About Us
Located in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, our team is obsessed with sound. From our marketing department to all of our highly trained engineers, we all have one goal of developing, manufacturing, and delivering the worlds greatest exhaust systems. We were extremely fortunate to have tons of support from our fans and enthusiasts. We do what we do for the people. Cars are a way of life, an extension of ones’ beliefs and interests. Beyond the systems we make we want the world to remember us for bringing together people for the love of sound. Thank you so much for your support thus far in our journey. As electric cars become the norm, we will be around making sure sound stays as the staple for emotion.
MEET THE TEAM LEADERS!
Austin Huffman- Founder
Motorsport and the automotive hobby have been in my blood since I was a small boy. I always had a fixation on speed. The idea for a new generation of exhaust manufacturing company was spawned from my mother when she would yell at me stating she never wanted to be in my car as it was too loud. I became fascinated with figuring out a solution because I knew there were so many people just like me whose lives would be so much better if this technology was more accessible at a reasonable price point.Having owned and been able to enjoy some of the world’s most incredible vehicles, my passion lies in sending everything sideways. Being able to feel the vehicle beneath you as it breaks away from the controlled into oversteer is utterly intoxicating and perhaps why I love the automotive hobby so much.Beyond cars I am a sucker for spontaneous adventures. Anything from snowboarding to skydiving to deep sea fishing, learning a new skill, or getting involved in a new experience is what I live for. When I'm not living on the edge, I'm in the gym pushing myself to get stronger and working on my mental state or kicking it back with good friend’s cold drinks and incredible stories.Life is about experiences, whether it’s behind the wheel or beyond, you must maximize your enjoyment of these experiences. That’s why we at Valvetronic do what we do. Life is better with a wonderful roar filling the cabin as you make every journey a dream.
Brandon Arpin- Marketing
The first word out of my mouth was “CAR.” When I was a toddler, the only thing I wanted to do was have my parents take me to the ice cream shop in town to watch the cars go by and see if I could name all of the brands as they passed. My dad and both of my grandfathers are car enthusiasts, and as I got older, they taught me so much about cars, motorsport, motorcycles, and more. They helped me fall in love with automobiles.Growing up, I always wanted to have a cool car and eventually work in the automotive industry. From Hotwheels, to Need for Speed, to Forza, I got deeper and deeper into cars until I finally got my first car when I was 15. This was not just any normal car, but a 13,000 original mile Foxbody Mustang. Even though I couldn’t drive it, I would just sit in the garage every night studying the mechanical aspects of the 302 carbureted V8, and seeing what work needed to be done to the car to make it 100% perfect. My next purchase was my dream car, a BMW E30. The story of how I got this car is a crazy long story, but I was so happy to have a bright red 1987 325is. After 6 years of owning this car, it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It taught me how to work on cars, create content on social media, and has helped me meet some of my closest friends. The E30 even helped me find the guys at Valvetronic Designs and gave me the opportunity to use my marketing knowledge to grow the company to what it is today. Now that my love of BMWs has grown, I daily drive a F30 340i M sport that is an amazing vehicle. I can say I am a huge B58 lover now. The car is fast, fun, comfortable, and reliable. Many build plans on the way!Hopefully one day I will have a collection of 20+ older BMWs to restore, share, and enjoy.After always having the dream of working in the automotive industry, my position at Valvetronic Designs has truly fulfilled this goal. The people I have been able to meet, events I go to, cars I get to drive, and ever-expanding network of car enthusiasts and companies has made my life and job so fun.I was always told “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life,” and I’m proud to say that being the CMO of Valvetronic Designs is not just a job, it is an amazing experience.
Philip McIntosh- Customer Relations/Information
Since the earliest I could remember I’ve loved all things mechanical & especially internal combustion engines thanks to a few family members that sparked my interest with aviation and older automobiles. I began my journey in the industry working at a dealership as I worked my way up through a few positions while expanding my automotive knowledge & customer service skills along the way. Being a engineer major I always had a general understanding of how vehicles work but getting my feet wet greatly helped me improve my knowledge about the intricacies of the industry. Every day I wake up and constantly can only think about all things auto related; and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Katie Egner- Operations
New to the world of automotive enthusiasts, I joined Valvetronic Designs in the summer of ‘22 with a background in Administration, Human Resources and Accounting in the Hardware Industry, and Salon and Day Spa Management before that. I quickly grew to love the energy and exciting atmosphere that comes with working alongside this incredibly talented team. Outside of Valvetronic, I spend most of my free time outdoors - hiking, camping, paddle boarding, always seeking adventure – and now I get to come to work and put my prior skills in the office and my love for hard work and getting dirty together for a new adventure every day!
