David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, has announced his retirement plans at the end of 2026, after leading the association since 2012.
During his time with AVIXA, the organization says Labuskes recognized and encouraged the evolution of the audiovisual industry from one that offers products and systems toward an industry and profession that delivers integrated experiences that connect people to people and in so doing, transforms the world.
David Labuskes’ Leadership Achievements at AVIXA
Under Labuskes’ leadership, the industry expanded to include experiential designers, content creators, IT companies and users of AV solutions across a growing cross section of markets. According to the organization, this led to the rebrand of InfoComm International to AVIXA (the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) in 2017.
“I would have never predicted the level of personal growth and fulfillment that accompanied these many years at the helm of AVIXA,” says Labuskes. “The audiovisual industry has been a part of human evolution since the use of signal fires in early civilization.”
He adds, “The association now known as AVIXA was established in 1939, well before most of us were born. The responsibility and privilege inherent within the role I played for a tiny part of that timeline was one that could not have been fulfilled without the brilliance of the team of executives, industry volunteers, and dedicated AVIXA employees giving everything they have to deliver on our mission every day.”
Labuskes now looks forward to being in the stands watching the future successes of AVIXA and the AV industry around the world.
Championing Growth and Diversity
For Labuskes, ensuring AVIXA represented the industry globally emerged as a key strategy. According to the organization, over 50% of AVIXA’s revenue — from training, trade shows, certifications and additional offerings — is generated outside of North America.
Labuskes also championed diversity throughout the association’s many platforms to ensure ample representation of different voices. During his tenure, the organization established AVIXA’s Women’s Council and Diversity Council. The Women’s Council is the largest AVIXA Council with more than 1,100 members and draws hundreds of attendees to its annual breakfast at InfoComm in North America, says AVIXA.
In addition, Labuskes led AVIXA through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This included navigating the cancellation of live events globally, supporting a critical part of the AVIXA community through a monumental disruption to their business models. During this time, AVIXA introduced and grew new digital engagement platforms for the AVIXA community as well as reimagined event experiences with the association’s trade shows and conferences around the world.
Note of Gratitude for David Labuskes
“On behalf of the AVIXA Board of Directors, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to David for everything he has done for AVIXA over the past 13 years,” remarks Tobias Lang, Chair of the AVIXA Board of Directors and CEO of LANG AG. “His vision and leadership have been instrumental in establishing the audiovisual industry as a globally relevant profession with a strong and positive outlook for the future. David not only helped redefine what our industry stands for, [but] he also built an exceptional leadership team and a culture that is both value-driven and uniquely collaborative.”
Lang continues, “The AVIXA Board has already begun the search for his successor, and we are confident that this exciting, attractive and demanding role will be filled in a way that reflects the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.”
Before joining AVIXA in 2012, Labuskes spent nearly 14 years with RTKL Associates (now Arcadis), where he established the firm’s Technology Design practice and worked with a growing team of experts to build one of the largest and most-respected technology design practices in the world. During his tenure, he was elevated to serve on the Board of Directors that reviewed and authorized their merger with Arcadis in 2011, enabling further investment in the growth and diversification of the entire firm.
