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26 SEP 2025 · 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: approvedprogram@hetma.org
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.
24 SEP 2025 · Today on HETMA Presents..., Ryan sits down with David Lopez, Global Director of Education Strategy at ScreenBeam, to unpack how wireless display has evolved from a convenience feature to a core building block for learning spaces. David traces the roots from Intel WiDi and Miracast to today’s multi-OS reality (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome) and explains why standards-based casting still matters for scale, support, and security. From there, the discussion widens: what higher ed actually needs beyond “put your screen on the wall,” how to ensure a consistent user experience across rooms, and the operational wins when faculty aren’t fighting drivers and dongles.
They also cover the bigger ecosystem: USB conferencing that lets BYOD laptops use in-room cameras and mics via ScreenBeam Conference; the receiver as a platform (Signage Plus, Alert Plus, Message Manager) for communications and light digital signage; and practical install touches like compact form factors and magnetic mounting. Looking ahead, David talks instruction-focused tools—whiteboarding that plays nicely with laptops, and moderation workflows (e.g., Orchestrate) that shine in labs and active-learning spaces. The through-line: simple, reliable, and IT-manageable experiences that lower friction for instructors and support teams.
Topics Discussed
- Why standards (Miracast/AirPlay/Chromecast) still underpin reliable, multi-platform casting in higher ed
- From “wireless display” to “platform on the display”: signage, alerts, and message management
- BYOD without the pain: using room cameras/mics with a laptop via USB conferencing (ScreenBeam Conference)
- Designing for a consistent end-user experience across rooms and buildings
- Admin/management considerations at scale: profiles, groups, updates, and security posture
- Hardware realities: small receivers, flexible power, clean mounting (including magnets)
- Teaching workflows: inking/whiteboard, annotating, and quick walk-up sharing
- Moderation in labs/active learning: when “raise-hand to share” (Orchestrate) makes sense in higher ed
- Deployment tips: avoiding driver roulette, reducing help-desk calls, and planning for mixed OS fleets
- Roadmap mindset: treating the receiver as an extensible edge device for campus communications
Join the Conversation
Want to weigh in or share your campus approach? Join the discussion at community.hetma.org.
Connect with David
Email: dlopez@screenbeam.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlopez-edtech/
Website: www.ScreenBeam.com
Connect with Ryan
Email: editor@higheredav.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Website: www.HigherEdAV.com
This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.
4 SEP 2025 · September’s Road to 10K digs into how positive, repeatable habits become the engine of team culture and performance. Host Ryan Gray is joined by Brian Shanks (Texas State University), Annie Foster (Washington and Lee University; HETMA Secretary), and Steve Greenblatt (Control Concepts) to swap practical frameworks: stacking habits so one triggers the next, using “alerts” to spot when you’re slipping, replacing the old “just get it done” reflex with “get it done right,” and gamifying quality through commissioning and scoring handoffs between integration and support. The group keeps outcomes at the center and treats process as a living system—iterated, owned, and measured.
They also get into the leadership moves that make habits stick: start with trust, invite fresh eyes to question sacred cows, sell the vision (don’t just demand it), and build internal champions who keep momentum when attention shifts. Steve introduces EOS-style Level 10 rhythms as a repeatable structure for reviewing goals and metrics, while Brian and Annie show how empowerment at the “lowest level” creates real buy-in. It’s a timely, practical blueprint for September’s theme—Build a System—so your team can thrive when crunch time hits.
Topics Discussed
- Habit stacking and using “alerts” to course-correct early.
- Turning “get it done” culture into “get it done right” quality.
- Commissioning + scoring spaces to close the loop between integration and support.
- Trust first: empowering teams to solve problems at the lowest level.
- Giving new hires permission to challenge the “agreed-upon way.”
- Selling the vision vs. micromanaging; building champions of consistency.
- Using cadence (e.g., EOS Level 10) to keep outcomes front-and-center.
- Personal habit hacks: accountability, tiny disciplines, and rewards.
- When habits become liabilities—recognizing and retiring outdated routines.
- Mission → buy-in → habits → outcomes: aligning people systems like AV systems.
