Joel Pilgrim

Business Development Manager, Barco

Hanane Abdalla

Audience Engagement Manager, AVIXA

Where audiovisual tech, business & foodie fascinations converge. 
Graeme Bagley

Teaching Space Designer and Product Owner, Nottingham Trent University

Erica Carroll

CEO, CharBett Strategies

Congwei Chua

Technology Solutions Architect, PTS Consulting

With 14 years of experience in audio-visual system integration, consultancy, and deployment across the Asia-Pacific region, I’ve developed a strong understanding of the region’s unique challenges and opportunities. I’ve had the opportunity to work on large-scale AV and broadcast systems for some of the world’s leading multinational companies, aligning with global standards to support seamless collaboration and productivity across diverse teams and locations. I enjoy crafting practical, user-focused technology solutions, and increasingly draw on AI and emerging tech to improve workflows and outcomes. Outside of work, I teach immersive media as an adjunct lecturer, where I get to share my curiosity and inspire students to explore what’s possible.
Adrienne Knick

Senior Director, Certification, AVIXA

Sowmya Siddappaji

Coordinator, Live Content APAC, AVIXA

Rafael Melson

Account Manager DACH-Region, AVIXA - Verband für AV/Medientechnik

Mandie Creed

AV Design Consultant, A4A Designs LLC

Kempton Ng-Quinn

Asistant Director - In Room Control System, Wynn

Frank Padikkala

Snr. Technical Sales Architect, Zoom

Frank is an IT/AV Evangelist in the AV Industry. Frank strives to bridge the knowledge gap between Tech disciplines. As a self proclaimed "cert junkie" he holds more than 10+ IT/AV Industry certifications, along with an MS in Cyber-Security/Information Assurance and BS in IT Sec. Frank is active on social media, is a life-long learner and believes in constant self-improvement. He contributes as an SME to AV publications and IT/Cybersecurity podcasts and events. He also hosts ITFactor, an IT - AV - Tech centric podcast on www.avnation.tv He volunteers with AVIXA currently serving as the Chair of the Diversity Council where he is constantly mentoring and creating opportunities for community development through open communication.
Sarah Carless

Account Manager - UK & Ireland, AVIXA

Mike Pedersen

Audiovisual Experience Manager, Iowa State University

Mike Pedersen, the Audiovisual Experience Manager at Iowa State University since the summer of 2018, brings over 30 years of experience in the engineering industry with a focus on the professional audiovisual (AV) sector for the past 25 years. Leading the Audiovisual Experience Team (AVXT) at Iowa State, Mike oversees the maintenance of AV systems in over 200 university classrooms and provides consulting, installation, and repair services across campus. The AVXT won the 2023 Higher Ed AV Team of the Year with Higher Ed AV Media.  Recognized as an expert in the field, he holds both Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certifications in Design (CTS-D) and Installation (CTS-I), a distinction shared by only approximately 700 individuals worldwide. In 2018, AVIXA named him CTS Holder of the Year.  Mike currently serves on the Membership Committee and Certification Renewal Committee with AVIXA, and he previously served as an elected member of the Certification Steering Committee and chair of the Technology Mangers Council.  He currently serves on the board of directors with the Educational Technology Collaborative (ETC) as the Membership Committee and Program Committee.  He has previously served extensively with HETMA including as the 1-year at large board member.  Before joining Iowa State, he spent almost 19 years at Mechdyne Corporation, contributing to various roles including engineering manager, R&D, and pre-sales engineering. Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike actively volunteers in STEM education, serving on the governor's North Central Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board. A 1994 graduate of Iowa State University, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with distinction and a minor in History and is working toward a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree.
Martin Barry

Assistant Director , Columbus State Community College

John Cheatham, CTS-D

Engineering Manager, AVI-SPL

Up through May 2022, I managed the AV Engineering & Operations team at the University of North Georgia. We maintained multiple campuses of classrooms with control systems in each and we worked with a team of support technicians who handle work on incident management while we handled incident escalations as well as problem management, change management, and request fulfillment (to use the ITIL vernacular). In May 2022, I became a Design Engineer 1 for AVI-SPL, based out of the Atlanta, GA office. I worked with the Account Managers to design systems for customers prior to sales, then worked with the post sales team once a system is purchased. Over the next two years, I was promoted to Design Engineer 2. In October 2024, I became an Engineering Manager for AVI-SPL, managing the Design Engineers and Project Engineers in the Atlanta, GA office.
Erin Maher-Moran

IT Manager - Classroom Technology, Johns Hopkins University

Erin Maher-Moran is the IT Manager – Classroom Technology at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).  She manages the Classroom/Audiovisual Technology Services team. Her team designs, installs, supports and maintains the classroom technology in general pool classrooms, as well as supports events, on the Homewood Campus in Baltimore, MD. She is also the Vice Chair of the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA.org) and the host of AVNation’s EDTech podcast. With 25+ years in Higher Education AV, Erin has seen the industry grow and change in leaps and bounds.  She has been programming Crestron control systems since the early 2000’s and an AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) since 2008. Erin is a former roller derby skater and coach.  This has helped her understand the importance of building a dynamic team as well as allowed her an opportunity to develop her leadership skills and style. Erin holds a BFA in illustration and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Interactive Multimedia Development from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She is currently pursuing her MS in Engineering Management – Technical Leadership at JHU. 
Deborah Jones

AV/IT, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Works for Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster, London in the Studio Visual and Event IT department.
Christopher Dechter, CTS-D, CTS-I

Manager, Instructional Technology, University of Wyoming

Christa Bender

Client Services Manager, Pivot

Bill Larsen, CTS

District AV Technology Coordinator, Independent School District 197

Managed Audio Visual services for School District 197 that includes Two Rivers High School, two (2) middle schools, and five (5) elementary schools. Provide leadership and management to the Audio Visual department. CareHawk system administrator for the two middle schools. Started a service club for Two Rivers High School and District called Tech Warriors. Tech Warriors provided level 1 computer support, event production services, and TV/Streaming production.