Padmini Nikam

Network Engineer, Pro-Digital
Coleen Sterns Leith

President, Marketing Matters

Edward Czarnecki, CTS-I, CTS-D

Sr. Project Engineer, The AV Industry

Long time AV industry member, lover of tech, and wizard.
Benjamin Wolski

Network Administrator, UT Martin

Dan Couvrette

Senior Manager, Group Media Services, AIA

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.
Gerrit Vermeire

Director Product Management, Barco

Joel Pilgrim

Business Development Manager, Barco

Christopher Vann

Training Manager, Barco

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.
Christopher Dechter, CTS-D, CTS-I

Manager, Instructional Technology, University of Wyoming

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.
Christopher Hewitt

Manager, Classroom Technical Infrastructure, University of Guelph

Dave Haynes

Editor, Sixteen:Nine

Sixteen:Nine has been doing daily news and insights about the digital signage industry, globally, since Feb. 2006. Started as a blog, the online publication has since produced some 8,500 articles about the industry, technology and people. There is also a companion podcast with hundreds of long-form interviews. Sixteen:Nine is known as the industry's BS filter - a content resource driven by an effort to explain developments and advances in plain language and with context. The publication does not accept paid editorial, ignores roughly 9/10 press release sent its way, and never simply copies and pastes news from vendors and suppliers (something unfortunately common in pro AV and beyond). Sixteen:Nine was started and still edited by industry veteran Dave Haynes. In 2021, the publication was acquired by the Florida software firm Spectrio. Haynes remains its editor and primary content producer, however, operating out of a home office in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Ben Barnard

Regional Manager, UK & Ireland, AVIXA

Get in touch for anything related to AVIXA in the UK & Ireland - we're here to help and waiting to hear from you!
Byron Tarry

Founder & Chief Transformation Officer, NEXXT

Ben Thomas

Head of Pro AV, Sr. Director of Publishing, MarketScale

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.
Carrie Deato

Systems Engineer, AVIXA

Brant Underwood

Nomad, John Deere Green

Just here to check things out.
Carlos Cavalcante, CTS-D, CTS-I

Head of AV - Mexico, Seal Telecom, a Convergint Company

In the AV Industry for more than 30 years, passing through virtualy all areas, as design, installation, commissioning/programing, sales and market development. Actually Head of AV Convergint, Mexico. AVIXA volunteer in the CTS-D exam review and in the J-STD Symbology standard revision. Amateur (and frustated) guitarist and mountain biker.