Connect with Brian Shanks
- Email: brianshanks@txstate.edu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-shanks-06428b36/
Connect with Annie Foster
- Email: afoster@wlu.edu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankneefoster/
Connect with Steve Greenblatt
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegreenblatt/
- https://controlconcepts.net/
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-the-programmer/id1561530169
- https://www.avnation.tv/a-state-of-control/
Join the Conversation
Jump into the monthly thread: https://community.hetma.org
Show Links:
- HETMA Community: https://community.hetma.org/
- Higher Ed AV Media: https://higheredav.com/
This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media - www.higheredav.com
Feedback: We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Drop us a message on the HETMA Community or email any of the hosts and guests directly. Want to be featured in a future episode? Let us know—your voice matters.
29 AUG 2025 · In this August edition of This Month in Higher Ed AV, host Ryan Gray is joined by Andy Vogel (The Ohio State University), Ann Kelly (UCLA), and Tim Neviska (Kenyon College) for a lively, insightful, and layered conversation about three timely pieces shaping the AV/IT landscape in higher education.
The panel opens with a discussion of “The Cloud Revolution in Pro AV: Why the Future is Software-Defined” by Richard Jonker, Vice President at NETGEAR Enterprise. The group digs into the implications of cloud-managed AV systems, the role of interoperability, and whether higher ed AV teams are ready—or willing—to give up traditional notions of control.
https://www.avnetwork.com/news/the-cloud-revolution-in-pro-av-why-the-future-is-software-defined
Next, Andy shares his own article, “Why Validating AI Matters”, kicking off his new column for Higher Ed AV Media. He walks the group through real-world examples of testing AI tools (including to learn bass guitar), and the panel discusses how institutions are managing AI implementation—from fluency courses to faculty debates about academic integrity.
https://higheredav.com/ai-insights-with-andy-why-validating-ai-matters/
Finally, the group explores Tim’s personal essay “My Take: InfoComm 2019 to 2025,” which compares his first InfoComm experience to his recent return six years later. The conversation becomes a powerful reflection on professional visibility, industry inclusion, and the collective strength of higher ed voices in a rapidly changing AV world.
https://higheredav.com/my-take-infocomm-2019-to-2025/
If you want to hear how AV/IT trends meet real campus practice—and what it means to belong in this space—this is the episode for you.
Topics Discussed
- Cloud-managed AV systems and institutional readiness
- Interoperability vs. proprietary ecosystems
- Higher ed AV’s evolving relationship with enterprise IT
- AI validation techniques in learning and operations
- Faculty perspectives on generative AI
- Critical thinking and student use of AI
- InfoComm 2019 vs. 2025: personal growth and industry change
- HETMA’s role in raising higher ed’s profile
- Small institutions and collective influence
- The emotional and strategic value of showing up
Guests:
- Andy Vogel
- Email: communications@hetma.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-vogel/
- Ann Kelly
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annkelly9/
- Tim Neviska
- Email: membership@hetma.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-neviska-875b331b/
Host:
- Ryan Gray
- LinkedIn:
- Email: ryan@higheredav.com
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
Show Links:
- HETMA Community: https://community.hetma.org/
- Higher Ed AV Media: https://higheredav.com/
This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media - www.higheredav.com
Feedback:We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Drop us a message on the HETMA Community or email any of the hosts and guests directly. Want to be featured in a future episode? Let us know—your voice matters.
21 AUG 2025 · In this August installment of HETMA Presents… Chair to Chair, Board Chair Erin Maher-Moran sits down with Membership Chair Tim Neviska of Kenyon College for an honest and uplifting conversation about professional growth, connection, and finding your place in higher ed AV. What starts as a chat about committee work quickly turns into a deeply relatable story about career pivots, introversion, and the quiet power of being seen.
Tim shares how he stumbled into AV from a DJ career, built a reputation as the go-to person at Kenyon College, and found his professional tribe in HETMA. The conversation is full of useful advice for anyone wondering how to get more involved—whether you’re shy, new to the industry, or just feeling unsure of where to start. From smart onboarding strategies to tales of budget-savvy ingenuity, Tim models what it looks like to lead with humility and impact.
