This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Taylor Whipple. Recorded live on Wednesday, August 26th at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Taylor Whipple

Having just celebrated his 7 year anniversary with One Firefly, Taylor has been responsible for overseeing the organization's financial and production management.

Throughout the years, Taylor has been a key member of the leadership team in overseeing One Firefly’s operations and providing guidance to the CEO. One Firefly has recorded a period of record growth including 4 years of 30%+ YOY growth culminating with a place in the 2020 Inc. 5000.

Interview Recap

• His rewarding time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa - he even spoke to us in Wolof! 
• Taylor’s start in the music industry where he spent some time working for Madonna’s music label before he decided to go back to school to pursue his MBA in Finance. 
• How an analytical approach to brainstorming ideas has helped further empower One Firefly’s growth
• One Firefly receiving a placement on the 2020 Inc. 5000 list

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Jeremy Elsesser. Recorded live on Wednesday, August 19th at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Jeremy Elsesser

Jeremy has been in the technology industry for nearly 20 years and has worked on a broad range of projects, including broadcast, production, and communications for higher education, corporate, healthcare, and hospitality clients.

In 2019, Jeremy was awarded the Educator of the Year at AVIXA's InfoComm. Most recently, Level3 Audiovisual received "Best Healthcare Project" in the 2020 Commercial Integrator Integration Awards for their project with the University of Texas (UT) Health's nursing center.

Interview Recap

• Jeremy’s 16 year career track at Level 3 Audiovisual, leading to his achieving the position of President of the company in 2017
• The importance of company culture and hiring for passion
• The transition from Commercial Integrator over to Managed Services
• The acceleration of software and cloud based communication platform  solutions for the new global focus on work from home environments

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Paul Lopez. Recorded live on Wednesday, August 5th at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Paul Lopez

Throughout his 20 years in the custom integration industry, Paul has run up the ranks of audio, video, and custom installations from pulling cables in hot attics to now running a multi-million dollar business since their inception 3 years ago.

Today, Paul runs Dallas-based custom integration firm, Integrated Lifestyles where they focus on creating a collaborative work environment with a “client first” approach.

Interview Recap

• What experiences led Paul to opening his own integration firm.
• What it’s like being a Dolphins fan living in Dallas
• Paul’s transition from a majority commercial focus pre-covid to a majority residential focus post covid.
• Why Integrated Lifestyles chose to join the ProSource buying group

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Ryan Anderson. Recorded live on Wednesday, July 29th at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Ryan Anderson

Before joining Bravas as their CEO in 2018, Ryan spent 15 of his 20 years in the custom integration industry as founder of Kansas City smart home integration firm, Elevated Electronics. Today, Elevated Electronics is now the KC Bravas location.

At Bravas, Ryan leads their corporate team and identifies and prepares potential candidates for acquisition.

Interview Recap

• Ryan’s past experience as a racecar driver with Ferrari
• The Bravas acquisition strategy to purchase 50 integration firms over the next 5 years.
• Defining the “Why” for both Bravas and the CI Industry.  
• Ryan’s thoughts about this new-era of event cancellations and more focused department training events

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Shaun Schuetz. Recorded live on Wednesday, July 22nd at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Shaun Schuetz

With over 20 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry, Shaun has called on mom-and-pop shops, custom integration firms of all sizes all the way up to mass-market big-box chains such as Best Buy.
Shaun joined AudioQuest in 2012 with the opportunity to live in Taipei for four years representing their distributors throughout Asia.

In 2016, Shaun and his family moved back to the States and has held multiple positions including his current role as AudioQuest's VP of Sales for the Americas.

Interview Recap

• Shaun’s background and how he got into the consumer electronics industry

• Cultural differences Shaun encountered during his four years in Asia

• Shaun’s love for Star Wars and how he was able to do charity work with the Star Wars Costuming Community, 501st Legion while in Taiwan and now throughout the US.

• Shaun’s thoughts on CEDIA 2020 going virtual

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Ken Vanemon. Recorded live on Wednesday, July 15th at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Ken Vanemon

With over 25 years of experience in the Consumer Electronics Industry, Ken has worked in various roles from Operations Manager at Best Buy to Independent Manufacturers Sales Rep at JVC.

Ken joined AV manufacturer rep, Sapphire Marketing, in 2008, and represents their New York/New Jersey region as Sr. Regional Sales Manager.

Interview Recap

• Status of the audio-video marketplace in New York City.

• Ken’s strategies to stay sane while taking care of clients during these strange times

• Ken’s thoughts on whether salespeople are born or made

• How Crestron Home is helping dealers create a more customizable smart home system