Last week at CEDIA Expo in Denver, Forge CEO Paul Miller addressed showgoers directly, sharing candid insights into the show organizer’s priorities and vision.
Miller debunked false rumors about CEDIA Expo’s supposed demise and outlined Forge’s clear commitment to investing in and evolving the event around integration industry needs.
Speaking from the Smart Stage, Miller declared without equivocation, “Number one, this is not the last CEDIA Expo.”
He continued, “We’re going to see you in Vegas next year, and we’re going to continue to invest in this.”
And Miller redoubled that commitment, emphasizing without equivocation, “We care about this industry; we care about this show; and we care about how we evolve it in the future. We believe in it.”
What is Paul Miller’s Background?
Part of his abiding belief in the integration industry may lie in Miller’s own background in tech, which specifically involves semiconductors and componentry. “Coming to a show like this is really, really a pleasure because you can see where all of those ingredients actually go to build great solutions,” Miller said.
Miller envisions CEDIA Expo through the lens of someone who understands the full technology supply chain, tracing the lineage from components, to finished products, to the connected homes they ultimately power.
What is the Position of CEDIA Expo in the Industry?
Miller didn’t shy away from stating the facts about CEDIA Expo. “It is clear that this is the largest dedicated residential AV systems integration show in the U.S.,” he stated. “There’s nowhere else in the country, despite what you’re hearing, where this community comes together at this scale or with this level of focus on the technologies, businesses and the professionals that shape the connected home.”
Staging a show on the scale of CEDIA Expo carries significant responsibility. As Miller put it, CEDIA Expo’s unique position creates not just an opportunity but also an obligation to serve the custom integration community and its members.
What Does Forge Mean for CEDIA Expo?
The acquisition of the former Emerald and Questex organizations — now combined under the Forge brand — has understandably raised questions among CEDIA Expo stakeholders. And Miller acknowledged that directly, stating, “It’s clear that these kinds of questions are going to come up at a time of change.”
It’s also evident, he said, “…that when an event matters so much to an industry and when you care so deeply about what’s going on when this kind of acquisition happens, it really is a time for us to answer questions.”
Doing exactly that, Miller set the stage by acknowledging where the industry is heading. He said that, although AV and audio remain fundamental, the scope of what integrators touch continues to widen. “There’s an opportunity to expand into the total home, as I would call it,” he remarked.
This includes lighting, energy management, security and outdoor technology, as well as how AI is going to impact connected spaces.
And that’s why, Miller said, CEDIA Expo’s organizers intend to reflect this shift. As integrators increasingly work alongside designers, architects and builders to deliver complete connected home experiences, CEDIA Expo will evolve to mirror that reality.
Will the Integrator Stay at the Core of CEDIA Expo?
For anyone concerned that a broader focus at CEDIA Expo will mean the integrator might be pushed aside, Miller made it clear that the show’s commitment to the channel is steadfast, saying that the professional integrator remains at the heart of CEDIA Expo.
“Expanding the conversation around the total home or the connected home isn’t about moving away from the core,” he added. “It’s about how we create opportunity around it for all of you.”
CEDIA Expo: What Comes Next?
CEDIA Expo heads to Las Vegas in 2027, with Paul Miller promising a bigger and better event to befit an integration industry thrumming with energy.
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