We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amber Kackley-Vettas & Terry Vettas. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Amber & Terry, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
The Most Surprising Thing We’ve Learned About Our Customers ✨
When people first call Elite Home Entertainment or Elite Home Security, they often think they’re just getting technology — cameras, lights, audio, or automation.
But what’s surprised us most is that it’s not really about the gadgets at all… it’s about lifestyle, trust, and peace of mind.
Customers tell us the real value is in the experience:
The comfort of knowing their family is safe.
The excitement of pressing one button and seeing the whole home transform for movie night.
The pride in supporting a local company that gives back to the community.
Over time, we’ve learned that once people see the difference, they don’t just want “smart tech” — they want a smarter, safer, more enjoyable way to live. And we’re honored to be part of that journey.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Elite Home Entertainment and Elite Home Security is a husband-and-wife owned company, founded in 2009 by myself, Amber and my husband, Terry. Together, we’ve grown from a small startup into a trusted provider of smart technology, lighting, and security solutions across the region. Beyond the business, we are committed to giving back—supporting organizations like Harford Family House and hosting community events such as our annual charity golf tournament. For us, building smarter homes goes hand in hand with building stronger communities.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Terry – The person who taught me the most about work was my father. He was up at 4 a.m. every morning, running a fleet of lunch trucks in Newark, New Jersey, and I grew up watching that hustle and bustle. To then owning Pizzerias where it was a family affair at work. His example instilled in me a strong work ethic that has carried me through my entire life. After his passing many years ago, and with the birth of my son, I knew it was time to carry that same drive forward. That’s when the birth of Elite Home Entertainment happened—built with my wife by my side.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught us lessons that success alone never could. Terry lost his father as a young teenager. As the youngest of four siblings, he felt very alone while everyone grieved in their own ways. That pain forced him to grow stronger and more resilient. He carried with him the promise he made to his dad — to always do his best — and that drive has shaped the man, father, and business leader he is today.
For me, I was raised by a single mother with a fiercely driven personality. She left her small hometown to move us to a bigger city, determined to give me more opportunities. I watched her face struggles and sacrifices, but she never let them define her. Instead, she instilled in me the lessons of hard work, perseverance, and grit.
Together, these experiences taught us that suffering carves out strength, perspective, and compassion in ways success never can. It’s those lessons that became the foundation of our marriage, our family, and ultimately the business we’ve built side by side.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
If you asked our closest friends what really matters to us, they would probably say family. For Amber, not growing up with that strong family structure made it even more important to create a solid foundation as an adult. For Terry, family has always been at the center of his values. Together, building a home filled with love, stability, and support is at the heart of everything we do.
Our friends would also tell you that our business is like an extension of our family. We don’t just provide a service—we build relationships. We want every client to feel cared for, supported, and valued, and many of them become friends over time. Sometimes that means answering calls late or going above and beyond, but for us, that’s part of who we are.
We’ve had friends since our teenage years—one even introduced us when we were young—and those lifelong connections remind us how much people truly matter. Whether it’s our family at home, our lifelong friendships, or the clients we serve, what really matters to us is building strong, lasting relationships that feel like family.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
What people may most misunderstand about our legacy is that it wasn’t built on luxury—it was built on resilience. From the outside, it may look like we’ve always worked in lavish homes with high-end technology, but the reality is very different. Elite Home Entertainment began in 2008 in the garage of our condo, during one of the most uncertain economies, and at a time when we were preparing to welcome our first child. It wasn’t glamorous—it was long nights with tools in our hands, days spent juggling parenthood and paperwork, and the unshakable belief that if we kept pushing, we could build something lasting.
In those early days, when we didn’t have a team of technicians, it was just the two of us—driving from job to job, hanging TVs ourselves, taking on small contracts with Best Buy, and doing whatever it took to get our name out there. We remember bringing our son along on those long workdays, knowing he was growing up right alongside the business. There were moments when it would have been easier to throw in the towel, but instead we chose to lean into the struggle, to keep our promise to ourselves and to each other that we wouldn’t give up.
Yes, today we are proud to work with beautiful homes and cutting-edge technology—but that is the result of years of persistence, not privilege. Our true legacy isn’t about luxury for luxury’s sake—it’s about showing that with grit, integrity, and relentless dedication, you can create something meaningful even when the odds are stacked against you. We’ve always valued quality over quantity, relationships over quick wins, and people over profits. For us, success is not defined by appearances; it’s defined by the reputation we’ve earned, the trust we’ve built, and the example we set for our children. That is the legacy we hope to leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eheservices.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eheservices_/
- Twitter: https://x.com/elitehomeav
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elitehome08
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ELITEHOMEENTERTAIN
