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 Steve Burke. Recorded live on Wednesday, July 28th, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Steve Burke

Steve Burke is an entrepreneur dedicated to providing a high level of service to both the residential and commercial AV integration space. Steve has learned and grown throughout his 20+ career in the integration industry, including managing a large commercial integration firm prior to founding Texadia Systems in 2013. Texadia Systems was established to serve both the residential and commercial av markets with a focus on excellence and client satisfaction. Today, Texadia Systems has grown to over $10 million-plus in annual revenue and has been recognized in INC500 and CE Pro as one the fastest growing AV Integration firms in the US.

Interview Recap

• The importance of taking care of your team and work culture
• Steve's strategies for growth mindset
• Why Texadia serves both the commercial and residential markets
• Texadia's unique solution to the human resource limitations affecting the industry

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Susan Cashen. Recorded live on Wednesday, April 7th, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

About Susan Cashen

Susan’s focus on helping companies build strong brand positions and deliver business results in crowded markets has led her to hold executive positions at Silicon Valley agencies and start-ups and led to her role as Senior VP of Marketing at Control4.

During her tenure at Control4, Susan was responsible for worldwide marketing, training, and support. She was part of the executive team to take Control4 public, drive strategic acquisitions and complete the 2019 merger with SnapAV.

Today, Susan advises clients in the CI channel, the industry association CEDIA, and serves on the board of SAVI Controls, T3 Micro, and Tectonic Audio.

Interview Recap

• Susan’s experience helps to launch the TIVO brand in the ’90s
• How Susan moved from Silicon Valley to become one of the first employees of Control4 energy division
• Branding tips Susan recommends every dealer follow
• The importance of selling experience over technology

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

About Jeff Galea

Jeff’s work experience includes positions with General Motors and a Silicon Valley Startup prior to taking his passion for high-end electronics and launching Boca Theater and Automation, now Boca Teach and Automation, in 2003 out of South Florida.

Today, Jeff’s team focuses exclusively on integrating luxury A/V and control systems into homes, yachts, and businesses in some of the most prestigious spaces in the United States.

Boca Tech and Automation continue to rank among the CEPro Top 100 Integrators of the U.S., and two of their projects were even featured in HGTV’s Top Ten Luxury Home Theaters.

Interview Recap

• How a COVID inspired look behind-the-scenes for the design community turned into a successful weekly seminar series
• The importance behind educating consumers to improve sales and communication
• Jeff's showroom powered by Rosewater Energy and his take on battery storage technologies
• Jeff's business outlook for 2021 and why he will still be focusing on recurring revenue

This week's home automation podcast features our host Chris Smith interviewing Ron Callis. Recorded live on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. EST. 

About Ron Callis

Ron got his start in the Custom Integration industry back in 2000, after graduating from VA Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and starting his career with Lutron Electronics. He also spent time at Crestron Electronics before he started Firefly Design Group in 2007.

In 2012 the company rebranded and became the company everyone knows today as One Firefly. One Firefly is an Inc. 5000 company and award-winning marketing agency serving residential and commercial technology professionals.

Interview Recap

• How Ron found his way into the custom integration industry
• Ron’s unique experience being part of a human-powered submarine team while a student at Virginia Tech
• The One Firefly company culture and how they were able to shift to a fully remote company in 2016
• Ways the structure and process of EOS helped One Firefly prepare for the challenges that came with COVID-19

This week's home automation podcast features our host Ron Callis interviewing Marc Fulker. Recorded live on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

About Marc Fulker

Based out of Melbourne, Australia, Marc started Greenstar Technologies in 2011 after spending 10 years working as an electrician in the residential and industrial sectors.

Today, Greenstar Technologies consists of a team of nine staff members, has been a Control4 dealer since 2016, and just recently opened a beautiful new showroom and office space in their central Melbourne location.

Interview Recap

• The state of COVID-19 in the country of Australia
• How Marc was able to use his showroom to change the customer experience dynamic
• Marc's transition from an electrician to the home automation space
• We even got a video tour of his new showroom which is featured on our One Firefly Facebook page