My parents tell me that before I can even remember, I was intrigued by how electricity, lights and sounds worked together. My room at home gradually morphed into an electrical / video lab and assembly area. This passion led me to build complex radio control airplanes, shoot and edit videos as a business, build computers, and create a range of electrical devices of my own design. Many of these things are commonplace today, but were leading edge in my youth.

I began Crestron programming twenty years ago. I programmed, part time, for a Crestron Elite Dealer in Southern California. My first major AV project, done on my own with my own engineering, was a major sound system and video upgrade for my high school’s gymnasium, shortly after I graduated from that high school.

Soon after college at UCI, I entered into the AV industry in a serious way focusing on Crestron Programming, earning Creston’s Master Diamond certification and engineering complex AV systems for large residential and commercial applications. After all these years of experience, I am still passionate about this dynamic industry, and am very excited about the Elegant Solutions we are able to provide to our customers.

I am incredibly pleased to have the opportunity to partner with my son, Mark Kohlmann, here at Chief Integrations. My role is to execute and build the business model to compliment Mark’s extraordinary technical talents and experience.

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, I spent my younger years in competitive sailing, representing the United States in two world championship races. While majoring in Economics at Stanford, I taught sailing lessons and purchased a yacht brokerage company. This led to a position at Ericson Yachts and I moved to Newport Beach, CA. I served as CFO, then COO, and at the age of 29 became CEO/President of Ericson Yachts until it was acquired 12 years later by Pacific Seacraft.

The majority of my career was spent as CEO, C-suite executive or consultant in yacht manufacturing companies, domestically and internationally. After my time at Ericson Yachts, I formed a consulting company to focus on small business overall business strategy and execution. Often, I would take short term executive roles with my consulting clients to help with execution. My consulting approach was that “Ideas are rarely enough.” Execution matters.

In addition to executive and consulting roles at yacht manufacturers Ericson Yachts, Pacific Seacraft, Nordhavn and Northwest Trawlers, I have extensive experience in yacht services, composite manufacturing, snack food manufacturing, software development/sales, electronics assembly, and custom window/door manufacturing as a supplier to custom homebuilders.

My decades of experience are now singularly focused on the business of Chief Integrations. I find my experience in large yacht manufacturing and yacht services is especially relevant to the business of Chief Integrations.

Welcome to Chief Integrations, where our mission is to accelerate our customer’s success.

I am Chief Kohlmann, the inspiration behind the name and values of Chief Integrations.

One day, when Mark Kohlmann was thinking about starting his own company, he looked down at me and had a lightbulb moment. Mark thought: “There is nothing more loyal, dedicated and dependable than a Golden Retriever, and Chief is the best Golden Retriever in the World!” And just like that, the name Chief Integrations was born. Just as I am dedicated to the happiness of my family, our family here at Chief integrations is dedicated to bringing you, our customer, the highest level of professional skills, integrity, and service. Our goal is to make you wildly successful. My professional background includes passing the AKC Good Citizenship test, as well as successfully completing my certification as a licensed Therapy Dog. Most days you will find me heavily engaged in the business, sleeping under a desk or at someone’s feet during important phone calls, a constant reminder of our dedication and codes of ethics.

Contact Chief via email: chief@chiefintegrations.com