Jon Robbins, who helped found the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) as principal of HiFi House, has returned to the buying group as managing director.
He assumes the role held by former Runco exec Bob Hana since 2011. Hana will remain with HTSA, but will scale back his operations and marketing duties to devote more time to a non-profit startup.
Robbins, whose three-store A/V specialty chain closed last year, will spearhead member and vendor relations.
“As a founding member of HTSA, it is an honor to be re-joining this thriving community in a leadership role” some 20 years after its birth, said Robbins, who spent the past year as enterprise sales manager for Internet services firm Netsertive. “I am looking forward to working closely with colleagues both past and present within the HTSA membership and hope to build on the model of success that Bob and his team have forged for this group over the past few decades.”
In his new role, Robbins will leverage his Netsertive experience in vendor recruitment and online dealer marketing to manage the day-to-day interactions between HTSA integrator members and vendor partners, the group said.
HTSA will remain in its Barrington, Ill., headquarters outside of Chicago.
In a statement, Hana said he is “proud of HTSA’s accomplishments,” which included an expanded member and vendor roster and a heightened marketing effort during his tenure as managing director. “I know Jon will ensure we remain the industry’s premier member-owned buying group, and I pledge to do my part to support those efforts.”
Outside of HTSA, Hana plans to launch “We Grow Up Too,” a non-profit organization that will provide care to children with physical and mental disabilities as they move into adulthood.
