After one too many nights of having beer spilled on him, getting his ears blown out, and wondering how he was going to pay the rent, Ernie made the strategic decision to give up doing live sound at The Brass Monkey Bar and pivot instead to the world of AV.

“I got hired by Baltimore-based Design & Integration, Inc. as a field technician, pulling cable on installation projects,” says Ernie. “I took the opportunity, as it came with health insurance and a week of paid vacation, and I could leverage my AV background.” As it turned out, Ernie was a pretty lousy field technician, but after about six months he transitioned to the position of System Designer, a role much better suited to his talents. Another six months later, he earned his CTS (Certified Technical Specialist) certification, and suddenly everything started to click.

“Coming to understand the big picture of AV integration, combined with the confidence boost of CTS certification made all the difference,” he explains. “Within four years of joining the company, I’d been involved in major projects for the National Parks Service, the U.S. Marine Corps, and Johns Hopkins University, where I helped design instructional learning systems for their liberal arts campus. I really got lucky – while at the same time working my ass off. That combination is where I’ve always found my greatest opportunities.”

Blending his technical skills and customer service acumen proved to be a winning combination for Ernie at his next employer, industry behemoth AVI-SPL, where as an Account Manager he focused on strategic business planning and development within the Mid-Atlantic healthcare market. “This position consisted almost entirely of sales, however, and I longed for a balance with engineering and design,” says Ernie.

So he moved next to the global architecture firm RTKL, where he served as a consultant in the Technology Design Studio focusing on audiovisual collaboration and integrated building technology system design and planning. “Being exposed to the architectural process was a real game changer, and I worked on fantastic projects for organizations like the Wharton School and the Smithsonian institution.” But here, too, the balance was still a little off; his position turned out to be heavily focused on engineering. “So I returned to AV integration, taking a job at Pennsylavania-based Cenero as a Senior Sales Engineer, then transitioning to Major Account Executive.”

While at Cenero, Ernie took a more consultative approach to systems integration, serving some of Cenero’s largest enterprises accounts. But his entrepreneurial spirit and desire to improve the industry was starting to grow. He saw the talent and diversity gap in pro-AV and realized the industry had an accessibility issue. The on-ramp into pro-AV didn’t exist the way it did in other professions. He subsequently used his industry connections to turn his small pro-AV networking group into an official non-profit organization called Integrate Baltimore. “The move to make Integrate a non-profit solidified our purpose as a champion for growing pro-AV access. Our mission is to close the technology divide by increasing access to technology and careers in the pro-AV industry.”

Ernie, however, still loved the consulting and design process and wanted to maintain his place in the field as a subject matter expert, while finding a way to balance his for-profit and non-profit pursuits. So in August 2018, Ernie started his own consulting practice, Capture Design Group, where he serves as President and Principal Consultant. “This is the kind of work that I was meant to do,” says Ernie. “It’s what I’m best at – and most passionate about. And when you approach work from that perspective you can do great things.”

Alexis entered Northwestern University intending to become an engineer. But one year into her studies, “I decided that it wasn’t for me. So I thought about what I loved, and it just so happened that I really enjoyed my work-study job in the AV department at the student union,” she explains. “So I switched my major to Communications and graduated with a focus on technical theater.”

She landed an internship at the Black Ensemble Theater in Chicago, but after graduation from college, Alexis started working for PSAV at the Renaissance Hotel downtown, providing AV consulting services for conferences and presentations. This was the start of a 20-year career in live events.

PSAV moved her to Washington, DC, where Alexis worked at various hotel properties planning the technology portion of events and providing technical guidance. Promoted to Director of Sales at Gaylord International, she managed a wide swath of financial operations, led a team of five sales managers to achieve almost $10M in sales in 2010, and trained all sales new hires and transfers, assisting in developing up to 20 sales managers in the region.

Next, Alexis went to work for AVI-SPL as a National Account Manager, and then Media Vision as Regional Sales Manager for the Mid Atlantic region. In that capacity, she provided conference microphone systems requiring language interpretation, voting/polling, assistive listening/audio distribution, and collaborative discussion solutions for government, corporations, associations and more.

“These were great experiences, but they led me to the realization that I really wanted to work for an integrator, so I moved next to Avitecture as a Systems Consultant,” she says. “I like consulting on and designing AV systems. Walking into an empty ballroom, and eight hours later seeing a full show was something I really enjoyed about live events. Designing AV installations is also something I enjoy – in part because of the same feeling of transformation. It happens over a longer period of time, but the change is just as dramatic. Whether I’m creating environments for attendees at an event or participants in a meeting, it’s all about giving people the power to communicate their ideas.”

