AV/IT Amplifier

This week, Ryan catches up with BC Hatchett, Director of Classroom Technology at Vanderbilt University and co-founder of HETMA. They talk about shifting from “manager” to “leader,” handing the reins to the next crew, and why letting go (and then cheering from the sideline) is a healthy sign of organizational growth. BC also keeps it real about the pace of higher ed—no more “quiet summers”—and how to stay sane by breaking big things into small, winnable pieces.

Then they pivot to Nashville: HETMA’s Roadshow lands at Vanderbilt on Monday, October 27, perfectly teeing up EDUCAUSE (Oct 28–30) across town. Expect a campus tour (Garland Hall’s renovation is a highlight), a compact vendor experience tailored to higher ed, and a downtown happy hour to keep the conversations going. HETMA will also bring its curated show-floor tour to EDUCAUSE and anchor in the Teaching & Learning “neighborhood” so higher-ed AV folks have a home base all week. Registration for the Roadshow is (gloriously) free—link in the show notes.

Topics Discussed

1. From vice chair to emeritus: leading by influence, not tasking
2. Handing off the wheel: why other people’s improvements are the point
3. The new reality: no dead periods, tighter cycles, same (or fewer) resources
4. Morale by momentum: chip away to free up bandwidth
5. Nashville preview: Vanderbilt’s Garland Hall and campus tour plans
6. What makes Roadshows different: regional, targeted, and human-scale conversations
7. EDUCAUSE in Nashville: who it serves and how AV fits in
8. HETMA’s curated show-floor tour: maximizing limited exhibit time
9. Teaching & Learning “neighborhood” at EDUCAUSE as a community hub
10. Practical travel + weather notes for late-October Nashville (layers!)

Connect with BC
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bc-hatchett-88746312/
https://x.com/bchatchett

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

Show Links
HETMA Roadshow – Vanderbilt (Oct 27): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nashville-roadshow-at-vanderbilt-university-tickets-1467308913459
EDUCAUSE 2025: https://events.educause.edu/annual-conference

Voiceover by Chris Dechter

Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!

This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.  Visit www.higeredav.com for fresh content everyday!

Special Crossover this Wednesday - Your podcast with Ryan fix will be sated!

Today on HETMA Presents..., Ryan sits down with David Lopez, Global Director of Education Strategy at ScreenBeam, to unpack how wireless display has evolved from a convenience feature to a core building block for learning spaces. David traces the roots from Intel WiDi and Miracast to today’s multi-OS reality (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome) and explains why standards-based casting still matters for scale, support, and security. From there, the discussion widens: what higher ed actually needs beyond “put your screen on the wall,” how to ensure a consistent user experience across rooms, and the operational wins when faculty aren’t fighting drivers and dongles.

They also cover the bigger ecosystem: USB conferencing that lets BYOD laptops use in-room cameras and mics via ScreenBeam Conference; the receiver as a platform (Signage Plus, Alert Plus, Message Manager) for communications and light digital signage; and practical install touches like compact form factors and magnetic mounting. Looking ahead, David talks instruction-focused tools—whiteboarding that plays nicely with laptops, and moderation workflows (e.g., Orchestrate) that shine in labs and active-learning spaces. The through-line: simple, reliable, and IT-manageable experiences that lower friction for instructors and support teams.

Topics Discussed

• Why standards (Miracast/AirPlay/Chromecast) still underpin reliable, multi-platform casting in higher ed
• From “wireless display” to “platform on the display”: signage, alerts, and message management
• BYOD without the pain: using room cameras/mics with a laptop via USB conferencing (ScreenBeam Conference)
• Designing for a consistent end-user experience across rooms and buildings
• Admin/management considerations at scale: profiles, groups, updates, and security posture
• Hardware realities: small receivers, flexible power, clean mounting (including magnets)
• Teaching workflows: inking/whiteboard, annotating, and quick walk-up sharing
• Moderation in labs/active learning: when “raise-hand to share” (Orchestrate) makes sense in higher ed
• Deployment tips: avoiding driver roulette, reducing help-desk calls, and planning for mixed OS fleets
• Roadmap mindset: treating the receiver as an extensible edge device for campus communications

Join the Conversation
Want to weigh in or share your campus approach? Join the discussion at community.hetma.org.

