Once upon a time, the consumer electronics (CE) market represented what was basically an exclusive boys’ club career path. Times have changed in the CE market, however, which is why CE Pro chose to debut a new, annual program called 40 Women to Watch, celebrating the growth of women leadership within the custom integration industry.

A far cry from the early days of women mostly being represented as “booth babes” at conventions and tradeshows, the industry today has diversified and become more receptive to people of all backgrounds. Women have gained far more respect for their abilities to lead business, and ever since the early 2000s positions have been to opening across the industry in a variety of roles, many of which were pioneered by members of our 40 Women to Watch list.

Today, some of the consumer electronics industry’s top brands and integration businesses are led by women. These women are business owners, chief executive officers (CEOs), chief financial officers (CFOs), engineers, project managers, product line managers, account executives, sales managers, and professionals filling roles other similar positions.  

Recognizing the talents and tenacity of these women that are fighting uphill against gender inequalities, stereotypes, and misogyny, multiple generations of women are helping to drive the custom integration industry. As part of the growing number of women working in the electronics industry, CE Pro debuts our 40 Women to Watch. It’s not too early to start thinking about candidates for 2025!

A Quick List of CE Pro’s Women to Watch in Home Electronics for 2024

• Allison Ferrari, Senior Marketing Manager, D-Tools
• Amanda Crigar, Vice President, Acoustic Design Systems
• Ashley Jacobson, Vice President, System 7
• Carol Campbell, Managing Director, Technology Insider Group, Publisher/Partner of Technology Designer & TechnologyDesigner.com.
• Cat Toomey, CEO, CATalyzing Communications & VideoMojo
• Chelsea Cafiero, Senior Account Representative, Emerald/CEDIA Expo
• Coleen Sterns Leith, Founder, Marketing Matters
• Elizabeth Parks, President & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Parks Associates
• Erin Phillips, Vice President, Pro Audio Technology & Theory Audio Design
• Hagan Kappler, Founder & CEO, Daisy
• Haley Patterson, Director of Marketing, Access Networks, Snap One
• Heather Sidorowicz, Owner & President, Southtown Audio Video
• Heidi Gunderson, Marketing & Events Director, ProSource
• Jamie Briesemeister, Co-Founder & CEO, Integration Controls
• Jennifer Kirkpatrick, Director of Sales, American Lighting
• Jennifer Mallett, Owner, Level up Automation
• Katherine Spiller, Director of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, Steinway Lyngdorf
• Katye Bennett, CEO, KMB Communications
• Kimberly Lancaster, President & Founder, Caster Communications
• Krista Haughey, Senior Director, North American Sales, AudioQuest
• Kristin Bickett, Head of Nest Enterprise Sales – Platforms & Devices Organization, Google
• Lisa Montgomery, Account Manager & Copywriter, KMB Communications
• Lucette Nicoll, Founder, Nicoll Public Relations
• Maryellen Oswald, Partnerships Business Development Manager & Residential CI Channel Manager, Somfy Systems
• Melanie Malcom, Co-Owner, Bespoke Home Cinemas
• Melanie Niemerg, Owner, Integral Home Technology 
• Melissa Andresko, Chief Corporate Brand Ambassador, Lutron
• Michelle Ferlauto, Chief Operating Officer, SoundVision
• Miranda Grantham, National Sales Manager, Origin Acoustics
• Morgan Lawrence, Director of Communications, The rAVe Agency
• Nicole Riddle, Member Development Director for Custom Integration, Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG)
• Roberta Lewis, Founder, Roberta Lewis & Associates
• Rosa Vanessa Sayen, Marketing & Custom Project Specification, LK & Associates
• Shenelle Enos, Director of Sales, D-Tools
• Stephanie Scola, Vice President of Marketing, KEF
• Sue Toscano, Owner, Toscano Communications
• Veronica Esbona, Partner & Managing Director, TIG Global PR
• Victoria Garcia Massimo, Director of North American Operations, Airzone
• Wendy Vinelli, President, GAL Electronics
• Whitley Campbell, Smart Shades and Lighting Consultant, DSG Metro & DSG Distributors

Allison Ferrari, Senior Marketing Manager, D-Tools 

Ferrari is the driving force of the D-Tools marketing team. For over a decade at D-Tools, she has built a deep understanding of the integration community, which enables her to ideate and create impactful outbound marketing communications for the end-to-end business management software company. She oversees the company’s website, email, and social media communications, as well as D-Tools’ highly visible tradeshow presence at nearly a dozen national and regional events per year, from booth design to special events.  

