Jennifer H. Willard

Jennifer H. Willard

Jennifer Willard is an international speaker on AV design and construction in courthouses and a blogger and podcast host for rAVe [Publications]. She is also the founder of Women in AV.

Hello, Are You There, Videoconferencing?

I am surprised no one has really picked up on the announcement last from Vidyo about their free B2B services.  Either 1) it’s not a big deal, or 2) people don’t want to talk about it.  I can tell you I requested access for a trial run and review through the Women in AV and have not heard a […]

Hello, Are You There, Videoconferencing?

What is an 8K Crystal Ball?

Firstly, all our congratulations to our London and United Kingdom AV colleagues for an amazing showing as the 2012 Olympic host!! It’s beautiful to watch and you’ve done such an incredible job bringing the spirit and values of what the Olympics stand for to everyone across the world! With the kick-off of Bradley Wiggins winning […]

WAVEcast Episode 4: Young WAVE!

Episode 4: Recorded on July 20, 2012 Listen to the young Women in AV discuss what it means to be starting out in their career and what the futures holds for being a female in our industry. Jessica Spicer, AVI-SPL, Olivia Dumanovsky, Pakedge Device and Software, Molly Stillman rAVe [Publications], and Amy Fulton, Advanced AV share their thoughts and experience about everything […]

WAVEcast Episode 4: Young WAVE!

How About We’re In This Together?

I’ve been trying to put this post together for a few weeks. And, this will be the fourth time I’ve scrapped the earlier version and started from scratch.  So, what’s the deal with this post?  You may know I write about women’s issues.  Mostly, I post about the Women in AV and what amazing work […]

How About We’re In This Together?

New Levels of Self-Destruction

If you’re not one of the 34 MILLION or so Direct TV or DISH Network satellite subscribers who’ve been hit with one kind of station blackout or another these past two weeks, allow me to fill you in.  There has been a nasty fee and carriage contract dispute going on between multiple satellite service providers […]

New Levels of Self-Destruction

Cable Management: What He Said

One of the things I look forward to the most is reading rAVe [Publications] columnist LeeDistad’s articles.  I know each time I will learn something new about AV, customer relations and always walk away with a smile and chuckle for how witty he is in delivering great information. I wanted to follow-up on his most recent article about […]

Cable Management: What He Said

Independence is For Everyone!

Here in the United States of America we are celebrating our Independence Day, wahooo!!  Happy 4th of July to everyone celebrating; enjoy the sunshine, barbecues, and fireworks!! Most countries around the world have a national day where they celebrate being liberated from some oppressive power held over them by another.  It’s a day where people feel especially proud […]

Independence is For Everyone!

Women in AV: We’re a Year Old!!!

It’s been a VERY busy few weeks for everyone with InfoComm12 having just roared through our industry, and, us through Las Vegas.  This is the first weekend many of us have off in likely months.  And, with summer officially starting last week, it’s no surprise to see social media especially quiet.  I hope everyone’s enjoying your weekend […]

Women in AV: We’re a Year Old!!!

#InfoComm12 Was #WAVEmazing!!

Congratulations to our entire AV industry on an incredible week of launching new products, generating new sales, and catching up with old friends and new ones atInfoComm12!! How fantastic is it for InfoComm International and our industry attendance was up with 34,268 converging on Las Vegas.  WAY TO GO everyone!!! Read rAVe [Publications] editor Sara Abrons’ article for […]

#InfoComm12 Was #WAVEmazing!!

It’s HERE!!

Normally, I agonize over my blog posts! I have this obnoxious attention to detail that makes me want to fact-check, proof-read, fact-check again, and just make sure everything is perfect before it goes live!!  (Which usually ends up backfiring and I don’t even bother with grammar because I stink at it.) That and I tend […]

While We Are Sleeping

It’s Memorial Day here in the United States.  This typically signifies the “unofficial” start to summer fit with all the beaches, BBQ’s, and celebrations we can pack into a 3-day weekend! Enjoy it everyone, especially, knowing we have InfoComm 2012 coming up in just a few weeks where we’ll be working our tails off for our companies […]

While We Are Sleeping

Give Your Opinion on AV Energy Management!

