Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon HOLLYWOOD, FL -- We are sweating, sitting on a short wall separating the concrete walkway from the white sands, facing the Atlantic Ocean some 50 yards away. Clad in a baseball cap, navy tee, khaki shorts, black walking shoes, and a COVID-19 mask pulled down, teeth clenching a cigar, Straight Wire's president, Steven Hill, 63, is taking a break from our five-mile walk, fielding a business call on his cell. Formerly a North Shore high school hoops player who braved bullets and threats of bodily harm to up his game playing pickup ball against DuSable High's best on Chicago's South Side, he is hairy and thick through his torso and arms. Hill is kind, but pragmatic; en route to the beach house of longtime friend, Larry (a gregarious and fiercely intelligent Maharishi follower running a counseling and ozone showering practice there), he drives his shopworn white van the wrong direction on the one-way access road and exercise pathway, drawing some consternation and finger wags. "Hey, you don't even own a property here," he chides, adding that it's the only convenient way to Larry's, where he has an open door. "Some people tell me, 'you should buy a house on the ocean,' but why bother when I can stay here for free?" We park in Larry's drive and begin our hike. An audio industry veteran for over 30 years, early on he survived a partner's attempt to bankrupt the business to facilitate a new solo venture. However, that's history; nowadays, Straight Wire manufactures performance cables and audio/video equipment in over 50 international market and supplies internal wiring for select clients and audio manufacturers such as JBL Synthesis, Sony, Thiel, Chesky, and Mobile Fidelity. As such, he, remains friends with many of the big players today. Fitness is a big priority for him. A hardcore gym rat who lost over 50 lbs. in the last several years, living and working in Florida, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hill now eschews the club and strives to walk 10 miles each day. When the topic of music listening for pleasure comes up, he says, "I'd rather exercise," adding that it's not healthy sitting for long stretches, and he keeps his Oracle Delphi Mk IV turntable at a friend's store, Hollywood Sound (his friend is the U.S. Importer through his company, Audio Encounter Solutions LLC), where he limits listening sessions to several hours on weekends. That point is underscored later when we watch a movie that evening at his home; there is no large area rug covering the imported Italian marble flooring running throughout -- or other acoustic treatments, for that matter -- and expensive projector and screen aside, the A/V equipment is sparse and utilitarian, with a small subwoofer and a pair of KEF bookshelf speakers atop a marvelous, low-slung custom entertainment center that his wife, retired healthcare administrator Goldie, handcrafted (she took lessons from a local artisan in woodworking and veneering, and is currently re-grouting the poolside travertine tile out back). A study in perpetual motion, Hill is a gifted conversationalist, making friends everywhere; staff and patrons greet him as "Steven" when we drop by a local pool hall he frequents nightly (borrowing a friend's cue, he demonstrates a trick shot for me), and his desk, covered with shifting piles of invoices and paperwork, hints at his workload and the weekend hours he spends there "just for fun." Showing off kitchen skills cultivated in culinary classes "to meet girls" during his youth, Hill pounds two chicken breasts flat and, minutes later, produces a Chicken Marsala worthy of Five Stars for dinner. High protein-low carb is the order of the day. Afterwards, he takes me for an architectural tour of Hollywood, pointing out some of the more notable homes and spectacular seaside vistas. Offered the option of a seaside walk at dawn, I decline, stay the night in a guest room, and the next day at 9:30 AM, I am served a breakfast of an omelette and a sweet and tart smoothie with frozen banana and berries blended with protein powder. Then, we're off to tackle the business end of my visit -- a tour of the Straight Wire offices, warehouses and the CAT Wire & Cable Corp., who have played a role in constructing some of their power cords. I am writing a piece on the experience for the online audio journal, Positive Feedback. I am introduced to longtime staffers Spencer and Jerry, who coordinate with Hill on the day's activities, then meet "Tex", one of three production workers who is presently working on a custom cable project for a customer. I view rows upon rows of shelves stocked full of spools and boxes of cabling, terminations and other accessories in several rooms, scrawling a few cursory, illegible notes as we go along. Next up, it's one of several warehouses, then CAT Wire & Cable, where a manager gives us a tour. Large industrial fans cool the large warehouse as several workers monitor stretched wiring being coated with insulation. I will describe the process and machinery in greater detail in my forthcoming piece at Positive Feedback and provide a link on these pages (with COVID-19 sidelining some personnel, Hill has been forced to delay delivery of some technical information I am awaiting). Afterwards, we grab takeout pulled pork, collard greens, mac and cheese, and the best brisket I've eaten in my life at Joe's Grill, then head to Hill's to dine and part paths. I meet Goldie, who's maintained a 25-foot distance while struggling with COVID-19 symptoms (later, Hill tells me that she tested positive, while he tested negative). A dignified and kind, slender soul, she's an empty nester with Steven in their home of 30 years (you can read more HERE). She eats very little and apologizes for not being able to visit longer out of health concerns and sends her greeting to Belle and our family. With a generous takeout box filled with leftovers for Belle, I hit the highway to return to Tampa, where we are visiting my mother-in-law on holiday. Concluding Thoughts
Kicking around impressions of our visit, a phrase comes to mind: A life well-lived, and as I mull deeper, several thoughts surface. First, Steven Hill is very dedicated to hard, honest labor. "I consider it a privilege to work," he says while discussing a spirit of entitlement rising in our culture. Being in the audio cable business where profit margins are notorious for being off the charts, he maintains, "I don't gouge my customers; I offer a fair value." I can vouch for that, as I have a loom of his cabling throughout my reference system and, for the money, it's fantastic. When asked what he's going to do when he retires, he said, "I won't ever retire; I'll always be working at some capacity," adding that he would love to assist one of his adult children, should they ever elect to take over the reigns of Straight Wire or go into business on their own. Second, he is very relational. Business and investments are important, but building friendships and treating others with dignity and respect are deeply imbedded in his psyche; it permeates his professional and personal life. Third, he is frugal. Although he's doing very well financially, he doesn't waste money unnecessarily. He often dines in. When he's out of town, he doesn't stay at the most expensive hotels (I've witnessed this firsthand at Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) several times, where he participates in the Expo, but stays at a cheaper hotel nearby). And although he could easily afford a beachside house, he says, "Why? What would I do with that?" Fourth, he plays hard. He takes his workouts seriously and maintains a nightly ritual of playing pool (he has over 30 cues, as I recall). Fifth, he is a lifelong learner. A voracious reader, he is constantly learning, exploring, and growing. With all the social upheaval and negativity permeating our media and taking our minds down dark pathways, it's refreshing to encounter human beings like Steven Hill, who strive to make a difference in their own unassuming way.
2 Comments
Daniel Starr
9/2/2020 02:49:16 pm
Juan, I thoroughly enjoyed this post, and the corresponding review of the Straightwire facility in Positive Feedback. Very enjoyable and equally as well-written! Thanks for sharing your insight.
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9/2/2020 07:11:47 pm
Hi Dan,
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
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