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Host Tim Van Woeart of Rutgers University discusses topics relevant to the commercial AV industry.
Episodi & Post
Episodi
Post
16 FEB 2026 · In this HETMA Takeover episode of The AV Life, the hosts welcome leadership from the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) to preview this year’s highly anticipated virtual conference. The discussion highlights HETMA surpassing 10,000 members and the continued growth of its free, community-driven professional development model.
Panelists outline key sessions including accessible AV design, overcoming higher ed AV challenges, AV over IP, AI in AV, Wi-Fi and cloud-based assistive listening, classroom standardization, proactive monitoring, data analytics, digital whiteboards, and evaluating new technology through the HETMA Approved Program.
A recurring theme is the power of the live chat, where peer-to-peer interaction drives deeper learning. The conference’s flexibility, free access, and highly engaged community continue to make it a standout event for higher education AV professionals.
Topics Discussed:
- HETMA surpassing 10,000 members
- Overview of the HETMA Virtual Conference
- Community-driven session development
- Accessible AV design and Flex spaces
- Overcoming higher ed AV budget and infrastructure challenges
- AV over IP trends
- AI in higher ed AV
- Wi-Fi and cloud-based assistive listening systems
- Classroom standardization strategies
- Proactive monitoring and single-pane-of-glass management
- Data analytics for upgrade and lifecycle decisions
- Digital whiteboards and faculty adoption challenges
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
9 FEB 2026 · Recorded live during ISE in Barcelona, this episode captures the energy, exhaustion, and excitement of one of the AV industry’s largest global events. Tim Van Woeart and Renee Benson check in with returning guests and surprise cameos from the show floor to discuss scale, planning strategies, emerging themes, and how ISE continues to evolve—especially around collaboration, education technology, and ecosystem-based design. The conversation blends practical advice, industry insight, and classic AV Life spontaneity.
Topics Discussed:
- ISE vs. InfoComm Experience
- The Importance of Strategic Show Planning
- ISE’s Massive Growth and Expansion
- Information Overload and Conference Fatigue
- Ecosystem Thinking and Industry Collaboration
- Solution-Focused Booths and Cross-Manufacturer Collaboration
- Education Technology at ISE
- Show Floor Culture and Spontaneity
- Awards and Innovation Highlights
- The Human Side of Trade Shows
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
2 FEB 2026 · In this episode of The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Renee Benson kick off February with a wide-ranging discussion focused on the current and future state of higher education AV. The conversation covers ISE travel and expectations, the need for truly innovative new AV products, and how professional conferences continue to shape the industry.
The hosts highlight upcoming HETMA initiatives, including the free HETMA Virtual Conference and the Higher Ed AV Awards, emphasizing community-driven education and recognition. They also explore leadership lessons, professional development, and the importance of stepping away to recharge.
A significant portion of the discussion addresses declining enrollment, institutional mergers, budget pressures, and how these challenges directly impact AV teams. The episode balances realism with optimism, reinforcing the value of connection, learning, and supporting one another within the higher ed AV community.
Topics Discussed:
- ISE travel and industry expectations
- Demand for meaningful AV product innovation
- HETMA Virtual Conference overview
- Higher Ed AV Awards and Education Summit
- Leadership styles and organizational culture
- Professional development and graduate education
- Enrollment decline and demographic trends
- Financial pressures and institutional mergers
- International student enrollment impact
- Immersive experiences and The Sphere
- Conference season planning (InfoComm, E4, CDW)
- Wellness, burnout, and self-care in AV
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
26 GEN 2026 · In this wide-ranging and candid episode of The AV Life Podcast, the panel dives headfirst into 2026 predictions for the AV industry, blending humor, hard truths, and lived experience. The conversation opens with reflections on lifelong learning and leadership, sparked by Tim Van Woeart’s return to graduate school and a broader discussion on how experience reshapes perspective in management and higher education.
From there, the group tackles industry turbulence—including mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, and vendor consolidation—while examining how trade shows like ISE and InfoComm are evolving under budget pressure and shifting priorities. Panelists debate the real impact of AI in AV, pushing back on hype and emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human judgment, collaboration, and empathy.