Luke Parisi- Fabrication
I remember my first time following my dad to the garage to help him work on his Jeep Wrangler. I couldn't have been more than 7 years old at the time. Little did I know that moment would spark a passion in me for anything with a motor in it. Since that day I have yet to find another thing that engages me the way fixing up, working on, or modifying any kind of vehicle does. From cars, trucks, and motorcycles, to boats, rc things, atvs, and dirtbikes. I find myself amazed by the different ways all of these vehicles provide you with smiles per gallon.
I started my automotive journey at a corporate tire shop doing oil changes and wheel work. I knew from the first day I wanted to be in the industry forever. I made it my goal in 5 years to make it out of the everyday maintenance world and make it into a performance shop of some kind. I hit my goal right on time and started working in the industry at Soul Performance. I developed a new appreciation for the nicer side of the automotive industry. Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, all these expensive cars I would never have had the chance to get close to, let alone work on. There is something beautiful about getting into a vehicle, done up to gills with fancy tech and all the power you would want to put to the ground. Then take that same vehicle and make it sound amazing. The reaction from the customer hearing their baby make the noises they wanted to hear finally... To this day I get excited. My time at Soul taught me industry knowledge as well as honed in on my fabrication skills.
Now that I've found my home here at Valvetronic Designs, I get to bring the best of both worlds to anyone and everyone that has the same passion for noise that I have. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this industry, and I'm glad I get to see this all happen with the crew here at Valvetronic!
Shane Rush - Media
Hi! I'm Shane, a true automotive enthusiast whose fascination with cars has become a lifelong passion. My earliest memory of my automotive journey began with sitting on my iPad at 11 years old, creating custom BMWs and Mustangs on a game..over…and over..and over again. I saved all of my money from ages 13-15 and bought my first car at the age of 15. As soon as I got my license at 16, it was game time. I started my journey in the automotive industry by detailing local cars, and offering mechanical services to close family and friends. The tedious process of mechanical work and detailing truly made me realize the love I have for the automobile. I saved all I could to turn my BMW into what I always wanted.
I was able to own, modify and make my dream a reality after 7 years of ownership. I recently sold that car, and picked up my dream car..a 2004 BMW E46 M3.
Studying Business Administration at Temple Universities Fox School of Business, I found my niche with Marketing and Media at Valvetronic Designs. So, whether I'm behind the wheel of my beloved E46 M3 or crafting marketing strategies for Valvetronic, you can rest assured that my passion for automotive excellence fuels every endeavor I undertake. I am able to wake up everyday truly blessed by the amazing team, and I'm so fortunate to blend my professional expertise with my lifelong passion.
Anton Rabkin- Email Marketing/Engineering
I have been driven by my automotive passion for as long as I can remember. Spending entire days playing Real Racing 3 on my iPad, watching motorsport races on TV, going to car shows with my father, and riding around in my brother’s modified A4 are some of the most formative moments of my childhood. Then I finally got my first car: a 2010 Audi S4 with a DSG transmission. My first modification was, of course, an exhaust. I then moved onto a 2011 Audi S5 with a 6 speed manual transmission. Equipped with a naturally aspirated V8, an x pipe and Valvetronic universal mufflers, I still believe that this is one of the best sounding cars to ever exist. And finally, after two and a half years of diligent persuading, the Valvetronic team finally convinced me to move to BMW: a 2018 M2. All I can say is, I get the hype.
I joined Valvetronic in the spring of 2022, still a senior in highschool. Although my role was initially in media, my work is now focused on design: both graphic and product. I create everything from advertisements and t-shirts, to our trade show booths and mounts for control boxes and remotes. Outside of my automotive and work life, my time is spent being a mechanical engineering student at WPI, olympic weightlifting, enjoying nature, playing bass guitar, and going to what can possibly be considered as “too many” metal concerts.
