This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing George and Kassa Harrison. Recorded live on Wednesday, December 15th, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About George and Kassa Harrison

George Harrison gained years of industry experience in the Colorado mountain resort towns. In 2002, George founded Harrison Home Systems, a high-end custom electronics design and installation firm specializing in cutting-edge home automation. In 2007, Kassa, his wife, joined the business and brought her experience in marketing and PR. Together they have grown the company over the years and currently manage a team of 27 employees. Harrison Home Systems specializes in the custom residential market in Denver and the surrounding areas. The company was named the 2021 CTA Smart Home Integrator of the Year by The Consumer Technology Association. They also received other industry awards in 2020, including CEPro Integrated Home of the Year and a Lutron Excellence Award.

Interview Recap

• How EOS, entrepreneurial operating system has made a positive impact on the company
• Vital Management and systematically reviewing financials with set goals
• The importance of marketing and original photography for an integration firm

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Brenna Basden. Recorded live on Friday, December 10th, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. EST.

About Brenna Basden

Brenna Basden graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Texas in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English Literature and Certificate in Technical Writing. After college and spending some time as an assistant manager in retail, Brenna moved into a marketing position for an oil & gas company in Houston, TX, where she wore many hats in marketing for a few years. In 2018, she left the oil & gas industry, moved to Austin, TX, and started her journey as a content writer at One Firefly. In early 2019 Brenna joined the product development team working on the copy for One Firefly’s award winning Mercury Pro website solution for integrators. In 2021, Brenna was promoted to SEO Specialist at One Firefly,  where she now lead our SEO strategy and team. Outside One Firefly, Brenna is a cat lover, enjoys all things fitness and is a music fanatic.

Interview Recap

• The role of a copywriter and their impact in marketing
• Trends in copywriting and SEO it’s role within a website
• SEO bad practices to avoid.
• Fitness trends and their health benefits

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Bill Simpkins. Recorded live on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Bill Simpkins

Bill Simpkins is a technology integrator with 30 years of CI industry experience. He began his career in the UK entertainment industry, working as an audio and lighting designer. He also worked as an engineer for well-known artists such as Moby, The Prodigy and Gil Scott Heron. After spending 15 years designing and installing systems for both residential and commercial markets globally, Bill relocated to the United States. In 2014, he founded IGS Homeworks in Magnolia, Texas specializing in luxury residential technology solutions.

Interview Recap

• Customer focused marketing vs custom builder driven lead generation
• Working on international projects
• Potential industry changes in 2022 and how to plan for the new normal supply chain challenges
• After-sales service business model and how it relates to customer relations and happiness

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Ron Wanless. Recorded live on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Ron Wanless

Ron Wanless is a lead systems engineer who has been designing custom electronic systems throughout the Western US since 1982. In 2005, Ron founded Technology Design Associates a smart home automation design and integration firm with offices in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. TDA specializes in turning a house into a home by simplifying the control of the many integrated systems. Ron holds multiple credentials including Designer, Installer, Certified Outreach Instructor, and Network certification from CEDIA as well as a low voltage electrical license. Currently, Ron is working on a lighting designer certification through the American Lighting Association.

Interview Recap

• Lessons learned over the 40 years in the CI industry
• How to build a business model to withstand economic recessions
• The importance of updating and communicating price changes
• The benefit of certifications and credentials in the CI space

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Theo Tsavoussis. Recorded live on Wednesday, November 10th, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

Disclaimer

The Information on this show, Automation Unplugged, is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose.

The Information contained in or provided from or through this video stream and podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.

The Information provided during this show and on our website is general in nature and is not specific to you the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this show or our website without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional broker or financial advisory.

You understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this show and our website at your own risk. The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all people. Anyone wishing to invest should seek his or her own independent financial or professional advice

About Theo Tsavoussis

Theo Tsavoussis is an audio-video integrator passionate about Bitcoin mining and sharing his knowledge of cryptocurrency. Theo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and then went on to pursue his master’s in computer science. In 1997, he founded Prometheus Systems, an AV integration company that specializes in high-end residential projects. While Prometheus Systems is based in the Bahamas, Theo has completed projects throughout the Caribbean and throughout North and South America. After reading Satoshi Nakamoto's white paper, an informational guide about Bitcoin, in 2011, Theo became interested in Bitcoin. Today, Theo is a Crypto Investor and active speaker and educator having led numerous talks on the future of cryptocurrency.

Interview Recap

• What is Bitcoin and how does it work
• How Bitcoin promotes the development of renewable energy sources
• Centralized vs Decentralized Blockchains
• The future of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Paul Starkey. Recorded live on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Paul Starkey

Paul Starkey is a 28-year Custom Installation Industry veteran focused on helping others reach their top potential, building a great business, and innovating when it seems impossible. Paul began his CI career at ELAN under Square D in 1993. As the Sales Vice President at Elan, he engineered a buyout with fellow managers and sold the business to Nortek Control in 2003. Over the years, Paul has raised venture capital and been involved in a dozen buy-sell transactions. Recently, Paul sold VITAL MGMT and has co-founded PrepTech and Aspire Liquidity Partners with Steve Firszt. They have also authored Hitting for the Cycle, a guidebook for the CI space. Outside of the business, Paul and his wife have founded a charitable organization, Building Better Lives, to actively support and raise money for the fight against sex trafficking.

Interview Recap

• Aspire Liquidity Partners, a guided partnership designed to position your company for maximum value extraction
• PrepTech, a job program dedicated to training and connecting qualified talent to businesses in the CI industry
• How Paul and his wife are fighting against sex trafficking through their organization, Building Better Lives
• DMF Lighting's partnership with Building Better Lives