Christopher Dechter, CTS-D, CTS-I

Manager, Instructional Technology, University of Wyoming
Joe Way

Executive Director, Digital Spaces, UCLA

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.
Joshua Kaufman

CEO and Consultant, Back of the Hill Media

Jesse Anderson

Associate Director of AV Architecture, Tufts University

Jesse Anderson is the Associate Director AV Architecture at Tufts University, leading the team responsible audiovisual installations and service delivery throughout the University system. Jesse has been in Pro AV for over 40 years, and in that time has done front of house engineering, 35mm motion picture projection, multi-image slide shows, audio and video editing, arena and stadium sound design, and group/team management.  For the past 15 years, he has held positions as an AV Director in Higher Education and has great experience in designing and installing AV systems that ensure that pedagogical intents are met.  Jesse is a past chair of AVIXA’s Technology Managers Council, is a member of the Standards Steering Committee, has been a task group member on several standards, has been a mentor for the Woman’s Council, and has volunteered as a Subject Matter Expert for various AVIXA iniatives.
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.
Tyler Lawrence

Manager, Council Administration, AVIXA

I'm Tyler Lawrence, the Manager of Council Administration here at AVIXA. I work with the AVIXA Councils to support their missions and projects. Please chat with me if you would like more information on our Councils or would like to get involved.
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.
Matt Bercot

Member Services, AVIXA

We’re the Hub for All People and Things AV We are the community for the creative professionals who use technology to create integrated experiences. AVIXA is the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, producer of InfoComm trade shows around the world, co-owner of Integrated Systems Europe, and the international trade association representing the audiovisual industry.