Event Details

Jennifer Weaver started her professional career as a High School Math Teacher utilizing technology in her classrooms. She fell in love with the technology and decided to make it her career.

Jennifer has worked as an integrator sales rep, manufacturer sales rep and distributor sales rep.  She enjoys working with the Higher Ed Tech Manager community and supports organizations like HETMA (Higher Education Technology Manager Alliance) and ETC (Educational Technology Collaborative).

She has a passion to help the youth understand what the AV industry is and get them excited about a career in the industry.

With two decades of delivering AV and IT services, Colin Birney is passionate about creating world-class user experiences through AV service and support, AV design standardization, and guiding clients through the AV industry relationships. He’s currently the co-owner and manager of consulting for AV MSP, an AV managed service provider. 

With 15 years of experience in the AV industry, Hope’s extensive background spans higher education, commercial, hospitality, and residential markets.

Hope's journey in the AV industry began as a technician before she became a Professional Services Engineer at Q-SYS, where she focused on User Interfaces and the User Experience. Her contributions have earned her esteemed Q-SYS accolades such as the Q-SYS Wizard and Work Hard and Enjoy Life awards.

Fueling the fire behind Hope's work are her industry certifications, including Q-SYS Level Two and a CTS. Her foundation in computer science, backed by a B.S from Trinity College (Hartford), enables her to design flexible, scalable systems that can interface with virtually any piece of equipment. She also holds a master's degree in history from Tufts University, where she wrote a thesis on Wendell Smith, Jackie Robinson, and the integration of Major League Baseball.

In 2016, Hope co-received the AVIXA International Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with the Women’s Council CTS study group. The following year, Hope was a member of the inaugural class of AVIXA/IMCCA Emerging Technology Fellows, where she presented on the future of control systems programming. Her dedication to mentorship was further acknowledged in 2018 when she received the Educator of the Year award from AVIXA.

Doug Schaefer is the Chief Technology Officer at American Sound, where he has been driving enterprise technology strategy and leading the development of innovative solutions since April 2023. With over seven years of experience in the field, Doug is proficient in artificial intelligence, network engineering, and IT managed services. He has a proven track record of enhancing performance and scalability, and is passionate about fostering a culture of collaboration and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to outpace the competition.

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, Doug has been at the forefront of implementing managed services and remote monitoring to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation. His expertise in audiovisual and information technology systems has enabled businesses to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and achieve significant cost savings. Doug's leadership in developing and executing technology and information security strategies has ensured that American Sound remains at the forefront of the AV and UC industry.

Prior to his current role, Doug served as an Enterprise Architect and Design Engineer at Diversified, where he spearheaded the development and execution of technology and information security strategies. He has also held positions as a Field Engineer at Diversified, Director of IT at Ultimate Technologies Group, and Installation Technician at APAV Solutions. Throughout his career, Doug has demonstrated expertise in managing full software development lifecycles, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, and optimizing IT infrastructure and operations.

Doug holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Production from Taylor University. He is also certified in Security+ by CompTIA and holds the MS-102 Enterprise Administrator Expert Certification from Microsoft. His skills include network engineering, PowerShell, Python, project management, Microsoft Teams, audiovisual systems, cybersecurity, agile methodologies, and enterprise sales.

In his role as CTO, Doug continues to lead cross-functional teams in the design and development of innovative AV solutions, ensuring seamless connectivity, high availability, and data integrity. He is dedicated to promoting knowledge sharing and professional growth among team members, and has developed and maintained strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders.