As Commercial Integrator‘s #AVLivingLegends series rolls on, we’re pleased to honor John Henkel, product marketing director at NETGEAR, as our latest inductee.
Henkel’s love of technology started early, and it spanned anything that included knobs or buttons. He learned to run radio consoles in eighth grade; that early spark grew into a lifelong fascination with audio and video. Years later, working in a video editing suite, he liked to say he played for a living, making images flip, tumble and spin or crafting a story that could genuinely move people. For Henkel, the power of AV has always been immense — and he can’t imagine doing anything else.
Across the decades that followed, Henkel successfully reinvented himself three or four times, pushing to learn more, do more and find the next best place to land whenever the work stopped being fun. Some of those changes were his idea; some weren’t. Either way, he’s found that staying open and flexible is the key to coming out ahead. Along the way, he reached a career high point few can claim: winning an Emmy, earned alongside the world-class team at NBC Sports.
This recognition arrives at a meaningful moment for Henkel. As he transitions away from his full-time role at NETGEAR to work through his new venture, High Fidelity Marketing, it’s a natural time to reflect on what has motivated him, what he loves doing and where he wants to go next.
Read on to learn more about John Henkel, our latest AV Living Legends inductee. You can also visit our hub page to explore all of our past #AVLivingLegends honorees.
Interview with John Henkel
Commercial Integrator: What motivated you to join the commercial AV industry?
John Henkel: I’ve always loved working with devices — anything with knobs and buttons. From early on when I learned how to operate radio consoles in eighth grade, to my many years in a video editing suite, anything with audio or video has always energized me. When I was editing, I used to say that I played for a living. It was the coolest job in the world making images flip, tumble and spin or crafting a story that makes people tear up watching. The power of AV is immense, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
CI: What kept you motivated and engaged in the decades that followed?
Henkel: In one word: change. Pushing myself to change roles, do more, learn more, stop when it stopped being fun. I have reinvented myself three or four times, and, every time, I come out ahead of where I was. Sometimes it wasn’t exactly my idea to change, but you have to roll with it and find the next, best place to land. It is harder to do the older you get, for sure, but being open to new possibilities and flexible with some of your ideas for what you want to do are key.
CI: Reflect on your role as both a mentee early in your career and as a mentor later in your career. Who helped shape the trajectory of your professional life? How have you tried to help shape others’ careers?
Henkel: I got several breaks along the way from people who trusted me. When I was 19, I got my first “real” job in TV. I was the youngest person they had ever hired and while I felt the pressure of live TV, I had the self-confidence from a super supportive family that I knew I could do the job. Since that first job, there have been numerous other examples of people taking a risk on me that have propelled me along the way.
I feel that I’ve always been a cheerleader for anyone on my team. Granted, I may not have been hard enough on some people I managed, but I do feel that I supported them and helped them figure out what was needed for them to be successful.
CI: What’s the most memorable story/anecdote of your career in commercial AV?
Henkel: How do I choose just one?! OK, I believe the one that I was energized by the most was from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. I was hired by Bill Lance at NBC and I asked what he does for some fun since he’s there for such a long time. He said they were putting a band together and all they need is a drummer. Perfect! I have played since I was a kid and while I haven’t played in many bands, I would love to be a part of this. Especially since jazz is my true love and these guys are accomplished musicians (one of them went to the highly regarded Berklee College of Music!). So, I shipped my drum kit out to Salt Lake and we played a few times a week in the basement of the apartment building I stayed in during the seven weeks I was there. It was an incredible experience that thrills me to this day when I think about it.
CI: What has been your greatest professional accomplishment?
Henkel: That would be winning an Emmy. The team of people I worked with at NBC Sports were the very best in the world. There is so much work that goes into those few weeks of events — literally years of preparation. I was merely one of hundreds, but it was a true highlight of my life.
The funny part of the story is that it just showed up at my door in San Francisco one day. I had no idea it was coming. No ceremony…no heads up…just a knock on the door from the delivery guy. And they even spelled my name right.
CI: What has been your biggest professional regret?
Henkel: I was training an editor at a post house in Munich who said that I could likely get a job at their post-production house. I was single, with nothing living at home, except maybe in the fridge, so it was quite tempting to go live in Germany, learn the language and culture, travel around Europe and create some new friendships. But in the end, I thought twice about how tough it would be not knowing the language at all. So, I ended up not pursuing it. Part of me still wonders what that adventure would have been like.
CI: What’s the best advice or pearl of wisdom you either received during your career or came to realize on your own?
Henkel: My pearl regarding work comes from a former tech writer manager. He drilled into me the idea of Audience and Purpose. You have to know who your audience is and the purpose of the deliverable. It works for manuals, whitepapers, web pages, products, datasheets…everything. Don’t just create a product or a piece of collateral because you can (I am talking about you, AI!) but who are you talking to and what would you like them to do with this product or information. It sounds easy, but it is easily forgotten.
For a pearl of wisdom outside of work, enjoy what you do! I am the “glass half full” guy, or really it’s three-quarters full. Enjoy yourself. Have I been a total hypocrite regarding this? Absolutely. But I try. And I can’t wait to have fun in my next chapter, too.
Would you like to nominate a peer or colleague — or perhaps even yourself! — to be featured in the ongoing AV Living Legends list? If so, just email Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald.
