We are nothing without our members. With those words, InfoComm CEO David Labuskes ended the 2015 AV Executive Conference at Amelia Island. What he said previous to that underpinned that sentiment.
The AV Executive Conference (AVEC) is InfoComm’s annual business conference. It is somewhat of a C-level gathering of integrators, subcontractors and manufacturers. It is a two day conference filled with business presentations aimed at getting those in attendance to take a hard look at their processes and business plans.
Labuskes wrapped up the event talking about where the AV industry is currently, where we are headed, and what InfoComm is doing specifically.
InfoComm has hit the 10,000 CTS holder mark, with 1,000 CTS-D holders. These are both significant milestones for the trade organization. Their expansion into the international market was also highlighted with successful shows in India, Dubai, China and Amsterdam. As the global economy begins to become more interconnected these outreaches are important for InfoComm.
More: Labuskes: InfoComm Will Increase Member Involvement
Labuskes went on to describe InfoComm’s strategic plan. This is the three-year roadmap the InfoComm board puts forth. The last strategic plan was finalized after his hiring, so this will be the first one he is involved with from the start. The board has been addressing the plan since February 2015 with hopes to finalize it early next year. Their main goal is to look into the future to 2019, when the three-year plan would be at its completion, and ask themselves what true success looks like.
“If it’s 2019 and we are giving each other high-fives, what have we accomplished?” asked Labuskes.
Finally, the InfoComm CEO began talking about the base, those members who come from manufacturing, integration, independent programmers, technology managers and consultants. He highlighted the need to put more emphasis on the InfoComm working groups that serve individual segments, the councils. He plans to refocus on them, asking the board to increase the funding for councils for 2016.
Labuskes also spoke about the workforce development programs that are available. This is a key area in which InfoComm sees itself as both leading and serving the AV industry. Labuskes then ended by talking about scholarships and grant programs.
However, his final words were ones that the group, and the industry, needed to hear. There have been some staffing changes over the last few months; additions, departures and position changes. It was refreshing for the head of an organization so central to what we all do to not only recognize the importance of its membership, but put a point on it in such a way. We are nothing without our members.
Here’s more from Labuskes on the challenges InfoComm and industry will face in 2016:
