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Women in AV: The Three – Preamble

In this series, Women in AV: The Three, three high level women executives in the AV industry will be interviewed and give their unique perspectives on their backgrounds, the industry and certain issues that women are facing in the current technology business climate.

This blog series preamble is dedicated to all of the women in the industry who work hard, train extensively and even mentor those on their way up. Women in the audio visual have made great strides and contributions and the three in this blog series are no exception.

I had hoped to reference many of the women in the industry who have made major contributions, but unfortunately it would have been a bit complicated to put together a full and extensive list. So I have decided to reference award winners and others who were recognized this year in separate publications. Here they are:

2014 InfoComm Women in AV Award Winners:

These women are selected by InfoComm International the industry organization. The InfoComm Women in AV Awards call attention to the AV industry by recognizing women who are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.

jansandri-0814Jan Sandri, FSR Inc.

FSR president Jan Sandri’s exemplary career, generous spirit, and commitment to community were recognized by InfoComm International, the leading professional audiovisual trade association, when they presented her with an InfoComm Women in AV Award. Sandri accepted the honor at the organization’s 75th Anniversary Awards Dinner held at the LVH in Las Vegas, Nevada on the eve InfoComm 2014, the top annual commercial audiovisual trade show. InfoComm is taking place June 14-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CorySchaefferWebsiteProfile-0814Cory Schaeffer, Listen Technologies

Listen Technologies Corporation, a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of assistive listening products, is proud to announce that Cory Schaeffer, Listen Co-Founder & Vice President of Business Development Worldwide, has been honored with a Women in AV Award by InfoComm International®, the leading professional audiovisual trade association. The award was presented at InfoComm 2014, which took place June 14-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. Schaeffer received her award alongside fellow honoree Jan Sandri, founding member of FSR, a well-known manufacturer of a wide variety of products for the AV industry.

2014 Women in AV Award Winner for Mentoring:

This award is given by Women in AV (WAVE), an organization that has established a multifaceted approach to educating, supporting, encouraging and inspiring women in the audiovisual industry through collaboration, research, mentoring and networking opportunities. The Women in AV group promotes the growth and performance of women by empowering women to feel recognized, respected, productive and important to the AV industry.

hahn-08142014: Theresa Hahn, Verrex

Women in AV (WAVE) announced Theresa Hahn, director of Marketing & Business Development of Verrex, has been selected to receive WAVE’s 2014 Mentoring Award. The award was presented at the NSCA/FSR/Exhibit One/Synnex Women in AV Reception at InfoComm in Las Vegas this past June.

Commercial Integrator Top 40 Influencers Under 40 (Published August 19th)

According to CI: The integration space has long been considered an “old boys’ network,” but as you can see by the accompanying list capturing 40 of the best and brightest young talents in the industry, it’s certainly refreshing to know the next generation of leaders — and perhaps the one after that — has already emerged.

Here are the 40 Under 40 influencers selected by CI:

Debra Alexander, Verrex

Pepper Fernandez, Solutionz Conferencing

Kourtney Govro, Sphere3 Consulting

Tory Holmwood, Advanced AV

Amrit Sidhu, Advanced AV

Dawn Meade, Net-AV

Kelly Perkins, AVI Systems

Rachel Volk, USAV Group

Jennifer Willard, Judicial Council of California – Administrative Office of the Courts

(Note: Numerous men rounded out the field of 40.)

AV Network: The Nine: Meet the New Class of AV Innovators (Published August 4th)

According to AV Network: exemplars of talents we’ll need to move this industry forward. After consulting our top peers in the industry, we selected the folks you see below because they had the most vibrant new ideas in business and a passion for every aspect of life. The Nine are a new class of AV innovators who live to the fullest at work and in all aspects of our constantly changing times. 

Here are the young movers selected by AV Network:

Kelly Perkins – AVI Systems

Anne Guthrie – Arup

Elisabeth Kelson – Charles M. Salter Associates

Kari Rae Seekins – RIVA Creative U.S.A.

Tory Holmwood – Advanced AV

(Note: Four young men were selected to round out the group.)

And of course I can’t end this without mentioning the wonderful women of rAVe [Publications] (whom Gary could not live without): Sara Abrons, Editor-in-Chief; Molly Stillman, Director of Marketing and New Business Development; Emily Dean, Social Media Manager; and Kelly Johnson, Accountant. 

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