Connect with David
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlopez-edtech/
Website: www.ScreenBeam.com

Connect with Ryan
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Website: www.HigherEdAV.com



This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.  Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

In this second half of Ryan’s conversation with Dustin Myers of John A. Logan College and HETMA, the discussion dives into the balance of professional commitments, personal life, and community involvement in higher education technology. Dustin shares how his early InfoComm experiences transformed from solitary tech browsing to full-blown community immersion, illustrating the power of connection and professional development through HETMA. The two talk candidly about managing travel, family, and campus responsibilities while still staying deeply engaged in national conversations.

The episode also takes a lighter turn, exploring Dustin’s improv and forensics background, his love of burgers, and even the idea of a Kevin James biopic about the realities of IT support. From AV karaoke to spider-infested computers, it’s a conversation that blends humor with genuine insights into leadership, adaptability, and finding joy in the work. Dustin’s reflections highlight the improvisational nature of technology management and the importance of building trust, community, and balance along the way.

Topics Discussed

• Dustin’s evolution from attending InfoComm as a spectator to being fully engaged through HETMA
• Balancing institutional responsibilities with national professional development opportunities
• The role of pre-planning and prioritization in making travel and commitments sustainable
• How personality traits like extroversion and people-focus shape community contributions
• Dustin’s improv and forensics background, and how it connects to leadership and tech support
• Humor, adaptability, and the importance of “yes, and” in technology management
• The idea of a Kevin James–style IT support movie and real-life funny stories from the field
• Food talk: burgers, Cubans, and the philosophy of whether a hot dog is a taco
• The role of family in professional identity and why AV/IT conversations often skip it
• How to connect with Dustin via email, LinkedIn, and the HETMA Community

Connect with Dustin:
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – Dustin Myers
HETMA Community – community.hetma.org

Connect with Ryan:
Twitter – @Ryan_A_Gray
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Email – [email protected]

This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.  Please visit HigherEdAV.com to see more!

Voiceover Credit: Chris Dechter

Have feedback or ideas for the show? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you.

Dustin Myers—Manager of Technology Support at John A. Logan College and HETMA’s two-year at-large board member—joins Ryan to talk about running lean teams that still deliver big results. He breaks down how a 10–11 person IT org moved from rigid silos to a customer-focused, cross-trained culture, and why communication is the real glue when you’re juggling desktop support, classrooms, theaters, events, construction, and the help desk. Dustin shares how a leadership reset and a college-wide realignment opened the door to standardization, shared language across subteams, and the freedom to “let it fail forward” without losing trust. 

They also dig into the road ahead: cloud-first AV (fewer boxes, more SaaS), AI beyond today’s ML-lite features, and fully immersive learning—from nursing sims to criminal-justice scenario rooms—that adapts in real time to student behavior. The throughline is practical: test small, iterate fast, borrow what works from peers, and publish the lessons back to the community so the next campus can move quicker than the last. 

Topics Discussed

1. Wearing all the hats: desktop/classroom/event/theater/help-desk under one roof. 
2. Cross-training + shared vocabulary to break down silos. 
3. From “not my job” to customer-focused operations after a reorg. 
4. “Let it fail forward” vs. fear of failure in higher ed IT. 
5. Managing chaos: standards, SLAs, and incremental rollouts. 
6. Learning from peers to accelerate standardization (and avoid dead ends). 
7. Cloud and SaaS as the AV future (and what it breaks/what it unlocks). 
8. AI beyond “auto-frame”: adaptive, body-language-aware simulations. 
9. Community college advantage: speed, access, and “punching above weight.” 
10. Construction meetings, validation by example, and stakeholder buy-in. 

Connect with Dustin:
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-myers-cts-anp-172375104/
HETMA Community – https://community.hetma.org/

Connect with Ryan
Twitter (X) – @Ryan_A_Gray
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Email – [email protected]

Voiceover – Chris Dechter

This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media, please visit www.higheredav.com to learn more about this show and a host of other great content.

In this Gray Matter Moment, Ryan takes a thoughtful pause from guest conversations to explore a concept that’s been personally transformative for him: radical acceptance. Sparked by a presentation at Yavapai College’s convocation, he reflects on the psychological roots of the idea, its practical applications in leadership and technology, and how it connects to everyday challenges across higher education.