The episode also explores post-COVID realities, including rushed deployments, looming refresh cycles, and the need to “do it right” the second time around. Along the way, listeners are treated to classic AV Life banter, project-management wisdom, and a reminder that in uncertain times, community, kindness, and authenticity matter more than ever.
Topics Discussed:
- 2026 predictions for the AV industry
- Leadership development and adult learning
- AI hype vs. real-world AV applications
- Layoffs, mergers, and market consolidation
- Trade show strategy: ISE, InfoComm, CES
- Higher education AV post-COVID refresh cycles
- Generational differences in the workplace
- Project management fundamentals
- Vendor ecosystems and community building
- The human element in technology decisions
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
19 GEN 2026 · In this debut episode of The AV Life Book Club, the team dives deep into The AV Project Manager Handbook with its author, Murphy Daley, exploring what it really takes to manage successful AV projects. From the importance of industry standards and CAD documentation to meeting agendas, scope control, and lessons learned, this conversation highlights why project management is more than just schedules and spreadsheets.
Murphy shares the origin story of the book, born from years of real-world experience and writing for the AV community, while Tim and Chi bring practical perspectives from higher education and enterprise AV environments. Together, they unpack how documentation builds trust with trades, why agendas and summaries matter more than AI-generated meeting notes, and how tracking effort, time, and scope protects both teams and projects.
This episode sets the tone for future Book Club discussions and invites listeners to help shape what’s next—reinforcing the AV Life philosophy of always be learning.
Topics Discussed:
- Launching The AV Life Book Club and plans for future reader participation
- The origin and purpose of The AV Project Manager Handbook
- Why AV project management needs structure and standards
- Using AVIXA and CAD standards to communicate with architects and trades
- AV’s role as the “last trade” and why documentation matters
- Meeting agendas, note-taking, and action items as PM essentials
- Why AI meeting summaries aren’t enough for real project control
- Scope of Work vs. Statement of Work (SOW) and managing scope creep
- Level of effort, labor estimation, and resource planning
- Lessons learned, archiving, and continuous improvement
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
12 GEN 2026 · This episode of The AV Life reflects on major milestones in higher education AV while looking ahead to the future of the industry. Host Tim Van Woeart celebrates his 15-year anniversary in higher ed AV, sharing lessons learned, career growth, and the importance of people skills alongside technology. The conversation spotlights Chi Hang Lo, who was nominated for AV Professional of the Year by AV Nation, highlighting his servant leadership, technical vision, and dedication to mentoring his team.
The group discusses transformative projects such as UCLA’s cloud-first AV systems, the evolution of classroom technology, and how cloud infrastructure, AI, and agile methodologies are shaping the next generation of learning environments. Broader industry changes—including leadership transitions, recognition of higher ed innovation, and predictions for the next 15 years—round out a reflective yet forward-looking conversation centered on collaboration, innovation, and community.
Topics discussed:
- Tim Van Woeart’s 15-year anniversary in higher ed AV
- Chi Hang Lo’s AV Professional of the Year nomination
- Servant leadership and team-focused recognition
- Cloud-first AV system design at UCLA
- Agile and scrum methodologies in AV projects
- Evolution of classroom technology over the past decade
- AI’s role in AV analytics and learning environments
- Smart campuses and integrated systems
- Industry recognition of higher ed AV innovation
- Leadership transitions and industry transformation
- Predictions for the next 15 years of AV and higher ed
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
22 DIC 2025 · In this annual holiday party episode of The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson (Sony Electronics), and Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam) are joined by a wide-ranging group of higher education and AV industry professionals for an informal but insightful year-in-review conversation. Guests reflect on professional milestones such as promotions, job changes, awards, staffing challenges, and major personal moments, including new parents and career recognitions.
The discussion highlights the evolving higher ed AV landscape, from workforce shortages and equipment lifecycle planning to the growing impact of organizations like HETMA and major industry events such as ISE, InfoComm, and regional roadshows. The group also touches on industry acquisitions, travel demands, work-life balance, and the importance of community within AV. The episode wraps with lighthearted holiday debates, traditions, and must-watch seasonal movies, closing out 2025 with humor, gratitude, and optimism for the year ahead.
