It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Loyd Ivey, founder of MTX, president and CEO of Mitek Corporation.

On September 30th, we have lost one of the dinosaurs of the audio industry. He was there at the beginning, he was a pioneer in our field.

Loyd's legacy is extraordinary, and the list of companies he created, developed or acquired is impressive: MTX, StreetWires, Coustic, Xtant Technologies, Esoteric Audio USA, AtlasIED, Atlas Sound, IED, ETA Systems, DMC Loudspeakers, Soundolier, Magnum...

These brands are present in nearly 90 states around the world. They are installed in our vehicles, on our motorcycles, on our heads or in our ears, in our leisure vehicles, at NASA, in the White House, in the space station, in airports around the world, in cruise ships, in hotels, in stadiums, in offices, in schools, in hospitals, and in just about every vehicle of the US military.

For over 52 years, MTX and Mitek Corp. remained a private company which never went on the markets to sell or finance themselves.

This exceptional professional success has been widely recognised by his peers:

• In 2001, he became vice-chairman of the board of directors of CEA (Consumer Electronics Association)
• In 1998, he was elected industrialist of the year by Mobile Electronics magazine.
• In 1999, he became President of the Mobile Electronics Division of CEMA (Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association).
• In 2001, he became a Member of the Board of Directors of the National System's Contractor Association (NSCA).
• In 2001, MTX was ranked the 24th best company in Arizona.
• From 1985 to 1994 he was the president of IASCA (International Auto Sound Challenge Association).
• In 1991, he was voted Entrepreneur of the Year by Rockford Magazine.
• In 1991, it was ranked the 57th fastest growing company in America.
• In 2009 he received the Per Haugen Lifetime Achievement Award. And much more...

Loyd was passionate and his work came first. He loved his engineers and supported them when they wanted to innovate. His enthusiasm for planes, cars, motorcycles, and anything that could have an engine was limitless.

We will miss his kindness, his sense of humor and his smile.

Since 2017, John, his son, has taken over with strength and determination the helm of the companies. The adventure (the success story) continues.

All our thoughts are with Debbie, John, Beth, Jonathan Jr., John, Nathan and Jack.