At the core of the American dream is a deep seeded sense of entrepreneurialism, a longing for a chance to make it, or not, on your own work and talent. Some cynics say that dream is dying, or already dead, but for entrepreneurs like Billy Williamson it is still a reality and what moves them forward.

“This is the American dream,” said Williamson. “This is what America is about; being able to start a business and either make it or break it.”

Williamson speaks with tempered excitement as he embarks on his new venture Grand Audio & Video, a full service audio and video company with a range of services and products from home automation to security system installation. This is Williamson’s first entrepreneurial experience and while he may be new to owning a small business he’s got two decades of experience in the audio and video industry.

Originally from Austin Texas Williamson has lived in Grand County for seven years now and has lived in Colorado for a decade. He’s been working on the technical aspects of communications for about 20 years. “It was the second job I got when I got out of high school,” he said.

Over the years Williamson has worked for several of the major television providers in the Rocky Mountain region including Dish Network, Direct TV and Comcast. He got his start working for Time Warner Cable. Williamson also has several years experience working with a security alarm installation company. He’s taken his experience in that field and applied it to his new business, offering home security system options along side his audio and video service and installation work.

Grand Audio & Video also works with clients to fully automate their homes, allowing integration of home security systems, thermostats, hot tubs and much more with the ability to synchronize the functions to a smart phone. “When you pull up at home if you want your lights to come on and your hot tub to fire up we can do that,” Williamson said.

Williamson works with both remodels and new construction on projects large and small. “We can talk with a customer or a contractor early on in a project and make suggestions about what we think is best based on what they want,” he said.

Grand Audio & Video’s office/workshop is located in Grand Lake. There they keep a selection of TVs for sale, similarly they offer TV mounting services and home theater installation and design.

“We are a new business but I’ve been doing this work for quite a while and we are very good,” he said. “This is what America is all about.”