Z Systems Staff
Margie Zdechlik, President & Controller
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 Zdechlik, Sales Manager
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 Gotfredson, Senior Account Manager
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 Mullin, Rental Manager & Camera Specialist
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 Gallentine, Integration Manager
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.
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Jeremy Hauer, SAN Specialist / Technician
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/
Cori Arntson, Graphic Designer / Technician
Cori graduated with an associate’s degree in video production before being hired at Z-Systems as a graphic designer and installation technician.
“There is no ceiling too high, nor insulation too deep. The cable and I share a connection.”
In her spare time she works to improve her skills as an artist, game designer, and freestyle skater.
Nathan Kinney, Technician
Nathan started as a technician for Z Systems in October of 2022, after years of working as a musician, engineer, producer, and studio manager with varied establishments around the Twin Cities. He relocated to Minneapolis from Flint, Michigan in 2004 to study at the McNally Smith College of Music, obtaining a degree in Audio Engineering.
After completing school, he stuck around playing in many bands around the area, currently working as a guitarist with Bad Habits Brass and bassist with The Usual Things. In addition to playing, he also spends many hours in the studio, producing songs and albums with a diverse cavalcade of artists throughout the years.
Nathan is also an educator, focusing primarily on the study of audio engineering, guitar, bass, percussion, and piano. Primarily teaching now at The Rock Camp Experience in St. Louis Park, which is how he entered the Z Systems universe.
Nathan can now be found knee deep in cables, cameras, switchers, and servers wherever they are needed.
Taylor Olson, Technician
Taylor graduated from Full Sail University in 2011 and shortly after co-wrote and co-directed American Beast, a horror-comedy feature film that won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2014 Twin Cities Film Fest. It had its worldwide release in 2017 and is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Besides film, he enjoys reading, traveling, and has spent several years studying the Norwegian language. (A very practical study, as most Norwegians can speak English anyways)
Taylor was excited to join Z Systems as an AV Technician after many years of being an end user on similar systems he now helps design and install.
