Each year, Commercial Integrator undertakes a wide-ranging search of all corners of the commercial AV industry to find the women and men who, despite being younger than 40, have proven themselves genuine superstars and industry-changers. In some cases, these young professionals have already ascended to the C-suite; in other cases, they’re relative newcomers whom top executives have put forward as 40 Under 40 candidates. This latter group, while not yet leaders themselves, are clearly on a leadership trajectory, having earned the confidence of their mentors and supervisors.
In the pages that follow, we’ll introduce you to all of them: 24 men and 16 women, representing not only integrators, manufacturers and distributors but also programming companies, industry associations and more. This year’s group of 40 emerged from 300-plus nominations, marking our most successful iteration yet!
The diversity of the Commercial Integrator 40 Influencers Under 40, across all metrics, reaffirms the changing face of commercial AV and emphasizes that everyone — from every background and with various skill sets — can find a rewarding, fulfilling, lucrative career in the commercial AV industry.
If you missed your opportunity to nominate a peer, colleague, competitor, client or friend, fear not! Commercial Integrator is already devising plans for the 2026 edition of the 40 Influencers Under 40. Keep your eyes on CommercialIntegrator.com and subscribe to our free newsletter to be among the first to learn more.
Aligning with the Commercial Integrator 40 Influencers Under 40 motif, we imposed a cutoff of August 15, 2025, as the date on which honorees had to be 39 years old or younger. Published ages are as of that date.
Commercial Integrator’s 40 Influencers Under 40, Class of 2025
Without further ado, here’s Commercial Integrator’s 40 Influencers under 40, Class of 2025 (click to read about each honoree):
- Aaron Rozanski, 39, Director of Distribution, Vanco International
- Alyssa Giacomucci, 35, Senior Project Manager, Electrosonic, LLC
- Amanda Mecutchen, 33, Director of Customer Marketing, Almo
- Brad Wilbanks, 35, Design Consultant, CTI
- Brandon Delgado, 25, Project Engineer, USIS
- Brandon Heinz, 36, Product Manager, Renkus-Heinz
- Brian Drake, 32, Pro AV Specialist, Airtame
- Brian Duffy, 36, Senior Strategic Account Manager, Panasonic Projector and Display Americas
- Brittney Antonelli, 30, Branch Sales Engineer, FORTÉ
- Calaigh Copland, CTS, 38, Regional Manager, Western Canada, Diversified
- Catherine Koutsaris, 30, Product Marketing Manager, Matrox Video
- Chance Turner, 38, Director of Recruiting, FORTÉ
- Chase Bernhardt, 38, Director of Business Management, Midwich US
- Dae Rogers, 28, Account Manager, AVI-SPL
- Eric Sikora, 38, Senior Lead Solution Engineer, LG Electronics
- Erin Phillips, 39 , Vice President, Theory Professional
- Evan Greenwood, 35, Project Manager, McCann Systems
- Gabrielle Miller, 27, Customer Experience Manager, SVT
- Holly Clausen, 31, Senior Solutions Engineer, Product & Solutions Group, AVI-SPL
- Jackie Freiberger, 32, Sales Development Manager (West), Sound Control Technologies
- Jackie Hoffmann, 31, Senior Account Executive, Poppulo
- Michael Horton, 32, Branch Director, CTI
- Jeffrey Boggess, 37, Creative Marketing Director, Kinetic Culture, Senior Product Marketing, Checkr
- Joe Price, 33, Team Lead System Architect, Solutions360 Inc.
- Jonathan Moore, 33, Senior Solutions Architect | Higher Education, QSC LLC
- Josh Taylor, 38 , Sales Director – Southeast, Almo Pro AV
- Kana Fukushima, 38, Senior Manager, Marketing, Sony Electronics
- Leon Prather II, 37, Manager, Digital Product Growth and Operations, AVIXA
- Lex Evans, 29, Digital Signage Manager, USC
- Maura Fitzgerald, 32, Account Manager, Planar
- Megan Zeller, 39, Senior Director, Business Development, Peerless-AV
- Mike Bruesch, 38, Junior Software Developer, Control Concepts, Inc.