From acknowledging reality without judgment to understanding the circles of control, influence, and concern, Ryan connects these lessons to AV/IT scenarios like AV over IP, organizational change, and team dynamics. He emphasizes that acceptance is not the same as approval or resignation—it’s the foundation for clarity, resilience, and effective action. Along the way, he shares personal experiences from therapy, insights from Stephen Covey, and connections to mindfulness practice. This episode offers both reflection and practical steps for leaders navigating complex transitions.

Topics Discussed

• Why the AV/IT Amplifier occasionally pauses and the value of Gray Matter Moments
• Convocation at Yavapai College and the theme of navigating change
• The concept of radical acceptance from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance vs. approval: acknowledging truth without resignation
• Examples of resistance in higher ed technology (AV over IP, cloud control)
• Stephen Covey’s circles of control, influence, and concern
• Parallels to the Serenity Prayer and recovery wisdom
• Five skills for practicing radical acceptance in daily life
• The role of mindfulness, breathing, and role-play in emotional regulation
• How radical acceptance expands clarity, influence, and resilience

The AV/IT Amplifier is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.

Connect with Ryan
Twitter – @Ryan_A_Gray
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Email – [email protected]

Voiceover by Chris Dechter.

We’d love your feedback! Share thoughts on this episode and others by reaching out through social media or email.

Presented without comment.

In this second week of conversation, Ryan Gray welcomes back Jonathan “Jon” Gunzel from John A. Logan College for another lively and candid chat. They dive into Jon’s biggest fear—spiders—and the surprising fact that he’s been bitten four times by brown recluses. Despite his arachnophobia, Jon shares that owning a pet spider would symbolize conquering his fears. The discussion winds through topics from cage diving with great white sharks, to customer service lessons learned as a bartender and liquor store employee, to the elusive secret behind why restaurant ranch dressing tastes so much better than bottled.

Jon opens up about balancing introversion and extroversion, why he thinks people are inherently good, and where he’d place himself on the Dungeons & Dragons alignment chart. The episode also covers his past life as a vocalist in a metal band, including the creative process behind writing lyrics, the sounds that shaped his music, and where some of his early work still lives online. Along the way, Ryan and Jon have plenty of laughs—whether plotting a “ranch heist,” casting the movie of Jon’s life (must-have beard included), or reflecting on how a simple “how are you?” can change an interaction.

Topics Discussed:

• Conquering fears and why Jon would keep a pet spider
• Four brown recluse bites and no Spider-Man powers
• Why great white sharks are fascinating, not just frightening
• Finding balance between introversion and extroversion in tech roles
• Customer service lessons from bartending and liquor sales
• The secret to restaurant-quality ranch dressing
• Casting bearded actors to play Jon in the movie of his life
• His years as a vocalist in a metal band and the collaborative songwriting process
• Perspectives on human nature and the D&D alignment chart
• The importance of genuinely asking “how are you?” before diving into requests

Connect with Jon
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgunzel89/

Connect with Ryan
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray
Email – [email protected]

Voiceover Credit: Chris Dechter

Have thoughts or feedback? Reach out to Ryan on social or email, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a Wednesday drop.

The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.  Learn more about this show and a host of other awesome content at www.higheredav.com

In this episode of the AV/IT Amplifier podcast, host Ryan Gray talks with Jon Gunzel of John A. Logan College about managing AV, IT, and event support in a small college environment. Jon shares how his team covers everything from laptops and desktops to Q-SYS audio systems and classroom support, and why having one department handle all technology has unique advantages and challenges. They dive into how centralized support can reduce communication barriers but also create bottlenecks when staffing is lean, especially during peak times like the start of a semester.

The conversation also explores John A. Logan College’s hands-on approach to student learning, including a podcast studio and other experiential learning spaces. Jon reflects on how joining HETMA and attending InfoComm have impacted his professional growth, including stepping up to help with tours and events, building relationships, and finding community in higher ed AV. The episode wraps with a look at how connection, curiosity, and a willingness to pitch in can open doors to new opportunities in the industry.

Topics Discussed

• Managing AV, IT, and classroom support in one department
• Pros and cons of a centralized technology support model
• Q-SYS systems and broad technical responsibilities
• Building a podcast studio and its potential on campus
• Hands-on experiential learning for students
• Jon’s journey into HETMA and the higher ed AV community
• First-time InfoComm experiences and lessons learned
• The value of peer connection and mentorship in AV/IT
• Growth opportunities through volunteering and stepping up
• Building personal and professional networks in higher ed AV

Guest Contact & Episode Credits
Guest: Jon Gunzel
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgunzel89/

Host: Ryan Gray
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/ryanagray
Email – [email protected]

This show is a produciton of Higher Ed AV Media - visit us at www.higheredav.com

Voiceover by Chris Dechter

We want to hear your feedback! Reach out and share your thoughts.

