In this special edition of Chair to Chair, Erin Maher-Moran sits down with Joe Way (UCLA; HETMA co-founder; Higher Ed AV Media founder) to unpack two major recognitions: induction into SCN’s Hall of Fame and inclusion in a Top 100 innovators and entrepreneurs list. Joe frames the awards as bigger than personal accolades—signals that higher ed AV’s voice is increasingly being treated as a peer in the wider industry, and a reminder of how much progress the community has made in earning its seat at the table. From there, the conversation turns into an honest reflection on what innovation actually looks like in practice: taking risks, learning business fundamentals, leveraging relationships, and building teams with complementary strengths. Joe also digs into mentorship, trust, and legacy—why doors get held open, why people still have to walk through them, and why the most meaningful impact is measured in the people who grow beyond your shadow. The episode closes with Joe’s focus on a next chapter theme: letting go—not just delegating, but truly creating space for others to lead. Topics Discussed What Joe’s SCN Hall of Fame recognition represents for higher ed AV’s standing in the broader industry Why awards matter (and why they don’t), especially for credibility inside institutions The role of timing, institutional context, and “stars aligning” in career growth Joe’s approach to innovation: risk tolerance, iteration, and embracing failure as tuition A blunt take on innovation in commercial AV and why that creates opportunity for leaders who push Mentorship as intentional giving back—and as a long-term leadership multiplier Building trust and loyalty: ambition, visibility, and genuine care for others’ success Legacy in two places at once: UCLA transformation and community-wide influence through HETMA HETMA’s evolution from a focused gap-filler to a durable organization that outgrows its founders What’s next: letting go, creating bandwidth, and redirecting energy into lifting others up Join the conversation at community.hetma.org.Erin Maher-MoranEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-maher-moran/Joe WayWeb: https://www.josiahway.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/josiahwayX (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/josiahwayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahwayThis show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

The Road to 10K kicks off 2026 with a theme that hits right where higher ed AV/IT teams actually live: the calendar turns, the mission stays the same, and the real work is recommitting with fresh intention. Ryan Gray is joined by Atkins Fleming (Texas State University, HETMA Treasurer), Erin Maher-Moran (Johns Hopkins University, HETMA Chair), and Scott Sanders (Sennheiser) for a wide-ranging conversation about what New Year’s motivation looks like when your environment is moving faster than your planning cycles.The group digs into the tension between short-term execution and long-term direction: quarterly realities vs five- and ten-year roadmaps, stable standards vs best-in-class experiences, and the difference between working hard and actually moving forward. Along the way, they get practical about self-care as a professional responsibility (vacation time, boundaries, and culture), how feedback loops can become real KPIs, and why institutional values aren’t what a website says—they’re what leaders reward, fund, and tolerate when risk is involved. The month’s challenge is simple: don’t just start the engines—keep them tuned, aligned, and pointed at the goal.Topics DiscussedJanuary theme framing: Start Your Engines, New Year’s, Same Goal — renewing intention without pretending the mission resetsHow planning horizons are shrinking: yearlong goals vs quarter/semester realitiesThe micro/macro balance in higher ed: semester deliverables while still steering toward five- and ten-year outcomesInstitutional culture as a driver: why some teams prioritize stability and standards, and where innovation can safely liveThe classroom expectation gap: student experience shaped by consumer tech and hospitality-style expectationsTrouble-free vs best-in-class: when standardization is the strategy and when raising the bar is the differentiatorRisk tolerance as the hidden switch: what happens when leaders say they want experimentation but punish failureContinuous assessment: aligning to what leaders actually do (time, money, rewards, discipline), not just stated valuesPerformance management shifts: quarterly coaching conversations and the role of ongoing one-on-onesSelf-care and boundaries as leadership work: scheduling time off proactively, protecting time away, and building redundancy so nobody is “the only one”Keep the conversation going in the HETMA Community: community.hetma.orgConnect with Atkins FlemingEmail: [email protected]: [email protected] with Erin Maher-MoranEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-maher-moran/Connect with Scott SandersEmail: [email protected] Connect with Host (Ryan Gray)Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/Website: www.HigherEdAV.comThis show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

