It’s only fitting that Ron Hageman finds himself at the helm of a company renowned for its ability to adapt to an ever-changing business climate.
Hageman has worked in several diverse roles since he took on with Sonic Equipment in 2006. His ascendancy up the proverbial ladder began as a technician, to construction manager and digital cinema installer, then to overseeing the company’s ground-breaking remote monitoring service and call center.
Now, Hageman has been named Sonic’s new executive director.
Hageman, 34, will oversee day-to-day operations and provide strategic direction for the company; and continue to work closely with theater owners — more than 1,200 screens — across the country.
Hageman was appointed Sept. 10 to succeed Eric Olson, who has shifted to become Sonic’s director of sales.
“I couldn’t be more honored to have the opportunity to lead such an exceptional company or more confident in our team’s ability to continue to provide the very best service and support for our customers,” Hageman said.
One of the company’s missions, Hageman noted, has been to remain at the forefront of new cinematic trends, especially with the explosion of digital movie projection systems.
“I look for us to always have to adapt to the industry, especially from a technical standpoint,” he said. “I look for a new realm of installation service for our theaters. Sonic is on the brink of some new things, a lot of new leads for theater builds.
“These are exciting times with all of the new technology being developed. This is an exciting company to work for.”
SONIC’S success is more than just adapting to technology, Hageman noted.
“The reason why Sonic Equipment is one of the top service providers in the nation, is we’re a one-stop shop,” he said.
With services that range from servicing a broken popcorn machine to building, equipping and managing an entirely new moviehouse, the company stresses customer satisfaction, he continued.
“We depend on relationships. I learned a lot about relationships from my mentor, Eric Olson. He built a lot of those.
“Eric is a terrific salesman with great connections. Allowing him to concentrate on sales is a terrific opportunity for Sonic. His work ethic, and passion for the industry and appreciation for Sonic’s portfolio of clients will continue to benefit the organization as he transitions into his new role.”
HAGEMAN IS certain of one constant as 2016 nears: change.
Within the past 18 months, Sonic’s parent company, B&B Theatres, acquired Dickinson Theatres to become the country’s ninth-largest theater chain.
Just as importantly, Sonic services independent theater owners across the country from a single location, Hageman said, an easier task with its newly developed Sonic Operational Solutions, a remote monitoring service and call center.
“When the digital age came in, we wondered how we could provide service without having to send a technician to every site to fix them,” Hageman explained. “But with digital, all components within a theater can be remotely monitored. It’s on a network so we can see everything.”
That means Sonic can diagnose issues to hundreds or thousands of screens throughout the nation.
AN IOLA native, Hageman graduated from Iola High School in 1999, and through various jobs Hageman learned the importance of dealing with customers in dire straits, such as during water outages.
“I learned to show a sense of compassion, and professionalism,” he said.
He moved to Sonic in 2006 to find a company that shared those same values.
It’s not a stretch, he noted, to call the Sonic workforce a giant family.
“We evaluate new employees to see where we can mold and transform them,” he said. “We try to put them in places where they’re profitable for us, and at the same time, be passionate about the job they’re doing.”
