In this exclusive interview conducted during CEDIA Expo/CIX last month in Denver, Buzz Delano, principal consultant at Delano Associates, reflects on the progress he's seen over 30 years in the business. That includes how we've seen design, custom builders, kitchen and bath technology, furniture and decor come to complement audio, video, home theater, networking, windows and shading at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX. This has redefine the entire industry as "the smart home profession," he says. Later in the interview, Delano describes the unique value proposition that Delano News Advance brings to our industry.

Stay in the loop! Sign up now to get notified when registration for CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 opens or contact us to explore exhibiting opportunities at CEDIA Expo.

In this exclusive interview with Commercial Integrator, Simon LeDuc, product and technology manager, Clockaudio North America, discusses a range of topics with Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald. 

The duo begins by chatting about the steps Clockaudio is taking to support the newer generation of field technicians as skill sets evolve and change. Then, LeDuc shares tips for installers to help save them money and time. 

They also discuss techniques every tech should know (or know better). Later in the conversation, LeDuc provides insights into what makes Clockaudio USB solutions different from the rest, while also exploring the reasons why it might make sense to go with a condenser gooseneck rather than a dynamic mic, headset or built-in mic. 

This nearly half-hour podcast is jam-packed with information from LeDuc, who, as a Clockaudio executive, works for one of the most innovative companies in the audio category today. 

Enjoy the conversation!

In this exclusive interview with Commercial Integrator, Brian Soto of Optoma talks about the house of worship market, focusing in particular on projection's enduring utility in these environments. 

During the conversation with Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald, Soto talks about Optoma's wide range of feature-rich products, which suit everything from more intimate worship settings to grander-scale spaces. 

Plus, Soto emphasizes the company's solutions-centered approach to the market. He also underscores that today's projectors are both very bright and highly portable, factors that contribute to their usefulness in worship environments.

CTI acquiring Vistacom — news that broke Feb. 13 — is arguably the biggest pro AV merger and acquisition news in months. That's why Commercial Integrator brought together John Laughlin, CEO and president of CTI, as well as Angela Nolan, formerly the CEO of Vistacom, to give AV+ the inside scoop.

Here, they touch on how the deal came together and, more importantly, why each company chose the other. In this candid discussion, Laughlin and Nolan go into detail on the timeline for the acquisition, why this was the right time for Vistacom to become part of a larger organization, how the move affects existing Vistacom team members, what it means for the future of the command-and-control segment, and how existing Vistacom customers will benefit from leveraging CTI's infrastructure.

This half-hour conversation addresses all the things you're dying to know about CTI's acquisition of Vistacom, with the answers coming straight from the principals in the deal.

Check it out!

On this special edition of the AV+ podcast, host Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald, talks with Todd Bouman, EVP, proAV display business, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. Together, they discuss the latest on the company's Sharp/NEC joint venture and how the company has gained brand clarity under the Sharp name. In addition, the duo discusses Sharp's sustainable solutions, key product launches and updates at ISE 2024.

The duo touches on all of the following:

• Sharp's business strategy, product roadmap and brand clarity as it relates to the joint venture (5:02)
• Vendor-integrator partnerships and customer satisfaction (10:04)
• Sharp's sustainable solutions, product launches and updates at ISE 2024 (13:17)
• and much more!

This special edition of the AV+ podcast is brought to you by Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America.

On this episode of the AV+ podcast, host Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security at Emerald, talks with Frederick Loucks, consultant to manufacturers, integrators and end-user organization, about the need for integrators to have a value-based, proactive approach rather than a conventional reactive approach. He emphasizes the significance of technology integration and the concept of outcome assurance.

The duo discusses the following:

• the importance of invisible technology that supports the performance without distracting from it (1:47)
• how technology should serve a purpose and bring value, not be an end in instead (6:31)
• managing AV at scale (1:53)
• delivering value to customer through technology solution, rather than price  (6:03)
• building sticky relationships with customers (6:05)
• monitoring and managed services (9:57)
• monitoring and asset management in enterprise AV systems (14:26)
• and much more!

This content is brought to you by SnapOne.

On this episode of the AV+ podcast, host Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator, talks with Shane Vega, VP of marketing at Userful, about the trends shaping control rooms and operations centers.

The duo discusses the following:

•  the importance of operator fatigue and attention to detail (4:24)
• digital transformation in control room environments (6:31)
•  the role of human machine interfaces in improving industrial control processes (13:53)
•  videoconferencing and real-time data sharing impacts on how operators respond to emergencies (15:41)
• the importance of cross-functional workflows (22:34)
•  and much more!

For more exclusive AV+ interviews visit CommercialIntegrator.com.

On this episode of AV+ host, Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator, talks with two industry luminaries, Jennifer Goodyer, sales manager at RTSales and Erica Carroll, sales manager, product training and adoption at Mersive Technologies, about about the Rosie Riveter foundation.

They discuss the following:

• What is Rosie the Riveter campaign and how to get involved? (13:10) 
• Fundraising efforts in conjunction with AVIXA Women's Council (15:24)
• Nurturing interest in AV at a young age (17:36)
• The importance of diversity on panels  (22:37)
• and much more!

This podcast is brought to you with the support of ViewSonic. With 35 years of display expertise, ViewSonic offers a wide range of workplace solutions, including DVLED videowalls for lobbies and auditoriums, large-format displays for conference rooms and training rooms, interactive displays for small meeting spaces, and executive monitors for homes and offices. Check out https://vsfinch.es/Commercial-Integrator to learn more.

As we celebrate International Women's Day (#IWD2023), AV+ is honored to be joined by four inspiring women in the commercial AV industry. From VPs, managers, thought-leaders, to engineers and advocates, these women are changing the landscape in the audiovisual industry and making their mark on the world. Hear stories from these industry luminaries:

• Tammy Fuqua, developer partner manager for Q-SYS; co-chair AVIXA Women's Council; LAOC co-leader for the AVIXA Women's Council
• Althea Ricketts, VP of corporate initiatives as Shure; AVIXA leadership search committee & AVIXA foundation board member; WAVIT board member
• Susan Whilhite, business development manager for Enterprise at SnapOne; founding director of WAVIT; LAOC co-leader for the AVIXA Women's Council
• Ericka Shumpert, event marketing manager at AVI-SPL; lead for AVIXA Women's Council Tampa Group

Joined by host, Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator, the group discusses the following:

• What does it mean to embrace equity? How, as an industry, can we do this? (2:12)
• How can we, as an industry, intentionally welcome more women in the industry? (12:13)
• The importance of getting more women into the industry and having great allies in it (22:19)
• How can we move the needle for those who are just joining the industry? (29:22)
• and much more!

Listen to the full discussion above. For additional, #IWD2023 coverage, visit CommercialIntegrator.com.

In this edition of AV+, the podcast for the commercial AV integration industry, thought leaders from Sharp/NEC help to disambiguate classes and categories of displays, while also delving deeply into an exciting new offering: the 4P-B AQUOS commercial TV series.

Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator and host of AV+, is joined by Sharp/NEC's Gary Bailer, director of product management, display products, and Ben Hardy, senior product manager, large-format displays, for this incredibly illuminating half-hour conversation. 

This content is brought to you by Sharp NEC Display Solutions.