Dropping in the early days of January 2026, this “December 2025” edition intentionally looks backward before it looks ahead—using the turn of the year as a moment to reflect, reset, and reconnect. Instead of a single host monologue, the episode is built around community voice notes: real people sharing their biggest wins, challenges, and surprises from 2025. You’ll hear how relationships, volunteering, and mentorship show up as through-lines across wildly different roles and regions—plus what it looks like to turn hard seasons into forward motion. The episode closes with an open invitation: if you’ve got a win, challenge, surprise, or “here’s what I learned” moment to share, send in a voice note and keep the conversation rolling into the new year. Topics DiscussedYear-end reflection as a professional practice (not just a calendar habit)Relationships as the real work that underpins everything elseGetting involved in community: raising your hand and finding your laneStretching outside your comfort zone as a growth strategyManufacturer/campus partnerships as a two-way ecosystemTurning challenges into clarity and progressBuilding new systems and capabilities on campus (and what it takes)Recognition, awards, and what they represent beyond the trophyMentorship, collaboration, and support as a professional “infrastructure”Road to 10K energy: growing the community by amplifying more voicesJoin the conversation (and share your perspective) at community.hetma.org.Want to be featured on a future episode? Send in a voice note via the widget on HigherEdAV.com.Host: Ryan [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/www.HigherEdAV.comThis show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

In this December episode of HETMA Presents… Chair to Chair, Erin Maher-Moran sits down with John Pfeffer from the University at Buffalo, chair of HETMA’s FlexSpace committee, to explore how a long-running learning space repository can evolve to meet the needs of a growing higher ed AV community. John traces his path from a small K–12 district to leading large-scale classroom technology strategy at SUNY’s University at Buffalo, including his early days running a course management system from a server under his desk and helping build the original technology taxonomy behind FlexSpace. He shares why keeping FlexSpace as an open educational resource matters, and how he’s thinking about partnerships, sustainable architecture, and the reality that any system has to outlast the people who built it. The conversation then shifts into December’s theme of “Yield to Traffic – Productive Rest,” as John and Erin get honest about boundaries, sustainability, and the myth of being “always on” in AV and IT. John reflects on how robust system design has reduced the need for 24/7 firefighting at Buffalo, why meetings and prioritization matter as much as hardware, and how delegation and realism help him avoid trying to be the “do-it-all” person. They connect space design, time management, and career seasons, closing with a reminder that the real measure of productive rest is whether the job is crowding out the moments that matter most with family and loved ones. Topics Discussed:John’s path from K–12 technology director to higher ed at the University at Buffalo. The origin story of FlexSpace and its roots in LSRS-aligned learning space examples. Why keeping FlexSpace as an open, no-cost educational resource is a core value. Treating FlexSpace like product management: catalogs of equipment, users, and spaces at scale. Sustainable systems design at Buffalo and reducing the need for 24/7 classroom “heroics.” Productive rest, meetings, and Patrick Lencioni’s Death by Meeting as a tool for better use of time. Delegation, not trying to be at the center of every purchasing or operational decision. How realistic constraints in physical space mirror the need for realistic expectations of time and energy. Service mindset, faculty partnerships, and knowing when to “yield” and let others take the reins. Looking ahead: the vision for a simpler, widely used FlexSpace that becomes a go-to resource across conferences, roadshows, and campuses. John PfefferEmail: [email protected] Maher-MoranEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-maher-moranJoin the conversation, share your own strategies for productive rest, and connect with HETMA’s community of higher ed AV professionals at community.hetma.org.This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