Twenty-five years into her career, Alexis has achieved a high level of influence and visibility in an industry where women, and particularly women of color, have not traditionally been well represented. “I love this field because there’s no end of opportunities available to you. I only wish I’d seen more people like myself when I was younger because it could have speeded my progress,” she explains. “Now, I see one of my roles as being that role model. Because – like I always tell young people – if you see me, you can be me.”

Bell County, Texas didn’t offer a world of opportunities for AV-oriented young people, so Justin sought them out on his own, taking stagehand and soundboard gigs at local concerts, theatrical events and churches before landing a position at a broadcast TV station as a Master Control Operator.

Leveraging that experience, he went to work next for Anadarko Petroleum. “I pushed the proverbial AV cart at first, since the company didn’t have an integrated projection solution,” says Justin. The resourcefulness and problem-solving skills he cultivated there prepared him for his next position, at British Petroleum, where Justin started out as an IT analyst in operations and rose to become the Data and Collaboration Systems Support Lead for trade floor operations. Next he moved to Apache Corporation and the position of IT/AV Program Manager, responsible for design, development and delivery of IT/AV-related technology-based programs.

Then the oil market crashed. Good thing Google came calling, because in 2015 Justin went to work for the tech giant as a Program Manager in its corporate engineering group, overseeing all AV deployment on a global scale. His experience there included six months in the company’s satellite division. “I installed radio technology on physical satellites, interfaced with the Air Force and NASA from the company’s mission control center; it was a fantastic experience.” Through Google, Justin was enabled to work on projects around the world, including Singapore, India, Paris, Munich, Norway, and more

His next move took him to Houston and positions first at the nation’s fourth-largest AV integrator, AVI Systems, then at a construction company called Marek. “I’ve always tried to maintain a balance between my AV and IT experience,” he says, “and these were good experiences for me.”

But when Facebook asked Justin to become its Global Service Delivery Manager, he had to take it. “I’ve been afforded a lot of opportunities,” he says. “From the day I began, I’ve had almost every single job you can have in this industry, and now I find myself in charge of the maintenance, care and feeding of one of the largest video systems on Earth.”

Audio engineering might not have been a calling for Alesia Hendley, but she definitely had a talent for running AV at her father’s church, where by the age of 14 she was doing full-blown production work, handling everything from streaming visuals to sound recording.

To help establish herself as a freelancer after her family moved to Houston, Alesia enrolled at the MediaTech Institute. “It was a great experience, but most of it was dedicated to studio work, and at that point I saw myself working front-of-house for Beyoncé, so while working as an audio engineer and producer for artists, I pivoted to live events, going to work for the Phoenix Design Group, handling stage, lighting and audio-visuals in multiple venues – everything from fashion shows to corporate gigs,” she explains.

During her stretch there, Alesia also took a position as AV Operator at The Berry Center in Houston, operating various AV systems within the multi-purpose sports complex. “Hours were long. I wasn’t driving all over, but I was doing lots of teardowns, resets and actual operation of the events, sometimes 18 hours a day,” she says.

“At the same time, I started writing about my experiences for various magazines and began building my own personal brand in the AV space. This really connected me to people in the industry. One of them was the CEO of Access Networks, who in 2018 hired me as an Associate Sales Engineer.” For Alesia, one of the benefits of working with Access Networks is the company’s position as a bridge between the worlds of AV and IT. “This is the direction our world is going, and I love being at the center of it.”

All the while, Alesia has kept up with writing, and today she also hosts a podcast called Digital Signage Stories. In addition, she has been active in various industry groups, including co-heading the AVIXA Women’s Council’s Houston branch. Until recently, Alesia also helmed the Texas Chapter Head of SoundGirls.org, a group devoted to inspiring and empowering the next generation of women in audio. “The opportunities are out there, and part of my job is to raise awareness about them.”

Not only had Savannah never intended to work in AV, she entered the industry with absolutely zero knowledge of it. “I had just graduated with my Associate degree in Business Administrative Management, and had signed on with a temporary employment firm,” says Savannah. “They assigned me to the National Systems Contractors Association, but wouldn’t tell me where I was headed until the day before I was due to report. So I walked into the NSCA knowing absolutely nothing about what it did.”

The discovery was a happy one. “I loved it there. The people were great, the organization was interesting, and I dove right into the work.” Initially helping out with member relations, Savannah proved to be a versatile asset who could provide value across the organization, including in events management.

“We had someone running events, but he had moved to part-time status and was working remotely,” explains Savannah. “As NSCA grew, it became clear that we needed someone in the position full-time. I was already immersed in the work, so the transition was pretty smooth.”

Among her responsibilities as Events Manager, Savannah coordinates two major annual events for NSCA: the winter Business & Leadership Conference and the fall Pivot to Profit event. She also assists with NSCA Educational Foundation events and initiatives, including ones related to the Ignite initiative. “NSCA’s growth parallels that of the industry itself,” says Savannah, “which makes every day an adventure.”

