Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Wade Stephens;

• Techniques to successfully manage projects affected by supply chain issues
• How the Entrepreneurial Operating System can benefit a team and its development.
• How marketing helps drive referral sales

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au204

SHOW NOTES

Wade Stephens began his career in the AV industry in 1993 with a small company named Best Buy. He remained in that company for over 13 years during the huge growth of the company, including when Best Buy was named Forbes company of the year in 2004. During that time, Wade was a segment manager for Magnolia HiFi in the Dallas area and was then promoted to Sales Manager to one of the largest revenue producing stores in Texas.  Along the way, Wade expanded his skillset to include many industry certifications like Control4, Crestron, Lutron, and Savant. 

Wade is now the Vice President of Sales with DeVance Electronic Lifestyles which has seen an amazing growth over the last three years. DeVance specializes in residential, commercial, automation, lighting, and lighting control, with a focus on luxury two channel HiFi. Wade works very closely with owners Matt and Dana DeVance daily through the EOS operating system which has helped DeVance grow significantly while continuing to live by their vision to treat customers like family.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Blake Urmos;

• How Low Voltage Nation became the largest online community for the low voltage industry
• The role of social media and the importance for businesses
• What is Web 3 and where it's headed for the near future
• The importance of video in social media platforms, and how it can be used to leverage your business

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au203

SHOW NOTES

Blake Urmos is the founder of Low Voltage Nation, a community that helps its members develop a career path in low voltage and technology. Blake started Low Voltage Nation to connect with technicians and business owners through Instagram and a Podcast. Blake specializes in structured cabling, access control, and information security. He also founded Golden Booth, a high-growth tech company specializing in digital marketing, photography, and mobile app development.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Keith Esterly;

• HTSA’s mission and commitment to the ongoing education of their member dealers
• Different resources provided by HTSA, including Keith’s Relationship Science Program
• Different strategies and tactics used by a successful salesperson

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au202

SHOW NOTES

Keith Esterly has over twenty years of experience as a salesperson, trainer and senior learning & development leader in the CE/CI industry. He started as a part-time stereo salesman at Bryn Mawr Stereo in 1987, sold some "custom" in California when CI was in its infancy, and went on to find his calling in the training and development world, spending ten years with the Tweeter Home Entertainment Group and another ten with Walmart. 

He’s a Penn State graduate, a compulsive landscaper and the world’s least intimidating (as he considers himself) lifelong martial arts student and Bruce Lee fan. He resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where the Philly suburbs meet the farms and wilderness.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Mike Sajecki;

• The art and science of consultative selling
• The importance of a CRM and ERP system in tracking and managing a sales team
• What makes for a successful salesperson
• Potential challenges ahead in the economy

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au201

SHOW NOTES

Mike began his career in the A.V. industry while installing car alarms in high school. During his time in college, he ascended to sales manager at a local retailer and began doing Custom Home Installations before they were even a category. His scope of work included: running wires in walls, mounting televisions, building custom speakers, and more.

In 1991, Mike became a rep for a small rep firm, and in 1993 he became a junior salesperson at C&E Marketing/M.A.G. Sales, the company he owns today. With a total of 16 salespeople and coverage of the U.S. Southeast region, Florida and the Caribbean, C&E Marketing / M.A.G. Sales is one of the largest rep firms in the country.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Lee Travis

• Update from Lee since the Feb 2020 recording of Automation Unplugged show #100
• CES 2022 Update - Live from Vegas
• The importance of video in marketing
• Lessons learned from years in business

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au200

SHOW NOTES

Lee Travis got his start with the custom integration industry through car audio and transitioned to full residential integration soon after. He founded Wipliance in 2006 in Bellevue, WA and later expanded to Scottsdale, AZ, in 2016 with a focus on delighting clients and building leaders. Wipliance has won Integrator of the Year at CES, is recognized consistently in the CEPRO 100 and takes pride in the industry-leading approach for video and online marketing.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron and Taylor had the opportunity to discuss during this episode

• 2021 Highlights from  Automation Unplugged
• One Firefly’s achievements during 2021
• Goals for 2022 and upcoming industry trends

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au199

SHOW NOTES

Automation Unplugged is a live show recorded weekly, hosted by me, Ron Callis.  In each Automation Unplugged episode, I speak with leading industry personalities and technology professionals to discuss all things business development, technology trends, and more. We produce this show to  help our clients and members of the custom integration industry keep up-to-date with the latest news as well as learn from experts in the field.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Michael Libman

• Why integrators should consider getting into the lighting fixture business
• How to choose the right manufacturer to partner with in your business
• How lighting will likely grow in significance within our industry

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au198

SHOW NOTES

DMF Lighting is a lighting manufacturer that takes a creative approach to lighting and offers industry-leading technology to set the bar for performance, quality, and flexibility. Mike was one of the first advocates of Custom Integrators adopting light fixtures as part of their business, turning DMF Lighting into a CE Pro Bullet Brand in 2020. He has a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University and has worked in technology for over ten years. Mike works with Custom Integrators across North America to provide beautiful Lighting Solutions to their clients.  In 2021, Michael was named Dealerscope 40 under 40, an awards program that recognizes the brightest idea-generators in the consumer technology industry.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with George and Kassa Harrison

• How EOS, entrepreneurial operating system has made a positive impact on the company
• Vital Management and systematically reviewing financials with set goals
• The importance of marketing and original photography for an integration firm

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au197

SHOW NOTES

George Harrison gained years of industry experience in the Colorado mountain resort towns. In 2002, George founded Harrison Home Systems, a high-end custom electronics design and installation firm specializing in cutting-edge home automation. In 2007, Kassa, his wife, joined the business and brought her experience in marketing and PR. Together they have grown the company over the years and currently manage a team of 27 employees. Harrison Home Systems specializes in the custom residential market in Denver and the surrounding areas. The company was named the 2021 CTA Smart Home Integrator of the Year by The Consumer Technology Association. They also received other industry awards in 2020, including CEPro Integrated Home of the Year and a Lutron Excellence Award.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Brenna Basden

• The role of a copywriter and their impact in marketing
• Trends in copywriting and SEO it’s role within a website
• SEO bad practices to avoid.
• Fitness trends and their health benefits

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au196

SHOW NOTES

Brenna Basden graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Texas in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English Literature and Certificate in Technical Writing. After college and spending some time as an assistant manager in retail, Brenna moved into a marketing position for an oil & gas company in Houston, TX, where she wore many hats in marketing for a few years. In 2018, she left the oil & gas industry, moved to Austin, TX, and started her journey as a content writer at One Firefly. In early 2019 Brenna joined the product development team working on the copy for One Firefly’s award winning Mercury Pro website solution for integrators. In 2021, Brenna was promoted to SEO Specialist at One Firefly,  where she now lead our SEO strategy and team. Outside One Firefly, Brenna is a cat lover, enjoys all things fitness and is a music fanatic.

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.

Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Bill Simpkins

• Customer focused marketing vs custom builder driven lead generation
• Working on international projects
• Potential industry changes in 2022 and how to plan for the new normal supply chain challenges
• After-sales service business model and how it relates to customer relations and happiness

To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au195

SHOW NOTES

Bill Simpkins is a technology integrator with 30 years of CI industry experience. He began his career in the UK entertainment industry, working as an audio and lighting designer. He also worked as an engineer for well-known artists such as Moby, The Prodigy and Gil Scott Heron. After spending 15 years designing and installing systems for both residential and commercial markets globally, Bill relocated to the United States. In 2014, he founded IGS Homeworks in Magnolia, Texas specializing in luxury residential technology solutions

Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.

About One Firefly

One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.