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CEDIA is proud to have been serving the electronics system industry for the past 20 years. Throughout the last 20 years, many wonderful memories and relationships have been created. CEDIA invites you to share some of your memories here. To send us your memories, fill out the text boxes to the right and feel free to include your name and company affiliation as well. You should put YOUR email address in the “Email” box. If you would like to keep your memories private, please note in the “Message” box that you do not wish to have your name, company or email address shown. Thank you for sharing your memories and here’s to many more…
Marilyn Sanford – La Scala:
“Since 1995 I have been an active volunteer with CEDIA and have used CEDIA to train both my staff and myself. Nothing has grown me faster, my knowledge, my confidence and my expertise, than my association with CEDIA. This comes through the many and diverse leadership opportunities as well as the immense depth of networking, learning and association. CEDIA leads from passion. It is a volunteer driven organization which keeps the priorities and results well in line with membership needs. I have worked for many associations and volunteer groups over the years, nothing comes close to CEDIA.”
Theo Kalomirakis – Theo Kalomirakis Theaters:
“It is amazing to think that it's been 20 years since that historic gathering at Amelia Island.... Year after year we watched that "gathering" grow and morph into the powerful and influential organization we recognize today as CEDIA. From day one CEDIA has been an integral part of my professional life. I can say without any hesitation that if it was not for CEDIA, I would have probably followed a different career path and designing home theaters would have remained a private hobby. With its relentless support and recognition of my work CEDIA shaped my professional life. I am sure this is a sentiment that is shared by all the other CEDIA charter members who made their mark under its inspired leadership.”
Jason Knott – EH Publishing, Inc.:
“CEDIA is a first-class organization. I have been working with the association since 1990 when I first started covering low-voltage electronics as an editor. Residential integrators across the world could not ask for a more focused association representing its interests than CEDIA, which has stayed true to its principles of trying to expand the market and to help its members companies elevate their services and professionalism through education and certification. Congratulations on 20 years of success!”
Jeremy Burkhardt – SpeakerCraft:
“CEDIA was the platform and group we used to launch the SpeakerCraft brand. Through a tight nit relationship with members CEDIA has provided us growth opportunities which are invaluable. The desire of the association to educate the masses is needed and is by far the best curriculum available today. SpeakerCraft is proud to be part of such a dynamic group.”
Jeremy Glowacki – Residential Systems:
“When I became the main editorial guy for Residential Systems magazine at the end of 1999, the only thought that kept me from becoming completely overwhelmed by the huge new responsibility was that we had CEDIA’s full support behind us. While CEDIA is very generous with all members of the media, and we try really hard to address the concerns of all professional installers, not just CEDIA members, I still find my magazine’s relationship with the association to be integral to our success and position in the market. CEDIA has grown and evolved as a professional organization in its 20 years and I think it’s even more relevant that ever before. Happy Anniversary!”
Bill Skaer – Eric Grundelman's Cool AV:
“We had been in business for 10 years before we joined the group founding CEDIA. We have seen amazing growth in our industry since 1989 and CEDIA has been important for all of us. The education, the EXPO, government affairs have all been a huge plus for membership but I think the relationships we have made are most important. Being able to exchange ideas in a non competitive environment with other dealers from across the country has been very valuable to us. Happy 20th CEDIA!”
Jeff Kussard – Capitol Sales Company, Inc.:
“I was present at the first formal meeting convened in June of 1988 in Chicago to explore the potential of forming an association of what was then called custom installers Not very long after the formation of CEDAI I began working in a manufacturing role and participated as an instructor at numerous early CEDIA educational events. In 1995 I returned to the dealer / installer side of the business and began my volunteer support of CEDIA which has continued in numerous capacities to today. I consider myself privileged in having been able to witness the birth and play a small role in the phenomenal growth of our organization. My work with CEDIA has been one of the most personally fulfilling aspects of my 30+ year career in this business. I assert that CEDIA has been the primary catalyst in the establishment residential systems contracting. Without the voice and stewardship of CEDIA this business would not have become the vital and influential part of the consumer electronics industry that it is today. Personal experience allows me to say without reservation that numerous careers and scores of businesses have been created and flourished because of the work done by CEDIA. The consumer electronics industry at large has grown and evolved significantly as a result of our efforts. Every day I am compelled to pause and give thanks for the vision of the volunteers who worked so hard to create CEDIA and as a result my career and the careers and success of countless friends and associates. I am deeply proud of the work done by my peers to build on that vision and our hard fought efforts to establish our trade association as the industry driver it is today. CEDIA is a shining example of what people with divergent backgrounds and beliefs can do when they come together in support of a common cause. ”
Jeff Zemanek – Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.:
“It is hard to believe, it has been 20 years since hearing about a meeting being held at Chicago's CES! A lot has happened since then, and I often wonder where this industry would be without it. From the work of getting the manufacturers and press on board, to the government affairs work of today, it has been a wild ride; fueled by early visionaries, passionate volunteers, and an amazing staff of people.
