During our time together, we discussed: What is new for Lightapalooza 2024 Lutron and Ketra's plans for the event Why integrators should not miss this event The growing importance of the lighting category in the CI channel To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au257 SHOW NOTES Today's show features 3 industry luminaries - Tom Doherty, Director of New Technology Initiatives at HTSA, and a veteran of the Consumer Electronic Industry with a ...
Jan 23, 2024•55 min•Ep. 257
During our time together, we discussed: His diverse career at Crestron Electronics, focusing on his various roles and significant contributions to the company and the custom electronics industry. The vital role of training the next generation of Audiovisual Industry professionals focusing on developing their skills and knowledge to meet the industry's evolving demands. The expected impact of AI on the industry and a unique perspective on the potential advancements and challenges AI might bring t...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 256
During our time together, we discussed: Eddie’s takeaways from his experience serving on the CEDIA Board of Directors for the past three years Expanding their business through strategic acquisitions this year and the lessons they’ve learned along the way The importance of defining and refining processes to run a business with multiple locations Vendor selection beliefs and best practices To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au255 SHOW NO...
Dec 20, 2023•48 min•Ep. 255
During our time together, we discussed: Eddie’s takeaways from his experience serving on the CEDIA Board of Directors for the past three years His impressions and takeaways from the CEDIA AI Symposium Eddie shares valuable insights from a recent interaction with an architect His predictions for the luxury residential construction industry in 2024 To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au254 SHOW NOTES Eddie has been in the AV and low volta...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 254
During our time together, we discussed: Chris’s journey in the CI industry, starting in DIY smart tech, and moving into a professional AV career The training and assistance he received from PrepTECH The mindset of extreme ownership and the principles he lives by to be the best leader possible for his team His role as a Service Manager and how to successfully run service in a CI business To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au253 SHOW NOT...
Nov 22, 2023•34 min•Ep. 253
During our time together, we discussed: Clinton’s career journey in the technology industry, starting in audio post-production engineering, moving into sales, and eventually becoming owner and president of Mainline Marketing His mindset of out-servicing the competition Market conditions during the pandemic, and predictions for what the economic landscape will look like in 2024 To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au252 SHOW NOTES Clinton...
Nov 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 252
During our time together, we discussed: Xavier’s history with Lutron, from his days as a field service engineer traveling the world, to the present as a system designer and consultant. Best practices and advice for designing a lighting control system. Creating and growing his YouTube channel. To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au251 SHOW NOTES Xavier has been in the CI industry for much of his career. He spent seven years working at Lu...
Oct 20, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 251
During our time together, we discussed: Tom’s rise to prominence in the CI space, starting with founding his own AV business in 1985 His work toward growing industry-wide education and awareness in the lighting category The very first AI Symposium at CEDIA, and the meteoric rise of AI since Nov 2022 To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au250 SHOW NOTES Tom has more than 40 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. Through...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 250
During our time together, we discussed: The state of the custom integration industry in the UK Comparing and contrasting the northamerican and the UK markets One Firefly’s participation in the upcoming Ei Live! Show To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au249 SHOW NOTES David has 40 years of experience in the publishing and exhibitors’ industry. In 2009, he founded All things media Ltd and introduced the Essential Install magazine which h...
Sep 27, 2023•51 min•Ep. 249
During our time together, we discussed: The challenges of opening a business in the midst of a pandemic Ians take on the current state of hiring in the Av industry Aspires new project R&D Lab and how this has impacted quality and delivery. To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au248 Be sure to check out Ian’s first appearance on Automation Unplugged back on show #94 recorded on January 8th, 2020. SHOW NOTES Ian Williams has worked in ...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 248
During our time together, we discussed: John’s experience in broadcast TV and video editing John's Emmy winning journey, covering two Olympic games for NBC Why Netgear AV entered the CI channel The role of AI in copywriting and imagery and other forms of content creation To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au247 SHOW NOTES John started out working in broadcast TV with a successful career in video editing before moving to the manufacturi...
Jul 26, 2023•55 min•Ep. 247
During our time together, we discussed: Jason's 23-year experience as editor of CE Pro magazine The role of recurring revenue in our industry Some of the actionable insights possible thanks to DTools Business Intelligence capabilities To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au246 SHOW NOTES Jason has been involved in the low-voltage smart home market since 1990. He was the editor of Security Sales & Integration for ten years and has spe...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 246
During our time together, we discussed: Shawnon’s experience deploying technology into 100+ Apple Stores across the country earlier in his career Getting featured in the Wall Street Journal for one of their biggest projects back in 2018 The local market trends in Silicon Valley To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au245 SHOW NOTES Shawnon founded Zettacomm, his Silicon Valley based firm in 2008. He leveraged his extensive Commercial and ...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 245
During our time together, we discussed: Company culture and the importance of putting the right people in the right positions. The role of branding and marketing to differentiate your business The outlook for the smart technology industry in the current economic climate. To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au244 SHOW NOTES In 2002, Ryan founded Ratio Inc while studying at the University of Utah, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in ...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 244
During our time together, we discussed: The wealth of experience Eric has gathered over his 23 years in the industry A business owner's perspective and advice for those looking to start a new company Podcasts and resources he uses for personal growth and development To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au243 SHOW NOTES Cameron is a process and data expert who joined the One Firefly team in 2016 as the Traffic Manager overseeing the organ...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 243
During our time together, we discussed: Tom’s start in custom integration back in 1967 Tom’s passion for live performance music Lessons learned during 9/11 and the Great Recession and how they could apply to our current economic cycle. To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au242 SHOW NOTES Tom's extensive management background in electronic marketing and computer-based organizations, combined with his passion for cutting-edge technology a...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 242
During our time together, we discussed: Why three business units The focus on “making customers for life” Changes in client expectations over the last 20 years in home automation To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au241 SHOW NOTES Carmine is the fourth generation of Colangelo's to work at C&T Electric Corporation. Founded by his grandfather in 1973, C&T celebrates 50 years as a family owned and operated business. While C&T'...
