For our September Xchange Community Spotlight, we're featuring @Paul Konikowski, who works full-time for a government contractor providing AV and IT services. His official title is CIS Manager, and in his day to day, his work combines AV consulting, cybersecurity, and systems integration engineering. He started tinkering in all three realms of AV, IT, and cybersecurity at a young age while residing in Georgia, and his passion has only grown.

“I wrote my first original computer program in elementary school,” said Paul. “[Then], the summer before my senior year in high school, I started working as an IT intern and continued working in IT support as a college co-op while obtaining my Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (aka Georgia Tech). I also started mixing bands at the college radio station and working part-time as a stagehand at the local concert venues.”

Initially, Paul often worked two, three, or four jobs simultaneously. While he enjoyed the variety of work, settings, and people at each job, he knew he needed to find better-paying positions. So, he obtained the CTS certification and signed up for an AutoCAD class at his local community college, which helped him land his first full-time engineering job.

Fast-forward a few years, and Paul moved to Raleigh, NC, where he continued to work in AV integration. But while he was there, his interest in cybersecurity flourished once more.

“It was the era of ‘The Convergence’ of AV and IT. I noticed that almost no one in AV seemed to care much about security despite the cyber-attacks and data breaches of major tech companies. To quote the famous Lily Tomlin, I said: ‘Somebody should do something about that. Then I realized I am somebody.’  In 2018, I dipped my toe in the dark waters of cybersecurity and took a short course offered by Harvard Extension School entitled ‘Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age,' and I was instantly hooked. A few weeks into the course, I applied to the new online Cybersecurity Master’s program being offered by Georgia Tech and was one of the first 250 students accepted,” said Paul.

He went on to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Cybersecurity in the Spring of 2021, specializing in Policy. And each time he learned something new in grad school, he would write about it in AV magazines, doing his best to relate it to his AV industry peers.

After living in Georgia, California, and North Carolina, Paul now resides in Connecticut. As an established thought leader in the AV/IT industry, Paul often posts articles on Xchange as well as other websites and magazines.

“My favorite part of AVIXA’s Xchange is the interactions with people, how anyone can start a discussion or comment asynchronously. Ask anyone who has worked in AV for a number of years, and they will tell you the same thing: it's the people who make the AV industry great,” said Paul.

His advice for anyone in the AV, IT, or any other industry is to prioritize your health, both mentally and physically.

“Talk to a therapist, or a counselor, support group, or find a local wellness coach, who can pick up where your doctors leave off,” advised Paul. “I wish I had done this sooner. I was so proud to be a part of the #HealthyAV initiative at InfoComm 24', which was started this year by Steve Greenblatt and Brittany DeCesare. Plan time in your day to stretch, meditate, go for a walk outside, and interact with others. It's even more important when you live alone, work from home, or work in a culture that mainly uses online chats. If you don't interact with real people on a regular basis, get out to big events like InfoComm or local events like the E4 tour or the recent IT/AV summit, and talk to people.”

Thank you @Paul Konikowski! Check out previous spotlights by clicking on the badge labeled Community Spotlight. And remember to follow the Xchange Community Spotlight page as we post monthly spotlights!