THREE LIGHTING VETS FIND NEW HOMES

Three veterans of the lighting industry have landed new gigs. First, Al Ridella has joined 4Wall Entertainment-East (4Wall-East) as vice president of sales. He joins the company with more than 20 years' experience in the lighting industry, most recently having spent three years with High End Systems as Northeast region and Eastern Canada sales manager. His resume also includes positions at Fourth Phase and BASH Theatrical Lighting.

As the VP of sales, Ridella will be responsible for 4Wall's sales and installation accounts for the Eastern United States and Canada.

Dallas-based lighting manufacturer Vari-Lite Inc. has bolstered its sales staff with the addition of another industry vet, Charlie Hulme. He joins the company as regional sales manager for the Western US.

Hulme spent seven years with High End Systems. During that time he served as regional account manager for the mid-western United States, special projects manager and also as sales manager for architectural projects. Part of his responsibilities included the development and management of a regional dealer base. Most recently, Hulme was sales engineer for the System Integration Group at Audio Visual Innovations.

And lastly, Steve Surratt has joined re-joined his former employer, Texas Scenic Company, as vice president/chief operating officer. A native Texan and former TSC employee, Surratt has returned home to assume his duties in this new position as of November 7.

Surratt most recently served as sales director and general manager for ETC Architectural for five years, moving to Wisconsin as part of the Irideon team after ETC's acquisition of the line from Vari-Lite in 1998. Previously he was vice president of sales at Irideon from 1995 to 1998. Surratt worked at Colortran as a regional manager from 1986 to 1991 and moved into the position of vice president of sales until 1995. He worked at Texas Scenic Company from 1979 until 1986.