VPI Industries continues to lead the way and usher in the next generation of audiophiles. Last fall, at Capital Audiofest Mat brought his students along with him to experience the show and learn more about how the business and audio world work. They are getting real-life hands-on experience, talking with customers, both returning and potential as well as the media and other industry members. Mat and VPI is providing these young people with experience they can use for the rest of their lives as well as helping them network and advance their careers while still in school. Read what VPI has to say about the program below:

(From VPI Blog: VPI Blog)

After years of hiring from the same adult workforce within the audio industry, we have decided to take a different approach to the future of VPI—one that not only strengthens our company but also positively impacts society.

VPI has developed an educational mentorship program in partnership with several local schools to provide students with real-world experience while integrating fresh perspectives into our business. Through this initiative, students from the following institutions participate in hands-on learning at VPI with hands on experiences and mentors to guide them:

• Monmouth University – College students, primarily from my IT-150 Business Technology class
• Collier Vocational School – Hands-on students seeking real-world mechanical experience
• Holmdel High School – Business and economics students gaining insight into real-world operations

Our Mentorship Model

VPI aims to position itself as a leader in education while also fostering connections with younger individuals who are well-versed in the latest technological and social trends shaping the next generation.

VPI’s resident staff act as mentors, guiding students through business, technology, engineering, sales, marketing, and more. Each mentorship is coordinated with a school mentor advisor, ensuring that students receive structured learning aligned with their academic curriculum.

During the program, students:

• Are assigned to a VPI mentor based on their area of interest and expertise.
• Work on real-world tasks within the factory and office.
• Follow lesson plans that outline the skill being developed, its practical application at VPI, and its broader impact on the industry.
• Receive an opportunity to transition into part-time or full-time employment at VPI upon successful completion of the mentorship.

VPI Mentors & Resident Staff

Mat Weisfeld – VPI Owner/CEO Provides students with an overview of running a business, demonstrating how their education applies to real-world operations. Covers key areas such as office management, turntable production, marketing, and sales.

Jane Weisfeld – VPI Office Manager Teaches students about order processing, vendor relations, and shipping logistics, providing insight into the daily operations of a business office.

Ben Cai – Lead Engineer Guides students through engineering concepts, including electronics, circuitry, motor calibration, material science, and overall product design.

Bill Cai – Packaging & Logistics Oversees accessory assembly, packaging, and quality control for final production.

Howard Stoppiello – Turntable Technician Leads students in turntable assembly and testing, ensuring they gain hands-on experience in product construction.

Bridget Kauffmann – Warehouse Manager Teaches inventory management and efficiency improvements, optimizing factory operations.

Faith Larsen – Customer Service Educates students on customer relations, photography, social media engagement, and handling professional communications (calls and emails).

Chanya Dowd – Production and Tonearm Wiring Works in the Engineering area to help prep and wire tonearms and circuit boards.

Student Mentor Advisor

Kelly Clark – Student Mentor AdvisorServes as the onsite liaison between VPI and the students, ensuring they stay on task while gaining meaningful hands-on experience. Kelly oversees their progress, provides guidance, and ensures that both the students and VPI benefit from the mentorship program.

Former Students Continued as Senior Interns

These students excelled in the program and were invited back as senior interns:

• Matt – Turntable Technician; selected after completing IT-150 and excelling in factory and trade show operations.
• Connor – Turntable Technician; selected after completing IT-150 and demonstrating strong skills in production and event support.

Current Student Interns

• James – Collier Vocational; turntable and parts assembly
• Collin – Collier Vocational; turntable and parts assembly
• Damien – Collier Vocational; turntable and parts assembly
• Jayden– Collier Vocational; advertising & marketing and parts assembly
• Rob – Holmdel High School; office work and customer service
• Saniya – Monmouth University; office work, customer service, and marketing
• Jayden – Monmouth University; office work, customer service, web, and database analysis

It is especially exciting when the students get to meet and interact with visiting members of the High-End Audio Industry!

Part-Time Remote Contributors

• Adel Soliman – Technology, eCommerce, and web design
• Danny Binder – Advertising and marketing

The Impact of Our Mentorship Model

We have embraced this mentorship approach with great success—not only in the quality of work produced by student interns but also in the growth of our VPI staff as leaders and mentors. This model ensures that VPI remains at the forefront of education, innovation, and workforce development while fostering the next generation of talent in high-end audio manufacturing.

By investing in young professionals and integrating education with real-world application, we are shaping the future of both VPI and the industry as a whole.