What the Pro AV Industry is Thankful for During Thanksgiving 2017

Pro AV folks share what they are most thankful for during Thanksgiving. Some say it was a wild year for the AV industry — but nothing pie can’t fix.

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What the Pro AV Industry is Thankful for During Thanksgiving 2017
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By several measures, the pro AV industry is growing, a fact that is in itself something to be thankful for.

Yes, a major company layed off over 650 employees. Yes, there’s an uneasy atmosphere in the market right now. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of positive news this year in pro AV.

Our Integrator of the Year in 2017 didn’t honor any one particular company, but the fact that it did recognize how large the industry leaders have become speaks volumes.

Think what you will about “mega-integrators,” but the fact that investment sharks have targeted the AV industry must mean it is doing something right.

On a personal note, I’m thankful to have landed this job at Commercial Integrator in May of this year. Getting to know and work with some of you #AVtweeps has been a privilege, even if you didn’t quite agree with my initial impressions following InfoComm.

I’m not the only one to weigh in (corny as it may be) on the topic. Here’s what consultant and longtime pro AV guy Felix Robinson said:

“Thankful for our resilience and steady performance during fluctuations in the economy, and for the expansion of markets beyond the borders.”

Jeff Irwin of Spinitar stresses relationships and their importance to his work in the AV industry:

I’m thankful for the many terrific friendships that have been built over the years of being in the AV business.

AV is tough, but having so many great relationships with manufacturers, distributors, consultants, service providers, fellow integrators and my extended Spinitar Family, have helped make it to be great fun along the way!

It’s great to be thankful on Thanksgiving, but there’s no reason you can’t extend that gratitude all year long. Take Raymond Bailey, president of Lone Star Communications and hobby pilot, for example.

He sure made a lot of people thankful when, in his spare time, he flew about 8,000 pounds of food, water, and medical supplies from Austin to Hurricane Harvey victims in Beaumont, Texas.

Read next: 10 Apps Salespeople Are Incredibly Thankful For

However your year is going, be sure to take a moment when you’re sitting around the table this holiday to reflect on what is most important to you — personally, professionally, or otherwise. It’s reassuring, yes, but also humbling. And what goes better with turkey than humble pie?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Check out what other #AVtweeps folks are thankful for here.

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