AV/IT Amplifier

Ryan Gray

Higher education institutions rely on audio-visual (AV) and information technology (IT) solutions as a key backbone for modern teaching and learning. The AV/IT industry plays a critical role in providing these solutions, and it is important to highlight the latest trends, innovations, and perspectives in this sector. The podcast “The AV/IT Amplifier” aims to fill this gap by featuring interviews with people from Higher Education Institutions and the AV/IT Industry who have an idea, concept, perspective, event or product that would be helpful or interesting to the target audience of higher education technology managers. The host of the podcast is Ryan Gray, Assistant Director of IT at Yavapai College. “The AV/IT Amplifier” podcast will have a bi-monthly schedule with two recordings per month, each being split in half to provide for weekly episodes. Each episode will be targeted for 30 minutes to be about the length of an average commute. The first half of each recording will focus on the primary topic for that guest, while the second half will be a profile of the person. The podcast will not only focus on technical topics but also on non-technical ones such as effective people management, pedagogy, community building, building a personal brand, career planning, professional development and other similar topics for our audience. The split episode format allows for a dive into the topic and the opportunity to get to know the person and perhaps draw the connections between why that topic is so important to that guest.

  1. 138: I Don't Wanna Be The Cheesey Boy with Philipp Gude

    4d ago

    138: I Don't Wanna Be The Cheesey Boy with Philipp Gude

    This week on the AV/IT Amplifier, Ryan continues the conversation with Philipp Gude of GUDE Systems, moving beyond the product conversation and into the people, personality, and philosophy behind the company. The episode starts with the most important technical matter of all: how exactly Americans are supposed to pronounce “Gude,” why “good” works just fine, and how quickly a strong product name can become a full episode worth of puns. From there, Ryan and Philipp get into the energy of InfoComm, what it means to make a traditionally dry category like power management feel engaging, and why smart power is more than just something sitting in the bottom of a rack. Philipp talks about working in a family company, his path through engineering, IT, and sales, the pride and responsibility of having his name on every product, and why his confidence in GUDE comes not just from the engineering team, but from the feedback he hears every day from customers. The conversation also wanders, in the best possible way, through Cologne, German beer, factory tours, grilled salami and gouda sandwiches, the future film Mr. Strom, and the value of creating enough trust that people will tell you the truth. Topics discussed The difference between saying GUDE in German and saying “good” for English speaking customers. How GUDE’s slogan, “good, great, GUDE,” turns the company name into a natural brand advantage. The danger and delight of making too many power management puns. Why AV and IT people often build big public systems while personally preferring to stay in the background. Philipp’s answer to whether he is an introvert or an extrovert: both, depending on role and day. InfoComm as an exhausting but energizing week for people who thrive on connection. Making power management feel more engaging without losing sight of how serious and important it is. Philipp’s unexpected path into the family business after work in chemical industry, IT, engineering, and technical sales. What it feels like to sell a product that literally carries your family name. Why Philipp says his confidence in GUDE comes from customer feedback as much as from knowing the engineering team. GUDE’s firmware being built from scratch and the value of knowing what is actually inside the product. Cologne, the Cologne Cathedral, German beer, and why ordering “a beer” may be the right move in Germany. The imagined movie of Philipp’s life: Mr. Power, or better, Mr. Strom. The best sandwich question, answered with grilled salami and gouda. The importance of blunt, honest feedback from customers, colleagues, and team members. How assumptions about family businesses can miss the real story of how someone started. Where to connect with Philipp and GUDE Systems. InfoComm booth details and HETMA member show floor tours. Connect with Philipp Gude https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-gude-pdu/ https://gude-systems.com Connect with Ryan https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Voiceover by Chris Dechter Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    35 min
  2. 137: Reliable as F*** with Philipp Gude