For December’s theme of productive rest, HETMA brings a special crossover: a Big Think Thursday live stream from the HETMA Community feed, captured on Joe Way’s dock in sunny Southern California. Joe and AVNation’s Tim Albright dig into what it really looks like to rest on purpose when your calendar usually makes you wince. From learning to say no after 30 years of always saying yes, to hacking the Thanksgiving week for maximum recharge with minimal PTO, Tim shares how he protects his time and energy while still showing up for the industry. He also walks through how he applies an 80/20 lens to his weekly to-do list, identifying the one or two non-negotiable tasks each day that genuinely move his personal and professional goals forward—including daily rewrites on a book he’s working to release in 2026.The conversation widens out to travel season and life on the road: balancing plane-time productivity with intentional unplugging through fiction reading and downloaded shows, and why hobbies like golf and Brazilian jiu jitsu become built-in therapy sessions for people who otherwise never stop moving. Along the way, Joe and Tim touch on mentorship, asking for help without feeling like a burden, weather jealousy between California and the Midwest, and a bit of community breaking news around new roles and upcoming HETMA Roadshows. It’s a relaxed, honest episode that models exactly what it’s talking about: making space for rest, connection, and purpose in the middle of a very full life.Topics DiscussedWhy learning to say no is essential for avoiding calendar overloadUsing the Thanksgiving week as a strategic recharge window with minimal PTOApplying an 80/20 framework to weekly planning and daily non-negotiablesCarving out 30 minutes a day for deep work, like book rewrites or career developmentThe difference between technical skills growth and learning to manage and lead peopleOvercoming the discomfort of asking for help and building mentoring relationshipsManaging busy travel seasons by splitting plane time between work and intentional restHow hobbies like golf and Brazilian jiu jitsu force real mental and digital unpluggingWeather, seasons, and the tradeoffs between Midwest snow and Southern California sunshineCommunity moments: job news, HETMA Roadshows, and AVNation’s ongoing partnership with HETMAWant to keep the #Roadto10K momentum going and continue this conversation about productive rest, boundaries, and career growth? Join the community discussion at community.hetma.org.

In this November edition of HETMA Presents… Chair to Chair, host Erin Maher-Moran sits down with HETMA Sponsorship Chair and UC Berkeley AV leader Matt Kaminski to explore the month’s theme: Pit Stop – Grounded Gratitude. Matt traces his unexpected path from ER, pediatrics, and labor-and-delivery nursing in France to becoming an Audio Visual and digital services leader in higher education at UC Berkeley, where he now steers AV and digital strategy for the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society. Along the way, he talks about capital projects, AV over IP, Zoom rooms, and how HETMA became the community where his ideas were finally understood—and validated.The conversation gets deeply personal as Matt shares a recent life-threatening medical emergency that forced him to rethink boundaries, energy, and what “matters most” both at work and at home. From small wins like being invited to the executive table and seeing pilot projects become standards, to big-picture changes in how sponsors engage with higher ed, Matt unpacks what a true “win-win” sponsorship model looks like. He and Erin talk about the power of mentoring, community spaces like happy hours and lunch-and-learns, and how the Sponsorship program is evolving to include not just hardware companies, but the SaaS and AI platforms that now shape our AV/IT ecosystems.Topics DiscussedMatt’s journey from French ER nurse and EMT to AV and digital services leadership at UC BerkeleyHow 9/11 inspired his interest in U.S. emergency response and ultimately led him to BerkeleyMoving from an admin role in the dean’s office into AV, capital projects, and campus-wide digital learning initiativesFinding HETMA as a place for validation, shared struggles, and professional recognitionWhat the HETMA Sponsorship Chair role really entails beyond “getting sponsors”Building sponsor relationships that focus on partnership, feedback, and co-designed solutions instead of end-of-quarter sales pushesA near-fatal health scare in Hawaii and how it reframed his views on work, boundaries, and mental healthPractical habits that keep him grounded: planning a week ahead, making space to decompress, and leaning on community conversationsCelebrating benchmarks in big capital projects and moving from “one step forward, two steps back” to something more sustainableThe future of HETMA sponsorships: including SaaS and AI platforms while keeping the program focused and manageableConnect with Matt KaminskiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthieu-kaminski/Connect with Erin Maher-MoranEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-maher-moran/Join the conversation with the HETMA community at community.hetma.org.This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

