After meeting at the University of Arizona, Ray worked his way through school managing a high-end home audio store in Tucson. By his side, Chris--his then girlfriend, used her accounting background as the stores book keeper. After graduation in 1985, Ray took a position in New York as a Wall Street trainee. Learning the Commodities Markets by day, Ray's passion for home audio continued unabated, working evenings and weekends at a local hifi shop in New Jersey.

Now married, Ray and Chris also teamed up in business; Christina eventually became a full-time accountant at the same store that Ray supported as a part-time sales person. But it was in 1990, that a chance meeting between two high school friends changed the course for Ray and his family. While on vacation from his fast paced career as a Commodities Trader, Ray bumped into a friend whom he had worked with briefly at a Chicago stereo store as a teen. Years later, he was now the owner of that same store, and looking for an investment partner. Over the next year Ray would work with him as a consultant, helping to reposition his store upmarket, by adding more exclusive high-end lines.

Eventually, Ray and Chris would relocate to the Chicago area permanently. While a formal partnership with his high school friend was never realized, Ray's dream of owning his own stereo store gained momentum. After successful high level talks with several key vendors, and loan guarantees from his bank, their dream was approaching reality.

Ray walked away from his Wall Street contract in the Fall of 1991 to work on his hifi project full time. His marketing concept was an outgrowth of over ten years experience selling specialty audio and video components to consumers with the highest expectations. In Spring of 1992, THE SOUND LAB, was founded by Ray and Chris. It was the first store of its kind in Chicago, with components displayed in home like, designer furnished environments. It was a runaway success. Sixteen years, five children and one name change later, EDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT has become one of the most highly regarded, family owned A/V retailers in the country. Ray and Chris continue as senior partners with Brent Hovland, providing a fresh new perspective into today's custom integration market since 2004.

Today, THE EDGE is poised to be an industry leader for generations to come.