This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Ari Supran, CEO of Sonance, the parent company of Sonance, James Loudspeaker, IPORT, and TRUFIG. With over 30 years in the custom integration industry, Ari has been at the forefront of merging technology with interior design and architecture. Before joining Sonance in 2006, he spent a decade at Lutron Electronics in sales and marketing, and today he leads a privately held, global company with more than 300 employees.

This is Automation Unplugged, I’m Ron Callis. Today we’re bringing you Part II of our panel series “Navigating Uncertainty: An Open Forum for Dealers on the State of the Industry.” recorded in August of 2025. In May of 2025, we convened a group of industry leaders for Part I of this discussion — sharing real-world advice on tariffs, pricing strategies, growth opportunities, and operational resilience. The response was overwhelming, and you asked us to go deeper. That’s what we set out to do in Part II. In this follow-up session, the panel explored late-2025 dealer priorities, from hiring and retaining new talent to winning in the lighting category, leveraging HTA certification and storytelling for luxury differentiation, and addressing operations, exit planning, and AI adoption.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Kathleen Thomas, Head of the CI Channel at Sony Electronics. Kathleen’s journey through the audio industry is nothing short of remarkable. Her first job came at just two weeks old, starring in a commercial for the grand opening of Hi-Fi Buys in Atlanta, Georgia—a store her parents helped launch. From those early beginnings, Kathleen went on to work for some of the most respected brands in the industry, including Magnolia Audio Video, Sumiko, AudioQuest, and Bowers & Wilkins. In 2021, she joined Sony, and earlier this year, she officially took the helm as Head of the CI Channel following the retirement of her longtime mentor, Jeff Goldstein.

This is Automation Unplugged and I’m Ron Callis. This week in our marketing experts segment, we’re tackling a big question: how do you know which of your marketing efforts are actually driving results? To answer that, we’re joined by Cameron Howitt, One Firefly’s Director of Technology and Innovation. Cameron’s been with the team for nearly a decade, and he’s passionate about helping integrators use data and CRM tools to connect marketing activity to real revenue.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Today, we’re bringing you a special bonus episode of Automation Unplugged, where host Kat Wheeler leads a Marketing Experts conversation on the power of the tangible — and why One Firefly is reimagining direct mail for luxury marketing with our newest innovation, LuxePost. In this episode, Kat and I dig into the strategy, data, and inspiration behind LuxePost — our modern take on direct mail designed to help integrators connect with high-end homeowners in a memorable, measurable way.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Isar Meitis — founder of MULTIPLAI and host of the Leveraging AI podcast. From training elite fighter pilots in the Israeli Air Force to guiding CEOs and global enterprises, Isar has built his career around helping leaders win. Today, he focuses on unlocking the power of artificial intelligence to transform businesses through education, strategy, and hands-on consulting.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Chris Sterle, President and CEO of Acoustic Design Systems in Las Vegas. Since launching ADS in 2003, Chris has grown the company into a trusted integration partner, delivering custom-designed systems ranging from audio, video, and security to lighting, shades, and whole-home control. Originally from Ohio, he began his AV career in 1995, gaining hands-on experience in sales, installation, and professional AV before moving to Las Vegas in 1998. His diverse background and commitment to culture, innovation, and service have shaped ADS into the successful business it is today.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Chris Doughty, General Manager of HiFi Buys in Atlanta. Since joining the company in 2011, Chris has helped grow the team to 12 employees and $3.5M in annual revenue. He’s worn just about every hat along the way — from sprucing up websites to guiding clients through systems that range from $1K starters to $500K showstoppers.

This is Automation Unplugged and I’m Ron Callis. Today’s episode is a little different and I’m really excited to share it with you. This is a special co-released episode with my friend Chris Oram, host of the Elevation podcast. Chris and I sat down for an awesome conversation about leadership, personal growth, building strong teams, and how technology — especially AI — is shaping the way we do business. If you’re not familiar with Elevation, it’s a show all about personal development, mindset, and the stories of people who’ve climbed the ladder of success. Chris does a great job pulling out meaningful insights from his guests, and I was honored to be one of them.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today on this Marketing Experts episode is Keith Kearney, Account Manager here at One Firefly. Keith brings years of experience helping AV integrators across North America convert leads into real business through smart, data-driven marketing. With a background in both tech and automotive, he knows how to turn strategy into results—and he’s passionate about making follow-up part of the customer experience, not just a checkbox.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is John Carter — CEO of Multimedia Solutions and Powered Solutions. John began his career as a technician in his family’s security company before purchasing the business and expanding into AV and low-voltage solutions. With a vision for growth, he founded Multimedia Solutions in the late 90s, transforming it from three technicians in a storage unit into a regional powerhouse with offices in Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Four years ago, he launched Powered Solutions, an electrical division that complements his AV business and allows his team to deliver multimillion-dollar projects across Texas.

