Commercial Integrator November 2021 - 4

EDITOR'S NOTE
Emerald X, LLC.
100 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10005
800-440-2139
commercialintegrator.com | @commintegrator
The Endless Potential
of Integration
I AM SAD TO SAY I will no longer be with
Commercial Integrator aſt er this month's issue.
I'm leaving the AV industry behind to start a
new chapter in my career.
When I came into the industry almost eight
years ago it was a fl uke. My father heard about
a job opening as an editor that sounded interesting.
I had no journalism training, but the
interview went well, and my predecessor Tom
LeBlanc hired me.
Like most people on the outside, I had
never heard of the integration
industry. I had never even contemplated
its existence. I passed
by a video wall, speaker, or
security camera with no curiosity
as to how it got there. I certainly
never imagined there was an
entire industry dedicated to it.
When I started covering
and integrators pulled them together in novel
and exciting ways. I was hooked.
Seven years later I leave with incredible
experiences, and having met many of the
intelligent, kind, hard-working individuals
that make this industry so great. I grew in my
career and ultimately took over Commercial
Integrator. With that, I hope I've earned the
right to off er one bit of advice:
The last year has changed the way busiThank
you to
the integrators a new world
opened up. Suddenly I was at
the cutting edge of technology.
I was writing about IoT before
any of my friends had heard the
term. I was learning the benefi ts
of data and analytics when most
people I knew didn't realize
Facebook was paying attention
to what they liked and looked
at. I actually knew what 4K
meant when it was time to buy a new living
room TV.
the integration
industry, which
showed me
a new world
of possibility
and helped
me grow as a
professional
and a person.
nesses look at technology. It's no longer
reactionary, it's proactive.
Technology is an integral part of
business plans. Which presents
an opportunity for integrators
to finally get a seat at the table.
To become partners to their
customers and help develop
long-term technology strategies
based on the way each
company works best.
I can envision a future in
which everyone knows what
an integrator is because the
integrator is the most important
consultant the company hires.
Where the first question an
integrator asks a customer is,
" How does your organization
operate? "
A discussion follows, and
I went to my fi rst InfoComm and it was
like stepping into Willy Wonka's Technology
Factory. The scale and sophistication of each
booth was overwhelming, and by the end of
the day I had heard so much about technology
I felt drunk - and not just because it was in
Vegas and every booth wheeled out a happy
hour cart of wines and beers at the end of
each day.
Endless possibility. That's what I took away
from the show. This was an industry that was
pushing the capabilities of the human race
forward exponentially. Manufacturers created
ever-evolving tools to help us communicate,
4
Commercial Integrator NOVEMBER 2021
technology is developed by the integrator to fi t
into that company's workfl ow. This leads to the
highest potential for technology, and the greatest
return on investment for the organization.
It will only happen, though, if you demonstrate
the value you can bring to companies.
Show them what I've seen - the endless
possibilities of technology. Make them understand
how valuable the integrator is.
I'll be keeping an eye out for the day when
integrators reach their full potential. Don't let
me down.
Jonathan Blackwood, Editorial Director
jonathan.blackwood@emeraldx.com
@BlackwoodTweets
commercialintegrator.com
EDITORIAL
EdItorial Director
Jonathan Blackwood, 774-505-8048,
jonathan.blackwood@emeraldx.com
Chief Content Offi cer
Jason Knott, 774-505-8042,
jason.knott@emeraldx.com
Associate Editor
Zachary Comeau, 774-505-8006,
zachary.comeau@emeraldx.com
Technology Editor
Robert Archer, 774-505-8049,
robert.archer@emeraldx.com
Web Editor
Alyssa Borelli, 774-505-8057
alyssa.borelli@emeraldx.com
Design Lead
Katie Stockham, 774-505-8051,
katie.stockham@emeraldx.com
Designer
Graeme Burke, 774-505-8050,
graeme.burke@emeraldx.com
ADVERTISING SALES
Group Publisher, Connected Brands
Ray Lyons, 774-505-8017,
ray.lyons@emeraldx.com
Shawn Tobin, 774-505-8014,
shawn.tobin@emeraldx.com
Chelsea Cafi ero, 774-505-8020,
chelsea.cafi ero@emeraldx.com
Marketing
Marsha Marsh, 774-505-8023,
marsha.marsh@emeraldx.com
EMERALD CORPORATE
Executive Vice President
Brian Pagel, 770-291-5438,
brian.pagel@emeraldx.com
President and CEO Hervé Sedky
Chief Operating Offi cer Brian Field
Chief Financial Offi cer David Doſt
Chief Information Offi cer Bill Charles
Senior Vice President, Finance Melanie Pereria
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary Mitch Gendel
Senior Vice President, Marketing Services
Joanne Wheatley
Executive Vice President, Customer Solutions
Amy Sklar
Executive Vice President, People & Culture
Ren Akinci
PRODUCTION
Creative Services Director
Manuela Rosengard, 774-505-8052,
manuela.rosengard@emeraldx.com
Director of Client Experience
Jeff rey Miller, 774-505-8055,
jeff .miller@emeraldx.com
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Commercial Integrator November 2021

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