In this episode of the AV/IT Amplifier, we’re back with the one and only Frank Alaimo, Manager of Classroom Technology Services at UNLV, for part two of our conversation. If you thought the first episode was candid, insightful, and full of AV realness, buckle up. We go deeper into career resilience, camping disasters, philosophical takes on human nature, and what it really means to be a no-nonsense decision-maker in higher ed tech.

Frank opens up about rejection, redemption, and why knowing your worth makes you a better collaborator. We talk vendor etiquette, leadership clarity, trust, AI fatigue, ladder mishaps, and how higher ed AV has grown into a true force in the industry. This episode is as funny as it is fierce—and it ends with one of the best mic-drop sign-offs of all time. If you’ve ever had to re-interview for the job you didn’t get, or call your boss from a rooftop after a slip, this one’s for you.

Topics Discussed

• How not getting the first UNLV job opened a better door
• Why applying for jobs keeps you sharp—even if you’re not leaving
• The evolution of higher ed hiring practices
• What Frank would be doing if not in AV (spoiler: not firefighting)
• Why camping sucks until it doesn’t
• A near-death ladder story that rewired his brain
• Jealousy vs. evil—and which one is harder to detect
• How Frank handles vendor relationships with clarity and conviction
• Why higher ed should stop calling itself “end user”
• The origin of “If you’re reading this, it’s already too late”

Connect with Frank:
https://www.unlv.edu
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankalaimo/

Connect with Ryan:
https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
[email protected]

Follow the Show:
https://twitter.com/AVITAmplifier
https://higheredav.com/ryangray

Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
https://twitter.com/cdechter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/

Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts, feedback is very welcome and we look forward to hearing from you!