This is Automation Unplugged and I’m Ron Callis. Today, we’re bringing you the second series of “5-Minute Marketing” videos created in 2024 all about SEO and how to stay visible online. Over the course of seven short videos, we unpacked the foundational tenets of search optimization — from claiming your Google Business Profile to earning authority-boosting backlinks to optimizing your on-site content for search engines. Today’s episode of AU includes videos four through seven in the series.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Andres Klein — Co-Founder and CMO of Maxicon, a Miami based technology integration company bringing Intelligent Living Experiences to homes and spaces around the world. Andres’ passion for technology began when he was just 14, launching his school’s first private TV channel with his friend and future business partner, Samuel Naierman. That early spark led to the founding of Maxicon in 2005. What started as two friends with a love for AV has grown into a thriving team of more than 60 people, with projects spanning across continents and an office in Madrid, Spain. For Andres, Maxicon is not only about the projects. It is about building a place where curious, like-minded people can play with technology, push boundaries, and have fun while doing it. His story is one of vision, perseverance, and creating a culture of innovation that continues to elevate the smart home experience for clients worldwide.

This is Automation Unplugged and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today on this Marketing Experts episode is Ellie O’Hara, Client Experience Manager here at One Firefly. Ellie brings nearly five years of experience supporting AV dealers through smart, strategic marketing solutions. She leads both the onboarding and account management teams, helping ensure that every One Firefly client receives a standout experience from day one.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Jay Dobensky — founder and president of Beverly Hills Smart Homes, a luxury integration firm serving elite clients in Beverly Hills and beyond. With more than two decades in business, Jay has built a reputation for delivering bespoke automation and AV solutions to some of the most iconic names in Hollywood. His entrepreneurial drive began with Advanced Home Automation back in 2000, which quickly grew along the I-95 corridor before evolving into what is now Beverly Hills Smart Homes. Jay’s work has earned him recognition on national television as the tech expert on DIY Network’s hit show Man Caves, and in 2024 his company achieved its first-ever CEPro Top 100 listing — a milestone he’s eager to build on in 2025. Beyond integration, Jay has lived a colorful journey as an entrepreneur, storm chaser, and innovator, now developing a patent-pending fire suppression technology inspired by California’s devastating wildfires.

This is Automation Unplugged, I’m Ron Callis. Today, we’re bringing you a webinar we recorded in March 2025 giving a product overview of One Firefly’s hiring division for the CI space: Amplify People. Finding the right talent is the key to unlocking growth — but casting the net and vetting resumes can eat up hundreds of hours of your time, and thousands of dollars if you’re working with a recruiter. In this session, we’ll show you how Amplify People applies a proven, industry-specific approach — built on our own One Firefly hiring machine — to deliver A-Player candidates faster, more affordably, and with a focus on long-term fit. You’ll hear from myself and Samantha Hodz, Director of Talent Acquisition Services at Amplify People, as we walk through our end-to-end process for sourcing, screening, and presenting top candidates for roles in the AV and custom integration industry.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis Our returning guest today is David Frangioni — founder of Frangioni Media, CEO of Modern Drummer Magazine, and a world-renowned technologist in both music and home integration. With a career spanning over four decades, David has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Ringo Starr, and Shakira. He’s earned dozens of gold and platinum albums, built iconic studios, and pioneered integration projects for clients around the globe. David’s also an entrepreneur and educator, leading multiple ventures including the Frangioni Foundation and All Access IDA. He’s deeply involved in immersive audio, Atmos mixing, blockchain, and the evolving impact of AI on music and media.

This is Automation Unplugged and I’m Ron Callis. This week in our Marketing Experts segment, we’re shining a light on a powerful integrator–agency duo: Melissa Mitchell from Wipliance and her One Firefly Account Manager, Katie Frogge. Melissa is the Marketing Manager and systems designer at Wipliance, a nationally recognized integration firm known for stunning video content and award-winning marketing. Katie, Lead Account Manager at One Firefly, helps integrators like Melissa scale their marketing with strategy, structure, and consistent support. This episode is hosted by Kat Wheeler, and together she, Melissa, and Katie get real about what it actually takes to build a strong marketing presence in the custom AV space.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our returning guest today is David Warfel, founder of Light Can Help You. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, theater, and education, David has helped integrators across North America transform how they sell and deliver lighting. His firm partners with dealers to design impactful, human-centered lighting plans that drive both sales and client satisfaction. David’s also a powerful educator, regularly writing, speaking, and pushing the industry forward with tools like the new Light Box — a portable demo that’s helping integrators tell better lighting stories.

This is Automation Unplugged, I’m Ron Callis. Today, we’re bringing you a webinar we recorded in partnership with Lutron in June 2025 called “Content That Converts: Crafting a Winning Article, Social Post, or Email.” Content marketing is a foundational strategy that builds trust with your clients, positions you as an expert in your field, answers your audience’s questions, and helps you get found online by the right prospects. Producing useful, relevant, and consistent content across multiple channels will boost your SEO rankings and help your ideal clients discover you. During this session, you’ll hear from myself and Kendall Clark, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing at One Firefly. We were joined by Laura Jean Null, Marketing Operations Specialist - Residential Luxury, at Lutron Electronics.