Recorded live at Vanderbilt University, this month’s Road to 10K conversation dives into November’s theme: practicing gratitude. Ryan sits down with Dr. Joe Way (UCLA) and Brittany Grant (Aims Community College) to explore how failure, forgiveness, and community shape who we become – not just as AV/IT professionals, but as humans. They trace the origins of the Road to 10K initiative, reflect on HETMA’s rapid growth from “lightning in a bottle” to an established force in the industry, and unpack why authentic gratitude is so much harder – and more vulnerable – than the polite, surface-level kind.Along the way, they share deeply personal stories: Joe’s house fire and the industry’s response, Brittany’s ongoing medical journey with providers who finally see her as a whole person, and Ryan’s own reframing of a recent injury through the lens of “it could have been so much harder than this.” The group connects these experiences back to HETMA’s mission, the power of community, and the idea that real legacies are built when leaders step aside and empower others. The episode closes with a challenge to every listener: reach out to one person this month with genuine gratitude or reconciliation – and keep the conversation going in the HETMA Community, complete with a #cowboyhatheadphones engagement challenge.Topics DiscussedThe origin story of Road to 10K and why gratitude follows failure on the year-long theme calendarHow HETMA grew from “a voice for our people” to a major higher ed AV force in just six yearsThe role of the broader AV industry in validating higher ed’s buying power and influenceWhy authentic gratitude feels awkward, vulnerable, and hard to express without sounding clichéFailure as a teacher: how repeated missteps, criticism, and pushback shaped Joe’s leadershipThe emotional weight of being truly “seen” by medical professionals during complex health journeysForgiveness, reconciliation, and the challenge to initiate a better relationship with at least one personCommunity and legacy: building structures that can thrive when founders step backThe importance of inviting colleagues into professional communities instead of walking past their cubiclesNovember’s Road to 10K engagement challenge and the #cowboyhatheadphones micro-contestContact & CreditsConnect with Brittany GrantEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittneymgrant/Connect with Dr. Joe WayEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahway/Connect with Ryan GrayEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/Website: www.HigherEdAV.comThis show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.Join the Conversation:Keep the Road to 10K gratitude discussion going at community.hetma.org.

Recorded on-site amid the bustle of the HETMA Nashville Roadshow at Vanderbilt University, this month’s roundtable trades polished studio quiet for real-world energy and candid conversation. Ryan sits down with Chris Kelly (Creighton University; HETMA Advisory Board Chair), Rebecca Wade (Igloo Vision), and Scott Ramsayer (Shure, Market Development) to ask a simple prompt with big implications: one year from now, what will feel genuinely different in higher-ed AV? The group wrestles with AI’s real value versus the hype, where automation helps (and where it doesn’t), and why human-centered assessment and experiential learning should keep pushing forward. The panel moves from AI skepticism to pragmatic adoption—using AI to speed routine work or coding, while keeping humans responsible for outcomes—and calls out a cautionary tale about replacing people without oversight. They also explore the shift from passive work (and passive learning) to active, human experiences: think voice-enabled control, hands-on tech spaces, and authentic demonstrations of learning (e.g., recorded podcasts) instead of easily AI-generated essays. The episode closes with October-appropriate fun and a quick save-the-date: a HETMA Roadshow at Creighton University in Omaha is planned for July 9, 2026.Topics DiscussedOn-site recording at Vanderbilt University during the HETMA Nashville Roadshow. Intros: Chris Kelly (Creighton; HETMA Advisory Board Chair), Rebecca Wade (Igloo Vision), Scott Ramsayer (Shure).“AI reality check”: less magic, more useful automation—benefits with clear limits. Where automation helps AV teams (auto-DSP/auto-tune) vs. why humans still matter on site. Coding assist: using AI for Python/Lua snippets to “punch above your weight.” Oversight matters: a pointed example of AI-driven decisions going wrong without humans in the loop. Radical acceptance in higher ed: students already use AI; pedagogy must adapt. Experiential learning: prioritize authentic demonstrations over AI-generable essays. Near-term hopes: more voice-enabled control and fewer logistical/Cost barriers for advanced tech installs. Roadshow note: Creighton University in Omaha targeted for July 9, 2026.Host: Ryan GrayEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagrayWebsite: https://www.HigherEdAV.comGuests: Chris Kelly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kelly-272155122/Rebecca Wade LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-wade-979094154/Scott Ramsayer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ramsayer-71167824/This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

