Sources are telling Strata-gee that movie media server specialist Kaleidescape is undergoing a new round of turmoil, terminating manufacturer sales representatives and executives. Reports from multiple sources indicate the company is undergoing some type of transformation. However, details are sparse as to just exactly what is transpiring there. I asked Kaleidescape for comment and they responded.
Integrators
ISUS in America? Emerald Adds a Commercial Show to CEDIA Expo; Exhibitors React
Emerald Expositions (NYSE: EEX), the national B2B trade show company that owns CEDIA Expo, CE Pro, and Commercial Integrator surprised the industry at the recent CEDIA Expo 2022 by abruptly announcing that next year they will be “co-locating” a show for commercial integrators at the same time and in the same facility. Reaction to this announcement was…to put it mildly…mixed. Is Emerald trying to imitate the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show – an event for both residential and commercial businesses – by launching an ISUS (Integrated Systems United States) event??
Do you wonder why there was a mixed reaction to Emerald’s move? Read on…
See why some big exhibitors were not happy with the Emerald announcement…
[Read more…] about ISUS in America? Emerald Adds a Commercial Show to CEDIA Expo; Exhibitors ReactSonance Names National Sales Manager for Canada Biz Transition
Sonance announced last week that it was transitioning its business model in Canada from one centered around a distribution model with an in-country partner responsible for all sales and servicing in the country to a new direct one where Sonance HQ will directly handle all sales and service of its products there. This week, we learn that the company has appointed a new National Sales Manager for Canada, responsible for implementing this new business model, building an all-new sales team, and managing their sales operations there.
That new executive is Toronto-based sales professional Brad Middleton.
Learn more about Sonance appointing Brad Middleton
[Read more…] about Sonance Names National Sales Manager for Canada Biz TransitionIn Stinging Rebuke, a Double-Digit Percentage of CEDIA Members Vote No on Slate
After Obvious Failure of Transparency, CEO Says He’s Learned a ‘Lesson’
On Wednesday, CEDIA Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman sent a letter to all members advising them that the election process for new Board members has been completed – and that the slate of three Board-selected candidates for the three open Board seats has now been filled by Stephan Goodhue, Jennifer Mallett, and James Ratcliffe. The cheery tone of the letter belies the fact that the election process was viewed by many as tainted and has inflamed anger from what seems to be a fairly significant percentage of members who resent losing the opportunity to vote for a candidate of their choice.
However, in this letter, Friedman did allow that “…we need to do a better job of communication.”
See more on the CEDIA letter to members
[Read more…] about In Stinging Rebuke, a Double-Digit Percentage of CEDIA Members Vote No on SlateSonance Residential Biz In Canada to Go From Distributor to Company Direct
Sonance announced this week that it is transitioning its residential business in Canada to a direct model, ending its distributor-led approach that has existed there for several years. Beginning on January 1, 2023, all sales and service of residential products from Sonance, James Loudspeaker, and IPORT will be handled directly by Sonance’s salesforce.
Learn more about this change by Sonance in Canada
[Read more…] about Sonance Residential Biz In Canada to Go From Distributor to Company DirectExpo Shocker! Hundreds of Members Show Up for CEDIA Advocacy Town Hall
Spotlight on CEDIA Expo
Perhaps one of the more surprising events at CEDIA Expo 2022 – at least in my mind – was an event that took place early in the morning on the first official day of the show floor opening. This event, the CEDIA Advocacy Town Hall in which the organization intended to discuss the extent of their political advocacy conducted on behalf of the membership, seemed to me like something unlikely to draw much attention…or attendance.
Boy…was I wrong!
Learn more about the CEDIA Advocacy Town Hall
[Read more…] about Expo Shocker! Hundreds of Members Show Up for CEDIA Advocacy Town HallAVNation Features Ted Green on Special Episode Discussing CEDIA Board Election Issue
This week, AVNation features Ted Green – me – on a special episode discussing the CEDIA Director Elections taking place right now. As you may know, there was some controversy surrounding this election as CEDIA’s board decided to change the normal election process where association members pick from a selection of nominees to vote on those they want on the Board of Directors. Instead, this year members vote with a simple yes/no on a predetermined slate of candidates selected by the Board’s Governance Committee.
See more on this special AVNation episode featuring me
[Read more…] about AVNation Features Ted Green on Special Episode Discussing CEDIA Board Election IssueNationwide Sets Sights on Custom Integration & Luxury Home Dominance
See My Interview w/Nationwide President Tom Hickman
In the days leading up to the recent CEDIA Expo in Dallas, Nationwide Marketing Group, one of the largest buying groups in the U.S., announced that former ProSource VP Andy Orozco would be joining Nationwide as its Senior Vice President of Custom Integration. That news grabbed my attention as it came less than a year after Nationwide’s acquisition of one of the top custom integration buying groups, Azione Unlimited, back in October 2021.
Clearly, something big is going on at Nationwide…
[Read more…] about Nationwide Sets Sights on Custom Integration & Luxury Home DominanceCEDIA Board Elections Now Open, But Did Org Violate Its Own Bylaws?
Why Did an Anonymous Source Call My Attention to the Bylaws?
On Tuesday, CEDIA members received an email from David Weinstein, the well-known VP of Lutron who also serves as the Chairman of CEDIA’s Board of Directors, informing them that the election process to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors was now open. There are three seats to be filled and Weinstein’s email helpfully/confusingly names just three candidates the Board’s Governance Committee has selected to fill the three open seats. It was the first indicator that something was different with this election as compared to the usual process.
I read this announcement carefully, as only hours before it was distributed I had received a cryptic message from a source exhorting me to find and read “the current Cedia [sic] bylaws.” Something was definitely brewing…
See more on the CEDIA Board elections…
[Read more…] about CEDIA Board Elections Now Open, But Did Org Violate Its Own Bylaws?Select Tech Stories from CEDIA Expo 2022
This post will present some of the top tech stories from CEDIA Expo 2022. You know, covering a trade show like Expo has always been a particular challenge for me. As someone who is always looking for a good story, going to a trade show with hundreds of exhibits is a bit like trying to take a sip of water from a fire hose. Nonetheless, I was able to discover several stories I found particularly interesting and I hope you’ll like them too.