Whoever coined the old-school adage of “it takes a village,” clearly never worked in the world of AV. From the industry’s infancy in analog to the new age of AI, the world has grown from a tiny village to a multiversal web of technology, media, and collaboration. We as #proAV can use all the help we can get, and what better way to grow in your career than to partner with industry leaders across the multiverse that is AV!
Without further ado, here are three great #proAV organizations that left an impact on me during InfoComm:
AV User Group
I first got wind of AVUG at my first InfoComm as I stumbled upon their speed pitches which were right by one of the educational sessions I was attending. Acclimation to their mission came rather quickly, as each speaker hailing from companies across the #proAV landscape gave short, engaging presenations on the latest and greatest technologies. If you’re more of an introvert and/or need some rest from the hustle and bustle of the show floor, AVUG’s speed pitches are a great way to absorb knowledge and the latest products and services. (Insider tip: some companies will give you information on their exclusive after parties first-hand since this typically happens at the start of the week. You’re welcome!)
A major highlight from AVUG, and possibly my InfoComm week at large, was AVUG’s Dinner sponsored by Shure and Salamander Designs. I was able to meet like-minded tech managers from various fields and bond and commiserate over our roles as end-users in the AV space. Companies included Amazon, Google, New York Times and even the 9/11 Museum.
The group has chapters that meet regularly in New York, San Jose, Toronto, London, Scotland and Sydney with new exposure in Asian markets.
NEXXT
NEXXT is more than an organization; its mission is to become a catalyst for AI transformation in the AV, collaboration, and workplace experience sectors. Its three pillars are being AI-curious, AI-committed, and AI-courageous. The major precept of their event at InfoComm was taking the AI conversation within #proAV from reaction to reinvention, and from confusion to confidence. All in all, the goal is to become outcome-focused, as they believe AI can be leveraged in the AV space to make better and faster decisions.
NEXXT held an amazing event Tuesday with industry experts in a wide variety of disciplines. My table alone had folks from the private and public sectors! Their keynote speakers and panel focused on discussions on redefining growth. Specifically, how growth is not an option anymore, and how growth combined with relevance leads to evolution. AI is more than just a trend; it’s a real-time partner to help us as humans rethink our take on routine tasks. This marks the first time in history that humanity is a barrier, not technology.
A takeaway was how the panel foresaw the future for AI in AV being a focus on multiple lenses and identification, which may result in a shift in demand for video and similar forms of media.
SAVe Sustainability in AV
I have been humbled and honored to volunteer for SAVe for years now, and their mission is a much-needed initiative not only in the #proAV space but the tech industry at large. A key example of their work has been partnering with industry leaders like Panasonic and Crestron, the latter of which I was able to attend their training and certification workshop at the iconic Columbia University!
This year, the SAVe leadership also conducted a panel discussion during the educational portion of InfoComm where they covered reducing your carbon footprint for events and working in conjunction with leadership and environmental communities. Making an impact in the #proAV space can start with conversations on logistics and shipping to how power and electrical is impacted by AV systems. The team also covered the importance of approaching the lens of sustainability through second lives, whether that be with refurbished devices or alternative use-cases for spaces. What hardware or rooms can be replaced or repurposed? How do we eliminate redundancy while being committed to sustainability?
SAVe’s slogan of “There’s NO way when you THROW AWAY,” is more than a catchy phrase. It demonstrates how seeing technology through a lens of a second life can shift the conversation of sustainability in AV.
In closing, I urge you all to branch out at your next InfoComm, or any #proAV event for that matter. Partner with like-minded connections to broaden your horizons from a village mindset to a multiversal hero!
MattPana.com | @MattPana
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Well said, Matt. The AVIXA communities are great for building network connections and industry insights. Though I missed the event, I had an introduction to NEXTT and think Byron Tarry and his team are developing a great platform for those of us seeing the intersection of AV/AI/Architecture as the nexxt (excuse the pun) new thing!
Thankyou @Matt Pana for the complimentary reflections of the InfoComm event. We're working hard over the summer to be ready to launch some important initiatives in the fall, in particular a digital community platform we just launched into PoC testing this week. The goal is to create a trusted "place" for the industry to gather for many of those same topics and discussions we explored at the event, and indeed much more.
Hi @Matt Pana! I couldn’t agree more on how much we can grow by learning from organizations like these. I was fortunate to attend the AI Summit organized by NEXXT, and it was an incredibly enriching and inspiring experience. I’ve also participated in several activities with SAVe, an organization I’ve been collaborating with over the past year, whose strength and passion are truly contagious as we work toward a more sustainable and inclusive world. I haven’t yet had the chance to connect with AV User Group, but I’ll definitely explore more about them in the future.
Dear @Matt Pana , what great advice, especially the one about parties, haha. Seriously, what a great way to take advantage of these forums that InfoComm offers, which sometimes go unnoticed in the chaos of the exhibition floor. It was a pleasure to meet you, and I'm glad that young people with your skills are part of this great movement we've promoted at @SAVe | Sustainability in AV . See you soon so we can keep having fun and, above all, help make this exciting industry more sustainable every day.