are hot topics. Those are things that we're looking at. We were very, very lucky within the last two years to acquire a world-class engineering group to add to our already great team of engineers. This addition to our engineering staff has allowed us in last year to develop our new products. This year, our roadmap is just as aggressive.
SMAKA: Where would you direct people to learn more about audifon?
PERRONE: Our website is www.audifon.com and we also have a Web Channel on AudiologyOnline. We'll offer online courses about our products, software and programs on AudiologyOnline. Martin Kinkel, Ph.D. is our Director of Audiology at audifon corporate and he will be doing our first online class. We'll also be exhibiting at AudiologyNOW in Chicago so professionals can come by, see who we are and all we have to offer.
We really enjoy informing and educating professionals about our products and technology. This is a really exciting time for us with a lot of opportunities.
SMAKA: Thanks for meeting with me today and introducing us to audifon. Best of luck with everything this year, Jane.
PERRONE: Thank you.
For more information, please visit www.audifon.com or the audifon web channel on AudiologyOnline.
