Edge Spring Partners Meeting 2024 Recap
That’s a Wrap on Edge Spring Partners Meeting 2024
Patrick Whipkey, vice president of Edge, Cheryl Walton, director of business development and Mike Boettcher, president of Edge
The highly anticipated 2024 Spring Partners Meeting kicked off on May 13, in Dallas, Texas! This year’s flagship event brought more than 80 members and partners together for an immersive three-day experience. Attendees engaged in expert-led sessions and roundtables, heard inspiring keynotes and participated in exclusive networking events. The Spring Partners Meeting emphasized collaboration and education, offering invaluable industry insights to drive business growth and foster partnerships within the Edge network.
Day one started with an AT&T Stadium tour, home of the Dallas Cowboys! Attendees enjoyed exploring the iconic stadium, learning the history and networking with industry peers at an Edge Partner Tailgate immediately following.
Kicking off education sessions, day two featured two keynotes and more exclusive networking opportunities. Attendees heard from Zack Kass, former Head of Go To Market at OpenAI, who discussed the future of AI and the practical applications to business, and from Jeremy Bess, economist at ITR Economics who gave insight on the 2024 economy and how business owners can best prepare for 2025.
Day two also included two partner events, Partner Matchmaking and Meet the Elite. In the matchmaking event, members and partners were paired together to explore partnership possibilities and learn more about Edge manufacturers. In the Meet the Elite segment, Edge elite partners ADI Global, Avocor, Exertis Almo, Legrand and Liberty were given the floor to showcase their successes over the past year and conduct a Q&A.
Afterwards, attendees joined in on the Rock ‘N Keys Showdown: A Dueling Piano Experience where they danced, networked and enjoyed a night of energetic piano music in conjunction with PSA TEC attendees.
Day three opened with a PSA TEC general session, Going Deeper and Wider with Commercial Clients - Bringing Together Security and AV, with panelists Travis Deatherage, Todd Hutchins, Craig MacCormack and Dawna Payne. They discussed how integrating the two industries is becoming more common and profitable. The panelists also heard what challenges and success integrators have faced from merging security and AV.
Throughout the event, attendees were treated to many education sessions led by industry professionals. Brooke Erickson, director of learning and development at PSA, discussed how to design impactful training programs and best techniques for managing employees from the five different generations currently in the workforce.
Mike Boettcher, president of Edge, and Scott Morgan, business development leader from TAMCO, discussed overcoming AV as a Service (AVaaS) objections and gave advice on how to reshape your sales thought process. Jason Baez, senior regional manager from Q-SYS, Ashish Maru, director of technology from Red Thread and Aakash Ravi explored what’s next for AV integration. Attendees were also able to enjoy additional education by attending TEC workshops on the third day. Education equips attendees with the latest industry knowledge and skills, fostering professional growth and innovation.
Thank you to everyone who made it to Dallas this year. We look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming Edge and industry events, including InfoComm, CEDIA, E4 Experiences and the Edge Fall Integrators Meeting. We encourage everyone to attend as many events as possible to continue to make valuable industry connections and stay up to date on trends. Be on the lookout for next year’s Spring Partners Meeting dates in Denver where we will again collaborate and celebrate our partners!
Thank you Edge sponsors for making this event possible. We are grateful for your partnerships and all that you do for Edge members. This year’s sponsors include:
Elite –
ADI Global, Avocor, Exertis Almo, Legrand, Liberty, Shure
Signature –
Lencore, Netgear AV, QSC, Sharp
Foothills –
Barco, BrightSign, Jabra, Lea Professional, ScanSource, Windy City Wire
Edge had the honor of recognizing five partners for their dedication to the AV industry. Voted on by the Edge network, Exertis Almo, QSC, LEA Professional, Legrand and Shure Incorporated were awarded for all their hard work. Congratulations to these companies and we thank you for the difference you make in the AV industry.
Awards:
Edge of Distinction – QSC
Represents best customer service.
Unparalleled Partner – Exertis Almo
Represents all around excellence as an Edge partner.
Mountain Mover – Legrand | AV
Represents best product innovation.
Ascender – LEA Professional
Represents rookie of the year.
Peak Performer– Shure
Represents dedication and production of high-quality results
Watch the Spring Partners Meeting highlights video for a sneak peek of what you missed and check out the Spring Partners Meeting 2024 photo gallery.