This debut episode of This Month in Higher Ed AV kicks off a monthly panel discussion reviewing key content posted to Higher Ed AV Media. Host Ryan Gray is joined by Jon Gunzel of John A. Logan College, Renee Benson of Sony Professional Display Solutions, and Erin Maher-Moran, Chair of HETMA from Johns Hopkins University. Together, they explore major trends and insights shaping the higher ed AV landscape, all grounded in fresh articles and columns.

The discussion dives into HETMA’s Road to 10K membership growth campaign, which aims to expand global engagement through community initiatives and professional development. The panel also breaks down Sony’s partnership with LiquidView and its innovative use of Pro Bravia displays to create virtual windows, opening possibilities for immersive learning and wellness spaces. Finally, the episode examines DSPs in the Classroom and how practical audio design principles can dramatically improve learning experiences. Listeners will hear industry perspectives, implementation ideas, and authentic reflections on how these topics connect to AV’s role in higher education.

https://higheredav.com/breaking-news-hetma-announces-road-to-10k/

https://higheredav.com/sonys-pro-bravia-displays-help-liquidview-turn-blank-walls-into-realistic-windows-to-the-worldsony-at-infocomm-2025-tracking-the-future-of-lecture-capture-sony/

https://higheredav.com/dsps-in-the-classroom-under-the-hood-of-smarter-sound-sound-perspectives/



Guest Contacts:

• Jon Gunzel – [email protected], https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgunzel89/
• Renee Benson – [email protected], https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneebenson/
• Erin Maher-Moran – https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-maher-moran/

Topics Discussed

• Launch of This Month in Higher Ed AV as a monthly series
• Overview of HETMA’s Road to 10K membership campaign and six strategic pillars
• Community-building approaches for higher ed AV professionals
• Sony Pro Bravia displays powering LiquidView virtual windows
• Applications of virtual windows in education and wellness spaces
• Back-to-basics DSP best practices from Teddy Murphy’s Sound Perspectives column
• Audio quality as a foundation for hybrid learning and clear communication
• Panel perspectives from higher ed, manufacturing, and association leadership
• Upcoming Higher Ed AV Media content, including Chair to Chair and new AI-focused columns
• Reflections on how AV professionals can leverage industry content for growth

Join the conversation and connect with the community at community.hetma.org.

HETMA Presents... is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.  Check out all our content at higheredav.com

Recorded live at the HETMA Roadshow in Chicago, this week’s episode continues the conversation with Atkins Fleming, Assistant Director for Learning Spaces at Texas State University and Treasurer of HETMA. Picking up where Episode 115 left off, this candid discussion drifts from music to meaning, from fake Zoom backgrounds to the real impact of integrity in leadership.

Atkins and Ryan go deep into what drives decision-making, the slippery slope of compromised values, and why being a steady, ethical presence in an organization is more powerful than we think. Along the way, they get a little lost in 90s country nostalgia, try to cast the movie of Atkins’s life, and toy with the idea of forming a HETMA house band. This is more than just a follow-up—it’s a masterclass in consistency, character, and how showing up with quiet authenticity shapes a culture.

Topics Discussed
• What Atkins would do if not in higher ed or tech (spoiler: drums are involved)
• His musical roots, band geek origins, and love for 90s country
• The challenge of naming the HETMA band and Joe Way’s Slash story
• Casting Jake Gyllenhaal in the movie of his life
• Whether people are fundamentally good—and how that belief shapes his work
• Ethics in leadership, from timecards to treasury duties
• The contagious nature of moral culture, good or bad
• Travel hacks from Central Texas and the 16-hour rule of driving through Texas
• Why Atkins always uses the same Zoom background (and what it says about him)
• The most common answer to “a question you wish people asked you”

Guest Info

Atkins Fleming
Assistant Director for Learning Spaces, Texas State University
Treasurer, HETMA
[email protected]

Ryan Gray – Host
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Email: [email protected] www.higheredav.com

Voiceover by Chris Dechter
We’d love your feedback! Email us or find us in the HETMA Community.