CE Pro Podcast

CE Pro

Interviews addressing the business needs of professional integrators serving the small and midsize business (SMB) market.

  1. 10 Jul

    CE Pro Podcast #176: Daryl Friedman Reflects on CEDIA Legacy and the Future of Custom Integration

    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 believes technology integration will soon be viewed as an essential trade alongside electrical and HVAC work. He also shares his favorite CEDIA Expo memories, advice for his successor, and what he hopes his lasting legacy will be.

  2. 7 Jul

    CE Pro Podcast #175: Why Top Smart Home Manufacturers Keep Betting Big on CEDIA Expo 2026

    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 attendee feedback is shaping the event, and why hands-on experiences continue to matter in an AI-driven world.

  3. 9 Jun

    CE Pro Podcast #174: Sonance CEO Ari Supran and How the Custom Integration Channel is Using AI

    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 AI adoption and how newer agentic tools like Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Codex are enabling users to delegate work instead of simply generating answers. He discusses practical examples of AI organizing files, analyzing documents, building dashboards, creating custom business applications, and even acting as a digital coworker. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI agents, the importance of open APIs and software integrations, and why Supran believes custom integration firms have a unique opportunity to build purpose-driven tools tailored to their own operations. Along the way, he shares lessons Sonance has learned from deploying AI across the organization and offers advice for integrators looking to move beyond basic AI use cases. Whether you're just getting started with AI or already experimenting with automation and custom tools, this discussion provides a practical look at where AI is headed and how integration businesses can prepare for what's next.

  4. 28 May

    CE Pro Podcast # 173: Inside CEDIA Expo 2026 Education - AI, Lighting, Wellness & the Future of Smart Homes

    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 collaborative, design-build-focused business centered around wellness, lighting, cybersecurity, AI, power management, and recurring revenue. Topics include: Why AI is now embedded across nearly every education track How lighting and shading are becoming core business opportunities The growing importance of cybersecurity in the connected home Why integrators need deeper collaboration with architects and designers Power management education and communicating value to homeowners Operational maturity, service contracts, and recurring revenue strategies The future of wellness-focused smart homes According to CEDIA, AI-related discussions are expected to touch nearly every session at Expo 2026, while dedicated lighting and shading education tracks reflect growing homeowner demand for human-centric experiences and seamless technology integration. CEDIA Expo 2026 takes place in Denver, Sept. 1-4.

  5. 15 May

    Inside Buzz Ep. 17: Bob Schuppe of Resolute Design Group on What’s Next in Smart Home Integration

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

  6. 7 May

    CE Pro Podcast #172: CEDIA's Advocacy on Capitol Hill

    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 code for "Technology Integrator" within the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), responding to recent scrutiny of routers made outside the U.S., and more.

  7. 1 May

    Inside Buzz Ep. 16: Clayton Ginn of Monitor Audio on High‑Performance Sound & Modern Applications

    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.

  8. 3 Apr

    Inside Buzz Ep. 15: Adam Eberhardt of Resolute Design Group on Lighting Control & Smart Home Design

    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 residential projects - and how homeowners are thinking beyond traditional AV. Adam also shares insights on educating clients, coordinating with architects and designers, and navigating shifting technologies like PoE shading, cloud‑based systems, and network‑heavy homes. From multifunction entertainment spaces to wellness‑driven bathrooms, Adam highlights the trends reshaping how people experience their homes.

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About

Interviews addressing the business needs of professional integrators serving the small and midsize business (SMB) market.

Information

  • Creator
    CE Pro
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    186
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CE Pro Podcast
  • Show Website
    CE Pro Podcast

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