Name: Forrest Powell
Position at Sweetwater: Senior Sales Engineer
Start date: April 24, 2006
Where are you from originally? I hail from Raleigh, North Carolina, and spent the first two-thirds of my life there. It’s a wonderful place with wonderful people; I’ve found the same in Indiana. Lucky me!
Why did you first apply for a job at Sweetwater? I needed a career, rather than just a job. It was a very challenging decision to move far away from my hometown, but it was a risk that I’m quite happy I took. A close friend had blazed a trail here some years before, and his accolades for Sweetwater were very encouraging (and ultimately revealed to be true).
Technical strengths: I have used quite an array of microphones, preamps, interfaces, DAWs, and PA speakers and have played many guitars. Actually putting the gear to use is a lot different than pointing at it on a shelf. I have designed professional production houses and constructed my own QRD diffusers, studio desks, and acoustic traps.
Instruments you play: Guitar and piano. Being from North Carolina, I suppose that gives me some bluegrass roots. I like to pick at an acoustic. Above all, I tend to enjoy listening to and writing classical works.
Gear you own: Avid Pro Tools HD Native, DSM2s, Artist Control and Mix surfaces; M-Audio BX8 D2s; various preamps and compressors; an absurd number of mics; some nice guitars; and six terabytes’ worth of plug-ins.
Family info: My wife, Emily, and our absolute joy, our son, Grayson. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our beagle and bagle hound; they count, too.
Other stuff we should know about you (hobbies, talents, interests, etc.): I’m a woodworker on the side. My latest project is a cello. I’ve also developed a fondness for German cars, woe be unto my savings account.
Personal motto: I steal Martin Short’s motto from Men’s Journal: “Have as many laughs as you can. Surround yourself with people who are going to inspire you with their positive outlooks, and try to cut out the deadbeats.”
What did you dream about doing for a living when you were growing up? I dreamt about being able to make music and somehow still be secure. To that end, I am living my dream in more ways than one!
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Sweetwater team? The way Sweetwater embraces the concept of each person being unique but also being responsible for their own success is fantastically rare. I’ve shared in the dividends of community, of us caring about each other, and I met my wife, my dearest friends, and some of my most respected mentors in this place. I’ve learned many valuable life lessons here. Every business I’ve encountered elsewhere, regardless of industry, has paled in comparison to the warmth and the promise Sweetwater continues to thrive on and draw out of its people.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned at Sweetwater? I am ultimately and unquestionably responsible for my own success, my own failure, and my own perspective in any circumstances life may offer.