HETMA Board Chair and host Erin Maher-Moran sits down with Troy Powers, Vice Chair of HETMA and Director at Northwestern University, to trace his path from construction electrician to higher-ed AV leader, and why he believes education is the long-game solution to society’s toughest problems. Troy reflects on mission, basic research, and why higher ed doesn’t always get credit for world-changing innovations—then unpacks how he found his leadership lane inside HETMA.   October’s theme, “Road Work Ahead: Handling Failure,” comes alive through Troy’s unvarnished recap of the rain-soaked Northwestern Roadshow—complete with flooded tents, a late-night pig roast setup, and a dawn-of-day pivot that moved the entire showcase indoors in about an hour. He shares practical, pressure-tested lessons on making fast decisions, owning outcomes, and “being a goldfish” so the team can move forward. The conversation closes with HETMA’s ambitions to deepen sponsor–member connections and continue expanding globally, plus how to plug into the community now.     Topics DiscussedFrom electrician to higher-ed technologist: George Mason to Northwestern. Why the higher-ed mission matters (and under-marketed wins from basic research). Entry into HETMA leadership and stepping up when roles are undefined.   Chair/Vice-Chair dynamics and HETMA’s collaborative leadership culture. The Northwestern Roadshow: plans, downpour, flooded tent, and the indoor pivot. Outcomes: 198 signups, ~140 attendees—the most to date despite the weather. Decision-making under pressure and owning consequences. Delegation as a learned leadership muscle. “Be a goldfish”: resilience, recovery, and not dwelling on mistakes. What’s next: deeper sponsor–member connections and global expansion. Connect with Erin and Troy on the HETMA CommunityJoin Today: community.hetma.orgThis show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

In this episode, Erin Maher-Moran interviews Brittney Grant, the chair of HETMA's Approved Program Committee. Brittney shares her unexpected journey into higher education technology, which began with her involvement in high school theater and later at her church's tech team. After working in various fields like healthcare and manufacturing, she returned to live events. The COVID-19 pandemic led to her being one of three people running the entire venue. This experience, along with her role as the SGA’s VP of F&O at Aims Community College, helped her realize her passion for live events and process-oriented work. She applied for a job at Aims after graduating and has been there for three years. The Importance of Process Brittney emphasizes that her current role at Aims has been a significant learning experience, as there were almost no existing processes when she started. She had to learn everything the hard way, and she and her team are still working to establish and define systems. She likens the situation to "reorganizing the train at full speed," which is a challenging but necessary task. She also discusses the importance of having a balance between structure and flexibility in her work and personal life. She highlights the need to "take a step back" and "let the chips fall" when faced with setbacks, and she advises listeners that it's okay to fail and learn from the experience. The HETMA Approved Program Brittney explains that the Approved Program provides a service to evaluate technology products through the lens of higher education tech managers. This evaluation helps both HETMA members and manufacturers by giving them confidence that a product is suitable for the higher education environment. She notes that the program is expanding beyond hardware to include software. Brittney's goal is to improve the program's efficiency and communication by implementing clearer organizational processes and encouraging more HETMA members to participate as evaluators. She believes that a diverse group of evaluators is crucial for providing a comprehensive and accurate assessment of products. She ends the discussion by reiterating that building successful systems involves trial and error and the ability to adapt. She believes that the Approved Program will continue to evolve and serve the community better as more people get involved.  Topics Discussed:     Brittney's Unconventional Career Path     The Importance of Defined Processes     What the HETMA Approved Program Does     The Challenge of Managing Expectations and People     The Value of Trial and Error Connect with Brittney Grant HETMA Approved Program Chair, Aims Community College – Audio Visual Specialist E-mail: [email protected] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brittneymgrant Instagram: @btforhim Join the Conversation We want to hear from you! Share your reflections, questions, or connection stories in the HETMA community at community.hetma.org. Whether you’re new to the space or a long-time member, your voice matters—and this is the month to merge lanes and grow together.