Barrett Carlson

Audiovisual Client Advisor and Design Engineer

Barrett Carlson is an Audiovisual Sales Specialist at Thompson Electronics Company. With over two decades of experience in professional audiovisual systems, Barrett began his AV career in 2004 and joined Thompson in 2023 as an AV Operations Manager. His career path has taken him from technician to project manager, project engineer, and system designer—culminating in a role that allows him to work directly with clients to design solutions that meet their unique needs.

Barrett holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development & Leadership from Eastern Illinois University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He currently holds an Avixa CTS certification and is working toward his CTS-D. Over the years, he has earned numerous manufacturer certifications from industry leaders such as QSYS, Crestron, and Dante, and has completed specialized training in sound system design through SynAudCon.

Barrett has led and contributed to multimillion-dollar AV projects for organizations like the University of Illinois, Caterpillar, regional courthouses, and churches across the U.S. His work has spanned states including Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, Georgia, and Colorado, and has taken him internationally to locations such as Northern Ireland, China, and Panama.

He is passionate about helping people solve problems—whether clients know exactly what they want or need guidance to figure it out, he takes the time to ask the right questions and collaborate closely to find the right solution. He avoids pushing unnecessary equipment, focusing instead on functionality, value, and satisfaction. His ultimate goal is a successful, complete installation with no return visits and no unresolved issues.

Outside of work, he is deeply interested in acoustics, speaker design, and staying current with emerging AV technology. A lifelong learner and music enthusiast, he plays electric and flatpicking guitar, upright and electric bass, and old-time banjo. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, building projects, traveling, and exploring science—particularly Earth and astronomy. He lives with his wife and pup and never misses the chance to fine-tune a great sound system and turn up the music.

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