Megan A. Dutta is a technology journalist, who puts her passion for the audiovisual industry on each and every page, whether print or digital. Dutta is currently the director of emerging markets at THE rAVe Agency where she explores new technologies like extended reality (XR). In her role, Dutta uses rAVe’s LAVNCH platform to investigate emerging trends while bringing new knowledge to the pro AV community and beyond.

Gary Kayye is a co-founder of rAVe [PUBS] and the director of THE rAVe Agency, the AV industry’s only creative agency. Also a teaching assistant professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, Gary has a longstanding history in AV — more than 25 years — in roles like VP of sales and marketing for Extron and executive VP at AMX (now Harman); he is an expert in technology marketing and branding.

Tom LeBlanc, NSCA’s executive director, has supported the integration market since 2003. As editorial director of Commercial Integrator from 2010 to 2019 and in various roles at CE Pro before that, he specialized in developing content to help integration firms improve their businesses. At NSCA, LeBlanc is focused on sharing NSCA success stories and resources aimed at improving members’ businesses.

Tom Stimson is a Business Advisor, Coach, and Speaker who works exclusively with hands-on owners and management teams that want to improve their decision-making and elevate their strategic thinking. Now more than ever, Strategy will separate the Thrivers from the Survivors. Learn More at TRSTIMSON.COM

As senior principal and director of the WorkPlace practice at HOK, Kay Sargent uses her more than 35 years of experience to shape workplace design and strategy. Also serving on the AVIXA Board of Directors among other boards, she’s supported organizations in various locations and functions to help define how, when and where people work with technology.

Alesia Hendley is an AV professional that found her passion at a young age as a sound engineer with her Father’s church. In the early stages of the church’s foundation they couldn’t afford musicians. By utilizing different audiovisual technologies she and her Father found creative ways to go higher both musically and spiritually, taking the congregation with them. Now you can find her operating/installing audiovisual systems or executing creative ventures. As a young professional she’s finding ways to bring AV, creatives, and creative visions together in the effort to leave her mark by making an impact, and not just an impression.

Dawna Payne has been a leader in the technology industry for over 20 years.  Her career has spanned over several industries from automotive, to digital printing to travelling across Texas opening restaurants but an accidental and unexpected opportunity into the Audio Video industry turned her  work into a love for technology and has led her down an amazing path of learning and successes.

Dawna currently works for Texadia Systems in Dallas as the Executive Vice President overseeing HR, Marketing, Finance and Operations.  She has spent most of her career helping companies develop and drive business strategies, creating processes and procedures and a passion for helping employees learn their potential in developing, mentoring and coaching employee career paths.

She believes seeing a company grow and prosper is one thing – Seeing the people grow is what makes it all worthwhile.