About Us
Our Past, Present, and Future...
YEARS IN BUSINESS
Since 1968 we have been designing, installing, and servicing sound systems.
COMPETITORS LONGEVITY
No local competitors have been in business as long.
Premier Audiovisual Integrators
Continually striving for perfection
Our past is important but we don’t live there. We stay on top of new technologies and methods. Our technicians are certified through testing and training.
For over half a century
Large and small businesses, churches, and organizations have relied on us to install and keep their system at peak performance for years. Speaking of years and stability, Florida Sound has been around longer than any local competitor – since 1968.
Leader | Top 🐶 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not only have we been around for over half a century, we have spent that time as a leader in state-of-the-art design, installation, and servicing of sound and video systems. We make wise choices on quality of equipment recommendations. We also invest in our team members so they stay at the top of their game and more importantly, we encourage them to lead by example.
Woof! 🐕
WHO WE ARE
Audiovisual Integrators
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Your team provided a neat and timely installation and the final product sounds fantastic."
DAVID J. ESTEL
Christ the Rock - Memphis TN
We are problem solvers who are driven to provide the best-in-class audio-video solutions for our customers.
Premier Audiovisual Integrators
Continually striving for perfection
Our past is important but we don’t live there. We stay on top of new technologies and methods. Our technicians are certified through testing and training.
For over half a century
Large and small businesses, churches, and organizations have relied on us to install and keep their system at peak performance for years. Speaking of years and stability, Florida Sound has been around longer than any local competitor – since 1968.
Leader | Top 🐶 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not only have we been around for over half a century, we have spent that time as a leader in state-of-the-art design, installation, and servicing of sound and video systems. We make wise choices on quality of equipment recommendations. We also invest in our team members so they stay at the top of their game and more importantly, we encourage them to lead by example.
Woof! 🐕
HOW WE DO IT
We stand for...
Truth, Loyalty, and Integrity
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything" so states an adage that we agree with.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I would have gotten a little more sleep during our construction process if all the subcontractors conducted themselves like Florida Sound."
GEORGE L. DAVIS
Faith Christian Church - Jacksonville
We stand for...
Definition of "Truth"
"The quality of being in accord with fact or reality. Truth is a comprehensive term that in all of its nuances implies accuracy and honesty." (thefreedictionary.com)
Definition of "Loyalty"
"Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty." (thefreedictionary.com)
Definition of "Integrity"
"Uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character." (thefreedictionary.com)"
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything."
According to Quote Investigator: "An interesting precursor for the saying appeared in a Methodist church announcement in an Iowa newspaper from 1926. The word order and meaning were distinct, but the keywords were the same. In 1927 the same precursor was printed as a “Sermonogram” in an Ohio newspaper: 'It is easier to fall for anything than to stand for something.'"
We stand for...
Definition of "Truth"
"The quality of being in accord with fact or reality. Truth is a comprehensive term that in all of its nuances implies accuracy and honesty." (thefreedictionary.com)
Definition of "Loyalty"
"Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty." (thefreedictionary.com)
Definition of "Integrity"
"Uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character." (thefreedictionary.com)"
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything."
According to Quote Investigator: "An interesting precursor for the saying appeared in a Methodist church announcement in an Iowa newspaper from 1926. The word order and meaning were distinct, but the keywords were the same. In 1927 the same precursor was printed as a “Sermonogram” in an Ohio newspaper: 'It is easier to fall for anything than to stand for something.'"
Some of Our Team
Robert Cole
President
Bob, started working at Florida Sound in 1985 when hired as a technician with sound and video talent. He went on to become the installation manager and in 1999 he and his wife, Diana, bought the company...
Diana Cole
Vice President
Diana started in 1999 when she and Bob bought the company. Formerly, she worked meticulously at Merrill Lynch excelling in the financial /
investment market and in supporting clients. She has brought…
Neil Cooper
Senior Project Manager
Neil started in 2007 as a technician and now oversees operation of technicians as Senior Project Manager. An audio-video superhero, Neil does system design, coordinates project and service scheduling...
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Florida Sound's History
Our Start
Florida Sound had its start back in 1950 when Warren Coughlin started a small family business on the Southside of Jacksonville known as Florida Wired Music. It began to flourish and later in 1968 became Florida Sound Engineering Company which represented the vision of Mr. Coughlin better.
Picture: Brochures from the 70's and 80's
At the Helm
When at the helm, Warren was a hands-on kind of guy and stood behind the work his company did. For many years, Florida Sound’s brochures had statements like: “Please do not hesitate to write or telephone me, personally, if we can be of service.” Warren also never showed reluctance when it came to describing Florida Sound’s accomplishments, which were many. No longer was Florida Sound a small music company piping in ‘wired’ music. The name change was appropriate, because Florida Sound now was engineering and installing sound systems in buildings such as Independent Life, Southern Bell, the original Gator Bowl and Florida Field in Gainesville.
“Our reputation and our position of leadership demands no less."
WARREN COUGHLIN
Past President of Florida Sound
Like Father, Like Son
As Warren raised his family, his son Mark took an active interest in the company, and after college he began to work as an installer. It wasn’t long before Mark was showing his Father’s zeal and business acumen. Mark became the Vice President and later, President of Florida Sound. This was not overnight, as Warren wanted to make sure that his company would be handled the right way, a way that had brought him dignity and success in the community.
Mark was also known for his hands on philosophy and by the early 1990’s Florida Sound had grown into a major player of sound system design and installation. Not just in Jacksonville, but Mark found himself being asked to bid on jobs all over the southeastern United States. The Orange Bowl in Miami; Charleston Coliseum in South Carolina and the enlarged Florida Field at the University of Florida in Gainesville, to name a few.
Tragedy Strikes, Then "Outside" Management
At the peak of this growth, tragedy struck. A calamity that would pierce Florida Sound to its core occurred when Mr. Warren Coughlin called a company meeting to let his extended family know that his son, Mark, had cancer. After a recovery period, Mark appeared fine, but later it was discovered that the cancer had re-occurred and surgery was not an option. Mark Coughlin died leaving behind his wife, three sons, one daughter and his Mother and Father. But he also left behind many employees that viewed him as a friend. Mark is truly missed.
Mr. Warren Coughlin and his wife took an active interest in the company again, but in 1996 after much debate, sold Florida Sound to a larger corporation. Many of the employees stayed on, like Kenny Niblick and an enterprising installation manager named Bob Cole. They had both been working with Warren and Mark since 1985. Bob witnessed the chaos of “outside” management and he longed for that family-owned business atmosphere again.
Family Owned Once Again
It came true when the large corporation that had purchased Florida Sound, lost interest in the sound business and offered Bob the company. It was a dream come true. Now Bob and his devoted wife Diana had to make a decision. It was YES! Once again Florida Sound carries on Mr. Coughlin and his Son’s vision and zeal for business. The kind of business where the heart and soul can be felt, seen and heard. Where the customer is not just a number. That would be a family-owned business. Florida Sound is prospering and is carrying on the tradition of two pillars in the sound business. And as the past words of Warren Coughlin sum up so nicely: “Our reputation and our position of leadership demands no less.”
ROBERT COLE
President
Picture Archives
Florida Sound's logo
Picture Archives
Our office locations over the years...
Florida Sound Timeline
Florida Wired Music
Florida Sound Engineering
Robert Cole hired as tech
Started video system design
Sold to a large corporation
Purchased by Robert & Diana
2023 and still going...