Gary’s Rants & rAVes

At InfoComm this year, Navori Labs is showing up with more than just a booth — they’re showing a whole new direction. I caught up with Managing Director Jeffrey Weitzman to talk about the company’s recent private equity acquisition, how that’s shaping the future, and what’s new on the product side. We touched on everything […]

You probably know JOAN for its room scheduling, but at InfoComm 2025, the company is showing off so much more — and I got the full download from Monte McGuire, JOAN’s senior VP of sales, the Americas. We talked about the brand’s expanded workplace management tools, its approach to flexibility (both in hardware and software) […]

​​Digital signage used to mean just streaming content to a screen to share a message. But now? You can send content to displays around the world — in real time — and manage it all from a single desktop. SpinetiX has been ahead of the curve with its ARYA cloud-based platform, and now it’s evolving […]

I sat down with Tom LeBlanc from NSCA to talk about what they’ve got planned for InfoComm 2025. We talked about the BizSkills Workshop happening Tuesday, June 10 (the day before the show opens), and the NSCA Education Foundation’s big 25th anniversary celebration. The party’s set for Wednesday night at Tin Roof in Orlando, complete […]

Crimson AV has always been a dealer-focused brand in the ProAV space — they don’t sell direct, and that’s by design. I caught up with Will Bear, Crimson AV’s VP of sales and marketing, to talk about what they’re bringing to InfoComm 2025 (booth 2171), including new indoor and outdoor digital signage solutions, drive-thru mounts, […]

I sat down with Andrew Gross, VP of Sales at Xyte, to talk about what the industry’s only true cloud AV company has planned for InfoComm 2025. Xyte is doubling down on its mission to connect every AV product to the cloud, and it’s bringing two big announcements to the show. First, it’s adding a […]

Nanolumens is expanding its lineup at InfoComm 2025 with the new Aurora Processing platform and a one-of-a-kind see-through microLED system. I sat down with Kurt DeYoung, Nanolumens’ chief revenue officer, to give you a sneak peek at what’s coming — and what you’ll see when you visit them in booth 3081. Watch it now!  […]

If you’re in higher ed and haven’t heard of Computer Comforts, let me fix that. The company has been building custom lecterns, classroom desks and media furniture for nearly four decades — and now they’ve launched something game-changing: the EVOLVE line. Think of it as the Swiss Army Knife of lecterns — modular, scalable and […]

In this episode of Rants & rAVes, I got a hands-on look at the new Datavideo VoiceTRX100, an AI-based video switcher designed specifically for podcasting. No technical director required. It uses voice tracking to automatically cut between speakers in 4K, making your show look polished and professional with zero effort. Joining me are Craig Moffat, […]

In this Steph Takeover episode of Rants & rAVes, I sat down with Brandy Alvarado-Miranda, founder/director of WAVIT, to talk about a scholarship that really means something. The Mary Cook Empowerment Award: Designing the Future honors the legacy of a true trailblazer in our industry. Mary wasn’t just a force in AV — she was […]

In this Rants & rAVes episode, I caught up with Keith Vidger, engineering manager for professional video and audio at Panasonic Connect, to get a full preview of what the company has in store for NAB Show 2025. Panasonic is going big this year, with five dedicated product stations inside its booth. The focus? A […]

In this episode, I sat down with AVIXA CEO Dave Labuskes for a candid conversation about the current state of the ProAV market. We covered a lot of ground — tariffs, market growth, the experience economy and where AV, unified communications and digital signage are headed in 2025 and beyond. Dave always brings sharp insight […]

LG just became the first display company to embed the full BrightSign operating system into its digital signage displays — and I think this is a big deal. The company’s new UH5N Series (available in 43-, 55- and 65-inch models) now ships with both LG webOS and the full BrightSign OS built in. This isn’t […]

In this Steph takeover episode, I spoke with Michelle Montazeri, board member of the Digital Signage Federation (DSF), about what the org has been up to in Q1 — and spoiler alert: It’s a lot. From community outreach and industry events to a peek at what’s coming the rest of the year, Michelle breaks down […]

NETGEAR’s director of marketing, John Henkel, joins me to share what the company is bringing to NAB Show 2025 in booth SL8913. Along with launching Engage 2.0, NETGEAR will demo its switching and routing solutions for SMPTE ST 2110 and ProAV, plus a new Wi-Fi 7 access point. John also reveals a new NETGEAR partner […]

It’s a Steph Takeover on this episode of Rants & rAVes! I sat down with Eric Krapf, general manager and program chair of Enterprise Connect, to get the inside scoop on what’s coming up at this year’s show. We talked about the biggest trends shaping enterprise communications, the must-see sessions and what makes Enterprise Connect […]