Since late 2009, the InfoComm International AV Systems Energy Management Task Group has been quietly working behind the scenes to create the first green standard for the AV industry. This standard should be ANSI-accredited and we’re at an important part of the process where we need the entire AV industry to provide input during the public review […]

Give Your Opinion on AV Energy Management!

What Would Happen to Our Country?

Today, California Governor Jerry Brown will release his May-revision for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 state budget. Needless to say, it is anything but golden. The details will be available here this week. The budget deficit has grown to $16 billion, up from $9 billion just a few months ago. Governor Brown indicates this is due to the […]

What Would Happen to Our Country?

AV Industry, You Can Give Back!

Has your company ever been interviewed by rAVe [Publications] during a trade show for a video, had a press release posted about your company’s news, or some other feature that’s helped you get exposure in our industry? Well, here’s your chance to give something back for an amazing cause!! This blog post is of my […]

Let’s Tweet Up at InfoComm2012!

Show your support for the NSCA Education Foundation and join the Women in AV (WAVE) and rAVe [Publications] at NSCA’s Industry Charity Concert featuring the Drunk Unkles during InfoComm 2012. The Unks will perform Thursday, June 14, from 9 – 11 p.m. at Gilley’s Saloon, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd, South Las Vegas. More event details can be found on NSCA’s Facebook page! The Women in AV are honored to co-host a Tweet-Up […]

Let’s Tweet Up at InfoComm2012!

The Wheels Came Off!

Seeing a building go through the design and construction process is a thing of beauty. It’s simply awesome to watch what starts as a concept on a schematic drawing rise from the ground and become a high-performing environment.  In 2012, AV is a must-have and typically an extensive part of any capital construction project.  This is great […]

The Wheels Came Off!

Wavecast Episode 3: Women in AV: Let’s Write About It!

On this episode of WAVEcast, we’re joined by four of our industry’s female editor-in-chief’s of AV news publication. These women are leading their sector of the AV industry which is otherwise male-dominated. Our guests Cindy Davis with EH Publishing, Sara Abrons with rAVe [Publications], Kirsten Nelson with Systems Contractor News and Healthcare AV and Margot […]

Wavecast Episode 3: Women in AV: Let’s Write About It!

WAVEcast Episode 2: Women, Music, and AV

Host: Jennifer Willard, with guests: Julia Cooper and Elizabeth Schwartz. On this episode of WAVEcast, we’re joined by two of our industry’s female design engineers/programmers.  There is a small group of females in our industry who pursue the technical side of programming and AV Systems Design.  Ourr guests Julia Cooper, CTS with AVI-SPL and Elizabeth Schwartz, CTS-D with […]

WAVEcast Episode 2: Women, Music, and AV

Women in AV and AV Gents: Let’s Bake and Tweet Up to Help Those in Need!

Let’s celebrate our AV community and work together raising much needing funding for a wonderful cause, Choice Humanitarian. http://choicehumanitarian.org/ Choice Humanitarian is a Utah based non-profit that works to end poverty in third-world countries. Not only do they help with services and funding, they also provide critical resources, including AV equipment! http://choicehumanitarian.org/critical_needs.php So, how are we going to […]

Women in AV and AV Gents: Let’s Bake and Tweet Up to Help Those in Need!

Pacific Interactive: Building the IT-Centric AV Platform

In 2005, I had the amazing opportunity while working for Avidex Systems LLC to be introduced to Pacific Interactive (PI). Avidex was the AV Systems Integrator for the nearly 40,000 square foot renovation of the Cisco Executive Briefing Center in Milpitas, CA. The project was extensive, complex, and the audiovisual systems were state-of-the-art. Think energizing LCD panels to display […]

Pacific Interactive: Building the IT-Centric AV Platform

Wavecast Episode 1: Women in AV and the Four Quadrants

Host: Jennifer Willard, with guests: Johanne Belanger, AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, Jan Sandri, FSR, Inc., and CorySchaeffer, Listen Technologies Corporation. On this inaugural Wavecast – Women in AV discuss women’s leadership, including being female in a male-dominated industry, styles of leadership, the work/life balance myth, mentoring, and how to make it in AV and life! Running time: 50:13 Podcast: Play in new window […]

Wavecast Episode 1: Women in AV and the Four Quadrants

21st Century Dad!

