David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, recently announced his plan to retire at the end of 2026. His impending retirement will conclude a tenure that began in 2012 and that has been marked by profound transformation for both the association and the pro AV industry. Under Labuskes’ leadership, AVIXA evolved from a product-focused organization into one that champions integrated experiences, connecting people and transforming how the world communicates.
‘AVIXA’ is Born Under David Labuskes
As AVIXA’s leader, Labuskes was instrumental in broadening the industry’s scope to include experiential designers, content creators and IT companies. This shift culminated in the 2017 rebranding of what was then InfoComm International to AVIXA, which stands for the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association. This move — a bold and risky one — helped redefine the industry’s identity.
Looking back, Labuskes acknowledges the risk involved, but he emphasizes the necessity of the change to reflect the industry’s evolution from delivering information to creating human connection.
“The industry truly was moving from delivering value by facilitating information communications [and] evolving [into a] so much more rich opportunity of being an industry that delivered experiences and connected human beings to each other,” Labuskes explains. “We do have a responsibility as the association for the industry to both support the industry as well as to challenge and in some ways attempt to lead.”
David Labuskes’ Legacy: Growth and Inclusion
Labuskes’ commitment to global expansion and diversity remains a cornerstone of Labuskes’ tenure. Today, more than 50% of AVIXA’s revenue is generated outside North America, and its certifications have a substantial international presence. The number of CTS holders surpassed 15,000 globally in 2025, and the association launched the Audiovisual Network Professional (ANP) certification in 2024 to address the increased blurring of the AV and IT worlds.
Labuskes also helped to champion and foster the growth of the AVIXA Women’s Council and the AVIXA Diversity Council, helping to bring about a more inclusive environment both at the InfoComm show and in industry circles generally.
Labuskes credits the broader industry community and volunteer council leaders for these achievements, but his philosophy has always been clear. “You can’t have innovative solutions without diversity in the room focused on the problem,” he says. “And [diversity] of all types,” he adds, “not just demographic diversity, but experiential diversity.”
Navigating Unprecedented Challenges
What’s more, Labuskes had to guide AVIXA through the existential threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that saw more than 90% of the association’s revenue from live events disappear. He recalls the intense pressure he felt as he tried to balance three critical priorities: serving a disrupted industry, ensuring AVIXA’s survival as a business and protecting the well-being of his team.
“It was an existential challenge for AVIXA,” Labuskes reflects candidly.
The crisis, however, forged an organization that is stronger and more resilient. “Part of how I can choose to let 2026 be my final year is the strength of the team that came out on the other side of that storm,” Labuskes declares. “We’re so much stronger and better than we were in 2019. And it gives me comfort to feel like, OK, I can walk away with good conscience.”
As the AVIXA Board of Directors shepherds the search for his successor, Labuskes is confident in the association’s future. His advice for the next leader is simple: They should be authentic. “Really smart, capable people chose them,” he says of the eventual leader. “And when things get hard and tough, lean on the fact that they were picked for a reason. And the reason was because of who they are, and what they bring into the room.” He adds, “Be that person.”
David Labuskes Vision: ‘A Strong and Positive Outlook’ for AVIXA and for AV
Tobias Lang, chair of the AVIXA Board of Directors and CEO of LANG AG, expressed his gratitude for Labuskes’ leadership of AVIXA. “His vision and leadership have been instrumental in establishing the audiovisual industry as a globally relevant profession with a strong and positive outlook for the future,” he says.
Labuskes’ successful tenure as AVIXA’s CEO will leave an indelible mark on the AV industry. He has helped to shape our industry into a more dynamic, more inclusive, more experience-driven community. His legacy is one of bold vision, steady leadership through global crisis and deep commitment to the people who make the industry what it is.
To hear David Labuskes reflect on his journey in his own words, including the 2017 AVIXA rebranding, how he navigated the pandemic and how he would advise his successor, watch the full video interview. We’ve embedded it below.