    Jun 3

    137: Reliable as F*** with Philipp Gude

    In this episode of The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast, Ryan Gray sits down with Philipp Gude of GUDE Systems during the final run up to InfoComm 2026. Philipp shares the story of GUDE as a family company, founded by his father more than 35 years ago, and explains how that structure shapes the company’s approach to decision making, long term investment, and customer relationships. The conversation quickly moves beyond power distribution as a product category and into the operational realities of higher education AV, where reliability, remote rebooting, standardization, and human support all become part of the same equation. GUDE will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas at booth C1706, where the company plans to showcase smart IP power solutions for AV and IT infrastructures.     Ryan and Philipp also talk about the reputational nature of the AV industry, the value of HETMA Approved testing, and why feedback from actual higher education colleagues often matters more than a logo, spec sheet, or certification alone. Philipp previews smaller NEMA 5 15 PDUs, smart UPS products, vertical PDUs, remote reboot tools, open REST API support, plug and play drivers for platforms like Crestron, Q SYS, and Extron, and self healing watchdog functionality. The episode closes with a wider conversation about GUDE’s global reach, German manufacturing, US availability, international power standards, and how HETMA can build European presence by partnering with existing regional communities rather than trying to force a duplicate model into a place where strong networks already exist. Topics Discussed InfoComm 2026 preparation and why the show matters to the AV industryPhilipp Gude’s role with GUDE SystemsGUDE as a family company founded more than 35 years agoSmart PDUs, power management, and power protection for AV environmentsWhy family company decision making can move faster than large corporate processesPeople first supplier relationships and the importance of access to real humansThe reputational nature of the AV industryHETMA Approved testing and real campus feedbackReliability, remote rebooting, and reducing unnecessary campus truck rollsInfoComm previews including compact NEMA 5 15 PDUs, smart UPS products, and vertical PDUsCampus standardization and AV systems becoming more like enterprise IT deploymentsOpen REST API support and integration with control and monitoring platformsSelf healing watchdog functionality and reducing trouble tickets before users notice issuesWorking across 120 volt and 230 volt power environmentsGUDE’s US presence, US stock, and NEMA 5 15 and NEMA 5 20 productsHETMA’s European growth opportunitiesPartnering with existing higher education technology organizationsUsing university case studies and presentations to create value across regionsThe human side of AV technology partnershipsThe upcoming deeper dive into GUDE gear and InfoComm coveragePhilipp's Post as discussed: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/philipp-gude-pdu_proav-avtweeps-activity-7463223348601290752-ni3n Connect with Philipp Gude https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-gude-pdu/ https://gude-systems.com Connect with Ryan https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Voiceover by Chris Dechter Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    30 min
  3. 136: You Never Go Full Bald with Chris Kelly

    May 6

    136: You Never Go Full Bald with Chris Kelly

    Chris Kelly returns to The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast for week two with Ryan Gray, and the conversation picks up right where the first one left off: part Higher Ed AV Media strategy, part neurodivergent team therapy session, part comedy riff about baldness, gifts, and why some people should absolutely not be forced to sing an improvised jingle on command. Chris, Senior IT Support Specialist at Creighton University, HETMA Advisory Board Chair, and Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media, talks about his role supporting volunteer contributors, helping build consistency, and creating a structure that encourages people rather than making creative work feel like punishment. Ryan and Chris also get into the very real tension between spontaneity and planning, and why authentic collaboration often works best when people are not wired the same way. The conversation moves from HETMA and Higher Ed AV Media into broader reflections on workplace communication, neurodivergence, podcasting, and the vulnerability behind even simple questions like asking someone how they are doing. Along the way, Chris explains his state high point hiking project, Ryan tries to force a Higher Ed AV Media jingle into existence, and the two land on one of the great philosophical questions of our time: what separates someone who is authentically bald from someone who is merely playing bald? By the end, Chris revisits his previous sign off and updates it into something that fits both his own work and the larger HETMA community: “Stay curious and get connected.” Topics Discussed Chris Kelly’s role as Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV MediaSupporting volunteer contributors without making deadlines feel punitiveNeurodivergence, procrastination, planning, and creative workHow Ryan and Chris’s different working styles complement each otherBuilding teams around difference rather than samenessCamera gestures, Zoom delay, and the lived reality of using classroom technologyThe possibility of a Higher Ed AV Media jingleChris’s state high point bucket list and upcoming Arizona visitGift giving, social expectations, and practical decision makingBaldness, authenticity, and Chris’s updated catchphrase: “Stay curious and get connected” Connect with Chris Kelly content@higheredav.com content@hetma.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kelly-272155122/ Connect with Ryan @Ryan_A_Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Show Links Higher Ed AV Media: https://www.higheredav.com HETMA: https://www.hetma.org HETMA Community: https://community.hetma.org HETMA Roadshow at Creighton: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/omaha-roadshow-at-creighton-university-tickets-1602948595399?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Voiceover by Chris Dechter Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    34 min
  4. 135: The Managing Editor with Chris Kelly

