Rise AV, the global not-for-profit organization focused on attracting, supporting and retaining women in the AV industry, has launched its North America Regional Council. The move marks the group’s expansion into North America ahead of its first regional mentoring program, which begins in May 2027.
Key Things to Know
- What’s new: Rise AV has formed an eight-member North America Regional Council chaired by Gina Sansivero of AtlasIED.
- The program: A free six-month mentoring program for women in AV that combines one-on-one mentoring, skills training and a peer community.
- Key dates: Applications open Dec. 1, 2026, and close Jan. 31, 2027. Pairings will be announced in March 2027, and the program starts in May 2027.
- Who’s funding it: Global partners QSC and Neat are backing the expansion and keeping the program free for participants.
- New staff: Vanessa Tolisano, CTI, joins as North America program coordinator.
- Industry involvement: Rise AV is seeking North American organizations to serve as mentors, partners and sponsors.
What Did Rise AV Announce?
Rise AV announced the launch of its North America Regional Council, a group of AV industry professionals who will help the organization build a regional community and shape its programs for the North American market. The council comes ahead of Rise AV’s first North America Mentoring Program.
The organization has already run mentoring programs in the U.K. and the Asia-Pacific region. Rise AV is part of Rise Diversity, which also operates Rise Broadcast, a mentoring effort for women in the broadcast industry.
Who Serves on the North America Regional Council?
Courtesy / RISE AV
The inaugural council includes eight professionals from integrators, manufacturers and technology companies across North America:
- Gina Sansivero, vice president of marketing and communications, AtlasIED (council chair)
- Scott Josephson, senior support consultant, Google
- Siobhan Stewart, account manager, National Audio Visual
- Steve Samson, president, Americas, Turtle AV
- Jeremy Elsesser, president and CEO, Level 3 Audiovisual
- Lainie Mataras, general manager, Planar
- Meg Sciarini, worldwide events and experience, Apple
- Noreen Esson, client success manager, Diversified Canada
What Will the Council Do?
The council will provide local insight and industry expertise while working alongside Rise AV’s global leadership team. Members will support the development of the mentoring program and help connect Rise AV with businesses, organizations and potential partners across the region.
Council members will also look for opportunities for events and professional development. Rise AV says the goal is a community that continues beyond the six-month program.
Sadie Groom, founder and CEO of Rise Diversity and Bubble Agency, ties the expansion to the organization’s earlier work in broadcast.
“Rise AV follows in the footsteps of Rise Broadcast, which has successfully been delivering mentoring programs across the globe supported by some of the industry’s leading advocates,” Groom says. “Bringing Rise AV to North America is an important step in our global growth and, more importantly, gives us the opportunity to build on that experience and reach more women working across the AV industry. We are excited to work with our new Regional Council and the wider industry to create programs and events that are locally relevant, genuinely useful and help more women build careers they want to stay in.”
Why Does the Council Chair Say Mentoring Matters?
Sansivero says mentoring addresses a retention problem she has watched play out across her career. She points to research from the Anita Borg Institute that found women in technology with mentors are 77% more likely to still be in the industry three years later.
“I’ve spent my career watching talented women leave this industry because they didn’t have the right person in their corner at the right moment,” Sansivero says. “Rise AV gives us a real structure to fix that: mentorship, skills and a community that supports each other well after the program ends. I’m proud to help bring that to North America with a group of stellar council members.”
She adds that the research shaped her support for the program. “That’s the kind of proof I wanted behind this program, and why I think it’s important to bring it to NA now,” Sansivero says. “A structured mentorship model works because it gives women a vetted, experienced person in their corner, practical skills for career advancement and a committed community.”
How Does the Six-Month Mentoring Program Work?
The six-month program combines three connected elements: mentoring, skills training and a peer community. Rise AV says confidence sits at the center of the program.
- Mentoring: Participants are matched with an experienced industry professional who offers guidance and support around individual career goals and challenges.
- Skills: Expert-led sessions cover communication, public speaking, personal branding, leadership, resilience, networking and career planning.
- Peer community: Participants connect with others in their cohort to share experiences, ask questions and learn from one another.
The program is open to women at different career stages. Participants may want to raise their profile, navigate a career change, step into leadership, build new skills or expand their network.
Rachael Hamilton, managing director of Rise AV, says the organization has seen results in its existing regions.
“Launching our North America Regional Council is a really important step for Rise AV,” Hamilton says. “We’ve already seen the difference mentoring can make through the women we’ve supported in the UK and APAC, helping them build confidence, develop new skills, navigate career changes, step into leadership and, importantly, feel more supported in their careers.”
She frames the effort around retention as well as advancement. “We don’t just want to help women progress; we want to help them build careers they enjoy, feel valued in and want to stay in,” Hamilton says. “If we can give women the confidence, connections and support to navigate the challenges they face, we have a much better chance of retaining great talent in AV.”
Who Is Coordinating the Program in North America?
Vanessa Tolisano, CTI, is coordinating the program as Rise AV’s North America program coordinator. She’ll handle delivery and day-to-day coordination across the region.
Tolisano reports to Carla Maroussas, Rise AV’s global mentoring manager, who leads the design and development of all Rise AV mentoring programs. The organization says the structure pairs local knowledge with its global program model, keeping programs consistent while letting the North American cohort reflect regional needs.
What Role Do QSC and Neat Play?
QSC and Neat are Rise AV’s global partners, and their funding makes the North American expansion possible while keeping the mentoring program free for participants. Neat is a new partner, joining as Rise AV enters the region.
Wayne Mason, vice president of EMEA at Neat, has worked with the organization directly as a mentor and as a “Jedi” in its Elevate management development program.
“Having been personally involved with Rise AV as a mentor on its Mentoring Programme and a Jedi on its Elevate management development programme, I’ve seen first-hand the impact its work can have,” Mason says. “Supporting the development of women and creating opportunities for diverse talent to progress is incredibly important to us at Neat. We’re proud to now become a Rise AV partner and help support the launch into North America, bringing these opportunities to more women and helping to build a stronger, more inclusive AV industry.”
Hamilton says sponsor support is essential to the model. “Global sponsors are critical to making this possible,” Hamilton says. “QSC and Neat have both recognized that the future of AV depends on attracting and retaining great people, and their support means we can take Rise AV into new markets while keeping the mentoring program free for the women taking part. We’re incredibly grateful for their backing and excited about what we can build with the North American industry.”
When Do Applications Open for the North America Mentoring Program?
Applications open Dec. 1, 2026, at www.rise-av.com/mentoring. The timeline runs as follows:
- Dec. 1, 2026: Applications open
- Jan. 31, 2027: Applications close
- March 2027: Mentor and mentee pairings announced
- May 2027: Six-month program begins
How Can You Get Involved?
Integrators and other AV organizations can participate as mentors, partners or sponsors as the regional community develops. Rise AV is actively inviting companies across North America to take part.
For integration firms, the program offers a structured way to support employee development without building an internal mentoring program from scratch. Staff can apply as mentees, and experienced team members can volunteer as mentors.
Several council members come from integration firms, including Level 3 Audiovisual, National Audio Visual and Diversified Canada. Their involvement gives the integrator community a direct voice in how the program takes shape in the region.
