Tomorrow is International Women's Day and the AVIXA Women's Council is already hosting in-person events and a big virtual event around this year's theme of #EmbraceEquity.  There is a big question left to answer, what does equity look like in the AV Industry?   I found some rather enlightening posts in the Xchange on topics closely related to women in AV and where challenges still exist and where they are being overcome: Pro-AV are Women Fully Welcome? The Exodus of Senior Level Women From the Workforce 19 Organizations Advancing Women in Tech What do you think or what are you reading that would help make the AV industry more equitable to women?   @Tammy Fuqua @Alissa Haksar @Diana Quintero @Ericka Shumpert @Monisha Devaiah  - want to help get the conversation started and tag someone else to keep it going?

Did you know AVIXA has a variety of councils?  Want to learn more about them?  The Xchange has rooms like Technology Managers and A Culture of Inclusion that our councils are getting more active in.  You can learn about all the councils and how to volunteer on the AVIXA website. If you are going to be at InfoComm22, there are some great events you can attend to network, meet council members and learn more about their group: AVIXA All Council Summit (registration $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers)- Keynote from the founder of Meow Wolf, Vince Kadlubeck followed by all the current council chairs discussing their council work and how volunteering has helped them professionally.  AVIXA Women's Council Breakfast (registration AVIXA Premium/Elite Members $79  Non-Members: $99)- Keynote Melanie Spring gives you permission to be yourself, unfiltered. To define the personal brand we already carry with us, then how to speak our truth to our clients and teams, our friends and family, and our world. Hosted by the AVIXA Women's Council Technology Managers Forum and Reception (AVIXA Premium/Elite Members: $20 / Non-Members: $30) Join a speed dating style discussion on 4 hot topics- Staffing and DEI initiatives, AV and IT convergence, What's Cool at the Show- telling each other about booths to go check out to help solve your problems, and the future of AV.  Hosted by the Technology Managers Council Live Events Forum and Reception (AVIXA Premium/Elite Members: $20 / Non-Members $30) Join the Live Events Council as they discuss the most up to date trends in the industry and a special look at staffing challenges and successes. Hosted by the Live Events Council Designing for Diversity, Equity and Accessibility- Free Keynote Dr. Shelby Hill will discuss how DEI Initiatives globally can support better business and business outcomes.  Followed by a panel discussion that will speak directly to how these initiatives will support the AV industry. Hosted by the Diversity Council

At InfoComm the Technology Managers Council is hosting the Technology Managers Forum and Reception on June 9 from 3:00-5:00 pm.  If you're going to InfoComm, we would love for your to join.  You can register for this event at infocommshow.org, the cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. During the session, attendees will move through the room to four different discussion stations. One topic we will discuss at InfoComm is around staffing and I would love to hear from you now. What challenges are you facing when finding and retaining staff? Have you had successes in recruitment and retention that might be valuable for others to hear about?  What about DEI Initiatives? If you are actively searching to create a diverse staff, what successes and challenges are you facing in doing so?

At InfoComm this year we are excited to offer a new event, the AVIXA All Council Summit.  At the event Vince Kadlubek, Founder of Meow Wolf will kick off our event discussing how you can rise through your career.  In support of that keynote, our council chairs will talk about the work of their groups and how volunteering has been beneficial to them in their career.  We invite you to register for this event at infocommshow.org.   In the meantime, what has helped you in your career?  Has volunteering with AVIXA been something you have considered but not taken the next step why or why not?   I'm tagging the chairs of the Young AV Professionals Council@Matt Eckstein , @Gregory Rushton to start the discussion.  Matt and Greg, I would love to hear your insights on this session and moving your careers forward and I challenge you to tag someone else to keep the discussion going!