OUR TEAM
For more than 20 years, Advanced Visual Production has been providing sound, lighting, and video production services in the city of Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding areas of Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Washington DC and beyond. Providing more than simple equipment rental and installation, AVP has the creative designers, experienced producers and skilled technicians needed to craft a production from start to finish.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
LEE
CIRO
NATHAN
THOMAS
CHRIS
ALLYSON
E. Lee Dickinson
President – Technical Director
Lee started his career in entertainment technology at the age of 12, working in his middle school’s theatrical productions before going on to graduate from Virginia Tech with a degree in Theater Arts. While at VT, he studied design and technology, and conceived and taught classes in technical skills. After graduating, he began work as a project manager for various local production companies, with the majority of his work with AVP. He became a partner in 2008 and took over as sole owner in 2016.
A designer and technician, Lee enjoys finding creative applications for presentation technology, and has a particular interest in events which require tight integration of various media. He has developed expertise in the core production areas of sound, lighting, and video while also becoming familiar with the supporting areas of rigging, power distribution, networking, and show control.
A company owner and a father, Lee still finds time for boating and flying and enjoys DIY projects around the house, keeping up the carpentry skills learned as a set builder.
Ciro Mangieri
Production Manager
A Full Sail University Graduate, Ciro’s dedication and knowledge of live event production is the driving force behind the successful completion of our projects.
As AVP’s Production Manager, Ciro ensures that our focus on excellence in sound, lighting, video and design is supported by a strong foundation of the latest hardware and software solutions. His positive personality keeps our crew and clients ease.
Nathan Firster
Warehouse Manager
After graduating in Film Studies in Ohio, Nathan spent 10 years freelancing in the live event world at venues in VA, on tour with national acts, and in a corporate environment at Capital One. His understanding of not only technology but also company culture and artist management makes him an appreciated asset to the team, helping develop processes that organize all of the moving parts into a seamless workflow for the production team.
On any given day, you can find him in the warehouse updating inventory labeling systems, rewiring DMX looms, and listening to Twitch streams
Thomas Richardson
Producer
Involved in the performing arts since elementary school, Thomas studied acting throughout high school and completed a two-year conservatory in New York City. Upon completion, he decided to continue freelancing in the production world in order to tie together creativity and business. After spending two years in the commercial printing industry sharpening sales and marketing skills, he returned to the creative technology field on the front end, eager to apply his organizational and communication talents to show business.
Chris Ratterree
Video Engineer
Having directed and filmed (on actual 8mm film) his first horror movie at the age of 12, Chris has built his lifelong career on a combination of artistic vision and technical excellence. Chris co-wrote, directed, and edited his first movie called A Midsummer Night Massacre, with a limited budget and before the existence of the internet, digital editing, or any of the tools we rely on today.
An accomplished musician, Chris later learned how to play guitar, program drum machines, and synthesizers, and got his introduction to recording on four-track tape. Chris went on to intern in various recording studios, developing skills in Protools and Sonar. On the video side, Chris started editing on an old VHS linear setup and later moved to Final Cut and Adobe premiere in the late 90s.
Chris joined AVP in 2001. With over 30 years of experience, Chris is an audiovisual expert and manages AVP’s camera crews, studio, and our editing suite. He is experienced in all areas of video and audio production from conception, directing, and producing, to live events and post-production.
Allyson Biersack
Team Member
Allyson does everything from office cleaning and warehouse organization, to truck loading and being a stagehand at our large corporate events. Her upbeat attitude and constant sense of humor keeps things lively, and she loves to show up the rest of the crew at how hard she can work. After years of experience for event rental companies, she is now eager to learn the technology and design process behind audio visual production.