Whether you’re one of HETMA’s 3,000+ members or still on the fence about joining, this episode will remind you that real growth doesn’t happen in isolation—and that sometimes, all it takes is reaching out to someone who “gets it.”
Topics Discussed
- How Tim first discovered HETMA through AVNation’s Rave Launch
- Serving as the go-to AV lead at a small liberal arts college
- Becoming a recognizable campus presence through live event support
- HETMA’s unique free-to-join model and its impact on inclusion
- What the Membership Chair actually does (beyond counting heads)
- The importance of onboarding and lowering barriers for new members
- Why professional relationships are built one small ask at a time
- How to grow your network even if you’re introverted
- The value of smaller events like roadshows before InfoComm
- Tips for getting involved, staying connected, and paying it forward
Tim Neviska
Membership Chair, HETMA
Senior Audiovisual Solutions Manager, Kenyon College
📧 Email: membership@hetma.org
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-neviska
Join the Conversation
We want to hear from you! Share your reflections, questions, or connection stories in the HETMA community at https://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.
7 AUG 2025 · In this second installment of HETMA Presents… The Road to 10K, host Ryan Gray is joined by three incredible guests—Tim Albright (AVNation), Britt Yenser (Northampton Community College), and Chris Dieterich (Biamp)—to explore August’s theme: Merging Lanes – Connect to Grow. The conversation is personal, practical, and full of insight, emphasizing that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Whether you’re building a network, stepping into mentorship, or learning to show up for others in meaningful ways, this episode will give you both encouragement and a push.
The guests share honest reflections about introversion, career shifts, and how networking and mentorship have shaped their journeys. They also offer actionable advice for anyone looking to get more involved, connect more deeply, or help others rise. From small steps to big jumps, this is a conversation about growing yourself by growing with others.
Guest Contact Info:
Tim Albright
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdalbright/
Email: tim@avnation.tv
Website: https://avnation.tv
Britt Yenser
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt-yenser/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/brAVe_britt_
BlueSky: https://blueskydirectory.com/profiles/bravebritt.bsky.social
Chris Dieterich
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-dieterich-cts-cqd-22843190/
Topics Discussed
- The power of building a professional network before you “need” it
- How introverts can thrive in public roles and community spaces
- Britt’s strategy for authentic connection via social media
- Why mentorship is broader than your job title or experience level
- Chris’s leap from higher ed to industry—and what he’s learning already
- Delegation as a form of trust and a way to help others grow
- Representation, inclusion, and creating space for others to be seen
- Why being genuine doesn’t require full transparency
- The role of books and asynchronous mentors in personal growth
- Practical advice for expanding your network with intention
Join the conversation and grow with us—visit https://community.hetma.org/ to connect with fellow members, share your takeaways, or ask follow-up questions to today’s guests. The Road to 10K continues with monthly themes, powerful discussions, and a community that shows up.
This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media, visit us at www.higheredav.com for more great content.
Connect with Ryan:
Ryan@higheredav.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
30 JUL 2025 · This debut episode of This Month in Higher Ed AV kicks off a monthly panel discussion reviewing key content posted to Higher Ed AV Media. Host Ryan Gray is joined by Jon Gunzel of John A. Logan College, Renee Benson of Sony Professional Display Solutions, and Erin Maher-Moran, Chair of HETMA from Johns Hopkins University. Together, they explore major trends and insights shaping the higher ed AV landscape, all grounded in fresh articles and columns.
The discussion dives into HETMA’s Road to 10K membership growth campaign, which aims to expand global engagement through community initiatives and professional development. The panel also breaks down Sony’s partnership with LiquidView and its innovative use of Pro Bravia displays to create virtual windows, opening possibilities for immersive learning and wellness spaces. Finally, the episode examines DSPs in the Classroom and how practical audio design principles can dramatically improve learning experiences. Listeners will hear industry perspectives, implementation ideas, and authentic reflections on how these topics connect to AV’s role in higher education.
