CE Pro Podcast

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, Joe 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.

This podcast, recorded live during CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, dives into the world of Leon Speakers. Caitlin Stewart, director of sales, shares how the company blends innovative design with cutting-edge audio solutions. Watch this podcast to learn about Leon’s Ann Arbor roots, their collaborations with architects and designers, and everything in between. This episode of Inside Buzz also explores the importance of design thinking, illuminates industry trends and discusses the power of creative partnerships.

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.

From the CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 show floor, CEDIA Global CEO Daryl Friedman reflects on industry momentum, emerging challenges, and where the channel is headed next. The conversation provides a big-picture view of technology trends, professional development, and the role of community in shaping the future of integration.

What was the "Inside Buzz" during CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025? Host Dan Ferrisi gets the story from Shawn Hansson, founder and CEO of Logic Integration, in this podcast recorded live at the show. Hansson shares his journey from a newcomer to an award-winning integrator, offering advice for residential integrators looking to enter the commercial space. The two dive into the convergence of resimercial AV, while also exploring the future impact of AI on systems integration and the growing trend of manufacturers collaborating to simplify user experiences.

At CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, URC’s team didn’t just showcase technology—they found inspiration. In this interview, URC leaders explain how conversations with dealers and time spent walking the show floor directly influenced the development of AI-powered circadian rhythm lighting and a broader automation engine inside URC Total Control. The discussion explores why the Expo remains a critical forum for innovation, how real-world dealer feedback shaped URC’s approach, and why future automation must reduce complexity while improving wellness, efficiency, and quality of life

CE Pro editors Zachary Comeau and Nick Boever recap ISE 2026 in Barcelona, focusing on how design-forward hardware, lighting innovation, and international brands are shaping the future of custom integration. The conversation highlights a more mature industry, with greater emphasis on simplicity, execution, and AI-driven tools that improve both integrator workflows and the end-user experience.

In an interview with CE Pro, Total Home Technologies CEO Keith Harrison says homeowner satisfaction with professionally installed smart homes is far lower than most integrators realize. Citing CEDIA data and manufacturer statistics, he notes that satisfaction averages in the high 40% range after one year and falls below 20% after five years. Harrison attributes this to weak networking foundations, inconsistent industry standards, limited customization and a tendency for integrators to undersell the infrastructure required for reliable systems.

He argues the industry still treats automation like a one-time appliance rather than an ongoing service, leading to abandoned systems and frustrated homeowners. Harrison also warns that integrators are behind on AI, while Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung rapidly push predictive home features. He urges dealers to embrace simplicity, lean into mainstream ecosystems when appropriate and design systems built on proper networking, redundancy and long-term service.

Michael Restrepo discusses how passion and purpose drive his work in the custom integration industry, describing Restrepo Innovations as a concierge-style design and build firm focused on meaningful client experiences. He highlights the human impact of smart home technology, the value of community at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX, and his commitment to an optimistic, people-first approach to the business. 

Recorded live from CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Rushi Kumar, Vice President of Engineering at DMF Lighting, sits down in the VW Buzz podcast van to discuss how engineering, design, and technology are converging to redefine modern lighting. Kumar traces his journey from Lutron to Crestron to DMF, sharing insights into how LED innovation, digital lighting, and tunable technologies are enabling new levels of design precision and user experience. He also discusses how AI and intelligent control systems are shaping the next generation of smart lighting, balancing automation with simplicity for homeowners and integrators alike.