- Nick Jevons, 36, Vice President, Business Development, ROE Visual
- Nikolas (Nik) Johnson, 38, Senior Design Engineer, AVI-SPL’s XTG (Experience Technology Group)
- Pawel Bybel, 37, Co-CEO, Turtle AV
- Peter Kaer, 38, Manager of Distribution, PTG
- Serena Cuna, 35, Manager, Training Operations, Crestron Electronics, Inc.
- Taye Nelson, 38, Director, Production Services, UCLA
- Frederick “Thor” Thornton-Turner, 32, A/V Solutions Architect, Power Design, Inc.
- Tim Bailey, 39, COO, Bluefin International Inc.
Commercial Integrator’s 40 Influencers under 40, Class of 2025, is proudly sponsored by ADI | Snap One.
Courtesy / Aaron Rozanski
Aaron Rozanski, 39
Director of Distribution, Vanco International
Aaron Rozanski joined Vanco International in 2014 as sales manager of distribution markets. His competitive nature and hard work led to year-over-year sales growth in this position. By securing key national and regional AV partners, Rozanski became known for his responsiveness and ability to provide tailored solutions. In 2017, he was promoted to director of distribution markets, overseeing sales teams, rep firms and new product distribution.
Courtesy / Alyssa Giacomucci
Alyssa Giacomucci, 35
Senior Project Manager, Electrosonic, LLC
Alyssa Giacomucci is an accomplished AV professional with more than 11 years of experience managing complex projects across corporate, immersive and experiential sectors. As a senior project manager at Electrosonic, she leads high-profile projects from concept to completion. Her recent work includes the National World War I Museum & Memorial and F1 X in Las Vegas, delivering immersive storytelling through cutting-edge audiovisual technology.
Courtesy / Amanda Mecutchen
Amanda Mecutchen, 33
Director of Customer Marketing, Almo
In a newly established role focused on customer generation and retention, Amanda Mecutchen has led efforts to better align marketing with sales to drive meaningful business growth. By uniting a talented, female-led team, we’ve refocused priorities around showcasing who Almo is, deepening its value to pro AV integrators and generating new opportunities. Together, the team is building stronger cross-functional bridges and making a measurable impact on the company’s success.
Courtesy / Brad Wilbanks
Brad Wilbanks, 35
Design Consultant, CTI
As a design consultant in the commercial AV industry, Brad Wilbanks creates tailored AV solutions for corporate, educational, sports and public-sector environments. He has led the design of Microsoft Teams Rooms, executive boardrooms and campus-wide systems. His consultative approach has earned the trust of industry peers and clients alike. Key accomplishments include standardizing solutions for Fortune 500 companies and fostering long-term partnerships through strategic, future-ready technology design.
Courtesy / Brandon Delgado
Brandon Delgado, 25
Project Engineer, USIS
Brandon Delgado became a member of USIS AV’s project engineering team in 2024. Known for his strong commitment and hands-on approach, he readily steps into the most challenging construction environments. In just nine months since entering the AV industry, he has demonstrated leadership, offered valuable guidance and supported every stage of the integration process, quickly earning recognition as a rising star in AV engineering.
Courtesy / Brandon Heinz
Brandon Heinz, 36
Product Manager, Renkus-Heinz
Brandon Heinz is currently handling product management at Renkus-Heinz, a professional loudspeaker manufacturer. He is proud of the work that he did to spearhead the development of recent releases — namely the UBX Series of passively beam steered loudspeakers; the OmniBeam algorithms that revolutionized beam steered loudspeaker workflows; and the recent RHAON 3 software that delivers a radical new way to control and monitor R-H loudspeakers.
