Cecil Suite is the owner of Carolina Marketing Associates (CMA), a rep firm of approximately seven people for home and car audio. To say that he is a veteran of the industry may be an understatement. We can call him one of our forefathers in the Mobile electronics industry.
For over a quarter of a century, Suite has driven thousands of miles (maybe even over a million) in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia to obtain business, and ensure that his dealers are well taken care of. For Suite, life out on the road has been fruitful due to his hard work and dedication. In this day and age, competition is tough and only the strong survive in the mobile electronics business. He and his employees do whatever they have to do, to get the job done.
Year after year, Suite has seen the changes the industry has gone through. He sold 8-track, cassette , compact disc, and now DVD players. "In the last few years, technological advancements have created a lot of excitement in the Mobile Electronics industry. Who would have thought that when I started in this industry 28 years ago, that Navigation systems would be an important category? I remember the analog displays on radios... now look what they have become. Six inch monitors!" explains Suite.
When Alpine Electronics started sales in the U.S. back in 1978, CMA supported the line and has been on board since. The last 20 years have brought many Alpine demo vehicles through his territory. All of the Alpine vehicles have top notch installations and products, but unfortunately, there aren't enough to go around. They are requested every weekend for the whole year throughout the country. Suite believes that a vehicle is the best way to show off product. People of all ages will come and look at a vehicle if it is done correctly. Suite's goal was to take everything that he has learned and create a vehicle with impact, to cater to many age groups. It had to be loud for the kids and technologically advanced for the older generation.
The first step was to choose the correct vehicle. His vehicle of choice was a deep blue metallic, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. He felt that the vehicle's retro look would satisfy many age groups. Next was to choose an installer. With so many good ones to choose from in the territory, his decision was rather tough. He turned to a former employee, Chris Anderson (Installation March 2000), since he knew that Anderson's installation capabilities were top-notch. From there, Suite gave Anderson the authority to outfit the PT Cruiser with Alpine components from top to bottom. Here's what he came up with.