This is Automation Unplugged. I’m Ron Callis. Today’s episode is a little different — and a little special. As we wrap up another year, we’re taking time to pause, reflect, and look back on the journey behind the scenes at One Firefly. In this end-of-year episode, I’m joined by our CFO, Taylor Whipple, for a conversation about the past year — what challenged us, what energized us, and what we learned along the way.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our returning guest today is Steve Weber, CEO and President of Liaison Technology Group. Steve founded Liaison in 2014 and has grown it from one location and four people to eight locations and more than 50 team members nationwide. His company delivers high-end residential and commercial integration solutions — and under his leadership, Liaison has become a model for sustainable, scalable growth in our industry. Steve is also helping to shape the future of lighting education through the new Lighting Excellence Dojo, a hands-on training facility created in partnership with leading industry experts to help integrators master the art and science of lighting installation.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today is Kris Coleman, Executive Director of Fox Bravo Overland and CEO of Red5 Security. Before founding Red5, Kris served as a Special Agent with the FBI and an Intelligence Officer with the CIA. Today, he leads a firm that provides high-level security solutions to families, executives, and corporations, helping them manage everything from physical threats to digital vulnerabilities. He’s also the driving force behind Fox Bravo Overland, a nonprofit using overlanding expeditions to support veterans and first responders as they reconnect with purpose, community, and themselves.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I’m Ron Callis. My guest today is Kayla Steinberg, Certified Showroom Dealer (CSD) Program Lead at ADI | Snap One. Kayla brings more than twelve years of experience across franchising, sales, marketing, and operations — and she now leads the global CSD program, helping dealers showcase their showrooms, strengthen partnerships, and grow their businesses through strategic marketing and education initiatives. Before joining the AV industry, Kayla built a career in both education and franchise marketing, where she developed a deep passion for relationship-driven leadership and empowering others to succeed. At ADI | Snap One, she’s channeling that same passion into creating impactful programs and meaningful connections that elevate dealers around the world.

This is Automation Unplugged and I’m Ron Callis. Our guest today on this Marketing Experts episode is Taylor Whipple, Chief Financial Officer here at One Firefly. Taylor has spent more than twelve years helping guide One Firefly’s growth through strategic, data-driven decision-making. In this episode, he combines financial insight with operational strategy to help integrators turn their marketing budgets into powerful tools for stability and growth.

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.