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Amanda Crigar, Vice President, Acoustic Design Systems 

Crigar is a local leader in residential and commercial home automation and security solutions. In her role Crigar spearheads the development of new efficiencies, procedures, and training programs while overseeing day-to-day operations by leading the company’s sales, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, and administrative departments.

She began her career in 2003 at Virgen Advertising, followed by roles as the director of marketing and advertising at Professional Roofing Services and business development manager for Securitas Security Services, where she developed cutting-edge advertising campaigns, promotional collateral, direct mail and email marketing, managed SEO programs, social media, and brought in millions of dollars in top line sales, with impressive year over year growth. Crigar joined Acoustic Design Systems in 2019.  

Ashley Jacobson, Vice President, System 7 

Jacobson has been in the custom home technology industry for over 15 years, and she still qualifies for “under 40” awards. After completing her master’s degree in architecture, she helped transform System 7 from a company led by AV and automation to one whose lighting and shading business grew from being 15% of the company’s revenue to over 80%.

This impressive path led System 7 to becoming a $25 million company and a Lutron Hall of Fame partner in 2023. This year, System 7 has joined forces with Visual Comfort to form Visual Comfort Systems, aiming to bring what System 7 accomplished in Boston to a national audience in the years to come.  Ashley is a firm believer in that everyone deserves good design, from architecture all the way through to the lighting and technology. 

Carol Campbell, Managing Director, Technology Insider Group, Publisher/Partner of Technology Designer & TechnologyDesigner.com. 

For more than 30 years, Campbell has been a fixture in the consumer electronics industry and founded Women in Consumer Technology (WiCT) to recognize other impactful women.  A well-recognized and respected expert in advancing the art of performance homes and marketing technical products and luxury goods to women, Campbell utilizes her considerable experience and industry expertise as a longtime editorial leader. She was honored as the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2022. Campbell is also the co-founder of the Elf Foundation that builds “Rooms of Magic” in Children’s Hospitals. 

Cat Toomey, CEO, CATalyzing Communications & VideoMojo 

Cat is the CEO of CATalyzing and VideoMojo, leading companies to market-leading positions with her extensive experience. Her woman-owned firm offers truly customized marketing services to global industry integrators, manufacturers, buying groups, and top publications. CATalyzing extensive services include website development, branding, strategy, blogs, social media, video creation, graphics, collateral, content/copywriting, print and digital advertising, PR, and product launches in both residential and enterprise sectors.

An award-winning industry veteran, Toomey has driven to help brands in our community develop their own unique stories, ensuring distinct marketing that is unlike others. Clients have included manufacturers as well as integrators and reps over the years. Her experience also includes executive positions with ELAN, AMX, and URC.  

Chelsea Cafiero, Senior Account Representative, Emerald/CEDIA Expo 

Cafiero has been in the CE Pro family since 2012, originally joining EH Publishing (former owner of CE Pro) as a production intern before rising in the ranks. She became Web Editor of Commercial Integrator and then Senior Web Editor of CE Pro, breaking the CI industry news of the day and eventually hiring her own team to run the respective websites of CE Pro, Commercial Integrator, Security Sales & Integration, and Campus Safety.

In 2017 she became Account Executive, creating, selling and managing media advertising campaigns across that suite of brands (and following those brands to Emerald X). This past May, she was named Senior Account Executive at CEDIA Expo, where her eagerness to grow and energy for this industry continues to thrive. Most importantly…she didn’t stray too far from her CE Pro family. Don’t forget to find her on the CEDIA Expo show floor in Denver and say hi! 

Coleen Sterns Leith, Founder, Marketing Matters 

Leith’s long industry journey began in 1990 when she worked for Infinity and later for Niles Audio. In 1997, she founded Marketing Matters, a boutique public relations firm dedicated to serving the B2B marketing needs of a burgeoning smart home industry. With extensive experience supporting startups and established companies alike, she has been instrumental in overseeing the launch of innovative products and services in the residential and Pro AV technology integration communities.

As the president and founder of Marketing Matters, she leads a team that exclusively works with small and medium-sized AVIXA-, CEDIA-, and CTA-focused companies. Throughout her career, Leith has been committed to giving back to her communities. She served on CEDIA’s Workforce Development Committee and has been a CEDIA Certified Instructor. She’s a member of AVIXA’s Women’s Council and served as co-leader of the AWC Tampa Bay group, served on the University of South Florida’s (USF) Digital Marketing Advisory Board, and was a member of CTA’s Audio Division board and Smart Home board.