Historically, Human Resources wasn’t considered a viable career objective. Schools didn’t even bother teaching it. But all that has changed. Today HR has come to be seen as integral to advancing business strategies, and is even considered a profit center.

What spurred the transformation? The AV industry can give credit to people like Neil Williams, a leader in organizational change.

Like so many people in our industry, however, Neil didn’t plan on a career in AV. “I had an interest in workforce strategy right from the start,” says Neil, “But I knew nothing about AV. In fact, my first professional position was as an HR assistant at a hospice.” Neil knew what he wanted to achieve, however, and his desire to affect change for a fast-growing, dynamic company led him to AVI-SPL, one of the world’s leading digital workplace services providers.

“Immediately, I became fascinated with the industry. It’s evolving so fast, and from a millennial perspective, I see it basically as future proof. After all, by 2020 half the workforce will be digital natives, and they’re only going to require more technology going forward,” says Neil.

In addition to its powerful business offerings, AVI-SPL stood out for its receptiveness to rethinking HR. “We have concentrated our HR goals on providing our people with the right resources and tools to elevate their personal and professional success,” he says. From increasing the company’s focus on people analytics, learning development and training development, to instituting a new talent management strategy, Neil has been instrumental in efforts both to attract new talent and retain valued employees.

Today Neil’s responsibilities extend to several areas. As Director of Human Resources, he’s AVI-SPL’s global HR business partner for its service line of business. He also oversees the talent acquisition process, and is actively involved in compensation and performance management issues.

“In partnership with the VP of HR, I help ensure that our HR strategy aligns with our business strategy,” says Neil, “because when they’re in sync, we unleash powerful forces for growth.”

What’s more impressive – Michael’s ability to see the future, or plan for it?

It was the year 2007. The owner of a successful marketing and business consulting company, Michael had more than six years of professional achievement under his belt. But when the first evidence of the upcoming 2008 Great Recession presented itself, he sensed a need to prepare and adapt. “A lot of my work was in the real estate sector, and I could see that it was weakening,” says Michael, “so I looked at areas with strong growth potential, and I identified health care and technology as possibilities for a career change.” In short order, he had interviews with a hospital and a high-tech company in the AV industry.

AV won out. “The firm was called Digital Projection International,” Michael says. “I knew nothing about their projection technology initially, but the openness and drive of the company – just seeing engineers solving problems in real time – drew me in. When they offered me the position of Marketing Communications Manager, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.”

The move paid off for Michael. “I got a chance to help grow our business across channels, and I was the beneficiary of a ridiculous amount of mentorship. The opportunity and encouragement propelled me forward.”

From Digital Projection International, then to Screen Innovations, and now in his current position at Dana Innovations, where he is Director of Commercial Sales, Michael has flourished professionally. “I joined a 35-year-old company that hadn’t previously been in the commercial channel, and they’ve given me the opportunity to develop sales processes and programs, cultivate partnerships, hire sales people, and grow our businesses in totally new ways.

“I’m tremendously gratified to be in the AV. This is a field that’s filled with free thinkers and entrepreneurs. If you want to apply your creativity and have control over your destiny, I can’t imagine a better industry to be in.”

Fresh from earning his B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, Max landed the position of Digital Marketing Coordinator at Cedar Rapids-based de Novo Marketing. One of his clients was the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA), a business resource, advisor and voice for pro AV/Security integrators across the United States and Canada.

Among the projects Max led was a series of YouTube videos for NSCA, in which the association’s director answered questions from integrators around the country. In the course of working on the videos, Max not only cultivated his skills in production, marketing and analytics, he developed a deep understanding of the AV/Security industry. So it didn’t come as much of a surprise when NSCA asked him to sign on as its Sales and Marketing Specialist.

“One of my chief areas of responsibility involves ensuring NSCA members are aware of all the resources that we provide, from industry benchmarking and metrics data to tools that help them grow their businesses,” says Max. In addition to working with member integrators, Max also focuses on growing NSCA revenue, developing and maintaining its customer relationships, and expanding the organization’s customer base.

“This is a great time to be working in this industry,” Max says. “Every day I get the chance to hone my marketing skills while immersing myself in a sector that’s growing rapidly and doing amazing things with technology.”

After graduating from high school, Tobi just cut to the chase. “I didn’t go to college; I wanted to work.”

Through his brother, Tobi was directed to SequoiaNET, a dot.com company that hired him as a cabling technician. When the business was purchased three years later by Analysts International Corporation (AIC), he got promoted to Cabling Project Manager, a position that took Tobi out of the field environment and into a pre-sale and project management realm. In that capacity, he opened an AIC office in Lansing, Michigan. “We started from scratch,” says Tobi, “hunting for clients and building a team of technicians, and we saw rapid growth.”

