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 Discussed

• From 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 Community
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This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media.
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