Meet Yergan Jones of AEE Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yergan Jones.

Yergan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’d like to say I fell into entrepreneurship. I didn’t choose it, it chose me. It really started for me in high school at North Atlanta High School (formerly Northside). It’s there that I started DJing at parties and different events. I took that same spirit to Morehouse College where my business partners and I began throwing parties to raise money for different local initiatives – almost like party fundraisers.

As popularity grew throughout the Atlanta University Center, we formed our company, Disco Sounds of Atlanta. This founding company evolved into “AEE Sound and Lighting” and is now “AEE Productions.” We purchased AEE in 1984 from an estate of a gentleman who passed away and continued to buy more lighting, audio equipment, – and continued host events, all just for fun. AEE was our passion project that turned into our careers.

For 12 years, I worked in the corporate sector and continued to run AEE on the side along with my business partners. About 15 years ago, I knew it was time I take on the business full time, and I haven’t looked back! The immense growth I’ve seen since our Morehouse Days has been so fulfilling! More than anything, I go to work every single day to do what I love and what I enjoy -there’s no greater feeling.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have certainly been struggles along the way. Managing a business as you continue to grow can be a challenge, especially if you’re still working a 9 to 5. I was working in Corporate America for some time, therefore I essentially had two full-time jobs.

It was a struggle – from being physically to mentally tiring, but we as partners learned to push through it together. After my 12 years running an engineering firm while managing AEE on the side, I felt like it was time for me to step out on faith. At the time business was doing well, but I still didn’t know for sure if it was enough to sustain my family – but in turn, it did.

The uncertainty associated with that kind of big decision is a struggle, but as an entrepreneur, I’m constantly challenged to take leaps every single day. I’ve realized that risk-taking and leaving your comfort zone is a given when building and sustaining a business.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
AEE is a full-service production company specializing in live events (corporate and social), installations (pre-existing buildings and new construction) and production management. We are best known as being creative technology partners to our clients that range from Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Bronner Brothers International Beauty Show, Walmart, NASCAR, and more. We curate specialized event experiences through A/V, lighting, set design, graphics, and integrated technology to bring our clients visions to life.

One of the things that we are most proud of as a company is the fact that we started in high school with a fun idea that became something beyond our wildest dreams. All of the original owners are working full time in the business. From starting out as DJs to now… a full-service production company that owns everything that we have, that’s attained assets and a multi-million dollar inventory – we are extremely proud.

Our customer service sets us apart. It’s paramount. It’s longstanding and ever-so consistent. Paired with the attention that we give to content and programming – all of this is a part of the overall customer service experience. There is nothing that a client needs that we can’t provide. We are a one-stop shop, and we make sure that we complete the job with detail from beginning to end.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite memories is throwing parties in my parent’s backyard where we would hang up a large tank parachute and build a DIY lighted dance floor underneath the parachute. We put a bar in the back with a lighted bar sign, and everyone came from all over the city to party with us!

People parked miles away to walk to the house, and at the end of the night all of my friends and I would get on mopeds and go clean up the neighborhood before the neighbors woke up so that they wouldn’t have any trash in their yards. This was in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s – memories that last a lifetime.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1650 Westfork Drive, Suite 110. Lithia Springs, GA 30122
• Website: www.aeeproductions.com
• Phone: 404-352-2201
• Email: info@aeeproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aeeproductions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AEEProductionsAtlanta/

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