Courtesy / Brian Drake
Brian Drake, 32
Pro AV Specialist, Airtame
As a pro AV specialist, Brian Drake leads the U.S. technical team, leveraging his passion to deliver impactful experiences to customers and partners. Specializing in wireless collaboration ecosystems, he drives adoption by orchestrating customer demos, producing product videos and managing technical escalations. His efforts have helped win, deploy and expand Airtame’s largest wireless conferencing accounts, while growing the alliance partner ecosystem by more than 100%.
Courtesy / Brian Duffy
Brian Duffy, 36
Senior Strategic Account Manager, Panasonic Projector and Display Americas
Brian Duffy is senior strategic account manager at Panasonic Projector and Display Americas, specializing in location-based entertainment. He partners closely with AV designers, production companies, immersive venues, museums and theme parks to support the design, commissioning and long-term success of high-profile immersive experiences using advanced AV technologies. He also leads Panasonic’s strategic alliance with Disney and volunteers as a member of the Themed Entertainment Association.
Courtesy / Brittney Antonelli
Brittney Antonelli, 30
Branch Sales Engineer, FORTÉ
Brittney Antonelli is a sales engineer with a strong track record in driving technical solutions and client engagement. She is the co-chair of the AXIVA Women’s Council, promoting diversity and leadership, and a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS), demonstrating expertise in AV systems and integration.
Courtesy / Calaigh Copland
Calaigh Copland, CTS, 38
Regional Manager, Western Canada, Diversified
As regional manager for western Canada at Diversified, Calaigh Copland drives strategic growth and regional expansion with over a decade of AV experience. She brings a strong technical foundation and a proven ability to foster lasting client partnerships. A former international soccer player for Guyana, she also leads Diversified’s Women’s Empowerment (WE) group, championing diversity in tech and creating space for underrepresented talent to thrive.
Courtesy / Catherine Koutsaris
Catherine Koutsaris, 30
Product Marketing Manager, Matrox Video
Catherine Koutsaris is product marketing manager at Matrox Video, where she drives the positioning and promotion of cutting-edge AV and broadcast AV-over-IP solutions. With an engineering background and expertise in IP-based workflows, she helps organizations modernize their AV systems without compromising on flexibility, security or interoperability. She brings a practical, real-world perspective grounded in industry insight and informed by close collaboration with end users and integrators.
Courtesy / Chance Turner
Chance Turner, 38
Director of Recruiting, FORTÉ
As a recruiting leader, Chance Turner is dedicated to planning, developing and directing processes to ensure his team has the most talented workforce in the industry. His strategic vision and leadership have consistently driven success in recruiting. He has been named to SCN’s The Nine, been awarded President’s Club at Whitlock and been featured in several magazines and podcasts.
Courtesy / Chase Bernhardt
Chase Bernhardt, 38
Director of Business Management, Midwich US
Chase Bernhardt, director of business management at Midwich US, leads a dynamic team of brand managers specializing in UC/AV solutions. With more than 11 years in professional AV distribution, he has developed a department that optimizes inventory management and boosts gross profit performance. Collaborating closely with integrator and vendor partners, Bernhardt and his team align strategies, build strong relationships and drive sustainable, mutual growth.
Courtesy / Dae Rogers
Dae Rogers, 28
Account Manager, AVI-SPL
As an account manager at AVI-SPL, Dae Rogers helps organizations reimagine how people and technology connect. In under two years, she has made strategic progress in corporate real estate, higher education and healthcare by designing and deploying innovative AV solutions. She is passionate about learning, collaborating and delivering impactful experiences that create long-term value for her clients and partners.
Courtesy / Eric Sikora
Eric Sikora, 38
Senior Lead Solution Engineer, LG Electronics
As senior lead solution engineer at LG, Eric Sikora positioned himself as an irreplaceable foundation to the B2B sales team. He’s spearheaded large projects for custom DVLED, OLED and LCD installations, and he has cultivated a relationship of trust with everyone he works with internally and externally. He leads with the LG Way, which puts the customer first and emphasizes that the company’s people are its greatest assets.
