The CEDIA Board of Directors has announced the promotion of Tabatha O’Connor from acting to permanent CEDIA Global President and CEO. We believe this is a HUGE step in the right direction for CEDIA. CEDIA’s external perception has been one of a “good-old-boy” club and clearly this trumps those concerned industry-wide. 

O’Connor joined the CEDIA team in 2002. Over her tenure, she has led many different departments including membership, finance, human resources, operations and volunteer development. In 2015, O’Connor was promoted to COO, a role that had her creating structures and processes to manage the association’s activities. She has deep experience in association management and governance and has served as acting global president and CEO since May 2017.

David Humphries, CEDIA chairman, says, “CEDIA is not the same organization it was 12 months ago. We are shifting focus from an organization whose primary function was running a tradeshow to an organization that will push the industry forward through education, outreach to design and build specifiers and increasing professionalism though standards, guidelines and best practices.”

O’Connor is the board treasurer for Integrated Systems Events, the management company co-owned by CEDIA and AVIXA that produces ISE, the world’s largest tradeshow for the professional AV and electronic systems industry, among others. She also serves as board treasurer for ESPA (Electronic Systems Professional Alliance). In 2016, she was chosen by Dealerscope as one of their Powerful Women in Consumer Tech. Prior to CEDIA, O’Connor worked in association management in the construction and public service industry.