Leadership

Victoria Cerami operates Cerami & Associates, the largest women-led acoustic design and technology consulting firm in the world. Cerami has grown experientially each of the three decades that she has headed her eponymous firm. Vicki, as everyone calls her, presides over 80+ engineers, who are devoted to their practice and passionate about Cerami’s role in improving communication through acoustic, audio-visual and technology solutions.

Vicki leads with tireless enthusiasm, humor (she really could do stand-up) and gumption, which explains how she is able to keep the innovative spirit escalating at Cerami. One example is Cerami Acoustic Reality, which makes it possible for architects and developers to hear their spaces before they are built — a real game-changer.

Vicki has instilled the idea of mentorship (or womentorship) into each of us, and we feel outreach is our duty. The firm sponsors a woman each year entering college to study mechanical engineering in honor of her father, Vito Cerami. Vicki sits on the board of ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering), which mentors inner city high school students. She is also a board member for the New York Building Congress, past member of the University of Hartford’s Board of Regents, Co-Chairwoman of the Council of Industry Women, and past Chairwoman of the University of Hartford’s Institute of Science and Technology Building Initiative Program. Vicki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Hartford and a Master’s degree in business from MIT’s Sloan School of Business.

Vicki has three sons, two of whom are in the architectural design community and also, Cerami clients. Matthew Breitel and Ben Breitel (her famiglia) proudly accompanied her when she was Guest of Honor at the annual New York Building Congress Gala. The honor was given for “making acoustics and integral part of architecture design (before there was Cerami, there was little thought given to the way a building should sound).”

Cerami’s imprint can be felt through the signature voices she and her firm bring to such iconic buildings as One Vanderbilt, The Ford Foundation, Moynihan Train Hall, MoMA, LaGuardia Airport, Salesforce Tower, CIBC and the World Trade Center redevelopment.

Jim’s impact to Cerami’s day-to-day operations is only second to the influence he has had on America’s skyline. As our Managing Partner, Jim oversees operations, finance, and our greatest asset, our 80+ engineers, who count on his 25 years of experience to guide them.

Jim thrives on projects that require intricacy and complexity; seeing and more often hearing problems before they arise. Not surprisingly, he is most celebrated for his design expertise in hospitals and laboratory spaces, where unforeseen mechanical or environmental noise and vibration, can compromise the integrity of sensitive testing and research.

With so much Cerami history behind him and so much potential in front of him, Jim offers up subtle teaching moments at every opportunity, and is always looking to learn from other managers through the thirty or so books he devours each month.

Peter heads the accelerating technology consulting side of Cerami, leading a team of 30+ experts in AV, IT and Security with innovative technology strategy, thought leadership, design solutions and true client-first partnership. He is the go-to guy at Cerami for everything from technology installation best practices to future strategy development in every type of construction project from mission critical data centers and trading floors to million-square-foot future workplaces at top companies’ headquarters.

His passion for technology and acoustics integration runs deep – he started the technology and security practice for Cerami ten years ago and has built up our reputation with design strategy for some of the world’s most iconic buildings. His “top hits” list reads like a must-see travel guide including the World Financial Center, Madison Square Garden, Moynihan Station, Ford Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, and most Comcast Technology Center and The Walt Disney Companies HQ.

He demands flawless execution on complex initiatives from himself, his team, and vendors installing what he’s designed. Peter is a raconteur who can regale you with 30 years of stories of business – but is too much of a gentleman to reveal confidential names.

Albert’s stellar reputation throughout the building industry runs deep; fostering relationships with prominent architects and developers that go back decades. The key to his success both internally and externally is the way he is able to anticipate problems before they occur, and clearly communicate the way forward. To that end, Albert oversees Cerami’s Immersive Studio – which has helped hundreds of clients hear their spaces before they are built by creating a common thread of communication that goes beyond traditional 3D models and numbers.

Albert’s 6’ 3 “presence is always reassuring, and his impact on projects, from strategy to site visits, can be felt most recently in the magnificent new Moynihan Train Hall, One Vanderbilt, with it’s astounding observation deck, and dozens of high-profile corporate interiors, including those of Google and Facebook.

Albert has appeared as an expert witness at community board hearings offering testimony on noise transmission, with regard to noise codes, residential/community impact issues, and other acoustical and vibration issues. His knowledge of architectural acoustics, mechanical systems, noise and vibration control and environmental impact assessment, makes him a master at his craft.

Christopher is Cerami’s Partner in charge of acoustics, mentoring our growing team of acoustic engineers and pioneering innovative technologies to help clients understand acoustic options before multi-million dollar decisions are made. Whether on land or in the air, he can point to almost any building that make up the San Francisco and New York City skyline and talk enthusiastically about his contribution.

CAP, as everyone at Cerami calls him, is a specialist in all things relating to vibration, acoustical code and 3D modeling. His depth of experience has made him a much sought-out partner in the built environment – once he is on a team, the team’s success brings them back together.

Christopher holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University and is a licensed Mechanical Engineer (in the state of California). He has a background in IT and tele/data infrastructure and multimedia system design, which we at Cerami often tap into. He is a man of many talents and interests, ice-hockey, scuba diving and audio forensics (where he is an expert). Lately he has been tapping into his prodigious math skills in order to help his daughters (age 5 and 8) do their homework.