Courtesy / Erin Phillips
Erin Phillips, 39
Vice President, Theory Professional
Erin Phillips has audio in her DNA. She was exposed to loudspeaker manufacturing at a young age and built her first tweeter at the age of six. She was solely responsible for the launch of Theory Audio Design into the residential market in 2018, followed by the successful launch of Theory Professional into the commercial market in 2023. She’s currently vice president for the company.
Courtesy / Evan Greenwood
Evan Greenwood, 35
Project Manager, McCann Systems
Evan Greenwood prioritizes exceptional client experiences from concept to completion, serving McCann Systems’ clients and the design/build teams. Focused on team cohesion, clear communication and goal alignment, he helps deliver standout environments. Certified by leading AV manufacturers and current with industry trends, he has recently delivered interactive lobbies, experience centers, studios, a global headquarters boardroom and a non-profit’s flagship location.
Courtesy / Gabrielle Miller
Gabrielle Miller, 27
Customer Experience Manager, SVT
Gabrielle Miller is the customer experience manager at SVT, driving strategic improvements in customer and employee experience. Over two years, she has helped expand the team, elevate service standards and foster a culture rooted in teamwork, compassion, dedication and accountability. She leads with authenticity and a passion for empowering others, contributing to meaningful growth and innovation in the AV industry.
Courtesy / Holly Clausen
Holly Clausen, 31
Senior Solutions Engineer, Product & Solutions Group, AVI-SPL
As part of AVI-SPL’s Product & Solutions Group (PSG), Holly Clausen leads reference catalog projects, owning design, equipment and best practices. Her work includes close collaboration with AVI-SPL’s Preferred Partner technical leadership, as well as global subject matter experts across key technology areas. Also a key contributor on the biweekly Innovation Accelerator show, she presents PSG-developed products and strategies for AVI-SPL’s global sales and engineering teams.
Courtesy / Jackie Freiberger
Jackie Freiberger, 32
Sales Development Manager (West), Sound Control Technologies
Jackie Freiberger has built a career in relationship-driven sales and strategic business development. She attended her first InfoComm at just 19 years old, cementing her passion for the industry. She brings extensive experience in sales, manufacturing and distribution across both U.S. and international markets. In her current role, she focuses on driving sales growth, strengthening partnerships and expanding SCT’s presence in the western region.
Courtesy / Jackie Hoffmann
Jackie Hoffmann, 31
Senior Account Executive, Poppulo
Jackie Hoffmann is an award-winning senior account executive at Poppulo, specializing in digital signage and employee communications. A 2024 President’s Club honoree and Emerging Talent DIZZIE Award winner (2024), she partners with global enterprises to deliver innovative, scalable solutions. She is recognized for driving strategic growth and elevating the role of technology in transforming internal communication experiences across industries.
Courtesy ./ Michael Horton
Michael Horton, 32
Branch Director, CTI
As branch director (general manager) of CTI’s Houston office, Michael Horton leads a high-performing team of engineers, project managers, sales professionals, integration technicians and fellow directors. From partnering with oil and gas giants to supporting law firms, medical facilities, federal agencies, sports venues and houses of worship, he takes pride in adapting, delivering and exceeding expectations. It’s something that he coaches everyone on his team to achieve.
Courtesy / Jeffrey Boggess
Jeffrey Boggess, 37
Creative Marketing Director, Kinetic Culture
Senior Product Marketing, Checkr
Jeffrey Boggess is a creative product marketer driving impact through storytelling and brand innovation. He led the Connected Classroom at ISE, showcasing how AV transforms education. At Avocor, he expanded the portfolio into non-touch displays, contributing to its acquisition by AUO. Previously, he drove hardware partnerships at RingCentral and contributed to 200% YoY growth at Logitech through the industry-leading Logitech and Zoom marketing partnership.
Courtesy / Joe Price
Joe Price, 33
Team Lead System Architect, Solutions360 Inc.
