Distribution Video & Audio: Wholesale/Closeout Division Team
Ryan J. Kugler, President
Ryan Kugler is the President and Co-Owner of Distribution Video & Audio (DVA, Inc.), the nation’s largest closeout buyer in the home entertainment industry.
Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter. Right from the start, Ryan took a strong interest in film and everything to do with. At the age of 13, Ryan made his way onto several studio lots, including Paramount. On one particular day, Ryan stumbled onto the set of the hit TV show, Cheers, and was immediately introduced to the cast. When asked by Ted Danson about his interest in TV and films, Ryan replied, “I want to be a Director.” It was then that Mr. Danson made him an offer too good to pass up.
Ryan was to write and direct his own short-movie in which Mr. Danson and other cast members of Cheers would act in Ryan’s film. Several months later The Question, a short-movie, was filmed on the Paramount Lot, starring Ted Danson, Kirsty Alley, Woody Harrelson and George Wendt, and directed by Ryan Kugler.
Ryan began working for DVA, Inc. on his Summer breaks. Upon finishing school, he moved to Florida and to work full-time at DVA, Inc. in sales. After learning the ropes there, he moved up to Buyer, soon followed by VP of Purchasing. With his unique blend of creative and operational strengths as well as his exceptional skills in sales, Ryan founded the Closeout Division of DVA, Inc., making DVA, Inc. the largest closeout video buyer — selling to the largest retailers across the United States.
In 1998, Ryan brought the Closeout Division to Los Angeles and opened an office to specifically serve those clients. Since then, he has developed relationships with most of the major movie studios in Los Angeles buying their excess inventory and servicing it to 350 accounts with 24,000 storefronts, making DVA, Inc. the nation’s largest home entertainment closeout buyer.
With an account base of over 350 companies, including Best Buy, Target, Musicland and Circuit City, Ryan has built and grown the Closeout Division to 30 employees, selling 20 million units per year, generating $20 million in annual sales.
As a public face for the entertainment closeout/overstock industry, Ryan has recently appeared both on National TV and in print. He has appeared on the CBS Early Show, ABC7 News in Los Angeles, and on the KTLA Prime Time News (a local station in Los Angeles, California). Also, Ryan has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Business Journal, Moviemaker Magazine, and the New York Times.
Ryan has given his voice and vast knowledge of the entertainment industry to conferences and seminars. Recently, Ryan spoke to attendees at the Game Supply Academy as well as attendees of a entertainment-related breakfast seminar, sponsored by Washington Mutual. In addition to speaking at seminars and conferences, Ryan also hosts film seminars which provide practical and applicable advice for filmmakers, actors, producers and anyone who wants to succeed in the movie industry.
Ryan is the co-author of a book with well-known, best-selling author, Eric Sherman, which details the Home Video Business. The book’s intent is to give the reader the benefit of Ryan’s vast experience and knowledge of this growing industry.
Maren Standing, Executive Assistant
Maren recently joined the DVA West team in August 2011as the assistant to Ryan Kugler. She acts as office manager and handles various human resource administrative duties in addition to assisting Ryan.
Arthur Hanket, Senior Vice President
Arthur was a successful manager in the corporate barter industry for closeouts in a wide variety of categories for 20 years prior to joining the DVA team. His areas of purchasing included consumer electronics and textiles all the way to used diesel engines and environmentally contaminated real estate. A Burbank, CA resident, it’s a pleasure to work in our fine city at last.
Deanna Archer, Marketing Director
Since late 2005, Deanna has been the Marketing Manager for DVA West. Her responsibilities include producing sales sheets, direct mail postcards, email marketing campaigns, web sites and more. She came to DVA with a background in Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Art & Sciences, Graphic Design concentration. In addition to her daily duties, Deanna has a wealth of random knowledge she shares when it pertains to current topics of discussion or when someone needs a quick answer. And if she does not have the answer, she will find it for you.
Christina Butler, Distribution Coordinator
In early 2003, Christina Butler started her journey at DVA as a Warehouse Clerk in our Florida warehouse. In her 7 years at DVA she has moved up in the company (and across the country) to her current position as our Distribution Coordinator. Christina oversees all orders that go through the Burbank offices and helps to ensure that all customers are satisfied with their orders. Christina also handles all shipments that go through many of our satellite warehouses across the country.
Joe Dzija, VP Warehouse Manager
In January of 2002, Joe Dzija came to DVA from Chicago with 10 years of warehousing experience. He started in the warehouse as an Inventory Control Clerk and was promoted to West Warehouse Manager his first year. His 3rd year he started to oversee the wholesale and retail warehouse divisions. These divisions include shipping, receiving and production of all orders that come into the DVA Palm Harbor, Florida location. Joe currently runs a crew of 1 manager, 2 supervisors and 11 warehouse clerks. For the last 2 years, Joe and his crew have consecutively handled over 8 million units of product and this number is still growing. Being from Chicago he is an avid Bears Fan!