As Principal at Cerami, Brian serves as the head of our Washington, DC office. With 20 years background in technology and acoustic consulting, he is an expert in conferencing technology architecture, audiovisual system design, data/voice/AV infrastructure. Brian is a dedicated leader who delivers transformative and lasting change by creating a culture of accountability and process. He influences corporate direction and innovation by inspiring staff to tackle new challenges. Aside from being a professional in systems architecture and design, Brian is also San Francisco Giants fan and father of two!

As a Principal with over 25 years of experience, Michael (Mike) manages technology designers, engineers, and project teams; overseeing over $1B in technology projects in his career. He has been directly involved in hundreds of multi-discipline technology projects with a focus on solving client’s audiovisual needs. His depth of experience encompasses a wide range of work, including corporate offices, educational campuses, courtrooms, hotels, hospitals, NOC’s, government facilities, and more.

Mike is a steadfast leader who delivers transformative and lasting change by creating a culture of accountability and process. He continually influences corporate direction and innovation by inspiring us all to tackle new challenges – sometimes pushing us out of our comfort zones to do so. But we all know we are better off for it.

In addition to his credentials in the audiovisual industry, Mike’s background also encompasses physical security system design and consulting, IT infrastructure, acoustics, as well as general technology consulting and planning. He is an excellent coach and mentor because he will always make time to listen and teach, which is why so many of us at Cerami seek him out for industry expertise and strategy advice.

John is an acoustical engineer who has made architectural acoustics and troubleshooting the focus of his work for more than 30 years. His pragmatic and innovative approach, dedication to client relationships, and talent for mentorship make him an invaluable leader of our firm.

As Principal of Cerami’s Site Assessments group, John oversees a wide range of residential, commercial, corporate, religious, and educational projects. He is skilled at helping clients achieve a better quality of life in their space through an engaging design process. John also draws upon his wealth of experience encountering real world noise and vibration issues, to deliver practical and thoughtful solutions to any project type.

John is the longest Cerami “boomerang”, having launched his career in 1987 under the direction of our founder Vito V. Cerami. Prior to returning to Cerami, John led his own successful acoustical consulting firm in New York City for 23 years. He is a recognized industry subject matter expert on acoustical and vibration control design.

Trish has built a strong and resilient HR infrastructure at Cerami, with thoughtful and strategic planning regarding Talent Acquisition and Retention, Workforce Development, Employee Relations and Compliance. She serves on Cerami’s Leadership Team as our fierce people-champion and is the linchpin to employee benchmarking, HR policies and procedures within business units.

With over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources, Trish has the Crises Management skills that have helped major companies weather calamities, including the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and the financial crises in 2008, where she was the VP of Human Resources at Bear Stearns.

Not one to leave anything, even a bio, on a downer, Trish is thrilled to announce that Cerami just won “Best Places To Work” in New York City. No small feat, considering that this prestigious designation is in part due to the benefits she fought so hard for and the culture she helped to create.

A notorious communicator and raconteur (Irish brogue a plus), her door is always open, as is her big heart.

Dijana is our Controller and is responsible for overall company financial operations. She offers a rich blend of accounting, operations, strategic, administration and leadership talents gained from years of Controllership experience in the Oil & Gas, and International Banking industries. The way she runs her devoted finance group is symbolic of the way she has been able to keep our entire firm fiscally fit – through respect for the process.

Through most of her 15 years in Finance and Business Management, she has met KPIs in rubles, euros, yen and dinars, the Serbian currency from her native country. Ask her about her experience with Japanese Management Model and you will understand why she is a sensei in optimization.

Her enthusiasm for acoustics is contagious – she is always introducing new revenue streams for us to pursue. We all wish we could clone Dijana, which is interesting as she has three children – including twins.

Carmen has over 18 years of experience in project management and design for facilities of all types including residential developments, schools and universities, office buildings, airports, research laboratories, data centers and manufacturing. She brings with her particular expertise in the design of outside plant and building cabling systems, and physical security systems including access control, intrusion detection, CCTV surveillance, intercom and emergency telephones. Additionally, she is experienced in the design of intelligent building systems for residential and commercial facilities providing systems integration with centralized monitoring and control.

As project manager, Carmen works closely with clients from needs assessment and design to the evaluation and selection of vendors and contractors, and during construction including coordination with contractors, architects, construction managers, service providers and other trades and supervision and commissioning of installation.

Trey co-founded Cerami’s Site Assessment department – a specialty division that provides onsite, on call pragmatic solutions to noise and vibration issues. Trey’s passion for mechanics and physics, coupled with experience in MEP design and commissioning, make him well versed in virtually any type of acoustical issue – from corporate offices and residential buildings to healthcare and education facilities. A natural leader, exceptional listener and a straight-shooting troubleshooter, Trey is steadfast in his pursuit to make New York a better place to live and work.

Ben is a relentless multidiscipline problem-solver whose greatest joy comes from seeing a project through, from conception to completion. He is that rare engineer who is as adept at analytics and project management, as he is in conceiving creative “out-there” ideas that push the limits of design and innovation.

