“I specialize in the architecture of high-impact experiences. With over 25 years at the intersection of immersive technology, music production, and event strategy, my work is defined by a dual commitment: technical precision and the servant-leadership philosophy required to empower high-performing teams.
Beyond the creative execution, I view every project through a lens of sales and marketing synergy, ensuring that storytelling doesn’t just resonate emotionally, but drives measurable engagement and business growth. Whether I am directing a global virtual summit or architecting immersive brand environments, my goal is to bridge the gap between complex technology and authentic human connection.”
In a landmark partnership with The Humanity Share (formerly Come Unity), AOFTHEI produced one of the world’s first 360° VR documentaries for the Oculus Go platform. I led my production team into the heart of Kenya and Ethiopia to capture the daily lives of girls in remote communities. By utilizing immersive technology, we allowed potential sponsors to “step into” the deepest bush of East Africa, creating a visceral connection that drove sustainable funding for education and local economic development.
2016 AOFTHEI music, video production, and VR development studios, built from ground up by Duane Tornquist and his team.
True innovation requires a dedicated space to experiment, fail, and refine. In collaboration with American AVC teams, I lead “Tech Labs” designed to push the boundaries of event technology. Utilizing the SCAMPER framework—Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse—we dismantle traditional methods to build something entirely new. Whether in a luxury hotel suite or a grassroots home studio, these labs are where our most disruptive ideas are born.
Here is a look at the actual time lapse build of the AOFTHEI studio space from ground up, conceptualized, designed and built by Duane Tornquist and his team.
Redefining how hotels sell event space, Duane collaborated with leading game developers to engineer VTX (Virtual Tour Experience). This product was born from a deep understanding of the hospitality industry’s pain points. By working closely with early adopters to refine the user interface, Duane successfully scaled the platform, leveraging his long-standing industry relationships to transform VTX into an essential tool for remote site inspections and event planning.
Leadership from the New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton Hotels discuss the tangible impact of the VTX platform on their bottom line. By modernizing what was historically a time-consuming site inspection process, the VTX tool empowered their sales teams to engage a global audience, accelerate the booking cycle, and win new business through immersive, high-tech storytelling.
Tasked with showcasing the scale and sophistication of United Airlines’ National Data Center (NDC), I served as the bridge between high-level sales and technical execution. I led the development and production of a pioneering Virtual Reality experience for the Samsung Gear VR platform. Debuting at a major convention at Chicago’s McCormick Place, this project transformed a secure, restricted-access facility into a cutting-edge, immersive tour, proving the value of VR as a powerful tool for enterprise-level storytelling.
United Airlines: National Data Center VR Experience
I founded the AOFTHEI Radio Network as a digital forum for the modern polymath. By bringing together a diverse spectrum of creatives, from developers and tech innovators to musicians and visual artists—we explore the powerful synergy between artistic passion and practical business application. This podcast serves as a deep dive into how cross-disciplinary collaboration drives the next generation of industry standards.
Produced during the height of the virtual events era, this project bridged geographic divides to create a unified musical experience. We coordinated and pre-produced a feature performance involving musicians and vocalists from around the world, recording remotely on personal devices. Under Duane’s creative direction, AOFTHEI synthesized these individual performances into a high-energy, cinematic feature that served as the event’s centerpiece entertainment.
For this signature marketing campaign, I served as both the creative strategist and Executive Producer. Partnering closely with the hotel’s marketing leadership, I co-authored the script to weave the story of the newly renovated property into the vibrant energy of Lower Manhattan. From casting professional voice talent to overseeing cinematography and original music composition, I managed the entire production lifecycle to deliver a cinematic experience that serves as a primary sales tool for the hotel’s online presence.
In my dual role as CMO and SVP of Sales, I focused on building a brand that served as a strategic partner to the world’s most iconic hospitality and corporate names. This showcase, filmed on location at Paramount Studios for Razorfish, highlights our ability to capture the energy of a large-scale event and transform it into a high-style marketing asset. Produced with the flair of a TV magazine feature, the film serves as a window into our creative culture and our ability to execute “grand style” productions for elite clients.
As a co-host of our signature video magazine series, AAVCTV, I took our cameras to the floor of InfoComm—the largest professional AV trade show in North America. Through high-energy interviews with leading technology manufacturers, we explored the latest innovations shaping our industry. This episode serves as a case study in our company’s growth and our established reputation as a premier partner for luxury hotels and in-house event technology.
Artists of the Industry 