Reaching his 10-year mark with Solutions360 this summer, Joe Price has advanced from junior developer to team lead system architect. His programming and analytical expertise have placed him in a key role as one of the primary architects of the Q360 ERP redesign. He is a full-stack developer with a focused responsibility in backend and API design.
Courtesy / Jonathan Moore
Jonathan Moore, 33
Senior Solutions Architect | Higher Education, QSC LLC
Jonathan Moore serves as a senior solutions architect, a role in which he helps design and implement AV/IT solutions that support smarter, more connected environments with a focus on the higher-education space. He holds certifications including CCNA, Network+, Security+, CTS-D and ITIL Foundations, and he works closely with teams to find smart, effective solutions, balancing technical know-how with genuine enthusiasm for solving problems.
Courtesy / Josh Taylor
Josh Taylor, 38
Sales Director – Southeast, Almo Pro AV
Josh Taylor is the southeast sales director at Almo Pro AV, leading a top-performing team of five. Over 13 years, he has advanced from inside sales to director, consistently exceeding targets. His team generated $75M last fiscal year. He helped implement a CPQ tool to streamline quoting and reduce errors. Taylor is known for driving growth, developing talent and boosting efficiency across sales operations.
Courtesy / Kana Fukushima
Kana Fukushima, 38
Senior Manager, Marketing, Sony Electronics
Kana Fukushima leverages her B2B marketing expertise from consulting and software sectors to lead a dynamic marketing team at Sony Electronics’ professional display solutions division. By collaborating with internal teams, partners, industry associations and customers, she effectively promotes Sony’s message, ensuring its offerings remain top-of-mind and driving adoption in vertical markets. She’s also passionate about fostering a collaborative team that encourages continuous learning and growth.
Courtesy / Leon Prather II
Leon Prather II, 37
Manager, Digital Product Growth and Operations, AVIXA
A 22-year AVTweep, Leon Prather II’s passion is to enable impactful experiences via technology: working to nurture connection for thousands on AVIXA Xchange, helping launch AVIXA TV and improving the digital experience across AVIXA’s award-winning global online presence. Devoted to human-centered design and leadership, he speaks to contribute to the future of our industry, championing empathetic leadership via the brAVe [skills] podcast with Britt Yenser.
Courtesy / Lex Evans
Lex Evans, 29
Digital Signage Manager, USC
Lex Evans manages USC’s Learning Environments digital signage program, leading strategy, training and exemplary support. She’s expanded adoption, advanced accessibility and shaped platform governance. Outside of work, she serves on the DSF board, is vice president of WAVIT and leads creative efforts for HETMA, advocating for equity, education and innovation at the intersection of AV, IT and user experience.
Courtesy / Maura Fitzgerald
Maura Fitzgerald, 32
Account Manager, Planar
Maura Fitzgerald’s consultative approach to account management has led to recognition from global AV integrators, manufacturer partners and colleagues. A New Jersey native and graduate of St. John’s University, she has been involved in commercial installation projects in NYC for more than 10 years. She’s a local group leader of AVIXA Women’s Council and has presented on the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Courtesy / Megan Zeller
Megan Zeller, 39
Senior Director, Business Development, Peerless-AV
Megan Zeller, senior director, business development, at Peerless-AV, leads custom DVLED sales across hospitality, entertainment and key verticals. With deep expertise in digital signage and serving on the board of the Digital Signage Federation, she drives impactful, large-scale AV solutions. Her industry presence, client-first approach and passion for innovation make her a standout leader and rising influencer in the AV space.
Courtesy / Mike Bruesch
Mike Bruesch, 38
Junior Software Developer, Control Concepts, Inc.
Mike Bruesch is a software developer with more than 12 years’ experience in commercial AV integration using Extron, Q-SYS and Crestron control platforms. He develops Q-SYS plugins using Lua and has plugins available in the Q-SYS Asset Manager. He also manages all support cases emails for Control Concepts. This includes support for Q-SYS, Crestron and Crestron Home, Control4, RTI and proprietary Control Concepts-written software products.
