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In Stinging Rebuke, a Double-Digit Percentage of CEDIA Members Vote No on Slate

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CEDIA boardroom
Boardroom at CEDIA HQ in Fishers, IN

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

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WiSA Technologies Puts Up a ‘For Sale’ Sign

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WiSA Technologies home page

On Monday, WiSA Technologies, Inc., a “developer of spatial, wireless sound technology for smart devices and next-generation home entertainment systems,” announced that it has hired an advisor to aid them in moving forward with an “exploration of strategic alternatives” for the company.

In other words, it is putting itself up for sale.

See more on WiSA looking for a buyer

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Draper Adds Muscle to Residential Push, Promoting Two from Within

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Draper with its Draper@Home division

Draper Inc., a major manufacturer of shades, projection screens, solar control solutions, and more, announced this week a move to build up its management infrastructure to support its push into the residential custom integration channel. As part of this process, it has promoted Chris Sitarov and Pat Herron from within to two new Director of Sales roles overseeing the company’s sales force.

See more on this move by Draper

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Sonance Residential Biz In Canada to Go From Distributor to Company Direct

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Sonance booth at CEDIA Expo 2022

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

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Masimo Acquisition of Sound United Spurs Ugly Activist Shareholder Lawsuit

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Masimo home page

Will Sound United End Up on the Chopping Block as One of Kiani’s Follies?

Politan Capital Management LP filed an amended Schedule 13D to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) two important actions the activist investment company had recently taken. One of those actions was that it had increased its holdings of Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI) to 4,648,869 shares or nearly 9% of the company’s outstanding shares – making it a significant owner. And the second action? Politan has filed a “Verified Complaint” against the company and its Board of Directors – and boy, that complaint is a doozy!

See the details of Politan’s lawsuit against Masimo Corp.

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AVNation Features Ted Green on Special Episode Discussing CEDIA Board Election Issue

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AVNation graphic on panel where AVNation Features Ted Green

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

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Nationwide Sets Sights on Custom Integration & Luxury Home Dominance

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Nationwide tiny home with home automation display

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…

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VOXX Intl, Owner of Onkyo & Others, Reports Fiscal ’23 Q2 Sales Decline, $11M Net Loss

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VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 this week and they were quite sobering. Not only did revenues decline by double digits, but the company had a dramatic increase in net loss to nearly $11 million.

What went wrong?

See more on VOXX Intl’s fiscal Q2/2023 results

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CEDIA Expo Gives the Cold Shoulder to Any Media Not Named CE Pro

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CEDIA Expo

It’s a remarkable event when someone can claim a legitimate first. In all my years in this crazy Tech business, those firsts are getting fewer and further between. But Emerald Expositions, owner of the CEDIA Expo trade show can claim a legitimate first that I have never seen before from any show. They gave the cold shoulder to any media organization not named CE Pro.

Usually, shows want good media relations across the board with happy media writing positive stories and building an upbeat buzz about their event. Not Emerald…they are quite satisfied to help just one media outlet to run positive stories about their event…their very own CE Pro.

See how Emerald and CEDIA Expo give the media the cold shoulder

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CEDIA Board Elections Now Open, But Did Org Violate Its Own Bylaws?

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CEDIA HQ
CEDIA’s headquarters building in Fishers, Indiana

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…

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