If you've ever stepped into a sparkling nightclub, an inviting five-star restaurant, or a classy lounge in which the "We call that 'wow' atmosphere 'the vibe' of a place," Kurt explains of the look and feel that his clients desire in order to make their establishments both entertaining and memorable.

atmosphere made you say, "Wow," you may well have experienced the end result of the unique

design talents of North Haven

native Kurt Kieslick of Sound Stage Systems. For the past 30 years Kurt-with his team of local engineers-has quietly

designed superior lighting, sound, and video experiences right out his North Haven-based corporate office.

"We call that 'wow' atmosphere 'the vibe' of a place," Kurt explains of the look and feel that his clients desire in order to make their establishments both entertaining and memorable.Kurt's route to becoming a sound, light, and video engineer-otherwise known as a systems integrator-began simply enough when he started working as a D.J. for the 95 House Restaurant when it was still located in North Haven.

Kurt's route to becoming a sound, light, and video engineer-otherwise known as a systems integrator-began simply enough when he started working as a D.J. for the 95 House Restaurant when it was still located in North Haven. "I'd D.J. for 20 minutes every hour between live band performances for a four- or five-hour night," Kurt recalls.

"I'd D.J. for 20 minutes every hour between live band performances for a four- or five-hour night," Kurt recalls.Later, when Kurt decided to become a bartender he turned the D.J. duties over to his

Later, when Kurt decided to become a bartender he turned the D.J. duties over to his "The whole club scene atmosphere comes out of the Studio 54 experience," Kurt says, referring to the famous New York City discothèque that became the quintessential hangout joint of the jet set during the 1970s and 1980s.

younger brother, Karl. Today, Karl is Kurt's business partner at Sound Stage Systems.

"The whole club scene atmosphere comes out of the Studio 54 experience," Kurt says, referring to the famous New York City discothèque that became the quintessential hangout joint of the jet set during the 1970s and 1980s.While quietly building classy night-life venues, Kurt and his wife Janice raised two daughters in North Haven; one is now engaged to marry a local man who works for Nelson Ambulance in North Haven.

While quietly building classy night-life venues, Kurt and his wife Janice raised two daughters in North Haven; one is now engaged to marry a local man who works for Nelson Ambulance in North Haven.Kurt and his team of Connecticut-based engineers have designed entertainment venues throughout the nation for corporate clients like Planet Hollywood as well as sports bars. He's also worked for celebrities like Paris Hilton, Prince, Michael Imperioli of

Kurt and his team of Connecticut-based engineers have designed entertainment venues throughout the nation for corporate clients like Planet Hollywood as well as sports bars. He's also worked for celebrities like Paris Hilton, Prince, Michael Imperioli of The Sopranos, Howard Stern, and Jon Bon Jovi.One of Kurt's favorite stories about working for celebrities

One of Kurt's favorite stories about working for celebrities "Paris couldn't make the opening night of her club; she was in Germany," Kurt recalls. "There were a lot of girls there dressed up to look like Paris-like once everyone wanted to dress like Madonna-and people there said, 'I danced with Paris,' but she wasn't even there."

involves Paris Hilton.

"Paris couldn't make the opening night of her club; she was in Germany," Kurt recalls. "There were a lot of girls there dressed up to look like Paris-like once everyone wanted to dress like Madonna-and people there said, 'I danced with Paris,' but she wasn't even there."Beyond celebrity clientele, "We tried to be international for a while, but made the conscious effort to remain national," Kurt says, noting that handling overseas clients became too demanding on his employees. "I'm big on family and people should be home on the weekends with their families."

Beyond celebrity clientele, "We tried to be international for a while, but made the conscious effort to remain national," Kurt says, noting that handling overseas clients became too demanding on his employees. "I'm big on family and people should be home on the weekends with their families." That same attention to caring about the personal lives of his employees came into play when Kurt first started out on the road to becoming a premiere systems-integration company.

That same attention to caring about the personal lives of his employees came into play when Kurt first started out on the road to becoming a premiere systems-integration company."We used to do concerts [for The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and U2] for about 8 to 10 years, but there was a lot of set-up and break-down work and that meant the engineers had to be on the road a lot and they didn't like it. They'd rather work Monday to Friday and have weekends off for family.

"We used to do concerts [for The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and U2] for about 8 to 10 years, but there was a lot of set-up and break-down work and that meant the engineers had to be on the road a lot and they didn't like it. They'd rather work Monday to Friday and have weekends off for family."We tell new-hires that what we do is hard for two to three weeks" when installing the systems Kurt's group has designed, he continues, "but on opening night, when the people are standing in line and can't wait to get in, when they walk into the club and say, 'Wow!'-that's our payback. You know they felt it. You struck a nerve. And that's when you say all those long nights, and climbing ladders, was worth it."

"We tell new-hires that what we do is hard for two to three weeks" when installing the systems Kurt's group has designed, he continues, "but on opening night, when the people are standing in line and can't wait to get in, when they walk into the club and say, 'Wow!'-that's our payback. You know they felt it. You struck a nerve. And that's when you say all those long nights, and climbing ladders, was worth it."

To nominate a Person of the Week, contact Jason Marchi at j.marchi@shorepublishing.com or 203-245-1877 x6166.