In this takeover episode of Rants & rAVes, I sit down with Exertis Almo’s Dan Smith (EVP) and John Riley (SVP Sales – East) to dive into everything you need to know about the E4 Experience NY Metro on April 2. We cover the latest ProAV tech, CTS RU-certified courses (including mine!) and why this […]

In this takeover of Gary Kayye’s Rants & rAVes podcast, I’m joined by Dan Smith, EVP/COO, and Kevin Welling, senior vice president of sales west at Exertis Almo. We discuss the upcoming E4 Experience events, what we’re most excited about and what attendees can expect. I also share details about the class and exclusive VIP […]

I was joined by WyreStorm’s director of product development, Zec Voislav, who shared the company’s plans for new products at ISE 2025 — and it’s all about UCC. In addition to new BYOD solutions, WyreStorm will introduce the SW-640L, a switcher that manages HDMI, USB-C, and wireless signals; the MX-0402, a 4×2 switcher that handles […]

In this pre-ISE-2025 episode, I chat with Aurora Multimedia CEO Paul Harris about what the company is bringing to the show — including the new RXT-4DV, which adds 4K AV-over-IP to the ReAX Room Controller lineup. Plus, Aurora is debuting the VPX-UC1 Ultra, an all-new wireless sharing solution. Watch to get the inside scoop, and […]

I sat down with XTEN-AV co-founders Vibhav Singh and Sahil Dhingra to get an exclusive first look at their latest innovation ahead of ISE 2025. They debuted a live demo of X-PRO, a new project management module within XTEN-AV’s cloud-based AV design software. This functionality is a game-changer for AV integrators, streamlining workflows and adding […]

I had the chance to chat with Nathan Coutinho, Logitech’s global head of strategic partner relations and market insights, ahead of ISE 2025. Nathan shared insights into Logitech’s new workplace sensor, the Logitech Spot, and explained how the Rally Board 65 collaboration board enhances hybrid work environments. Plus, he detailed the exciting new capability to […]

In November 2024, DCC Technology announced its plans to divest from technology and focus on energy markets, signaling that Exertis Almo (DCC Technology North America) would eventually be acquired. To get the latest on the situation, I spoke with Exertis Almo Executive Vice President Dan Smith, and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Vishal Chhatralia. They […]

In this pre-ISE 2025 videocast, I spoke with Aleksejs Kolpakovs, vice president of commerce at Catchbox, about the company’s plans for the show. Known for its throwable and catchable microphone, Catchbox is focusing on the applications of Catchbox Plus in education and workplace settings. Catchbox Plus, launched in 2024, simplifies the addition of wireless microphones […]

I had the chance to chat with Jeffrey Weitzman, managing director of Navori Labs, about what the company has planned for ISE 2025. Navori Labs, a leader in AI integration since 2018, will showcase new AI signage solutions and highlight collaborations with ecosystem partners to simplify solutions for integrators and end users. Catch Navori Labs […]

I had the chance to chat with Andrew Gross, VP of sales at Xyte, about how its cloud-based platform is making it easier for AV and IT integrators to deliver managed services. Andrew explained how the platform streamlines operations and helps integrators provide more value to their clients. Xyte will be at ISE 2025 on […]

It’s a Steph takeover on Rants & rAVes! In this episode, I chat with Tony Green about Snap Install‘s commitment to community and giving back. We dive into the company’s participation in the Polar Plunge, a one-of-a-kind fundraiser supporting Special Olympics Minnesota athletes, where participants take a leap into icy waters for a great cause. […]

I was joined by Fuhan Lee in this pre-ISE 2025 videocast to talk about everything that Yealink will demo in their stand, 2R500, at ISE 2025 in Barcelona next month. AI-based UCC solutions will be a big part of their showing but, they will also debut something called AVOne, too. Here’s the scoop!   Podcast: […]

I had the opportunity to catch up with Roger Takacs, executive VP of sales at Lightware, to get a preview of what’s coming from the company at ISE 2025. Known for its USB and USC docking and collaboration solutions, Lightware is set to debut at least 10 new products this year. Highlights include the new […]

Peter Herr, Shure’s global marketing director, joined me on my pre-ISE-2025 videocast to preview what’s in store for the company at ISE 2025. While details are still under wraps, Shure will celebrate its 100th anniversary at booth 3N300. The company is focusing on Microsoft certification and introducing streamlined solutions for the AV integrator community. Watch […]

I had the chance to sit down with Anders Karlsson, CEO of Humly, to talk about the company’s impressive growth in 2024 and what’s on the horizon for 2025. Humly has carved out a unique space in the market with its beautifully designed desk booking and room display solutions that make workspace utilization more efficient. […]

I sat down with Joel St-Denis, director of product management, and Jerome Grimminck, technical sales manager at Christie Digital, to talk about their big plans for ISE 2025. One of the highlights? Christie is launching a brand-new ultra-high-brightness projector line that’s set to turn heads. The company is also introducing a new content management system […]