The AV industry loves to talk about talent shortage. You’ll hear it at conferences, during workforce panels and even in conversations between manufacturers, integrators, consultants and end users. And quite often, the refrain includes: “We can’t find qualified people” or “The next generation isn’t entering the industry” or “We need more talent.”
Maybe that’s true, but after spending time exploring AV Learning Lab and speaking with creator, Cathy Richards, I found myself asking a different question: Have we made learning accessible enough for people who want to join us and for those who might not even have an idea that we exist?
For years, AV knowledge has often been tied to access. This includes access to equipment, training budgets, mentors, certifications and even employers willing to invest in professional development.
But what happens when someone doesn’t have those advantages? I’ve personally experienced what it’s like to not have access to these outlets throughout my career.
This dilemma is what led Richards to build AV Learning Lab.
There Has to Be Another Way
Richards’ idea didn’t start with a business plan; rather, it started with frustration. While working remotely, she found herself trying to answer a challenge that many AV professionals have faced at one point or another: How do you stay current when you’re working with legacy equipment or unable to access the latest technology?
Looking for further advice, Richards posted the question in an industry forum. “The best answer I got was that you should download Unreal Engine,” says Richards. Then she arrived to the realization that would eventually spark AV Learning Lab: There has to be another way.
This statement resonated with me because it speaks to a reality many professionals experience but rarely discuss: Learning in AV often depends on circumstances beyond your control to an extent.
For instance, Richards wanted to pursue her CTS certification; however, it wasn’t required by her employer, and it would have been an investment she needed to make herself.
More importantly, the traditional learning methods didn’t align with how she learned best. “I have a big problem just reading a PDF of a book, being able to memorize and spit it back out in quiz form,” she says. “The best way for me to learn is hands-on.”
So, she started building the learning experience she wished existed. What began as flashcards evolved into simulations which then progressed into learning paths, eventually leading to a full-fledged platform.
And, somewhere along the way, Richards realized she wasn’t solving a problem just for herself. “I realized that this is a need that the industry has had since I joined 14 years ago,” she emphasizes.
Accessibility Isn’t an Add-On
One of the most compelling aspects of AV Learning Lab is that accessibility is treated as a foundational aspect instead of just a feature.
“I am extremely ADHD and a visual learner,” Richards explains. “It was very important for me to create different ways for someone to ingest the information and experience the learning.”
This philosophy is evident throughout the platform. For example, written content is paired with video instruction. Flashcards are complemented by interactive simulations. Learners can generate knowledge articles, create notes and engage with AI-powered learning experiences that encourage active participation rather than passive consumption.
If we’re serious about developing the next generation of AV professionals, we need learning environments that meet people where they are rather than expecting them to adapt to the existing norms.
More Pathways, Fewer Barriers
Another theme from our conversation was access to opportunity. Richards takes care to clarify that AV Learning Lab isn’t intended to replace existing resources. “I am not here to replace AVIXA,” she says. “I am here to support the knowledge that we all need to do our jobs correctly.”
This creates an important distinction — it is not about replacing established pathways; rather, it is about creating additional ones.
Richards believes platforms like AV Learning Lab can help new technicians enter the field more confidently. “It will allow freelancers that are specialized in one field to be able to gain new experience and the confidence to be able to branch out,” she says. “It will allow IT technicians to be able to make the crossover more quickly into AV.”
To me, that’s the bigger story.
For years, our industry has debated workforce development and talent acquisition. Yet too often, those conversations focus on the shortage itself rather than the barriers that create it.
Talent, curiosity and the desire to learn will always exist. What often doesn’t exist is an accessible pathway.
Building the Industry We Want
Richards admits she was initially nervous about sharing the platform. However, she decided to stop waiting in order to help the community. “I [had] to step into my power and release it into the world, because I believe that what I’ve built can be helpful to many in the industry,” she remarks.
In other words, innovation doesn’t always come from large corporations or massive budgets. Sometimes, it comes from someone who sees a problem, imagines a better solution and decides to build it.
Richards offers one final piece of advice that has stuck with me: Create tools that help you, and, in turn, help your community.
Indeed, the AV industry doesn’t need more conversations about how difficult it is to find talent. It needs more people willing to create pathways for talent to find the people.
We can no longer do anything the way it has always been done for the sake of “this is always how it’s been done.” It is time for us to evolve. And we can do this together in some miraculous ways if we, as an industry, aren’t afraid to get out of our own way.
Alesia Hendley is a multimedia journalist and content creator.