Courtesy / Nick Jevons
Nick Jevons, 36
Vice President, Business Development, ROE Visual
Nick Jevons, vice president of business development at ROE Visual, leads growth across all verticals, pairing clients with LED solutions through every stage of the project. Since joining the team in 2016, he has helped ROE to grow into the global market leader in display technology. From Pixomondo/Sony’s Virtual Production Volumes to Metallica’s touring system, he connects creative teams with the right technology that redefines storytelling.
Courtesy / Nick Johnson
Nikolas (Nik) Johnson, 38
Senior Design Engineer, AVI-SPL’s XTG (Experience Technology Group)
As senior design engineer at AVISPL’s XTG, Nik Johnson leads design/implementation of large-scale AV systems that power immersive, next-gen environments worldwide. Holding 50-plus industry certifications, including AVIXA’s prestigious dual CTSI and CTSD, he blends deep technical fluency with creative execution to deliver innovative solutions across enterprise, themed entertainment, museums, healthcare and government/defense. He shapes AV’s future through smart design, system expertise and global project leadership.
Courtesy / Co-CEO, Turtle AV
Pawel Bybel, 37
Co-CEO, Turtle AV
Pawel Bybel is the co-founder and co-CEO of startup Turtle AV and has been responsible for bringing to market more than 30 hardware products that have won seven awards, across six different products, in just five months, from four different publications. A highlight was winning a BEST Award from Commercial Integrator at InfoComm for Downtown, the 10-channel Dolby Atmos / DTS:X decoder to 10-channel Dante encoder.
Courtesy / Peter Kaer
Peter Kaer, 38
Manager of Distribution, PTG
Peter Kaer has been in AV distribution for the past 10 years, the last two at PTG. He has been able to streamline the warehouse process to be more accurate, on time and cost efficient. Shipping 60-plus pallets a week, everything gets to site on time by getting gear on the road sooner, while cutting costs. He restructured the warehouse to increase efficiency and inventory-count accuracy.
Courtesy / Serena Cuna
Serena Cuna, 35
Manager, Training Operations, Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Serena Cuna has been with Crestron Electronics for 11 years and oversees the Crestron Technical Institute’s training programs across North America, while providing direct training support to the global regions. She is pivotal in producing Crestron Masters, the industry’s largest continuing-education event. Her proactive leadership and dedication to continuous learning have significantly expanded the reach of training and strengthened the AV industry’s professional-development efforts.
Courtesy / Taye Nelson
Taye Nelson, 38
Director, Production Services, UCLA
Taye Nelson leads UCLA’s Production Strategy & Services team, overseeing AV operations and live events across 10-plus venues, including the Luskin Conference Center. He’s modernizing more than 190 classrooms into production-ready spaces and developing enterprise-level AV strategy in alignment with UCLA’s Olympic readiness and digital campus initiatives.
Courtesy / Frederick “Thor” Thornton-Turner
Frederick “Thor” Thornton-Turner, 32
A/V Solutions Architect, Power Design, Inc.
In his current capacity, Frederick “Thor” Thornton-Turner serves as the sole A/V solutions architect for Power Design, Inc., helping stakeholders and decision-makers navigate their technology-selection process and craft bespoke audiovisual solutions for their spaces. However, historically, he has worked as an AV programmer and brought spaces to life for clientele that included Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Courtesy / Tim Bailey
Tim Bailey, 39
COO, Bluefin International Inc.
Tim Bailey leads global operations and product development for one of digital signage’s most innovative manufacturers. With roots in AV installation, beginning in high school; a degree in electrical engineering; and a background spanning live production and enterprise systems, he brings technical depth and vision to Bluefin. There, he is known for cultivating talent, driving growth and delivering creative, reliable solutions across the digital signage ecosystem.
