About @home

Our Story: Technology Made Simple

How We Got Started

The seeds of @home audio video were planted back in 1994. Having spent over a decade working on high-end custom residences in East Tennessee, our founder noticed a recurring problem: technology felt exclusive and intimidating.

At the time, the industry was focused on the “Ferrari” options—ultra-high-end home theaters with complex control systems that, while impressive, often left clients feeling overwhelmed. Knoxville was missing a place where homeowners could see and hear a variety of systems at different price points. There was a gap between “basic” and “unattainable,” and we decided to bridge it.

The Partnership

Knowing the technology was only half the battle; we needed to master the customer experience. That’s where Tom came in. With a background in technical sales at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Tom brought the retail expertise needed to ensure that our clients didn’t just get great gear—they got great service.

Two children watch TV in a living room; one sits on a red chair holding a video game controller, and the other lounges on a beige couch.

The Core Value: “Simple”

As we developed our business plan in 2005, one word kept surfacing: Simple. It wasn’t just a goal; it became our identity. We realized that for technology to truly improve a home, it had to be three things:

  1. Simple to Shop: A relaxed showroom designed like a living room—not a lab—where you can explore options without pressure.
  2. Simple to Install: A seamless process where we handle the heavy lifting and coordination.
  3. Simple to Operate: A system that works intuitively for every member of the family.

When we opened our doors in 2006, our original tagline was “home theater, made simple.” While technology has changed drastically since then, that core value remains exactly the same.

Our Philosophy

Our mission is straightforward: we take care of our employees so they can take care of our clients and our community.

We believe in a “win-win” business model. For a project to be successful, two things must happen: you have to be thrilled with the result, and we have to run a healthy, sustainable business. If neither is happening, we aren’t doing our jobs.

Today, we continue to serve Knoxville and East Tennessee with the same honesty and simplicity we started with two decades ago. Whether you are building your dream home or upgrading your favorite room, we’re here to make sure your technology just… works.

Three people sit on a brown sectional sofa in a modern living room, looking at a tablet while a boat is shown on the wall-mounted TV in the background.

Our Team

  • A man in a blue armored superhero suit with a V emblem stands in a rainy city at night, backed by a gargoyle and lightning.

    Tom Leavy

    Tom is the cofounder of @home and has managed sales and operations since the store opened in 2006. His background in technical sales and store management made him a perfect fit to help DFA expand into retail sales with a consumer-focused storefront. He loves hiking, camping, and boating, both gas-powered and man-powered. His nickname “too nice Tom” has been well earned both in how he deals with @home clients, but also how he treats everyone that he knows and comes in contact with.

  • A man with gray hair and a beard sits in a bowling alley, holding a drink and a red bowling ball, with a notebook on his lap. Other people are in the background.

    Mark Midyett

    Mark is the cofounder and co-owner of @home and has been in the audio-video-technology industry since graduating from the University of Tennessee with an Electrical Engineering degree in 1994. He started as an entry-level technician and worked his way up to buying out the original owner of DFA. During that time, Mark has worked on projects from the grandiose to the simple, with both residential and commercial clients, which brings decades of experience to the solutions proposed for our clients. He is a CEDIA-certified Designer and an InfoComm Certified Technology Specialist. He is a multi-instrumentalist and avid music fan, a self-admitted audiophile, and enjoys all UT sports.

  • Older man in a suit and fedora sits at a desk with a nameplate, photos, a gun, whiskey, and a corkboard with notes and a wanted poster in a dim office.

    Brent Midyett

    Brent is the co-owner of @home and coordinates our public relations. He is a certified CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) and teaches monthly classes to professionals in the design and construction industry. He leverages this knowledge to teach a monthly class about home technologies and their budget implications to people building a home. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Knoxville and currently is serving on their Board of Directors. He too loves all UT sports but he especially loves his Chicago Cubs. (This is their year!)

  • A bearded man in medieval armor holds a sword inside a wooden hall, with banners and other armed figures in the background.

    Brooks Marsh

    Brooks began working for DFA back in 2003 as an entry-level technician and has worked his way up to lead technician and project management duties. He gives Tom a run for his money as “too nice Brooks”, which isn’t quite as catchy, but definitely accurate. Our clients love Brooks – ask any of them – and because of this, he finds himself assigned to key accounts again and again. He loves tinkering with anything from building cabinetry to customizing his Chris-Craft (it has a SWEET stereo system).

  • A man in a racing suit sits in a sports car at an outdoor event, with a crowd, lineup of cars, and a city skyline visible at sunset.

    Brian Kimmitt

    Brian was technically @home’s first technician hire back in 2007, but before that he worked in this industry out in Eastern Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming. He also worked his way from technician to project manager all while earning an Associates degree. He is definitely a “car guy” with a specific passion for the Chevrolet Beretta—in fact his 1993 Beretta GTZ has been seen in the background of many TV shows.

  • A circus ringmaster in a red coat and top hat stands smiling, holding a staff, with circus tents and performers in the background.

    Shaun Parsons

    Shaun is a 2nd generation member of our team – his dad worked with us for over a decade until his retirement. But let’s be clear, Shaun won the interview process over a half a dozen other candidates and has earned his way here for over 5 years now. He is a bona fide movie buff. He averages seeing 2 new movies per week, and that’s not counting rewatching classics or his favorites like Interstellar, They Live, or Hereditary.

  • A person with long blond hair operates a large yellow exosuit labeled Caterpillar P-5000 in an industrial setting with crates and machinery in the background.

    Katt Gapinski

    Katt left the big city (Atlanta) to move to rural East Tennessee in 2024. If you’re going to commute an hour to work, wouldn’t you rather be driving through the countryside than sitting in traffic? She rides a Honda Grom mini-motorcycle and attends the Smoky Mountain Small Bore Rally every single year. She spends her free time gardening, enjoying nature, playing video games, and doing arts and crafts.

  • A man in futuristic armor stands at a control panel in a rainy city, holding a tablet as holographic speakers and digital displays float in front of him.

    Hugo Robert

    Hugo has a lot of hobbies including organized sports like golf and soccer, plus outdoor activities like rock climbing and camping. His family is from France so he’s a huge PSG fan. He loves to camp at Lilly Pad in Obed where his favorite climb is (Tarantella 5.10a). And his favorite hike is Mount LeConte but we’ll let you guess which route.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you’re breaking ground or upgrading an existing space, we’ll help you plan the right system for your home, your lifestyle, and your budget.

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