The Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance, Inc. (HETMA) is a registered 5013(c)3 advocacy organization focused on the higher education AV industry. The goal of HETMA is to raise awareness of technology issues unique to the higher education community by communicating with manufacturers, vendors, and higher education administrators on the needs and challenges that technology managers face. HETMA is also dedicated to providing educational and networking opportunities to our members so that we can empower and grow our influence as an industry. Our belief is that all resources provided through HETMA should always be FREE to the higher ed community. We are by us and for us, and hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity. OUR PURPOSE 1. ADVOCACY: HETMA seeks to advocate for the needs of the Higher Ed vertical within the greater AV industry by investing in our institutional and manufacturer relationships through programs like “HETMA Approved Program.” 2. EVENTS: “We were virtual before it was cool” is our tagline. We recognize the importance of information sharing as an essential element to higher ed. 3. COMMUNITY: We believe we are stronger together. AV in the higher education vertical accounts for over $27B in annual spend. Join us as we work together to strengthen one another through our initiatives, including our Prism Scholarship!  We offer two membership types that are always FREE OF CHARGE for the higher ed community! If you have a .edu, ac.uk, or equivalent, you automatically become a voting member and may join our monthly all-hands meetings on the third Friday of each month as well as our backend communication channels (ya know, where the real biz takes place). We also welcome corporate allies to partner with us for our advisory boards, “HETMA Approved” program, and as conference session providers. 

What 3 accessories does the "Elissa Action Figure" come with? -A 5-shot Latte - usually from a local spot or a seasonal Starbs -Mobile phone - love having information & connection at my finger tips -Funky Earrings - nothing wrong with making a bold, fun statement With over 15 years in various Sales-centric roles, I always aim to empower my clients to make purchasing decisions that best suit their unique needs. I do this by creating an environment built on educating, trust, and respect... and a bit of humor, too!  I launched my career in Special Event Management & Hospitality, which included Corporate A/V consulting and planning. After a decade-long career of executing 547 special events - and two babies later, I pivoted to Hotels & Hospitality, where I served as the Director of Sales & Marketing over multiple mid-size properties. Just before the pandemic, I made another unique shift into K12 print book sales, working primarily with school and public libraries curating their Children's/YA collections. Most recently, I made a bold career move entering the Tech world, and have never felt more motivated by what I do! The excitement, the energy, the brilliance - all unmatched! On the days in between, you can find me hiking/exploring with my two kiddos (and cocker spaniel, Duke), working on home projects, learning Italian on Duolingo, indulging in history, or concocting a new dish. Let's connect!

Dr. Josiah Way is the Executive Director, Digital Spaces at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), known as a revolutionary visionary and innovator in the audiovisual industry. As the leading educational technology thought leader, Joe was recognized as the 2019 AV Professional of the Year, 2023 AV Living Legend, 2008 Businessman of the Year, and is named to multiple top industry and influencers lists, including the 2024 global Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs, 2024 Who’s Who in America, 2023 Top 50 UC Professionals, and 2019 and 2022 Top 30 Higher Ed IT Leaders lists. He is a highly sought keynote speaker and writer, most acclaimed for his innovative design of the technology standard for hybrid instruction and business development within the higher ed vertical. Joe is the cofounder of the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Higher Ed AV Media, host of the Higher Ed AV Podcast, and writer of the Business of AV monthly column. Dr. Way authored the bestselling book, Producing Worship, and is a regular contributor to multiple leading AV-industry publications, while also serving on numerous corporate and higher education advisory boards. Joe has over 30 years’ experience in education, technical production and the arts, and organizational leadership and management. He has been featured in Forbes Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, ABC and PBS Television, Yahoo News, and consulted for high profile organizations like the United Nations, US Department of Education, and over forty Fortune 500’s. In his free time, Joe enjoys cruising the lake on his boat with family and friends, golfing PGA West, and perfecting his Traeger meat-smoking techniques. Oh, and he once won his fantasy football league. Joe is available for speaking engagements, media appearances, and business development consulting.

I have been in the Audio-Visual industry for 20+ years in various sales and marketing roles in both the private and public sectors. My work history includes working with integrators and manufacturers such as Christie Digital, Epson, and currently with QSC. I am passionate about helping women succeed in the industry and have spent the past 6 years working with the AVIXA Women’s Council, a group of professionals committed to supporting and empowering women who work in the technology and AV industry – first as a member, two years ago appointed as co-chair to the Los Angeles/Orange County region, and at the start of 2022, Co-Chair to the council. The council has over a thousand members and 50 groups throughout the world.

A marketing professional and 20-year AV industry veteran, I am a proud CTS holder and enthusiastic #AVfoodie who is passionate about innovative technologies, design, and all things AV. I look forward to connecting with you here on Xchange and invite you to join me on LinkedIn as well.  To reach me, please message me on LinkedIn, as I am unable to reply to conversations here. 

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Ben currently serves as the Head of Pro AV and the Sr. Director of Publishing for MarketScale, a B2B publisher and strategic marketing firm. He has over a decade of award winning experience in media publishing for large scale events, OTT & live streaming platforms, marketing, network television, and podcasting. Ben decided on his career path at the age of 7, and to date has led some of the most influential brands in the world including Intel, Nokia, Samsung and Segway, to billions of content interactions. A huge hockey fan (Go Stars!), and former contestant and current fan of Family Feud, Thomas resides in Dallas, Texas.