During my nine years on the board, which has included the earlier years and the present, it has been an amazing experience to see and honored to have been a small part of it. Thank you to everyone who helped make it what it is today.”
Buzz Delano – Delano Associates:
“Like many of us, “I remember my first CEDIA.” It was at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel and I had heard that a new trade show had been launched by the CEDIA Founding Members. I walked in to the hotel and was immediately greeted by several of my friends at Sonance. Little did I know then how close I would be come with Sonance in the years to come! The event was cool, business-like and so totally upbeat that I was “hooked buy custom.” I met people like Richard Stoerger, Sean Fields, Buzz Jensen and Carol Campbell and that was all it took for me to become committed to making our trade and CEDIA the profession that it has become.
I began volunteering for CEDIA action teams soon thereafter, was working on membership, publicity, manufacturer’s council and of course, education. When I was asked to become a Dean of Education, I was flattered. Jocelyn Stover and Margaret Sheehan reached out to me and upon learning that we would embark upon the development of what is now known as CEDIA University, I realized it to be a seminal moment for CEDIA and for me. What a pleasure it was to do that for several years and to recommend and develop future CEDIA volunteer leaders. I have been very active in our annual Management Conference for five years, most recently serving as conference chairman for 2008 and 2009. Countless other CEDIA initiatives and CEDIA fun have kept me committed and motivated. Currently serving our membership as a member of the Board of Directors is an honor and something I will always cherish.”
David Jasak – AV Design Associates:
“Since around 1994 I have been a member of CEDIA through various companies I had worked for. The camaraderie and team effort of the organization inspired me to pursue higher education through CEDIA training. Now after over 20 years in the industry, I feel that I have enough to offer others and have launched my own design and consultation firm. Without CEDIA and it's vast knowledge base I may not have had this wonderful opportunity. Thank you and I look forward to another 20 years!”
Ralph Scrofani – Intra Home Systems ~Founding Member~:
A little over 20 years ago, my partner Ron Roslasky and I were enjoying some house brewed beer at Berghoff's restaurant, while attending Chicago CES with Chris Stevens (a future CEDIA president) and fellow Audio Access dealers.
As the beer flowed, we all shared our frustrations at being cut off from so many product dealerships because we didn't own traditional retail stores. "We need representation and a trade organization of our own!" we complained. Just a few weeks later we learned of the creation of CEDIA! 20 years later, I still look forward to September when I can get together with the many friends that I have made through CEDIA at EXPO. I'm so proud of the incredible growth that CEDIA has achieved and by the tremendous effort of so many dedicated volunteers who made this growth possible. CEDIA has positively influenced my career, my company and our profession on a global scale. Happy Anniversary CEDIA!
Steve Colburn - Triad Speakers:
We were like kids on our class trip, filled with hope and excitement, riding a shuttle bus from the airport to Amelia Island for EXPO 1. Being a ten year veteran of custom installation at the time, my own enthusiasm was barely damped from overhearing a conversation from the seat in front of me. 2 suits from a major CE (NOT CI) company prattled on about how "This CEDIA thing sure won't amount to anything, but we need to keep our eye on it - just in case it matters..."
Thanks to the dedication and hard work from too many of you to count, CEDIA does matter. And Consumer Electronics is the better for it.
Gordon van Zuiden - cyberManor:
The success of cyberManor is directly correlated to our involvement with CEDIA. It's more than a university curriculum of courses that give our employees the professional skill sets they need to excel, it's a network of the brightest people in the custom AV industry willing to volunteer their time and efforts to help our company prosper year after year. We preach device connectivity to our clients in their homes - CEDIA gives us professional connectivity in our business relationships.