July 2002 marks the 20th anniversary of California-based Dove Systems. It was summer of 1982 when Gary Dove left Teatronics where he was co-owner and vice-president of engineering, and started his own company in his garage. Gary took the Scenemaster product line with him: the Scenemaster was improved and other products were soon added to the line. In 1990, Dove acquired the WestStar company, a pioneer of memory lighting control on a personal computer. Lighting control products were developed for the Commodore, Apple, and IBM personal computers. In 1996, Dove acquired Hallikainen and Friends Inc, a broadcast equipment company. Along with the deal came owner and electronic engineer, Harold Hallikainen, who turned his expertise from radio and TV to lighting control. Today, Dove Systems has 15 employees including Gustav the mascot dove. Dove's products include over 25 lighting control products, as well as dental curing lights, industrial monitoring controls for oil field production, and the Braillemaster, a hand-held teaching aid that speaks, to help blind people learn the Braille language.Gary's wife of 30 years, Cheryl, is a teacher. They have two children, Brandon, and Chelsea, both in college. Dove told us: "Cheryl and the kids have helped out too, through the years. This is truly a family business." Dove Systems will have an open house July 12 and welcomes all visitors.
(Lee Baldock)
