CE Pro Podcast

As Daryl Friedman prepares for his final CEDIA Expo as CEO, he joins the CE Pro Podcast to reflect on his tenure leading the association, the evolution of the custom integration industry, and what's next for CEDIA. In this conversation, Friedman discusses the growing role of AI, why integrators must become equal partners with architects and designers, CEDIA's advocacy efforts, and why he...

CEDIA Expo 2026 is shaping up to be one of the custom integration industry's biggest events, and manufacturers are investing more than ever. In this CE Pro Podcast, Zachary Comeau sits down with CEDIA Expo leaders Jason McGraw and Brian Pagel, along with Josh.ai CEO Alex Capecelatro and Origin Acoustics CEO Nick Berry, to discuss why the show remains the industry's premier gathering, how...

AI isn't just about asking ChatGPT questions anymore. In this episode of the CE Pro Podcast, Sonance CEO Ari Supran shares how he went from experimenting with AI for simple tasks to helping integrators and business leaders use advanced AI tools to build software, automate workflows, and reclaim valuable time. Supran explains why many businesses are still stuck in the "chat" phase of...

In this conversation, CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with CEDIA’s Evan West, Senior Conference Strategy Manager, and Paul Dolenc, VP of Education & Training, to break down the biggest themes shaping this year’s education program at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver. The discussion explores how the custom integration industry is evolving beyond traditional AV installation into a more...

 Bob Schuppe of Resolute Design Group discusses lighting trends, disappearing technology and why CEDIA Expo remains critical for integrators evaluating emerging solutions. 

Daryl Friedman, CEDIA's Global President & CEO, and Greg Simmons, Vice President of Industry Partnerships at ADI, join the CE Pro Podcast to discuss CEDIA's advocacy work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.  Topics include spreading awareness about the custom integration industry as a career path, CEDIA's work to establish a specific, separate occupational cod...

Live from CEDIA Expo 2025, Monitor Audio discusses its full-line speaker strategy, growing demand for high-fidelity audio, and how new products are addressing evolving installation environments for today’s integrators.

In Episode 15 of Inside Buzz, Josh Cooperman of Convo by Design sits down with Adam Eberhardt of Resolute Design Group at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 to explore the rapidly evolving world of lighting control and smart home design. With more than three decades in the integration industry, Adam breaks down why lighting fixtures, shading, and color‑tuned environments are now essential elements of luxury resi...

In this episode, CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with Richard Charschan of Acoustic Smart Home Theater Interiors to explore the evolving home theater market and what it means for integrators today. Charschan shares insights from decades on the front lines of custom theater design, explaining how demand has surged since COVID as consumers seek immersive, at-home entertainment exper...

In this episode of the Inside Buzz podcast, Gina Colucci of Market Share — a Pacific Northwest representative for Lutron and several high-end AV brands — joins the discussion at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 to share her perspective from the show floor and her work bridging the gap between technology and the design community.

CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with Senior Editor Nick Boever to recap Lightapalooza 2026 and break down the biggest developments in lighting — from fixture innovation and control strategies to human-centric design, power infrastructure, and how integrators are positioning lighting as a core system in the modern home.

In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman of Convo by Design sits down with Dan Augsburger, U.S. Residential Sales Manager for LEA Professional, to explore the technologies and trends shaping today’s AV integration world. Dan breaks down how LEA Professional’s IoT-enabled smart amplifiers are designed with intuitive IT platforms, built‑in DSP, and flexible...

Jason McGraw, CEDIA Expo/CIX show director and group vice president, lays out what the Expo team is working on for the 2026 edition of the show.  McGraw chats with CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau and Commercial Integrator's Dan Ferrisi (Group Director of Content + Editorial, Industrial + Tech at Emerald) about new initiatives, new ideas and what is shaping up to be a very exciting CEDI...

In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman of Convo By Design sits down with Eric Nakkila of Selective Design to explore the evolution of custom integration. They discuss the growing influence of European design, the rapid innovation in architectural lighting, invisible speaker technology, vinyl’s resurgence, and why stronger collaboration between integrato...

In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman sits down with Ruslan Polinovsky of DMF Lighting to explore how manufacturers, integrators, and designers can better connect around lighting innovation. Ruslan shares insights on engaging the design community through clearer education, real-world showroom experiences, and collaboration that starts earlier in the pr...

Recorded at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, this episode of Inside Buzz features Hagan Kappler of Daisy appears on Inside Buzz to discuss leadership, workforce development, and the future of integration. Hagen explains why investing in technicians, apprenticeship programs, and women in the industry is both a social imperative and smart business. The episode offers a candid look at how integrators can grow st...

In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Joe Piccirilli, CEO and founder of Rosewater Energy, shares his 50+ year journey through the AV and custom integration industry—and the critical insight that led him to redefine residential energy resilience. From his early days building Sound Advice and distributing Crestron and Lutron, Joe explains how recurring system failures...

This podcast, recorded live during CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, dives into the world of Leon Speakers. Caitlin Stewart, director of sales, shares how the company blends innovative design with cutting-edge audio solutions. Watch this podcast to learn about Leon’s Ann Arbor roots, their collaborations with architects and designers, and everything in between. This episode of Inside Buzz also explores the imp...

Recorded at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Andrei Matei, co-founder of Robbox Tools, joins Josh Cooperman on Inside Buzz to talk about reinventing the modern toolbox through smart features and a long-term vision for a more efficient tool ecosystem for integrators. Plus, how hands-on demos and real-world use cases change how integrators feel about adopting new tools.

From the CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 show floor, CEDIA Global CEO Daryl Friedman reflects on industry momentum, emerging challenges, and where the channel is headed next. The conversation provides a big-picture view of technology trends, professional development, and the role of community in shaping the future of integration.

What was the "Inside Buzz" during CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025? Host Dan Ferrisi gets the story from Shawn Hansson, founder and CEO of Logic Integration, in this podcast recorded live at the show. Hansson shares his journey from a newcomer to an award-winning integrator, offering advice for residential integrators looking to enter the commercial space. The two dive into the convergence of resimer...

At CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, URC’s team didn’t just showcase technology—they found inspiration. In this interview, URC leaders explain how conversations with dealers and time spent walking the show floor directly influenced the development of AI-powered circadian rhythm lighting and a broader automation engine inside URC Total Control. The discussion explores why the Expo remains a critical forum for i...

CE Pro editors Zachary Comeau and Nick Boever recap ISE 2026 in Barcelona, focusing on how design-forward hardware, lighting innovation, and international brands are shaping the future of custom integration. The conversation highlights a more mature industry, with greater emphasis on simplicity, execution, and AI-driven tools that improve both integrator workflows and the end-user experience.

In an interview with CE Pro, Total Home Technologies CEO Keith Harrison says homeowner satisfaction with professionally installed smart homes is far lower than most integrators realize. Citing CEDIA data and manufacturer statistics, he notes that satisfaction averages in the high 40% range after one year and falls below 20% after five years. Harrison attributes this to weak networking foundations,...

Michael Restrepo discusses how passion and purpose drive his work in the custom integration industry, describing Restrepo Innovations as a concierge-style design and build firm focused on meaningful client experiences. He highlights the human impact of smart home technology, the value of community at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX, and his commitment to an optimistic, people-first approach to the busi...