Apr 19, 2023•59 min•Ep. 241
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Eric Pyle; The wealth of experience Eric has gathered over his 23 years in the industry A business owner's perspective and advice for those looking to start a new company Podcasts and resources he uses for personal growth and development To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au240 SHOW NOTES Eric started in the industry 23 years ago as a car audio salesman. After graduati...
Apr 14, 2023•55 min•Ep. 240
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Matt Grant; Matt’s experience remotely managing his business from an RV over a period of two years The role of company culture and assuming positive intent Lessons learned from Apple employees and processes To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au239 SHOW NOTES Matt is the CEO of Eyehear Technology Group located in Whitefish Montana and has been in the luxury residential ...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 239
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Alesia Hendley; Alesia’s upbringing and how she started her trajectory working sound boards at her father’s church Her move to personal branding and her journey as an industry influencer Why Pro AV industry is not well known and what the industry could be doing to recruit new talent To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au238 SHOW NOTES Alesia is an AV professional that f...
Mar 30, 2023•58 min•Ep. 238
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Will Gilbert and Greg Michelier; Will and Greg’s background and what led them to founding Think Simple and Bodhi. Bodhi Software as an IOT Solution How they go to market with Bodhi To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au237 SHOW NOTES Greg and Will along with their 3rd partner Rock co-founded Think Simple in 2001 a company that started out in software and hardware design...
Mar 13, 2023•55 min•Ep. 237
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Koa Wagner; Koa’s career trajectory and how he originally founded Blueprint The Great Recession and how diversification helped Koa keep his business open during those challenging years Recent changes to the business, including: his wife joining the business, bringing on an EOS consultant and making a pivot into lighting To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au236 SHOW NOT...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 236
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Darrin Medley; Growing up as the child of Bill Medley, the famous singer known for many famous songs including Unchained Melody. The Hi Solutions Differentiator - The HIWAY - An autonomous Home Process Culture How HI Solutions is scaling culture through public acquisitions. To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au235 SHOW NOTES Darrin joined HI Solutions as its Chief Oper...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 235
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Morné Smit and Oliver Tuffney ; The importance of creating a winning sales culture and building sales processes that get results Why B2B companies need a playbook to scale The types of companies that are likely a good fit for Emerse Consulting To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au234 SHOW NOTES Morné has spent his life elevating respect for sales professionals in dozen...
Feb 08, 2023•58 min•Ep. 234
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Nick DeClemente; Managing the holiday season crunch. one-app control solution vs a multi-app approach Bringing on consultants How to close big deals Company Culture To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au233 SHOW NOTES Nick is a 20-year Industry Veteran. He started in CI in 2001 while studying Fine Arts in College. Nick pioneered CI in the MDU market for seven years with...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 233
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Bryan Mills; Bryan’s journey from mechanical engineering to running the 3rd generation family business. A fun story about Bryan redesigning the Tapcon Screw. Bryan’s diversification in the business during the Great Recession in 2009 Mills Technologies and how EOS has been implemented to the company’s culture. To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au232 SHOW NOTES Bryan re...
Jan 27, 2023•56 min•Ep. 232
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Tom Doherty, Michael Libman and David Warfel; The history behind Lightapalooza Event logistics including vendors, attendees and trainings offered The growing importance of lighting in the custom integration industry To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au231 SHOW NOTES Lightapalooza 2023 is the 2nd Annual Lighting Conference exclusively for the Custom Integration Industr...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 231
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Sarah Dresher; Sarah’s journey leading up to her becoming an entrepreneur Ageism vs Sexism in the AV industry Sarah’s perspective on the role of reps vs a direct sales force in the CEDIA space To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au230 SHOW NOTES Sarah Dresher founded Luxury Integrated Technologies, in early 2022, as a service and consulting agency for the southeast, rep...
Dec 17, 2022•53 min•Ep. 230
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Dan Ferrisi; Dan´s background in AV journalism and his trajectory that led him to being Editor-In-Chief at Commercial Integrator The differences between residential and commercial integrators Dan’s input on strategies and actions for integration businesses to be able to face supply chain challenges To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au229 SHOW NOTES Dan is a veteran te...
Dec 13, 2022•50 min•Ep. 229
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Susan Grossweiler; Current state of school shootings in the USA The importance and role of technology in schools to improve safety HAVRION´s ¨Protect and Perform” technology strategy for school systems To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au228 SHOW NOTES As Vice President of Products and Operations for HAVRION, Susan is focused on data-driven action & activations ap...
Dec 11, 2022•38 min•Ep. 228
