Twist of fate drives growth for Audio Enhancements

Audio Enhancements was founded to make learning easier for hearing-impaired children.

But in fulfilling that need, the Bluffdale-based company has served innumerable other students and teachers in classrooms across the country.

Claudia Anderson was the mother of four children, two hearing-impaired, when she began developing products that would help teachers project their voices more effectively in classrooms.

After founding Audio Enhancements in 1978, Claudia Anderson quickly realized that her products were of great value to any student, as well as to teachers. Studies have conclusively proved a link between using Audio Enhancement products and improvement in student behavior and performance. Teachers also suffer less stress and vocal fatigue using the company's systems.

Claudia Anderson continued building her company while raising her family. But major change occurred in 1994, when Audio Enhancement's vice president of sales visited an outdoor retailer for a pair of hiking boots and walked out with boots, socks, clothing and a passel of other gear thanks to the salesmanship of a young staffer.

That staffer was Claudia Anderson's son, Jeff. The vice president persuaded her to hire him for a three-month stint. But fate intervened when, in short order, that vice president was hired away by another company and Jeff Anderson's brother was injured in an accident, leading Claudia Anderson to take a leave of absence.

Soon, Jeff Anderson was vice president of sales, and he took over as president and chief executive officer when his mother was elected mayor of Bluffdale in 2005.

Since then, revenues have more than doubled as Jeff Anderson has entered into a collaborative partnership with Panasonic, brought patented infrared technology to the company's products and pushed Audio Enhancement to integrate its product offerings while continually innovating.