Boy Scout Requirment

[kendallizm]

Hello,
My name is Jaden Kendall and this question is for JonnyMac. I am 8 years old and I have to interview someone that works for a company. This is for a Cub Scout project. My Dad told me to write you and ask some questions.
How long have you worked there and what do you do? How can we buy things from you and where? Is JonnyMac your last name? Why do you like what you do? What does your company make? How do people use the things that you make?

Thank You for your help.
Jaden kendall :)

[JonnyMac]

Jaden,

Would you rather do a phone interview?  You may call me nearly any time of the day on our support number, unless I'm in a class I will answer the phone, and answer all you questions.

In case the question you posted are it, here are the answers:

EFX-TEK is almost two years old; I have been here since the beginning along with my business partner, John Barrowman.  Prior to us forming EFX-TEK we were engineers at Parallax -- we use a lot of Parallax components in our products.

John and I both do product design and development, so that's part of my job.  Other parts of my job include maintaining our forums,  web store (with help from a great IT guy), web site, and our documentation.  We will start attending trade shows soon, so I will be pressed into public speaking, something I enjoy.

You may purchase EFX-TEK products via the Internet through our web store (shop.efx-tek.com) or by calling our sales number: (916) 770-9244.

JonnyMac is a nickname that I was given by a TV producer in Dallas.  This may be a little confusing, but here goes: my real name is Jon Williams.  In addition to EFX-TEK I am a professional actor (www.jonmcphalen.com), and as "Jon Williams" is a famous name (most people know the Star Wars composer) the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) suggested that I use something different.  So if you see me on TV or in a movie the credits will list me as Jon McPhalen (hence, JonnyMac).  Where does McPhalen come from?  I got my first name from my grandfather's middle: his name was Earnest John McPhalen.  Since I was given one of his names, I took the other -- and it's good, there are only two of us listed on IMDb.com with the name McPhalen, and it's likely the other is a distant relative.

I'm a person who is interested in many things, but only electronics and acting (and the things associated with acting) have "stuck" -- so working for EFX-TEK and living in Hollywood is the perfect life for me.

Our company makes small-scale controls and accessories that are targeted at those who build props and displays.  We're very well known in the Halloween industry, but we have lots of customers in that build displays for museums, holiday displays like you see in big department stores and, of course, people that make movie and TV props.  We have even sold some products to NASA! -- but they wouldn't tell us what they were doing with them....

Most of our customers need a prop to move, or have flashing lights and sounds; our products provide that capability.  A "product" that we don't charge for is training; it does take a little effort to learn to use some of our products but most customers are willing as our products give them complete control that is different from what other people do.  John and I have been doing this stuff for a long time, and we're always happy to share what we know with others.

Good luck with your project and your adventures in scouting.

Jon

[kendallizm]

Hi Jon,
This is Robert, Jaden's Dad, thanks for your help with this. Jaden gets to earn a scout patch for this and it is one of his requirments to move into the next level of scouting. It was really nice of you to take the time to do this for him.
Thank You,
Robert

[kendallizm]

Wow, I just went on your MySpace page. You've done alot in your life dude. Your quite the well rounded guy. Once again thanks for your help and I'll be bugging you about some programming code that I need soon! LOL

[JonnyMac]

It's my pleasure. It's been a while, but I was a Scout, too.