Fast 15: Cameron Magee

Cameron Magee was well on his way to becoming a history teacher when he had a revelation.

What if he could do what he loved on Tuesdays?

Magee, a Bentonville native, had been creating videos and working events on the weekends since high school. He’d learned sound work at 12 and video production at 15.

The weekend jobs were providing enough to nearly match a teacher’s salary, he said. So he planned to take off a year after he graduated from Henderson State University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education to focus on his love for event and video production.

His wife-to-be, Laura, supported the plan, and on May 10, 2011, they started avad3 with two speakers and a microphone.

The couple married in August 2011, and for the first three years he and his wife were the only employees before the first hire.

In December 2014, the company started growing quickly. In one year, it grew from four to 13 employees.

The company has been growing 75 percent annually and looks to earn over $1 million in revenue this year, he said.

In early 2016, Magee established Element Studio. It produces high-quality web-based video on tight deadlines and has allowed avad3 to focus on event production.

“This is not hillbilly video,” Magee said. “We’re providing serious quality.”

It’s Hollywood quality but faster and on budget, he said.

Magee’s company has produced video for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc.

He and his staff have created 15-second commercials that are used for company websites, internet popups and social media. His company has made commercials that have received over 1 million views.

The studio also shoots video for nonprofit organizations such as the American Heart Association.

Magee attributes his success to two things: identifying a need for high-quality event production and developing productive employees.

“I love connecting people who need stuff with people really good at doing stuff,” he said.

In five years, he hopes his companies are household names in Northwest Arkansas for event and video production.

“People are finding out we’re here,” he said. “It just takes time.”

In his free time, Magee plays drums for the worship team at Grace Point Church. He also serves as interim worship pastor.