Mr. Lemker took his first electronics course by mail at the age of 12 and began a career that spans over fifty-six years. As a teenager, he designed, assembled, and sold sound and lighting equipment to many local bands, and began making live concert recordings. After he graduated high school, Richard worked briefly as an IBEW Union Electrician’s Helper. He studied Business Administration at the University of Cincinnati. In 1969, he was hired as Stage Production Manager for Walpurgis Productions, a local Cincinnati concert and event promoter. While employed by Walpurgis Productions, he was responsible for technical aspects of shows at the legendary Ludlow Garage concert hall, including sound system, stage lighting, stage power, and instrument amps. During this time, he facilitated the recording of dozens of live concerts. Many of these concert recordings were subsequently released on commercial record albums and CDs featuring major artists, including NRBQ, and Neil Young. One recording, “The Allman Brothers Band Live at the Ludlow Garage 1970”, was released in 1970, and has been re-released over the years on CD, 180 gram LP, and piggyback on re-released albums. When the Garage closed, he was recruited to work as a touring Concert Sound Engineer by Clair Brothers Audio, of Lititz, Pa. (then – and now – considered to be the world’s premier concert sound systems contractor), crisscrossing the US and Canada with chart-topping entertainers and recording artists, including the Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Iron Butterfly, Three Dog Night, James Gang, Jefferson Airplane, & Blood,Sweat & Tears. Visit this website’s Ludlow Garage page in the EXTRAS section for additional information concerning Richard’s concert sound and recording experience and the Ludlow Garage, or visit the Ludlow Garage website

Returning to Cincinnati, he was hired as a project estimator/planner and buyer for Becker Electric Company. For years, he also operated his own electronic systems installation contracting business. He continued his career working for Industrial Communication & Sound Co. (ICS), a large electronic systems contractor. As a Sales Rep, he quickly rose to the position of Sales Manager, with responsibilities for negotiating contracts, estimating and bidding, systems design, and marketing of the company’s services. Specializing in turnkey design/build project work, his clients ranged from local corporations to large chemical plants to foreign government projects. During these many years, he gained valuable hands-on knowledge and field experience in electronic systems design, installation, operations, and more importantly, client perspectives regarding communications needs and systems installations.

Richard was admitted to the Audio Engineering Society in 1977, providing proof of work experience equivalent to a 4-year engineering degree, and was awarded an honorary Lifetime Membership in 2023. In 1982, Richard expanded his repertoire and began to provide consulting services for a fee, under the names Architectural Audio Services and Spectron, which were subsidiary operations of the systems contractor ICS. In 1986, he left ICS and founded the independent consulting firm Richard J. Lemker & Associates. As the firm’s Lead Consultant, he and his staff provided design and onsite testing services on a wide range of projects including college education and sports facilities, hi-tech high schools, state courtrooms, numerous city council chambers, TV and radio broadcast and production facilities, meeting facilities of varies sizes serving groups of from 50 to 18,000 people, high-end residential condominium developments, complex industrial facilities, sophisticated national security installations, prominent corporate offices, and churches of all faiths. He worked as a Concert Sound Consultant for many corporate and civic events, and the Pink Floyd concert tour in 1987. He developed numerous proprietary design and testing programs and protocols in acoustics, noise, vibration, impact control, and communication systems design involving hardware and software that are highly respected by his most sophisticated clientele. He completed hundreds of projects ranging from small impact assessments to large renovation and new construction projects. He has testified as an Expert Witness for numerous court cases, Workers Comp claims, and community zoning hearings involving noise control issues.

In 2009, the company’s name was changed to Spectra Tech, Ltd. to more accurately reflect the diverse range of design and testing services available to clients. Richard is a member of numerous online professional groups and stays up-to-date on current practices and new materials applicable to his professional design and onsite testing services.

Richard draws on decades of past project experience and hands-on knowledge to guide him in his current service, in the interest of his clients. He has a track record of working as a project team member with clients to ensure that work is implemented on time and within the project budget estimate. Many of his diverse projects involve specialized “one of a kind,” “never been done before” work. Proudly, a majority of his new contracts come from referrals that his clients and project team co-members provide.

A master communicator, Mr. Lemker has been a Guest Presenter at Miami University School of Architecture in Oxford, Ohio, and has served on numerous (Ohio) Riverfront Planning / Zoning / Development / Committees, Park Boards, and citizen groups in the greater Cincinnati area including Covington / Ludlow, Kenton County in Northern Kentucky. Richard is frequently sought out for his knowledge and expert advice, consultation, and skill to proofread professional writings in many fields of business.

Richard is THE expert that you want on your project team.