Lysiane & Claude Schmitz - Company Founders

In the summer of 1969, as the world held its breath watching Neil Armstrong take his historic steps on the moon, another couple was making their own mark on history in a different corner of the globe. Meet Claude and Lysiane Schmitz, a daring duo with a shared passion for business exploration and a thirst for adventure.

As Armstrong was doing his famous walk that year, Claude Schmitz, fresh out of the army and in his early 20s, discovered the two loves of his life -- his future wife Lysiane, and the world of CB radios.

Armed only with their passion for the CB world and absolute determination in their heart, Claude and Lysiane went on to found several CB radio-related companies in the US and Europe.  Zodiac and Sadelta were their first companies. THEIR FIRST STEPS... into the CB World.

The early years were unsuccessful, despite their best efforts and endless work hours. However, these became hard earned lessons that indirectly shaped their future success.

Zodiac - Kenya Rally 1975

Young, eager and fearless of the world, their aim was to share the wonders of CB radios with anyone that would listen, and nothing was going to stop them from doing so. And so, whether in the US, Europe or Africa, they went on to face all the obstacles head-on that were thrown in their path to finally achieve their life dream.

In 1978, they created CS Import and started to sell products under the registered brand name President. As the success of the brand grew, they decided to rename the company President Electronics and grew it over time into a global leader in the CB radiocommunication industry.

CS Import - Algeria Rally, 1981

The CB radio communication system (CBRS) was created in the United States in the mid-1940s, however the 27 Mhz band was not assigned to the CBRS until the late 1950s. The radios at the time were too bulky to be accepted by the general public. The CB and ham radios were mostly used by businesses and early adopters.

It was only in the late 1960s and early 1970s that CB radiocommunication really took off. As such, Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz were among a dedicated group of passionate CB pioneers that helped make CB radios such a success and enjoyed by so many in the 70s and 80s.

Today, the founders continue to be involved on a daily basis with the global operations of Group President Electronics. Their passion for CB and Ham radios never wavered. They hope to continue to transmit this passion to the new generation of CB radio fans for many years to come.