Justin Lightner- Warehousing/Distribution
I started with Valvetronic in the fall of '22. I was never a car person by trade but after joining the awesome VD team I quickly fell in love with the experience we provide customers especially when it comes to making cars loud. My love for loudness comes from my passion for all things music and attending concerts. I'm definitely a metal head when it comes to music. Hailing from Pennsylvania I am a father of two who in his downtime enjoys speedcubing, gaming, and reading comics.
Pierce Foster- Data Analytics/Motorcycle Development
When I was 7, I drove my grandfather’s 1950 Ford F100 around a parking lot, sparking a lifelong passion for cars and motorcycles. From that moment, I was hooked. In middle school, I spent countless hours looking at images of cars and modifications, dreaming of the day I could own and customize my own vehicle. At 17, that dream began to take shape when my father and I drove to Delaware to pick up a 2013 Ford Focus ST. Despite never having driven a manual car, my father handed me the keys and told me he’d meet me at home. After a few stall outs, I managed to drive home, teaching myself to drive stick along the way. Once home, I immediately started ordering parts to modify it. I’ve always been a thrill-seeker, enjoying sports, snowboarding, backroad drives, and sailing. In 2022, while scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, I found my next adventure: a 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 750. My mom’s side of the family had always been into motorcycles, but she never let me get one. Determined, I called her and said, “I’ll see you this weekend; I’m coming home to buy a motorcycle.” From that day forward, motorcycles became a central part of my life. I dove in headfirst, rebuilding and restoring the $750 Japanese cruiser into my ideal chopper. I started buying, selling, and restoring motorcycles in my free time. Currently, I ride a 2004 Suzuki Katana 600, which I have essentially rebuilt to look brand new. I first heard of Valvetronic in high school when a kid in the parking lot demonstrated how his car could go from ear-piercingly loud to quiet with the push of a remote. Intrigued, I never forgot the name. After graduating from The College of New Jersey with a degree in economics, I realized I didn’t want a career in finance or economics; I wanted to work with cars and bikes. At a car meet, I spoke with some people and reached out to my friend Dexter, who was well-connected in the automotive industry. He advocated for me, helping me secure an internship at Valvetronic. From day one, I loved working there and clicked with the team immediately. During my time at Valvetronic, I helped develop groundbreaking aftermarket parts for motorcycles, poised to change the industry. Now, as a full-time customer support agent and leader of the motorcycle development sector, I feel like I’m living a dream. Valvetronic has shown me that with hard work, perseverance, and passion, anything is possible.
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
Vince Dean - Wholesale
I come from a lengthy background in the automotive industry. . I have been working on cars since I was a teenager, performing heads/cam builds on F-bodies, GTOs and C5/C6 Corvettes. I began my working career as a technician, which would span more than 13 years. I primarily worked on Mercedes Benz, but also spent some time working for Chevrolet and Nissan.
I decided to try a new challenge and move to the industry I had always had a passion for, which is loud and fast cars! I worked for nearly 5 years at Fabspeed Motorsport. I was tasked with running their wholesale division and growing their dealer network worldwide. Wholesale had grown to nearly $4 million in annual sales by the end of my tenure.
I spent 2 years in sales outside of the industry, but I received the opportunity to join the team at Valvetronic Designs and couldn’t pass it up! I am excited to bring my past experiences to this team and work to continually provide the best support possible, so Valvetronic Designs can be your one-stop solution for any and all exhaust needs.
Heidi Robinson-Supply Chain
As an experienced Supply Chain Specialist, I’ve been a part of some pretty cool endeavors. From aerospace and instrumentation to medical and commercial products. I’ve also spent some time in the aftermarket automotive space. So, while not new to custom exhaust, I find that Valvetronic Designs is truly special. The energy and excitement make every day an awesome experience. I’m proud to be able to bring my experience to an organization that is filled with such talented and passionate individuals. I look forward to bringing car enthusiasts everywhere the best designed and highest quality systems on the market. Get Loud!!!