Sameh Helmy, CTS-D, CTS-I

Acoustic Consultant, Hurghada Systems and Technology
Jim Spencer

Audio Video Network Design Professional, University of Notre Dame

Sharon Kaiser

Mgr, Information Systems, Duke Univ School of Medicine

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.
Audrey Reenders-Arens

Electronic Services Engineer, Grand Valley State University

Jennifer Steinhardt

Design Engineer, AVI-SPL

You may also know her as @NerdyGirlAV. Jenn is an active leader within the AVIXA Diversity Council, serving as chair since 2024. Jenn was also a part of SCN The Nine: Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 Commercial Integrators 40 Under 40. She’s passionate about creating opportunities for incoming folks into the industry and advocating for neurodiversity and mental health awareness.  Her experience in AV ranges from project coordination, rentals, marketing, sales, service, AV consulting, and she currently works as a design engineer with AVI-SPL. Something you may not know about her is that she achieved her BS in Media Arts & Design at James Madison University and her Master's in Sociology at The New School for Social Research. 
Deborah Jones

AV/IT, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Works for Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster, London in the Studio Visual and Event IT department.
Tobi Tungl

Chief Marketing Officer, CTI

I came into marketing through technical and sales roles, so I’ve never looked at it like a support function. To me, it’s part of how a company grows, earns trust, and stays relevant. Today I lead global marketing at CTI across Pro AV, broadcast, and mission critical markets. My work sits across growth, positioning, sales alignment, and market strategy in environments where the sales cycles are real, the stakes are high, and credibility matters. I lead a distributed global team and work across markets where strategy cannot just sound smart. It has to hold up in the real world. That means connecting the work to market reality, supporting growth across regions, and making sure execution actually matches the story. I do my best work in complex B2B environments where trust is earned slowly, buyers are skeptical, and activity is easy to confuse with progress. It usually is not. I care a lot about the gap between what a company says, how it operates, and how it grows. That gap tells you whether the strategy is real.
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.
Daniel Wright

Associate Principal, Shen Milsom & Wilke

Michael Willis

Courtroom Technology Specialist, United States District Court - Northern District of Iowa

Eighteen years of experience in higher education AV, three years of experience in government AV. Non-professional interests include tennis, hiking, and the gospel. 
Veronica Esbona

Managing Director | Partner, TIG Global PR

Integrated marketing communications professional specializing in the pro AV market. More than 25 years of agency experience working closely with manufacturers, distributors, and systems integrators by employing creative marketing, event management, public relations, and social media strategies that effectively build brands, reach intended audiences, and deliver results.
Coleen Sterns Leith

President, Marketing Matters

Andrew Birklid

Sr. Consultant, Audiovisual, Arup

Congwei Chua

Senior Solutions Manager - SEA, QSC

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

Matt Eckstein

Senior Engineer, CENSEO AV+Acoustics

Hanane Abdalla

Audience Engagement Manager, AVIXA

Where audiovisual tech, business & foodie fascinations converge. 
George "Red" Fournier Jr. CTS

Founder, Vice President of Technical Services, Laia Technologies North America

George “Red” Fournier, CTS, serves as Vice President of Technical Services for Laia Technologies North America, leading the company’s technical strategy, partner enablement, and product‑integration initiatives across the U.S. and Canadian markets. With over 40 years in audiovisual engineering, systems design, and unified communications, Red works closely with Laia’s global product and development teams to ensure the company’s camera and software ecosystem delivers seamless, reliable, and customer‑centric experiences. His ability to blend deep engineering expertise with real‑world integrator insight makes him a trusted voice in translating emerging Laia technologies into practical, scalable solutions for corporate, education, and government environments. Red is also known for his leadership and advocacy across the AV industry. He founded AV Gives Back in 2015, uniting the AV community around service and support efforts under the #AVGivesBack banner. He has held several roles within AVIXA’s councils—including the Manufacturers, Diversity, and Women’s Councils—and served as Chairman of the Systems Integrators Council from 2020 to 2022. Throughout the pandemic, he helped guide integrators through unprecedented disruption by establishing collaborative forums, partnering with the ITS Council, and advancing initiatives on contractor best practices, workforce development, and new‑hire onboarding, reinforcing his long‑standing commitment to industry standards and community resilience. Beyond his professional impact, Red is a lifelong volunteer dedicated to service, mentorship, and community support. Since 1985, he has served North Jersey communities as a volunteer firefighter, fire police officer, trainer, and hazardous‑materials emergency responder. He remains deeply engaged in youth development with the Patriots Path Council of Scouting America in New Jersey as a District Commissioner at Large, Unit Commissioner, merit badge counselor, and advancement administrator for both Troop & Crew 144. Red and his wife Beth, celebrated as the first female firefighter and first female captain in the 190‑year history of the City of Paterson Fire Department, are especially proud of their son, Seán, who will enter NJIT’s Ying Wu College of Computing as a first‑year student academically classified as a junior, pursuing Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and AI after completing his A.S., 61 credits, Security+ and ISC2 CC certifications through the County College of Morris/Morris County Share Time Program in Pequannock HS.
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.