Jose C. Ortega received a B.S. degree in physics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1957. Graduate work in physics with emphasis in acoustics led to an M.S. degree in 1961 from UCLA. He began his professional career in 1956 at Veneklasen Associates and its affiliate Western Electro-Acoustic Laboratory and that association continues today. His professional work has included microphone design and calibration, jet engine noise suppression, environmental noise studies, development of instrumentation and measurement methods related to acoustical scale models, managing an acoustical laboratory for testing of commercial products, and the design and evaluation of auditoria, television and recording studios. Mr. Ortega is currently Principal Emeritus at Veneklasen Associates, Inc. and an acoustical measurement consultant at Western Electro-Acoustic Laboratory, Inc.

Mr. Ortega's interests outside of his professional area include his family, reading Christian and classical books, woodworking, music, preservation of the natural environment and activities at his local church.

John J. LoVerde received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1989. He earned a Master’s Degree in Acoustics (Fluid Mechanics) from UCLA where he worked on the link between the acoustical energy and listener reaction to sound within auditoria. John has published ten technical papers in acoustics, has presented before the Pacific Coast Building Conference, teaches and lectures internationally, most recently at Inter-Noise in Prague in 2004.

John began his career in acoustical and audio-visual consultation and design at Veneklasen Associates in 1989. He has lent his expertise to various building types including auditoriums, recording studios, hotels and resorts, office buildings, hospitals, large private residences, apartments and condominiums.

David Lubman is an acoustical consultant/scientist in Orange County, California specializing in architectural acoustics and noise.

He is interested in the acoustics of performance spaces for music and voice. In addition to being the past Senior Editor of “The Acoustics of Worship Spaces,” published by the American Institute of Physics, he has had numerous publications in archival journals and conference proceedings.

Lubman’s research helped standardize sound power measurements, which are widely used for rating HVAC equipment noise. His publications are cited in acoustical measurement standards comprising the scientific basis for building acoustic measurements specified in building codes (STC and IIC).

He was co-chair (with Louis C. Sutherland) of the ANSI Working Group that developed the influential classroom acoustic standard, ANSI S12.60-2002. Lubman strongly advocates use of that standard which, he believes, can greatly improve learning and scholastic achievement.

Lubman is a founder of the new field of archaeological acoustics, now gaining academic respectability. His discoveries and insights into ancient uses of sound enliven the pages of dozens of magazines, journals, newspapers, and web sites. He was featured in the Discovery Channel’s special entitled “Joshua and the Walls of Jericho,” in two filmed interviews on the Canadian Discovery Channel, and in a video promoting good classroom acoustics. He has been interviewed on German National Radio and several times on National Public Radio and BBC.

He earned a BSEE from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1960 and an MSEE from the University of Southern California in 1962. He worked in the aerospace industry and taught university mathematics in California.

A Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), Lubman has held many elected and appointed positions related to scientific and engineering acoustics. He served as an Executive Councilman for the ASA and Chaired its Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics. In May 2004, Lubman was awarded ASA’s Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Medal in Acoustics.

Myron Mann is a professional educator, having a long career as a professor of physics in the Los Angeles Community College District. In addition to his continued service in that capacity on a part-time basis in semi-retirement, he teaches one physics class in a private high school. While pursuing graduate studies in physics, he worked part-time in acoustics, initially in the aerospace industry and later with an acoustical consulting firm. The latter employment continued throughout his teaching career during summer breaks.

While engaged in college teaching, Mr. Mann developed and taught a very popular course in introductory acoustics. Many of his students were either professional musicians or were preparing for employment in the commercial music industry. Having had a lifetime of experience in vocal performance ranging from solo work to church choir to oratorio chorus, Mr. Mann is himself an active amateur musician.