United Radio has been providing remanufacturing and repair solutions for electronics providers worldwide for a full century.
Partnering with leading brands in automotive and consumer electronics, and two-way communications manufacturers, the company has built a global reputation as an integrated solution partner.
Our company vision is to be the world standard in creating innovative solutions to the emerging technological needs of our customers. Our core values are listed below.
Mission Statement
The purpose of our organization is to provide consistent, high-quality professional service to the electronics marketplace. To accomplish this, we employ, support and empower quality individuals, and provide a great place to work.
Leadership team
The United Radio Leadership team is comprised of senior management team members from across our organization.
Phillip Rubenstein
Phil is the third generation of Rubenstein’s to lead United Radio, having assumed the presidency from his father, Arnie, in 2005. Since then, Phil has overseen all aspects of the company’s operations with his sister Mara Charlamb, Vice President. Together they set the direction of the organization, holding the company’s…
Mara Charlamb
As a member of the third generation of the Rubenstein family, Mara has led United Radio, having served as a Partner/Vice President since 1992. Mara also leads the company’s human resources division, where she is instrumental in developing and maintaining successful employee relations for the company. She also works closely…
Arnie Rubenstein
Arnold Rubenstein is Chairman of the Board of United Radio Inc, having been with the family business since 1962. A lifelong resident of Syracuse, he received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University and served in Germany on active duty with the United States Air Force. His diverse community…
Keith Martin
Keith is a second-generation Martin to lead the United Radio Automotive Division, having taken over the General Manager reins from his father Doug in 2003. Since then, Keith has overseen the company’s operations in Syracuse, NY and Peachtree City, GA, working with nearly every automobile manufacturer in the country. Keith…
Jim Fitzgerald
Jim has 25+ years of experience in the Consumer Electronics Servicing Industry that has enabled him to recognize the importance and value of listening to customer’s needs and building platforms that lead to successful outcomes. Jim’s experience in Reverse Logistic Operations and traditional break/fix transactions provides benefits to our vendor/supplier…
Jim Fellows
Jim recently celebrated his 50th year of employment at United Radio! He has held several positions during the last half century with the company and is currently Director of Technical Development, which involves training United Radio employees to get their Certified Electronics Technician certification amongst other accreditations. Also, in support…
Mark Fuller
Mark is an enthusiastic financial leader known as a trusted advisor for the CEO. A collaborative professional that builds strong peer relationships through problem solving by transforming data into information. Committed to building a stronger community by providing human services to those most vulnerable. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Business…
Jeff Prinz
Jeff has more than 25 years of IT experience and is ITIL certified. In his leadership role at United Radio, Jeff oversees a department that includes Business and Systems Analysts, Business Intelligence and Data Analysts, Application and Web Developers, Infrastructure, Security, Technical Support, and the Digital/Marketing Departments. Prior to joining…
Leslie English
United Radio welcomes Leslie English as the company’s new Communications Division General Manager. The Communications Division mission is to help people return home safely through the work of its installations, on-site field, and two-way radio repair and sales teams. As General Manager, English plans to incorporate her vast knowledge of…
Dedicated. Inspired. United.
Dion Ford goes home to attend “A showcase of Black Excellence”
Some people believe the saying “you can’t go home again,” which means “past times which are fondly remembered are irrecoverably in the past and cannot be relived.”
Doin Ford is not one of those people.
Dion recently attended an event at his former high school in Syracuse, New York, Henninger, for “A showcase of Black Excellence”. According to Dion, this event is held every year during Black History Month and the school invites individuals of color to speak and answer questions about their profession and how they got there.”
We asked Dion some question about his participation in the event:
Q. Why did you decide to attend?
A. I decided to attend because I once roamed the halls of Henninger High School and walked in the shoes of many of the students. I feel I can relate to them which gives me and my story credibility. I also feel it’s important not to forget where you come from and to give back when you can. There are enough bad examples of what not to do we need to counter that with positive examples.
Q. What did you explain to the students you spoke with regarding your career?
I explained how I came from a very low-income household, that resonated with some individuals. I also explained how there are many resources available to help them achieve success. The military was my catalyst to success where I learned a trade and earned money for college which I put to use once I served my time. You trade four years of your life for a college education. That led me to 18-year career at United Radio where I was afforded the lifestyle I enjoy now.
Q. What were some of the questions you received from the students you spoke with?
What was the Navy like? How much money for college can you earn? What is my job at UR? Where have I traveled while in Military? What was my job in the military?
Q. Would you like to do something like this again?
Absolutely! I truly enjoy being a mentor, especially to the underserved.
Thank you Dion for taking the time to participate in this event. This is a fine example of our United Radio core value, “We have a responsibility to each other to create a better community.”
Consumer, Automotive R&D Innovation Lab team up for customer solution
When the Valve company approached our Consumer Division looking for a productive way to remanufacture broken Steam Deck gaming devices, Business Development Manager Mark Daily turned to the United Radio Research and Development Innovation group for a solution.
Mark Daily approached Dan Marafino, Product & Process Design Team Lead Engineer, with a challenge. Could he create a jig that would allow United Radio repair technicians to replace the LCD modules on the Valve Steam Deck for this new repair program that is set to launch in our Salt Lake City facility.
