Melvin Bradley Kamcheff, marketing manager of Aiphone Corp., passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 26 at his home in Kirkland, Wash. He was 54. 

Kamcheff, better known as Brad, was a 35-year employee of Aiphone Corp. who led the company’s marketing team and was instrumental in developing it’s strategic marketing plan, an announcement stated. 

Kamcheff began his career at Aiphone in the shipping department before moving onto the technical support department where he developed QuikSpec, Aiphone’s online design tool.  

He later moved into the marketing department, first as a web analyst and senior marketing analyst, where he had an integral role in the development of Aiphone’s website. In 2019 Kamcheff was promoted to the marketing manager position. For the past four years he has been responsible for developing the company’s corporate marketing and communications strategy. 

Last year, when Aiphone decided to launch an access control line, the AC Series, Kamcheff was credited for playing an instrumental role in researching the industry and how Aiphone could best bring the product line to market.  

For the 2023 State of the Market: Access Control report, he told SDM, “It’s an exciting time in the access control market thanks to numerous technological advances and new use opportunities. For example, the rise of mobile apps is helping to drive the adoption of mobile access control management, literally putting access control into more people’s hands. We’re also seeing greater demand for enterprise level solutions and capabilities but without the big cost.” 

The announcement described Kamcheff as a Washingtonian his entire life who loved nature. He loved nearly all genres of music and was known for packing a traveler guitar in his suitcase to bring with him on business trips. He enjoyed attending baseball and hockey games, feeding neighborhood crows, and was a cooking enthusiast. 

He was said to be a “very generous and passionate about helping others; an amazing friend with a gift for making people feel special. He lightened rooms with his ‘puniness,’ ‘Dad jokes,’ and bawdy humor that will be missed by many.”  

Kamcheff is survived by his wife Karen, and two children, Wren and Krista.