Chuck Surack

Chuck Surack is a Fort Wayne, Indiana entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, and musician, best known as the founder of Sweetwater Sound, a leading retailer of musical instruments and pro audio equipment.

Biography

Surack was born in Waverly, Ohio, his family later relocating to Fort Wayne, Indiana. He attended Wayne High School and played saxophone in the school's marching band. He was also active in the Boy Scouts.^[1] Following high school, Surack toured with a band as a saxophone player and keyboardist.^[2] In 1979 Surack decided to stop touring, and returned to his hometown of Fort Wayne, creating a mobile 4-track recording studio housed in a Volkswagen Bus. This studio would eventually become Sweetwater Sound. Surack still plays saxophone and keyboard as part of his band, Prime Time.^[3]

Surack has cited his father, Jim, a chemical engineer and airplane pilot, as a major influence.^[4] Surack is married to his wife Lisa, and has two stepsons and a daughter, Adderly (whose name was influenced by the name of saxophonist Cannonball Adderley).^[5]

Career

Sweetwater Sound

When Surack stopped touring with his band he returned to his home town of Fort Wayne, Indiana and converted his Volkswagen Bus into a mobile 4-track recording studio. He later established a recording studio in his home and named it Sweetwater Sound. In 1985, he purchased a Kurzweil K250 for use in the studio and reverse engineered it in order to develop and use sounds of his own design, establishing Surack as an expert within the K250 community. Sweetwater Sound was eventually selling K250 sound libraries and became established as a Kurzweil K250 reseller. Being part of the small professional K250 community allowed Surack to develop relationships and work with artists such as Kenny Rogers and Stevie Wonder. Sweetwater began selling more and more pro audio equipment, and eventually Sweetwater's retail business surpassed its recording studio business.^[6][7] In 2013, Sweetwater was ranked third among music products retailers in the U.S.^[8] and 7th worldwide.^[9] Surack remains President and CEO of Sweetwater Sound, Inc. today.

Other Business Ventures

In February 2010, Surack submitted a proposal to convert an abandoned building on Jefferson Boulevard in Fort Wayne into a luxury car dealership. The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission agreed to transfer the property to Surack in exchange for Surack's financial commitment to improve the property to open and operate the dealership.^[10][11] The car dealership, SweetCars, opened in December, 2011.^[12]

In January 2011, Surack acquired the assets of Pensacola, Florida-based audio/video systems integrator and musical instrument retailer All Pro Sound, which operates independently of Surack's other business ventures.^[13] In August of the same year, Surack acquired the assets of Smith Field Air Services and established Sweet Aviation, a Fort Wayne flight school.^[14]

In 2012, Surack founded Indiana Helicopters, a charter helicopter service based in Goshen, Indiana.^[15] In September of the same year, Surack purchased the assets of Longe Optical, a Fort Wayne-based optical business with 5 storefronts.^[16]

Philanthropy

In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Surack has volunteered with many organizations, serving on the boards of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, WBNI/WBOI Public Radio, Unity Performing Arts Foundation,^[17] the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Tower Bank, the National Association of Music Merchants^[18] and other organizations. He is currently a board member for Easter Seals ARC of Northeast Indiana, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo^[19] (where he was previously Board President), the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board, Lutheran Hospital, Lutheran Health Network, and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Office of Development.^[20]

Surack and his wife Lisa have supported numerous organizations with charitable donations. Among these organizations are the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music,^[21] Arts United of Fort Wayne,^[22] the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra,^[23] Easter Seals ARC of Northeast Indiana,^[24] and the Voices of Unity Youth Choir.^[25] Surack and his wife also established the Chuck and Lisa Surack Endowed Scholarship for Music Technology at the University of Saint Francis.^[26]

Recognition

• 1997 Ernst and Young 1997 Northern Indiana Entepreneur Of The Year^[27]
• 2008 BCA 10 Award presented by the Business Committee of the Arts, in recognition of corporate support of the arts^[28]
• 2008 Appleseed Award presented by Representative Mark Souder in recognition of the inclusion of numerous environmentally-friendly features at Sweetwater Sound's campus^[29]

• 2009 Governor's Arts Award, presented by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in recognition of ongoing commitment to and support of the arts.
• 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award awarded by the University of St. Francis School of Creative Arts for integrating electronic music instrument technologies, computers and traditional music practices into a modern art and science^[30]
• 2009 Lugar Energy Patriot awarded by Indiana Senator Dick Lugar in recognition of leadership and initiative in taking concrete action to improve America's energy security and promoting sustainable energy production and use.^[31]
• 2012 Doctorate of Humane Letters from Indiana University
• 2012 Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of St. Francis^[32]
• 2013 Inducted into the Indiana Academy by the Independent Colleges of Indiana for lifetimes of achievement and contribution to the state of Indiana^[33]
• 2014 Leaders of Character Award from the Anthony Wayne Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America^[34]

See also

• Sweetwater Sound

• Full Compass Systems

• All Pro Sound

References

External links

• Chuck Surack NAMM Oral History Program Interview