Commercial Integrator’s #AVLivingLegends celebrates the men and women who have shaped the AV industry through their many achievements and pearls of wisdom. These veterans, who have been exemplary mentors, have left a profound mark on the industry. Commercial Integrator wishes to celebrate these revered individuals by tracing their journeys, including their various ups and downs, as well as how they overcame adversity to become who they are today.
The list below is an ongoing, constantly updated compilation of our #AVLivingLegends inductees. Join us as we celebrate our honorees!
Compilation of our first dozen honorees.
List of #AVLivingLegends
AVI Systems’ Joe Stoebner: AV Living Legends #1
The first in the #AVLivingLegends series, Joe Stoebner is founder and chairman of the board of AVI Systems. Having invested 50-plus years in his career — and still going strong! — Stoebner has left an indelible mark on the commercial AV industry.
Sapphire Marketing’s Marla Suttenberg: AV Living Legends #2
Marla Suttenberg is founder of Sapphire Marketing, and is one of the most respected figures in commercial AV manufacturer representation. As a living legend, Suttenberg recounts her career trajectory while reflecting on women’s empowerment and meditating on core values.
Cory Schaeffer: AV Living Legends #3
Cory Schaeffer is an icon in the AV industry. Now retired, she was formerly director, Alliances and Ecosystem, for Q-SYS. Moreover, she was co-founder of Listen Technologies, where she inspired and motivated countless AV professionals in their careers. Schaeffer’s legacy also extends to her immeasurable efforts to empower women in the AV field by co-founding the AVIXA Women’s Council.
Brawn Consulting’s Alan Brawn: AV Living Legends #4
Currently principal of Brawn Consulting, as well as a longtime CI columnist, Alan Brawn boasts a career spanning over three decades. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the InfoComm Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011 and Fred Dixon Lifetime Achievement in AV Education Award in 2015. In his CI column, “AV Brains & Brawn,” Brawn imparts pearls of wisdom for AV professionals.
Intelligent-Data’s Bob Romano: AV Living Legends #5
Bob Romano founded Univisions Video Systems and Axxess Television Productions, and he remains one of the most respected entrepreneurs in commercial AV. He boasts a career spanning 32 years as a top reseller/integrator/strategic innovator.
Matrox Video’s Samuel Recine: AV Living Legends #6
Samuel Recine serves as vice president of sales, Americas and Asia Pacific, AV/IT Group, with Matrox Video. His work with Matrox has occupied multiple decades of his long and storied career. Thus, Recine has had a front-row seat to the company’s involvement across a range of technology applications.
Wesco’s Phil Langley: AV Living Legends #7
Phil Langley serves as senior vice president, global enterprise AV and UCC, Wesco. In this interview, Langley offers thoughtful reflections on his worldwide travels, the friendships he’s forged, the people he’s mentored and the crowning accomplishments of a remarkable career.
Williams AV’s Nancy Blanchard: AV Living Legends #8
Nancy Blanchard, whose role at Williams AV is global consultant liaison, is a particularly strong choice for this series. Here, Blanchard reflects on how much she enjoys being on the road, connecting face to face with members of the industry. She also addresses that she had to “prove herself” as an exceptional salesperson in an industry dominated by men.
Listen Technologies’ Sam Nord: AV Living Legends #9
Sam Nord of Listen Technologies speaks candidly about the decisions that affected his career trajectory. He reflects on his thinking just out of college, how he “accidentally” found his way into the AV industry and the mentors he’s had along the way, including Cory Schaeffer.
Barco’s Dan Gundry: AV Living Legends #10
A well-respected and experienced technology professional, Dan Gundry presently manages U.S. sales for Barco’s control room and large video experience (LVX) group. during his two-decade career, Gundry has charted a path from construction management to commanding the control-room vertical market.
John Steinhauer: AV Living Legends #11
John Steinhauer discusses the excitement of the startup mentality, being the first into the office and the last one out, and the friends he made along the way. Moreover, he shares honest reflections about both his greatest triumph and his biggest regret.
AVH Technology Partners’ Steve Grace: AV Living Legends #12
Steve Grace shares several pearls of wisdom that he has learned along the way. Moreover, he provides unique insight into an ever-evolving technological landscape. Read on to discover Grace’s journey as a living legend in AV!
USIS AudioVisual Systems’ Todd Hutchins: AV Living Legends #13
In this interview, Todd Hutchins shares anecdotes from his 20-plus years of industry experience. Moreover, he expands on his passion for technology and forging strong relationships.
Curtiss Singleton: AV Living Legends #14
Curtiss Singleton, an AV/IT collaboration expert, speaks on the importance of sales leadership, mentorship values and customer interactions in the industry.
Crestron’s Richard Sasson: AV Living Legends #15
Richard Sasson shares what made him pivot to a career in commercial AV, touching on key family considerations. Notably, many of Sasson’s mentors are the most renowned names in the Rockleigh, N.J.-based company‘s history.
- Avitecture’s Bill Apter: AV Living Legends #16
- The Farm’s John Hood: AV Living Legends #17
- HP’s David Danto: AV Living Legends #18
- Control Concepts’ Steve Greenblatt: AV Living Legends #19
- TRI’s Dr. S. Ann Earon: AV Living Legends #20
- Jay Rogina: AV Living Legends #21
- Sam Taylor, formerly of Exertis Almo: AV Living Legends #22
- One Workplace’s Anthony Paoletti: AV Living Legends #23
- AVI-SPL XTG’s Julian Phillips: AV Living Legends #24
- AV-Maven’s Mike White: AV Living Legends #25
- QSC/Q-SYS’s Charmaine Torruella: AV Living Legends #26
- Shure’s Althea Ricketts: AV Living Legends #27
- Jeffrey Wolf: AV Living Legends #28
- Verrex’s Tom Berry: AV Living Legends #29
- Legrand | AV’s Wendy Cox: AV Living Legends #30
- Involve Visual Collaboration’s Jason Ward: AV Living Legends #31
- Synigize Sales’ Patty Wanzer: AV Living Legends #32
- MAXHUB’s Sam Malik: AV Living Legends #33
- Doug and Malissa Dillman: AV Living Legends #34
- Pearl Technology’s Jeremy Caldera: AV Living Legends #35
- Cerami Associates’ Bruce Manning: AV Living Legends #36
- UCLA’s Joe Way: AV Living Legends #37
- Immersive Studios’ Art Vivas: AV Living Legends #38
- Aveo Systems’ Craig Richardson: AV Living Legends #39
- Zoom’s Bill Lawrence: AV Living Legends #40
- Abel Consulting’s Ken Abel: AV Living Legends #41
- Planar’s Lainie Mataras: AV Living Legends #42
- Avocor’s Ashanti Long, AV Living Legends #43
- AVI Systems’ Don Mastro: AV Living Legend #44
- Modern Atomics’ Michael Braithwaite: AV Living Legends #45
- Shen Milsom & Wilke’s Marc Hochlerin: AV Living Legends #46
Would you like to nominate a peer or colleague — or perhaps yourself! — to be featured in this ongoing AV Living Legends list? If so, just email Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald, at dan.ferrisi@emeraldx.com.
