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.
Andy was a deeply committed tech-head who had played with a broad range of AV technologies since well before there was something called AV. He hungered to know how and why things work, and stumbled on the fact that he had a talent for explaining what he'd learned, so he taught and wrote about all kinds of technologies, in books, magazines, manuals, seminars, and online. He worked in AV, broadcast, live production, IT, publishing, consulting, and events. In the early 2020s he wrote the new editions of the CTS, CTS-I, and CTS-D Exam Guides. The most fun part of what he did was the research into developing technologies to see how they could fit into the future of AV and IT. Most recently, he became heavily involved in initiatives to improve the sustainability of the technologies we use in the audiovisual industries.
Vale Andy Ciddor — AV.technology
AVNation™ started in 2011 as a small community of friends having fun and wanting to share their knowledge and experiences working with audio visual technology and the av industry in general. Since our first show AVWeek™ we’ve grown considerably over the years, we’re still a community where everyone is welcome to share ideas, make new friends, and celebrate the AV industry. Most importantly, we’re still having fun.
Tim Albright created AVNation for the purpose of bringing high-quality broadcasts (or netcasts) to the AV community. Tim has envisioned building a network of industry professionals who are passionately engaged in furthering the AV industry through education and knowledge. One of the premiere functions of AVNation is to see industry professional provide first-hand knowledge to other professionals across North America and the World. Many of the hosts and people involved with AVNation are industry leaders in various ways.
The first AVNation podcast was the initial episode of AVWeek – “The Pilot,” recorded July 29th, 2011. Ever since that first recording, AVNation has continued to grow its show offerings encompassing all aspects of the AV industry through weekly AVWeek episodes, as well as many additional periodic shows. We continue to have a wide variety of guests including industry professionals who work in or own integration firms and corporate industry leaders.
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.
George "Red" Fournier Jr. CTS
Founder, Director of Technical Services, Laia Technologies North America
I have worked in AV since the early 1980s in various positions ranging from staging to video production. My responsibilities have included engineering, systems design, technical sales, product development, tech support, project management, customer service, CAD Management, drafting, purchasing, and marketing for A/V Integrators and Manufacturers. In 2015 I founded the AV Gives Back initiative on Twitter. Through the use of the #AVGivesBack hashtag on Twitter and LinkedIn, we help people and companies in the #AVcommunity get the information out about fundraisers, community service events, charity events, natural disaster relief, and more. Our motto is ‘helping others help others.’ https://twitter.com/AVGivesBack In the past, as a CAD Manager, I was responsible for managing successful drafting teams in the high-volume NYC Metro Area. While establishing CAD Standards and Drawing packages for A/V & Digital Signage companies I have also worked with the InfoComm International Standards development team that was working on the J-STD-710: Audio, Video, and Control Architectural Drawing Symbols Standard. As a Social Media Advocate, I am active on Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) helping to get out the company message and project information. I have appeared on industry Podcasts including AVNation’s AV Week, ArchiTech, and EDtech. I have presented online webinars for AVIXA's System Integrators Council on Change Orders, and FSR on AV Infrastructure and HDBaseT technologies. I have been a volunteer firefighter in North Jersey since 1985 and currently volunteer as Fire Police in Pequannock NJ. I volunteer with my son's Boy Sout Troop 144 as the Advancement Chair, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Merit Badge Counselor. I also volunteer for the Northern New Jersey (NNJ) Chapter of the Guardians of the Ribbon.
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.
As a technology journalist, Megan A. Dutta puts her passion for the audiovisual industry on each and every page, whether print or digital. Dutta is currently the director of emerging markets at LAVNCH and editor-in-chief of LAVNCH [CODE] where she explores new technologies like extended reality (XR), experiential advertising, projection mapping, and more.
I’m a has-been geek turned manager, turned executive, turned (hopefully) into leader. I love technology and even more I love people. So what I find really interesting is the intersection of people and technology…and in so many ways, that’s my definition of AV.
Hello, I'm the Digital Media Producer at AVIXA! I'm a proud #AVTweep and love working in the awesome, vibrant industry known as AV. I'm Thai-'merican, overly-obsessed with cars, a hockey rink rat, and a doggo dad. (he/him)
I head up the marketing for InfoComm, the greatest tradeshow on Earth. InfoComm 2023 will be my 10th show.
Chat with me if you want to talk about InfoComm, working at AVIXA, or shoes! Follow me on Twitter @AVshoeQueen.
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A driven business leader with an entrepreneurial spirit, passionate about people, interested in innovation and technology, and finding solutions that help transform and make a positive impact. I am fortunate to have spent 30+ years in a career that I love!