https://higheredav.com/breaking-news-hetma-announces-road-to-10k/
https://higheredav.com/sonys-pro-bravia-displays-help-liquidview-turn-blank-walls-into-realistic-windows-to-the-worldsony-at-infocomm-2025-tracking-the-future-of-lecture-capture-sony/
https://higheredav.com/dsps-in-the-classroom-under-the-hood-of-smarter-sound-sound-perspectives/
Guest Contacts:
- Jon Gunzel – jonathan.gunzel@jalc.edu, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgunzel89/
- Renee Benson – renee.benson@sony.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneebenson/
- Erin Maher-Moran – https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-maher-moran/
Topics Discussed
- Launch of This Month in Higher Ed AV as a monthly series
- Overview of HETMA’s Road to 10K membership campaign and six strategic pillars
- Community-building approaches for higher ed AV professionals
- Sony Pro Bravia displays powering LiquidView virtual windows
- Applications of virtual windows in education and wellness spaces
- Back-to-basics DSP best practices from Teddy Murphy’s Sound Perspectives column
- Audio quality as a foundation for hybrid learning and clear communication
- Panel perspectives from higher ed, manufacturing, and association leadership
- Upcoming Higher Ed AV Media content, including Chair to Chair and new AI-focused columns
- Reflections on how AV professionals can leverage industry content for growth
Join the conversation and connect with the community at https://community.hetma.org/.
HETMA Presents... is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Check out all our content at higheredav.com
29 JUL 2025 · In this inaugural installment of HETMA Presents… Chair to Chair, host Erin Maher-Moran, Chair of the HETMA Board of Directors, sits down with Chris Kelly of Creighton University and Advisory Boards Chair of HETMA. The conversation dives into Chris’s unique journey from social work and counseling into higher education technology, exploring how his early experiences shaped his leadership style and passion for building community.
Listeners will hear how advisory boards create meaningful connections between manufacturers and higher education institutions, why involvement is open to everyone—from entry-level techs to campus leaders—and how these conversations advance HETMA’s mission of innovation and collaboration. Chris also shares insights on leadership, personal growth, and finding your “true north” while reflecting on how higher ed technology impacts students, faculty, and the future of learning.
- Erin introduces Chair to Chair and its mission to spotlight HETMA committee leaders
- Chris Kelly’s journey from social work into IT and AV technology
- The shift from programming frustration to embracing technology’s broader potential
- Surprises and learning curves entering higher education AV
- The purpose and structure of HETMA advisory boards
- Advisory boards as a platform for collaboration with manufacturers and peers
- Leadership lessons drawn from social work and campus IT experiences
- Personal mission, future vision, and the value of lifelong learning
- Advice for those seeking their own “true north” in higher ed technology careers
- Why every professional, regardless of role, benefits from participating in HETMA programs
Join the conversation at https://community.hetma.org/ and subscribe to HETMA Presents… wherever you get podcasts or watch on YouTube.
HETMA Presents... is a production of Higher Ed AV Media, learn more a higheredav.com
6 JUL 2025 · In the premiere episode of HETMA Presents, the leadership team kicks off the “Road to 10K” initiative with a candid, unscripted conversation about growth, purpose, and what success really looks like for the HETMA community. Host Ryan Gray is joined by Joe Way, BC Hatchett, and Troy Powers to explore the launch of HETMA’s new themed year—one focused not on sales or metrics, but on authentic personal and professional development across the higher ed AV vertical.
This month’s theme, “True North: The Future of You,” asks members to reflect on their mission, their goals, and the values that guide their decisions. The group discusses the reasons behind the year-long framework, how engagement—not just membership—is the real target, and why doing the work themselves as volunteers matters deeply to the organization’s identity.
Topics Discussed
- The origin and purpose of the “Road to 10K” initiative
- How the initiative represents a return to HETMA’s founding values
- The difference between member count and active engagement
- Monthly themes as a structure for personal and community growth
- Why AV isn’t the headline—and why that’s intentional
- The role of volunteerism in leadership development
- Building sustainable events and operational templates
- Creating belonging through participation and shared work
- What “True North” means to each leader
- Hopes for how the community will grow by June 2026
Continue the conversation at https://community.hetma.org/
Monthly features from the HETMA community.
Information
| Author | Joe Way, PhD, CTS |
| Organization | Higher Ed AV |
| Categories | Non-Profit |
| Website | - |
| editor@higheredav.com |
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