Chuck Surack

Chuck Surack is an American entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, and musician, best known as the founder of Sweetwater Sound, a leading retailer of musical instruments and professional audio equipment.^[1][2]

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.^[3] Following high school, Surack toured with a band as a saxophone player and keyboardist.^[4] 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 two bands, Prime Time^[5] and the Sweetwater All Stars ^[6]

Surack has cited his father, Jim, a chemical engineer and airplane pilot, as a major influence.^[7] Surack is married, and has two stepsons and a daughter, Adderly (whose name was influenced by the name of saxophonist Cannonball Adderley).^[8]

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.^[9][10] By 2016, Sweetwater had become the largest online retailer of music instruments and equipment in the U.S.^[11] Surack remains President and CEO of Sweetwater Sound, Inc..

Other Business Ventures

SweetCars 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.^[12][13] The car dealership, SweetCars, opened in December, 2011.^[14]

All Pro Sound 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.^[15] In August of the same year, Surack acquired the assets of Smith Field Air Services and established Sweet Aviation, a Fort Wayne flight school.^[16]

Indiana Helicopters In 2012, Surack founded Indiana Helicopters, a charter helicopter service based in Goshen, Indiana.^[17]

Longe Optical In September 2012, Surack purchased the assets of Longe Optical, a Fort Wayne-based optical business with 5 storefronts.^[18]

Helimotion In 2014, Surack purchased Helimotion, an aerial film production and executive charter service based in Chicago. ^[19]

Mynett Music In 2015, Surack purchased Mynett Music Company, a music retailer established in Fort Wayne in 1933 and focused on providing music instruments, lessons, and repair services for students and school music programs.^[20]

Aviation Specialty Insurance Formerly known as Corporate Aviation Insurance Group (CAIG), Aviation Specialty Insurance provides general aviation insurance services.^{[21] [22]}

Philanthropy

Surack and his wife contribute to more than 500 nonprofit organizations annually.^[23] Past charitable donations have included the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music,^[24] Arts United of Fort Wayne,^[25] the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra,^[26] Easter Seals ARC of Northeast Indiana,^[27] and the Voices of Unity Youth Choir.^[28] Surack and his wife also established the Chuck and Lisa Surack Endowed Scholarship for Music Technology at the University of Saint Francis.^[29]

Surack has served on the boards of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., WBNI/WBOI Public Radio, Unity Performing Arts Foundation,^[30] the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Tower Bank, the National Association of Music Merchants^[31] and other organizations. He is currently a board member for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, Easter Seals ARC of Northeast Indiana, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo^[32] (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.^[33]

Recognition

• 1997 Ernst and Young 1997 Northern Indiana Entrepreneur Of The Year^[34]
• 2008 BCA 10 Award presented by the Business Committee of the Arts, in recognition of corporate support of the arts^[35]
• 2008 Appleseed Award presented by Representative Mark Souder in recognition of the inclusion of numerous environmentally-friendly features at Sweetwater Sound's campus^[36]
• 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^[37]
• 2009 Lugar Energy Patriot awarded by Indiana Senator Dick Lugar in recognition of leadership and initiative in taking action to improve America's energy security and promoting sustainable energy production and use.^[38]
• 2012 Doctorate of Humane Letters from Indiana University
• 2012 Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of St. Francis^[39]
• 2013 Inducted into the Indiana Academy by the Independent Colleges of Indiana for lifetimes of achievement and contribution to the state of Indiana^[40]
• 2014 Leaders of Character Award from the Anthony Wayne Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America^[41]
• 2015 Maclyn Parker Swagger Award by Greater Fort Wayne^[42]
• 2015 Red Coat recipient from Mad Anthony Children's Foundation for recognition of accomplishments that help make Fort Wayne and the state of Indiana a better place^[43]
• 2015 Citizen of the Year from the Journal Gazette^[44]
• 2016 Lion Award by the Fort Wayne Urban League for immense community contributions and accolades^[45]
• 2017 Legends of Leadership Award from the editors of Fort Wayne Business Weekly^[46]

See also

• Sweetwater Sound
• All Pro Sound

References

External links

• Chuck Surack NAMM Oral History Program Interview