AV+ from Commercial Integrator

In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Joe Piccirilli, CEO and founder of Rosewater Energy, shares his 50+ year journey through the AV and custom integration industry — and the critical insight that led him to redefine residential energy resilience. 

From his early days building Sound Advice and distributing Crestron and Lutron, Piccirilli explains how recurring system failures all traced back to one overlooked issue: poor power quality. He breaks down why voltage sags —not surges — are the real threat to today’s microprocessor-driven homes, and why uninterrupted, “perfect power” is now foundational to luxury residences, safe rooms, healthcare applications and aging-in-place solutions.

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 - floor space is filling up fast! 

Recorded live from the Volkswagen ID. Buzz podcast van at the Colorado Convention Center, this episode features Caitlin Stewart, Director of Sales at Leon Speakers, discussing how the Ann Arbor–based company is redefining the relationship between design and technology in the custom integration market. As Leon approaches its 30th anniversary, Stewart highlights the brand’s design-first philosophy, which has guided its culture and products since 1997.

Stewart addresses the challenges of balancing aesthetics and functionality in an industry often dominated by “black box” technology, emphasizing Leon’s commitment to aligning with the design community’s expectations. The conversation explores the company’s efforts to engage architects and interior designers through events like ICFF and immersive factory visits, which provide hands-on exposure to materials, finishes, and customization capabilities.

The episode also examines Leon’s expanding portfolio, including acoustic treatments and solutions for videowalls, as well as its vision for fostering collaboration between the AV and A&D communities. The discussion offers a thoughtful perspective on how Leon Speakers is shaping environments where form and function coexist seamlessly

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.

Recorded at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Andrei Matei, co-founder of Robbox Tools, joins Josh Cooperman on Inside Buzz to talk about reinventing the modern toolbox through smart features and a long-term vision for a more efficient tool ecosystem for integrators. Plus, how hands-on demos and real-world use cases change how integrators feel about adopting new tools.

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.

Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor of Commercial and Security at Emerald, sits down with Shawn Hansson, Founder and CEO of Logic Integration, at CEDIA Expo/Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX) 2025 in Denver. In this engaging Q&A, Hansson shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings at CEDIA Expo to leading a team of 37 at this year’s event.

Discover why CEDIA Expo/CIX is a must-attend event for integrators, the importance of bridging residential and commercial markets, and Hansson's top tips for diversifying your business. He also highlights Logic Integration’s award-winning projects, including a heartfelt story of rebuilding a vandalized sportsbook and an innovative AI-powered studio in San Francisco.

Plus, hear Hansson's insights on the future of AV integration, the role of AI and the growing collaboration among manufacturers to simplify technology solutions.

Don’t miss this conversation packed with valuable advice, industry trends, and a behind-the-scenes look at some of the coolest AV projects out there!

🔗 Topics Covered:

• The value of attending CEDIA Expo/CIX
• Tips for integrators looking to diversify
• Award-winning projects by Logic Integration
• The future of AV technology and AI

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. 

Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor at Emerald, sits down with Michael Restrepo, owner of Restrepo Innovations, at CEDIA Expo / CIX 2025. In this engaging conversation, Restrepo shares his journey as a self-made entrepreneur, the unique approach of Restrepo Innovations, and the transformative power of technology in bringing families together. They also discuss the vibrant community, cutting-edge innovations, and the unmatched value of the CEDIA Expo / CIX 2025 experience.

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 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.