Then AIC got acquired and Tobi took a position at NETech Corporation. “They didn’t do anything related to AV or structured cabling,” says Tobi, “so I approached the owner about expanding our capabilities, and became manager of the new Media Solutions Division. It grew right away – so fast it was hard to keep up, but I learned a ton.”

The skills he gained made Tobi an ideal candidate to get snapped up by Bluewater Technology, a large Michigan-based AV integrator. As Vice President of Integration, he built the division from 27 people to 75, and increased sales nearly fourfold with offices in Michigan, Ohio, and Indianapolis, and a presence in Chicago.

Throughout his career, Tobi had been in touch with the leadership at Conference Technologies, and in 2018 the company hired him as a director, leading change, growth, operational efficiencies and owning strategic relationships in its West Michigan area. “What I love about this position is the opportunity it provides to pursue my two principal professional passions – creating teams in which every member can realize their potential, and being able to lead client relationships,” explains Tobi.

Though he passed on a university education, Tobi has steadily amassed professional credentials over the course of his career, including Certified Technology Specialist (CTS), Certified Technology Specialist Design (CTS-D), Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) and DigitalMedia Certified Designer 4K (DMC-D) certifications. “This is an industry that’s always changing, and as a leader it’s my responsibility to keep on learning.”

Kaleo wins the award for Earliest Start in AV. “I was probably six years old when my dad first had me vacuuming at our family business, The Audio Visual Company (AVCO) of Hawaii,” laughs Kaleo. “And from that point on, I always had some kind of job.”

Yet Kaleo never considered an actual career position there. In fact, after earning his BS in Aerospace Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, he enlisted in the army, and it was during a period of leave prior to deployment that Kaleo took a job as a technician at AVCO simply to pick up some extra cash. During his two tours in Iraq as an infantry officer, however, Kaleo cultivated an array of leadership and management skills that he believed could be put to use upon his return. So three years after leaving home, “I resumed my job as a technician, but pitched my dad to become his technical manager – a role where I could bring greater consistency to the way we executed,” he says. When the Great Recession hit Hawaii in 2010 (a few years after the rest of the country), AVCO needed sales leadership, and again Kaleo stepped in to rebuild growth momentum at the company.

He continued to work for AVCO remotely after moving to California some years later, and then transitioned to a position at BrightSign, one of America’s leading digital signage manufacturers. As the company’s Southwest region Sales Manager, Kaleo enjoys the bonus of having his home state of Hawaii as part of the territory, so he’s always able to keep a watchful eye on the family business.

Thuy always pictured herself as an auditor, and in pursuit of that goal she went to work for an accounting and finance temp agency. Several months after getting assigned to ClearTech, she accepted a full-time position as an Accounting Specialist at the southern California-based AV integrator.

“From the day I started, however, I wasn’t just doing accounting,” she explains. “I was active in various departments, wearing a number of hats.” Reflecting her broad range of capabilities and widening responsibilities, Thuy rose to become ClearTech’s Operations Manager. “I not only ensure everyone – employees, subcontractors, vendors – gets paid. I oversee all contracts. I account for every dollar that comes in, and make sure that every dollar that goes out is strategically well-spent.”

Thuy’s position has not only given her a fuller picture of her employer, but also the world in which it operates. “I’ve really come to love the character of this industry,” she says. “The technology is ever-changing, and that keeps us on our toes. But also the culture has evolved. There’s more awareness and diversity, something that’s very apparent when I attend industry events and see how much effort is being put into how we can attract and retain the most talented people.”

After working as a clientele account manager in retail, Dayna brought her skills to Control Concepts, Inc., where she is the company’s Customer Relationship Manager in charge of facilitating and growing loyal relationships among clients.

For Dayna, those relationships begin early, with the management of initial details surrounding bids for prospective clients who have requested quotes. Her responsibilities continue throughout the project…and never really end. “Our focus is on establishing long-term relationships,” she says, “and that includes follow-up and after care measures – being available to answer questions, resolve issues, perform troubleshooting, and help manage maintenance and support agreements.”

Dayna also helps to develop, execute and manage marketing efforts through social media, and she represents Control Concepts at trade shows and technology showcases. As time has passed, her position has become increasingly public-facing and sales-focused, and the company has enthusiastically supported her with professional education. Most recently, Dayna earned the InfoComm Recognized AV Technologist Certificate.

“Wherever you land in this industry, the fact that things are always changing provides lots of room for growth. It’s great for people who don’t want to pigeonhole themselves,” she explains. While advancing within the company, Dayna has steadily increased her presence outside it by participating in a number of organizations, including the AVIXA Women’s Council, Young AV group, and Diversity Council.