“Dan took the challenge and ran with it,” said Mark Daily. “His vision and experience aided in developing this design. What he created meets our needs and looks really cool!”
Dan explained the creation process. “The design of the assembly started with downloading the 3D model of the Steam Deck from the open-source repository for the project. Using the provided 3D model, it was imported into Solidworks and the fixture was designed around it in multiple pieces. Once designed it was then printed using a few of the 3D printers in the RDI lab including the Prusa i3 Mk3 and the Creality CR10 V3. The model was printed
using a combination of PLA and Polycarbonate for the latch.”
“The Steam Deck Clamp Fixture device that the Dan’s group created, allows the Consumer Division to provide an
in-house solution for the application of the display panel onto the Valve Steam Deck gaming device,” said Daily. “Having this mechanism will provide us with a solid process that will allow us to process the repair and avoid sending the unit back to the OEM for a display replacement.”
The plan is to develop three Steam Deck Clamp Fixture devices for use in Salt Lake City.
“The Consumer Division would like to give a big shoutout and thank you to the Automotive Product & Process Design group,” said Jim Fitzgerald, Consumer General Manager. “It’s this type of collaboration that allows United Radio to provide custom solutions for our customers.”
Our History
United Radio was established in 1923 by Jacob H. Rubenstein, a self-taught engineer and inventor who had a great passion for electronics and a strong desire to know how everything worked. In a small, one-man repair shop in downtown Syracuse, Jake assembled “cat’s whisker” radio kits for retail customers. His repair skills adapted to changes in radio and entertainment systems and the company grew to accommodate the demand for fast, skilled specialized repair services.
United Radio’s reputation for quality service generated an increasing workload. Milton, Jake’s oldest son, came into the business full time when he returned from military service in 1953. Jake’s younger son Arnold joined the company full time when he returned from military service in 1962. As the workload increased, Milt and Arnie created three divisions. Milt managed the two-way Communications business; Arnie managed the Consumer products division and Stan Marcum managed the Automotive division. As the workload increased, United Radio expanded its technical staff, and added a computer system to help control the organizational workflow. Jeff Rubenstein, a third-generation Rubenstein family member, joined as systems manager.
Phillip Rubenstein, Arnold’s son, became president of the company in 2005 and Phil’s sister Mara is the company’s vice-president and director of human resources.
The company’s commitment to its core values is clearly evident on their website, which states: “We believe that all people have inherent value; our differences make us stronger; family sustains, stabilizes and defines us; honesty and integrity will build lasting relations; we have a responsibility to each other to create a better community; learning, growing and accepting challenges enriches and fulfills our lives.”
Continued growth at United Radio required it to move to even larger quarters. Today United Radio, located on Enterprise Parkway, is a major provider of:
- electronics products and service for most major car manufacturers.
- after-the-sales service solutions for the consumer electronics industry. From large scale depot repair programs to complete reverse logistics solutions.
- complete service, installation and report excellence for first responders at one of the largest repair facilities for industry-leading manufacturers of two-way products in the United States.
United Radio has more certified electronic technicians than any other independent service center in the United States and its three divisions service more than 3,000 units every day.
The guiding principles above have worked in tandem nearly 100 years, allowing us to grow from a space within an outlet store at 115 West Jefferson Street, Syracuse, to six buildings, three divisions, in three states, run by one big happy family!
Jake’s Place, From One Man’s Passion to a Corporation
For a better understanding of our company,…please contact The Onondaga Historical Association to get your copy of our book, “Jake’s Place, From One Man’s Passion to a Corporation”, written by Arnold J. Rubenstein.
Our locations
Corporate Headquarters
East Syracuse, NY 13057
8:00AM – 5:00PM
The corporate headquarters is home to the Automotive Electronics, Consumer Electronics, and Communications Division, and is located at 5703-5717 on Enterprise Parkway in East Syracuse, New York. The campus encompasses over 500,000 square feet of space, specially designed to accommodate the needs of high volume state-of-the-art electronic equipment repairs. Our unique computerized systems not only track every unit throughout the repair process, but enable us to communicate directly with manufacturers, dealers, and customers worldwide.
Automotive Southern Operations
Peachtree City, GA 30269
8:30AM – 5:30PM
Our Peachtree City automotive operations is located at 780 Highway 74 South, Peachtree City, Georgia. It has been serving automotive manufacturers since 2007. As business increased, so did the need for a larger facility. In 2014, the PTC branch relocated to a 123,000 square foot building that sits on 40 acres of the former Panasonic campus, right next door to one of our customers, Panasonic Automotive. Having a full-service branch in Peachtree City Georgia allows United Radio to the ability to service customers worldwide.
Consumer Western Operations
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
8:30AM – 5:30PM (MST)
United Radio announced the expansion of its remanufacturing operations to the Western United States. The company will begin operating a repair and distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah as part of its strategic growth plans. “This expansion will allow us to meet the growing needs of our customers on the west coast as well as provide better coverage for the whole country,” said United Radio President Phil Rubenstein. “Salt Lake City provides us with the best opportunity to establish our operations out west and meet the needs of our customers.”
Industries We Serve
Partnering with leading brands in automotive and consumer electronics, and two-way communications industries, the company has built a global reputation as an integrated solutions partner.