Topics discussed:
- End-of-year reflections and career milestones
- Higher education AV staffing challenges
- Promotions, job transitions, and professional growth
- HETMA initiatives, roadshows, and community building
- Major AV industry events (ISE, InfoComm, MCUAV)
- Industry acquisitions and market shifts
- Work-life balance and travel demands in AV roles
- Equipment reliability and classroom technology planning
- Mentorship and onboarding new AV professionals
- Holiday traditions and pop-culture debates in the AV community
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
15 DIC 2025 · In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woert is joined by Renee Benson, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley for a candid, year-end conversation about the hectic fourth quarter in AV and higher education. The team discusses extreme workloads, slipping project timelines, unusual product lead times, and the pressure to stay constantly available for customers and campus needs.
Renee and Nancy share insights into navigating unlimited PTO, leadership expectations, and setting boundaries while maintaining strong customer relationships. Murphy offers a “PM Minute,” emphasizing returning to fundamentals when projects stall. The group also talks about higher ed purchasing delays, an upcoming Sony Bravia model shift, international travel for ISE, and Murphy’s soon-to-be-released AV project management book.
Topics Discussed:
- Year-end workload spikes and burnout
- Unlimited PTO and real-world expectations
- Setting customer and leadership boundaries
- Higher ed purchasing delays and dragged-out project timelines
- Lead times, shipping slowdowns, and Amazon delays
- Sony Bravia model changes approaching ISE/InfoComm
- Travel demands and AV industry event schedules
- Using PM fundamentals when projects stall
- Work–life balance during the holidays
- Decorating, family time, and personal downtime
- Murphy Daley’s upcoming AV PM handbook
- Inviting younger AV professionals to share their industry experience
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
8 DIC 2025 · In this post-Thanksgiving installment, Tim Van Woeart welcomes back co-host Murphy Daley for a warm, funny, and wide-ranging conversation. The pair catch up on holiday adventures (mashed potatoes, cranberries, Instant pots, olives, pickles, and more), reflect on the December HETMA theme—Productive Rest, and dive deep into collaboration, planning, and communication in AV and IT work.
As always, Tim and Murphy mix personal storytelling with professional insight—discussing everything from grad school applications, stocking-stuffer hacks, 3D printing, and de-cluttering, to setting boundaries, project management habits, and community building. The episode wraps with a call to action for the HETMA Prism Scholarship and a look ahead to the upcoming AV Life Holiday Party.
Topics Discussed:
- Thanksgiving Recap & Holiday Food Adventures
- Holiday Logistics & Family Patterns
- Productive Rest: December HETMA Theme
- Collaboration as a Skill & Necessity
- Lessons Learned & Communication Style Differences
- Tim’s Grad School Application
- Book Club & Community Enrichment Ideas
- Decluttering, Resetting, and Routines
- Holiday Planning, Stocking Stuffers & Five Below Hacks
- Prism Scholarship Call to Action
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
1 DIC 2025 · In this special solo episode, Tim sits down—crewless but full-hearted—to open December’s HETMA Road to 10K theme: Productive Rest. After dedicating the episode to his late colleague Steve Smith, he reflects on burnout, seasonal chaos, family life, and why AV pros need to set healthy boundaries during the busiest time of year.
He also shares updates on the upcoming AV Life Holiday Party, teases a big January anniversary episode, and reminds everyone to mark their calendars for the 2026 HETMA Virtual Conference. A short but meaningful check-in before the holiday whirlwind begins.
Topics Discussed:
- HETMA's December Theme – Productive Rest
- Holiday-Season Overload Holiday
- Higher Ed End-of-Semester Chaos
- The Power of Saying “No”
- AV Life Holiday Party (Dec 16) Invitation
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoea
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Host Tim Van Woeart of Rutgers University discusses topics relevant to the commercial AV industry.
Informazioni
| Autore | Joe Way, PhD, CTS |
| Organizzazione | Higher Ed AV Media |
| Categorie | Tecnologia |
| Sito | www.spreaker.com |
| theavlife@higheredav.com |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