    Apr 29

    135: The Managing Editor with Chris Kelly

    Chris Kelly returns to The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast for a conversation about media, volunteerism, accessibility, and what it means to help amplify voices across the higher education AV community. Chris, Senior IT Support Specialist at Creighton University, HETMA Advisory Board Chair, and newly announced Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media, talks with host Ryan Gray about how his deep engagement with higher ed AV content eventually turned into a larger role helping shape, edit, and support the platform itself. This episode is also a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a volunteer-driven media ecosystem alive. Ryan and Chris talk about the difference between polished corporate media and authentic peer-to-peer storytelling, the importance of making content creation less intimidating, and the many ways people can contribute without needing to be a professional writer, podcaster, or media personality. From accessibility and DEI to event recaps, campus profiles, content intake forms, and the search for a clear Higher Ed AV Media tagline, the conversation is ultimately an invitation for more people to step in, share what they know, and help tell the stories of the community. Topics Discussed • Chris Kelly returning as a standalone guest on The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast • Chris’s role as Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media • His claim to having consumed nearly the full Higher Ed AV Media podcast catalog • The value of being a voracious listener and reader before helping shape content • Why accessibility helped pull Chris deeper into the media side of the work • How volunteer organizations create opportunities for people who step forward • Ways people can contribute without needing to be the face of a podcast or article • The difference between authentic peer content and polished corporate media • Why Higher Ed AV Media needs a clear slogan or tagline • Chris’s Empowered by Design column and the challenge of writing regularly Connect with Chris content@hetma.org content@higheredav.com Creighton University HETMA Advisory Board Chair Managing Editor, Higher Ed AV Media Connect with Ryan @Ryan_A_Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Show Links Higher Ed AV Media: https://www.higheredav.com HETMA: https://www.hetma.org HETMA Community: https://community.hetma.org Voiceover by Chris Dechter Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    35 min
  5. 134: They Don't Sit in the Classroom Like I Do with Mike McHugh

    Apr 1

    134: They Don't Sit in the Classroom Like I Do with Mike McHugh

    Mike McHugh is back for Part 2, and this half of the conversation opens up into something bigger than a technical discussion. Ryan and Mike talk about what it really takes to stay current in a field that never stops moving, from relying on trusted partners and professional communities to making room, when possible, for demos, articles, and the constant work of learning. They also dig into AV over IP, not as a buzzword or blanket answer, but as one tool among many that has to be weighed against cost, scale, reliability, and the real needs of a particular space. From there, the episode shifts into another side of Mike’s work that says a lot about who he is. In addition to his role in ITS media at Goshen University, he has spent years teaching first year students in courses centered on identity, community, career, and calling. That teaching experience has given him a different kind of credibility when talking with faculty and administrators about learning spaces, and it also reveals the throughline in Mike’s approach to the job: thoughtful service, lived experience, and a willingness to keep growing. The conversation closes with a glimpse into an upcoming May term in Maui, where Mike will lead students in a recovery focused learning experience connected to rebuilding efforts in Lahaina. Topics Discussed How Mike stays current as technology, standards, and expectations keep changingThe value of trusted integrators, dealers, webinars, forums, and professional organizationsWhy carved out time for professional learning is hard to protectHow Goshen University is thinking about AV over IP on a room by room basisWhy “future proofing” often turns out to be more like “future delaying”The difference between how spaces are imagined in design meetings and how they are actually usedWhy relationships and institutional trust matter so much in design and renovation workMike’s role teaching first year students in Goshen’s required core curriculumHow teaching has strengthened his credibility with faculty and administratorsMike’s upcoming May term in Maui tied to disaster recovery work in LahainaConnect with Mike LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecsm/ Connect with Ryan @Ryan_A_Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Voiceover by Chris Dechter Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    32 min
  6. 133: It Might Just Be Future Mike with Mike McHugh

    Mar 25

    133: It Might Just Be Future Mike with Mike McHugh

    In Episode 133 of AV/IT Amplifier, Ryan Gray talks with Mike McHugh of Goshen College about what it means to build a career, and a legacy, at a small institution where everybody knows everybody and the work is always personal. Mike shares what it has been like to spend more than two decades at a 900 student college in northern Indiana, doing everything from classroom technology support and system design to campus events, athletic streaming, video, and recording. The conversation gets at something a lot of higher ed AV people will recognize right away: when the school is small, the team is small, and the mission is clear, the job becomes a constant balancing act between capacity, creativity, relationships, and service. What makes this episode especially strong is how naturally it moves between practical AV work and the deeper human side of the profession. Mike talks about revisiting systems he built decades earlier, realizing that the “future somebody” who has to deal with those decisions might just be him. He reflects on community, consistency, and stepping into new ways of contributing, from running for leadership in ETC to helping bring stability and follow through to The AV Life. This is a conversation about institutional memory, saying yes when students are at the center of the ask, and what it looks like to keep showing up for the long haul. Topics Discussed Working in higher ed AV at a small private collegeWearing multiple hats across classrooms, events, athletics, and mediaHow small campus culture changes the way AV work gets doneThe upside and pressure of being known across an institutionRevisiting and replacing systems you built years earlierThe difference between building for “future somebody” and building for “future Mike”Finding professional community through ETC, HETMA, and Higher Ed AV MediaMoving from membership to leadership in professional organizationsWhat consistency and follow through mean in media and podcast productionHow behind the scenes contributions create visible resultsConnect with Mike LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecsm/ Connect with Ryan @Ryan_A_Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Voiceover by Chris Dechter Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    31 min

