Taylor University Awards Chuck Surack Honorary Doctorate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Taylor University Awards Chuck Surack Honorary Doctorate

Fort Wayne, IN, May 21, 2018 — Sweetwater president and founder Chuck Surack received an Honorary Doctorate from Taylor University, Saturday, May 19, during the 2018 Commencement ceremonies at the Kesler Student Activities Center on the Taylor campus in Upland, IN.

A press release from Taylor, among other things, cited Surack's commitment to "always do the right thing."

The release said: "Surack founded the Sweetwater enterprise in 1979 as Sweetwater Sound – a four-track recording studio that was housed in the back of his Volkswagen bus. A few years later, Surack gained a national reputation for his skills with the Kurzweil K250 synthesizer, while providing custom sound design and recording studio consulting to many well-known artists. Today, Sweetwater is the number one online retailer of music instruments and pro-audio equipment in the United States, employing over 1,300 team members who are focused on serving Sweetwater's more than four million customers each year.

"In addition to Sweetwater, Surack has translated his commitment to creating jobs into ownership of 10 other businesses, including SweetCars, Sweet Aviation, Sweet Helicopters and Longe Optical in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and All Pro Sound in Pensacola, Florida.

"Additionally, Surack and his wife Lisa are deeply involved in the Fort Wayne community and are considered among the leading philanthropists in Northeast Indiana, where they have served in numerous volunteer roles and regularly give to over 600 organizations annually, including numerous music-related organizations, the Rescue Mission, Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, and Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana."

Surack received his citation for the Hononary Degree of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, from Taylor Univeristy President Lowell Haines.

Later, Surack remarked, "On behalf of my family and my employees, I'm humbled and honored to receive this honorary degree from such a fine institution of higher education as Taylor University."

Caption:

1. Taylor University Board Chair Paige Cunningham (left), President Paul Lowell Haines, JD, EdD, and Sweetwater President Charles (Chuck) Surack.

2. Taylor University Board Chair Paige Cunningham (left), Sweetwater President Charles (Chuck) Surack, and Taylor President Paul Lowell Haines listen as the citation is read for the honorary degree Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.

###

About Sweetwater Sound
Founded in 1979, Sweetwater is the No. 1 online retailer of music instruments and audio gear in the U. S., according to the music industry's authority on sales statistics, Music Trades Magazine. The company is respected as the nation's leading retailer serving musicians, recording studios, broadcast, education, and houses of worship. Sweetwater's customers can be found everywhere music is heard and audio is played, broadcast, or recorded, including recording, film, and broadcast studios in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami; in hundreds of thousands of home recording studios; and in schools and churches nationwide. Sweetwater's founding and meteoric growth are built on a knowledgeable and experienced staff, outstanding selection and pricing, and, above all, an unwavering commitment to customer service excellence in every situation. For further information, visit Sweetwater.com.

- End -

Attachments:

https://media.sweetwater.com/m/about/press-releases/images/HainesSurackCunningham.jpg?ha=e152b630ac286b1e

https://media.sweetwater.com/m/about/press-releases/images/HainesSurackCunningham2.jpg?ha=19a9bf1e2f5c92bb