After nearly 30 years in business, Ray Hays sold PRC Digital Media to another Jacksonville-based video production company.
He joined the buyer, Gemstone Media Inc., as executive producer of its new Creative Services Division.
Hays said he met the owners of Gemstone, President Kent Kirby and Vice President George Birnbaum, and started conversations that led to the consolidation of the production companies.
Hays and his senior editor, Chris Linke, are PRC’s only full-time employees. They are moving video and sound editing equipment from PRC’s studios and offices in Riverside to Gemstone’s facilities in Baymeadows.
PRC produces television documentaries and training videos. Gemstone provides production services for live sports events including the Jacksonville Armada soccer team, Ice Men hockey team and Jumbo Shrimp baseball team. The company also provides closed-captioning services and program distribution.
Hays described merging the companies as a perfect fit.
“They can’t do what we do and we don’t do what they do,” he said.
Transitioning from president of an award-winning video production company to focusing on the creative side of the business will be a career move that will be a good fit as well, he said.
“It will give me an opportunity to better serve our clients and I won’t have to reconcile the books every month and make sure the credit card bill is paid. I’ll get to do the fun stuff,” Hays said.