Z Systems Staff

Margie is the glue and the driving force that keeps everything running at Z Systems.  While the rest of the crew is out proposing and implementing all these great solutions for our customers, Margie is keeping everything organized.  She also does all the accounting, taxes, payroll, and HR. If you have any questions about billing, she is the go-to source. Her many skills include making a killer pot roast and lots of very funny faces – both to the delight of her family.

John received his degree in electrical engineering, and promptly went into the audiovisual industry right out of college. Job roles have included consultant, design engineer, sales engineer, and now sales manager of Z Systems.

John founded Z Systems in 1998 based on a need in the marketplace for a small, elite group of highly technical people to tackle the tough jobs in a very hands-on manner.

Freddie came to Z Systems in 2015 as our director of digital marketing. He brings with him decades of experience in the world of multimedia production and design.

He started in the account manager role in 2017 and specializes in audiovisual systems sales for government and houses of worship. He enjoys helping people and seeing a project through from idea to completion. He uses his technical expertise and creativity to help solve people’s technological challenges.

Freddie is also a musician, having played keyboards in various bands the Twin Cities since his late teens. He is most well known for having created the on-hold music when you call Z Systems, with his former band, The Jones Dickens. You can hear his music online and at venues around the Twin Cities.

Keith graduated from Metropolitan State University in 2010 with a B.A. in Screenwriting. He has been involved with over twenty short film productions in the last six years and has worn just about every hat there is in film production. His work been selected to screen at film festivals all over the country and has won awards for directing, editing, cinematography and lighting. He is always eager to get his hands dirty learning a new technique or piece of equipment. 

Keith was happy to accept the opportunity to work at Z Systems based on his experiences competing in the Z-Fest Film Festival several years in a row. He clearly saw how committed Z Systems is to showcasing the talent in the community and is proud to now be a part of that by providing the tools filmmakers need.

Jay has been with Z Systems since 2000 and has been an Apple-Certified MacOS and Xsan Technician since 2005. He’s run the integration department since 2007. His primary duties are facility design & engineering, estimating jobs, and managing projects. Jay holds a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Broadcasting and Film Production from the University of Iowa. Before Z Systems, he spent twelve years ‘in the chair’ as a professional film and video editor.Jay also researches and writes in the field of space history, having published two books with a third underway. He’s been on Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum as well as the podcast Cool Space News. 

Before entering the world of film and television, Jay competed for ten years as a sponsored endurance athlete. He recorded one triathlon win, numerous top-ten placings, and finished the Ironman Triathlon. In recent years he has completed two marathon swims.

Links:

• Ambassadors From Earth on Amazon
• Eugene M. Emme Award
• Infinity Beckoned on Amazon

Jeremy has a background in audio as a musician and engineer as well as in the construction industry. He worked at a studio as a sound editor for a TV show for two years. After working in construction for 20 years, he went back to school for networking and has become Microsoft, Cisco, and Mac-Certified, as well as Pro Tools-Certified for Post and Music in 2008. Jeremy also is a drummer (don’t hold it against him) and is involved in several projects ranging from jazz, rock, alt-country, noise and occasionally a Gordon Lightfoot Tribute band. He currently is in a jazz group called The Willie August Project and an indie alt-country band named Buckrodney. 

He can be heard here: willieaugust.tripod.com or http://buckrodney.com/

Max is an audio engineer, post-production editor, and associate installation technician at Z Systems. After making his first song in high school, he decided to ditch his dreams in computer science and dive headfirst into the music industry. During his journalism studies at the University of Minnesota, he was heavily involved with the student radio station – Radio K. Between mixing a band a week there, managing two concert venues, and later running the sound board at KSTP, he kept busy between lectures and story assignments. After graduating, Max worked as a freelance audio engineer. This led him to interning at a recording studio, going on his first tour, and making national headlines for his work with local shoegaze band She’s Green. 

Outside of work, Max enjoys reading, biking, and playing sudoku .  You can usually find him at his studio recording his friends, at a local show, or at a bingo hall.

Bret is a musician based in Minneapolis with a lifelong passion for technology, whether it’s servers, computers, or audio equipment. Fresh out of high school, he is eager to learn more about audio engineering and explore opportunities in the field.

While still new to the professional scene, Bret has begun immersing himself in the local music community, recording with friends and attending various live shows. He enjoys collaborating with other artists and gaining hands-on experience.

Outside of his musical pursuits, Bret enjoys biking, skiing, and capturing the world through photography. You can often find him biking around the city, jamming with fellow musicians, or at a concert, soaking in the sounds that inspire him.