As one of Cerami’s Audiovisual experts, Ben sees the bigger picture, and often leads his loyal teams to seamlessly integrate AV, IT, Security and Acoustics in partnership with architects and developers on their iconic buildings such as The Spiral at Hudson Yards, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and The Koch Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Alexis, with 20+ years of experience in the field of architectural acoustics, vibration control, and sustainable design, is known as a specialist in the acoustic design of educational facilities. Her reputation for managing multi-disciplinary teams, supervising projects from visioning through to opening is well documented. We had our eyes on her well before she joined our firm in 2019.

As lead acoustician for Deerfield Academy’s Math Science and Technology Center, The New Classroom Building at Virginia Tech, the Edward St. John Teaching and Learning Center at the Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland, Peterson Hall at George Mason University and the Jamail Lecture Hall at the Columbia School of Journalism, she has developed a pedagogy of her own. In fact, when she isn’t designing acoustics for educational facilities or healthcare buildings, museums, or transportation structures, where she also brings years of expertise, she can be found mentoring young women advance their engineering careers.

Alexis is an INCE Board Certified Acoustician, having earned the recognition of the highest professional capability in the practice of Noise Control Engineering. She is one of those engineers who Cerami is proud to say never stops learning, as can be seen by her myriad of accreditations and various expert panels on which she serves.

Justin is Cerami’s Transportation sector lead, appropriate because he is always in motion – currently managing the acoustic build out of the $8 billion LaGuardia Airport and $2.7 billion Newark Airport Terminal One renovations, and directing a team of experts in acoustic and audio-visual design at world famous transportation hubs.

With over 15 years’ experience in the industry, Justin has heard it all and is able to bring his wide range of experience and gravitas to solve the most critical acoustic issues in the built environment.

Justin has been a featured instructor for the Pratt Institute and guest forum speaker for the Audio Engineering Society (AES). He almost attended aeronautical school before enrolling at University of Hartford for Acoustic Engineering, a choice we at Cerami are forever grateful. Many of his fellow colleagues live vicariously through Justin’s exploits as amateur racecar driver, snowboarder, surfer, golfer, and world traveler.

Justin has been a featured instructor for the Pratt Institute and guest forum speaker at the Audio Engineering Society (AES).

Adam is an Associate Principal with nearly 20 years of experience in Building/ Architectural Acoustics and Electro-Acoustic design, and audio system commissioning and Project Management. His experience encompasses a wide range of market sectors including Commercial (legal office and corporate), Media, Government (legal facilities, aviation, law enforcement), Residential, Public Spaces, Transportation and Mission Critical. Adam also has global experience in large-scale mixed-use facilities and high-profile projects including audio design and commissioning for stadiums and performance spaces.

Prior to Cerami, Adam was a Senior Acoustic Engineer and Manager of NDY Acoustics in Australia. His previous senior and current role have allowed Adam to work closely with clients on a professional level to develop relationships that have led to repeat work through understanding client needs and project specific constraints (design and financial) and providing quality, practical and buildable design solutions.

Adam’s background in audio engineering and design has enabled him to be able to collaborate with Clients and design teams on sound masking systems for commercial spaces to allow flexible use of open work environments. Adam’s experience also enables him to develop acoustical modeling of spaces to simulate effectiveness of acoustical materials, room shapes for example as a tool to facilitate design direction for critical project decisions relating to acoustics.

As Studio Head, Matt leads an ambitious team of acoustic engineers who are as passionate as he about designing corporate interiors for the most prestigious financial institutions and biggest technology companies in the world.

Matt seamlessly bridges mechanical and architecture design – that rare problem solver who operates at the intersection of art and science.  Improving communication in workplaces is one of his missions, so it was only natural that he was unanimously chosen from among his Cerami peers to lead our own build out on 1001 Ave of The Americas.

Numerous architectural gems, such as the 425 Park Avenue and Museum of Modern Art in NYC River Port in Chicago, CIBC in Toronto and numerous HQs have his signature voice.

Matt is an accomplished pianist who is rumored to have perfect pitch, something that he laughs off every time we bring it up to impress clients on business pitches. He is a confirmed foodie, who can tell you the greatest places in NYC to eat, as well as those restaurants where it’s best to hold a meaningful conversation – you’ll be impressed how well he listens.  He has built up Cerami’s competitive intern program and continues to co-run it each summer.

Steven Sinclair is our resident diplomat, overseeing the Government market vertical for Cerami. Steven knows his way around Washington, DC, leading the design on federal and state projects, including the House of Representative, the USDA, USDEA, USAID, ECB2. He’s not just in the room where it happened, he and his team create the AV, IT, Security and Acoustics in the room where it is happening. We’re okay if he mixes state and church, as Steven also consults for cathedrals, including the magnificent St. Sophia, which he helped redesign.

Steven affably mentors a dedicated team, who have also become experts at cutting through red tape to get to the heart of a project, which is always about end-users, their needs and how technology can enhance their communication.

Steven is currently managing the massive Fort Meade project for Cerami, while also keep his troops in line – he has ten children!