By Tom Kehr, CTS-D, CTS-I, Network+, LEED Green Associate, ISF-C, ATD Master Trainer
Exertis Almo

Not long ago, I did a little promo video on LinkedIn poking fun at the travel expenses and hassles associated with going to a “big” trade show and extolling the virtues of the E4 regional trade shows presented by Exertis Almo. If you know me, I’ve had some travel hassles over the years.

There’s a lot of information out there about hybrid meetings and meeting equity and all that, but nothing tops meeting face-to-face, shaking hands (or fist bumps if that’s more comfortable for you), discovering new contacts and having a conversation around good food. It’s what a friend of mine, Stuart Weiser, calls, “Meet, eat, and greet.” Despite all of our 24/7/365 electronic connectivity, you can’t beat the one-on-one that the E4 Experience offers. Sometimes our best connections happen quite by accident and when we don’t expect it. We just “happen” to meet someone, strike up a conversation where interests and goals mesh and it becomes the beginning of a long-term profitable business relationship.

E4 Experience CTS RU sessions start off with the keynote at 9 a.m., followed by a live show floor tour and four training sessions to choose from with the day ending at 3 p.m. You won’t have to feel rushed to get it all in — breakfast, keynote, exhibits, sessions, lunch and education. Did you see food mentioned twice? Even before I joined Exertis Almo, I always remembered that E4 always did a great job with meals. Food and coffee are the fuels of AV.

That said, although we are often driven by our stomachs, E4 is so much more — with the same great education that has become a hallmark of the event. All CTS RU-certified for your attendance, let’s take a moment to explore some of the educational opportunities that provide key insight into the audiovisual industry.

As an exciting kickoff to the day, rAVe’s Gary Kayye leads a forward-thinking keynote address, titled “8 Cool New Products and 5 Cool New Technologies That Will Change AV Forever.” In this session, worth 1 CTS RU, you’ll learn about five tech trends we all need to watch in 2023. Gary will dissect eight new products and tell you why they are significant and why you should be integrating them into virtually every system you design and build.

Next, Kayye will lead a guided show floor tour of the E4 Experience show floor, worth 0.5 CTS RU. During the tour, he will demo the best new products on the floor.

I also have the privilege of doing two sessions, each worth 1 CTS RU. In “Conducting a Needs Analysis,” we’ll look at the proper way to approach an audiovisual project. If you don’t understand what the client is trying to do, the design may not be the right one. Forget the equipment and ask about the process. In “Conducting a Proper Site Survey,” we’ll look at how to reduce your risk and turn unknowns into knowns as you look at the questions to ask, things to look for and the instrumentation needed for doing surveys.

Strategy expert Tom Stimson will show you how to make the transition from an undifferentiated price-based supplier to a value-based expert in the segment of your choosing, so you can make more money, consistently and with less stress. Attend the “What the Marketplace is Telling You About Your Strategy and What to Do About It” session to learn and earn 1 CTS RU.

During the pandemic, Zoom was all the rage. But in 2022, Microsoft leap-frogged Zoom with a redesigned Teams to become THE preferred UCC platform for the corporation. Now, the company has added the ultimate hybrid feature in Teams Rooms Front Row. But this requires 21:9 or 32:9 displays. Who can accommodate MS Teams Front Row, and what other factors do you need to consider when designing a room with them? Join Gary Kayye’s “The MTR (Microsoft Teams Rooms) Effect” to learn all of this and earn 1 CTS RU in the industry’s first session to address how 21:9 can be transformative in room design!

Additionally, Melody Craigmyle will host a timely discussion on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Kim Lonas and Alesia Hendley. This roundtable panel explores the basics of DEI, and how to start a conversation within your organization to create a sustainable focus on these important topics.

Honestly, if you can attend an E4 Experience, there’s no better bargain on the planet, with the opportunity to gain up to 5 AVIXA CTS RUs at the one-day event — plus, more lines and services than ever available to support the audiovisual integrator.

Great people, great education, great manufacturers and great food. The only thing it will cost you is a day out of the office. No expense report necessary.

Find out more about how to attend Exertis Almo’s E4 in Santa Clara on April 25 here.