  7. Feb 25

    Special: HETMA Presents... Live Keynote from the HETMA Virtual Conference

    Recorded live as the Friday keynote on Day 3 of the HETMA Virtual Conference, this AV/IT Amplifier crosspost pulls a fast moving hybrid conversation from sister show HETMA Presents, combining #Roadto10K and This Month in Higher Ed AV into one session. Host Ryan Gray is joined by Britt Yenser, Tim Van Woeart, and Gina Sansivero to unpack the month’s community theme, Time to Level Up, and get specific about what leveling up actually looks like in real careers, real teams, and real life.  The first half is personal and practical: leadership shifts, classroom design growth, mentoring, self awareness about learning styles, and the uncomfortable reality that documentation and continuity can feel emotional because it forces us to admit we will not be in the role forever. The second half pivots into a timely industry conversation sparked by a UK trade piece that framed education AV spend as wasteful and trend driven, followed by an AVWeek discussion and a HETMA board response op ed. The panel digs into why the framing landed as dismissive, why collapsing K 12 and higher ed into one story produces bad conclusions, and why higher ed AV decisions are shaped by governance, accessibility, security, procurement, and lifecycle realities, not shiny object chasing.      Articles Discussed: Original article: https://www.avinteractive.com/news/systems-design-integration/are-educational-institutions-wasting-their-money-on-av-14-01-2026/ Discussion on AVWeek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FLQnVhkwlA HETMA response op ed: https://www.avnation.tv/2026/02/04/oped-higher-ed-is-not-wasting-money-on-av-but-we-are-tired-of-being-talked-down-to/ Join the conversation at community.hetma.org Host: Ryan Gray LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ Panel: Britt Yenser LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt-yenser/ Tim Van Woeart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/ Gina Sansivero LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-sansivero/ This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

    58 min
  8. 132: The AV Nerd with Tom Segers

    Feb 18

    132: The AV Nerd with Tom Segers

    Ryan is back on the ISE 2026 show floor for Part 2 with Tom Segers, an AV professional supporting Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium across multiple campuses. Tom shares what it looks like when a hobby becomes a career, and why being detail minded is not just a personality trait, it is survival in higher ed AV. From WhatsApp culture in Europe to the very real complexity of LED walls, 4K workflows, and teacher friendly BYOD realities, this episode stays practical and human. It ends on a simple truth that will feel familiar to anyone in our line of work: if nobody is calling, that might be the best news you get all week. Topics Discussed Supporting seven campuses with a small AV teamWhen your hobby becomes your jobThe value and downside of being detail mindedCommunication habits and coordination in EuropeWhatsApp as an operational tool at eventsWhat it really takes to make an LED wall succeed in teaching spacesPower, input, and workflow surprises with LED deploymentsThe gap between BYOD policy and BYOD realityDuplicate vs extend mode issues in real classroomsWhy lack of complaints can be a success metric in AVConnect with Tom Segers: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-segers-19b89676/ Connect with Ryan @Ryan_A_Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ ryan@higheredav.com Voiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know! This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

    29 min
See All (140)

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Higher education institutions rely on audio-visual (AV) and information technology (IT) solutions as a key backbone for modern teaching and learning. The AV/IT industry plays a critical role in providing these solutions, and it is important to highlight the latest trends, innovations, and perspectives in this sector. The podcast “The AV/IT Amplifier” aims to fill this gap by featuring interviews with people from Higher Education Institutions and the AV/IT Industry who have an idea, concept, perspective, event or product that would be helpful or interesting to the target audience of higher education technology managers. The host of the podcast is Ryan Gray, Assistant Director of IT at Yavapai College. “The AV/IT Amplifier” podcast will have a bi-monthly schedule with two recordings per month, each being split in half to provide for weekly episodes. Each episode will be targeted for 30 minutes to be about the length of an average commute. The first half of each recording will focus on the primary topic for that guest, while the second half will be a profile of the person. The podcast will not only focus on technical topics but also on non-technical ones such as effective people management, pedagogy, community building, building a personal brand, career planning, professional development and other similar topics for our audience. The split episode format allows for a dive into the topic and the opportunity to get to know the person and perhaps draw the connections between why that topic is so important to that guest.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Gray
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ryan Gray
  • Show Website
    AV/IT Amplifier

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