I’m not a parent yet, so I fully know I don’t understand the challenges associated with raising children.  Let alone teenage girls.  However, I was one once (so I completely empathize) and was also raised in a very strict, German family where the term “five figure salute” might ring a bell for some. And, where the word […]

21st Century Dad!

Super Bowl XLVI, What’s AV Got to Do With it?

…A LOT! We’ll all be watching the Super Bowl in less than a few hours~ snacking and yelling at our display of choice (like we could do any better 🙂 But, what does it take from an AV video production crew perspective to pull off this game? For NBC, it takes 450 staff, 40 cameras, […]

Super Bowl XLVI, What’s AV Got to Do With it?

Gary Shapiro: We “Gotcha” Loud and Clear!

Booth babes, ahhh yes. Candidly, I’d never even heard of the term until 2 years ago. It’s not that I was oblivious to the scantily-clad models at tradeshows or that the term hasn’t been around for TOO LONG. I’m not sure why I’d never heard it before, but, I could see my male colleague become a little uncomfortable when […]

Gary Shapiro: We “Gotcha” Loud and Clear!

Why You Need To Say NOPA to SOPA.

There’s a beautiful neighborhood in San Francisco called NOPA, North of the Pan Handle.  It’s filled with busy, creative, and the “go everywhere everyone else doesn’t” kind of mentality.  There are fundraisers at hair salons because, what better than to donate to a great cause that makes you happy too.  It’s filled with people who ride […]

Why You Need To Say NOPA to SOPA.

Thank You 2011

At this time of year, I always reflect on the past and what lies ahead. Like so many, I had big goals, dreams, and aspirations in 2011 and find myself wondering, how did I do, have I left the world a better place? Did I have the right priorities, am I am closer to the […]

What’s Your Apple Pie?

I’ve had Apple Pie on my mind all week. Yep, Apple Pie! Most times that wouldn’t seem like such a thought provoking topic, heck, who doesn’t love a great Apple Pie. Case closed. If you REALLY don’t like Apple Pie, please leave a comment and tell us why. I’m so genuinely curious what there could […]

WOW, What a WAVE!!!

Once again, the Women in AV have blown my slippers off with the power of our group to pull off an amazing feat for the AV industry!! This past week, we hosted our first WAVE Tweet-Up (they’ll be more in case your missed). It was spectacular, and, worldwide~ we might add! 10 cities across the US hosted local events […]

Women in AV: The Tweet-Up RSVP You’ve Been Waiting For!

This Friday, December 9, 2011 at 7pm ET, 5pm MT, 4pm PT, we’re going to create a 1st in the AV industry by getting together–across the world– for a Women in AV Tweet-Up! Whether you can attend in-person at a venue below or on Twitter wherever your travels and time zone allow– let’s meet ladies and connect with each other about ourselves, the […]

Women in AV: The Tweet-Up RSVP You’ve Been Waiting For!

Women in AV: Save the Date!

It has been an amazing year for the women in our industry and our Women in AV group!  Tomorrow will mark our 5 month anniversary, congratulations ladies!!!  In that short time, we’ve accomplished so many 1st’s collectively.  We’ve grown to 210 members worldwide on our LinkedIn group, launched @WomeninAV on Twitter, had our 1st InfoComm webinar with over 200 attendees, and shared so […]

Could our Government Pull off a Conspiracy?

Last Wednesday’s test of the national Emergency Alert System (EAS) has been declared a FAIL. Over 30,000 television, satellite, and radio providers participated in the test.  But, it didn’t reach all TV or radio viewers~ some DirectTV subscribers heard a Lady Gaga’s song as the audio message(is this a joke), TV’s displayed blank screens, and radio stations […]

Could our Government Pull off a Conspiracy?

InfoComm100: An AV Honor and Industry Must

“The invisible is still invisible. Look for it and do something about it.” – Daniel Burrus I had the incredible privilege of attending this year’s InfoComm100 recently held in Portland, Oregon. Hosted by the InfoComm International Board of Directors and Leadership Development Committee, it is the one annual event where the top 100 leaders and visionaries in the AV industry come together […]

InfoComm100: An AV Honor and Industry Must