Currently, she is on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast in Pinellas County, Florida.  

Elizabeth Parks, President & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Parks Associates  

Parks Associates’ mission is to help companies navigate the changing consumer technology landscapes through data-driven market insights, extensive consumer and industry intelligence, and executive conferences. With over two decades of dedication to the company, Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, has been instrumental in shaping its growth and success, along with the continued focus of delivering timely and quality industry and consumer insights on the connected home and SMB industries.

Her leadership extends across a diverse range of responsibilities. She is a driving force behind the company’s research focus and coverage areas, ensuring that Parks Associates remains at the forefront of industry trends and insights for the broadband, consumer electronics, and home service markets. Her expertise is showcased in the strategic communication plan she orchestrates, encompassing advertising, public relations, and marketing efforts. 

Erin Phillips, Vice President, Pro Audio Technology & Theory Audio Design 

Phillips has audio in her DNA. She was born into an audio-centric family and was exposed to quality sound and loudspeaker manufacturing at a young age within the walls of the Paradigm Electronics factory in Mississauga, Toronto. Phillips built her first tweeter at the age of six. After graduating from college, she spent another decade working for Paradigm, Anthem, and MartinLogan managing global marketing and public relations for the three brands.

In 2016, Phillips joined Caster Communications where she leveraged her expertise to lead over a half- dozen accounts. One of those was Pro Audio Technology and Theory Audio Design, which is how she was introduced to Paul Hales. In 2021, she accepted a role working directly for Pro Audio Technology and Theory Audio Design.  

Hagan Kappler, Founder & CEO, Daisy 

Last month’s CE Pro cover profile, Kappler is the founder and CEO of Daisy, a national brand making a big splash in smart space installation and services. Prior to Daisy, she was the CEO of Threshold Brands, a private equity backed home and commercial services company with nine brands and over 550 locations. Kappler also led ServiceMaster Clean and Merry Maids, a $1 billion-plus home and commercial services businesses with thousands of franchisees across the globe and supported the $1.6 billion sale of ServiceMaster Brands to Roark Capital.

Kappler drove corporate development at Ingersoll Rand/Trane, a $23 billion HVAC and industrial company, and she led the launch of Blonde Roast at Starbucks. She has extensive strategy and M&A experience, including McKinsey & Company, as well as Goldman Sachs. Kappler holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Williams College and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.  

Haley Patterson, Director of Marketing, Access Networks, Snap One 

Possessing a 15-year tenure in the tech industry, Patterson specializes in marketing and business development for luxury residential products. Coming from entrepreneurial roots, she has gravitated towards multifaceted roles with diverse responsibilities. Patterson is passionate about building relationships with industry partners, integrators and manufacturers alike, as she has shown at myriad tradeshows and now with ADI/Snap One brand Access Networks. She excels in listening to their business needs and collaborating to find the best strategic solutions. In Patterson’s spare time you might find her volunteering at the local animal shelter. 

Heather Sidorowicz, Owner & President, Southtown Audio Video 

Sidorowicz serves as the owner and president of Buffalo-based Southtown Audio Video, Western New York’s largest locally owned commercial integration AV firm in the Buffalo area. Her background places her at the forefront of engagements with corporate, higher-education, healthcare, immersive spaces and residential clientele, effectively addressing their audio-visual requirements and utilizing technology to simplify their lives.

Southtown Audio Video has been recognized as one of the University at Buffalo’s fastest-growing alumni-led companies in both 2023 and 2022. Buffalo Business First ranked Southtown Audio Video 12th on its Fast Track List. From 2018 to 2020, Sidorowicz served on the CEDIA board, becoming the first female member in nearly two decades. In 2017, she received the prestigious Legacy Award from Women in Consumer Technology.  

Heidi Gunderson, Marketing & Events Director, ProSource 

ProSource CEO Jim Pearse says Gunderson is an absolute rockstar coordinating and executing the big buying group’s events at the highest level.  Gunderson is thoughtful, creative, and always on top of everything. Pearse says at times he feels there is more than just one copy of Heidi, with how much work she gets done so quickly and how all the details come together. She is a great communicator and inspiring leader, he remarks. 

Jamie Briesemeister, Co-Founder & CEO, Integration Controls 

Briesemeister is co-founder and CEO of Integration Controls, a St. Louis-based company that curates technologies, connected by design with a sole purpose: To simplify and enrich the lives of their clientele. Briesemeister collaborates with the design/build community in St. Louis — and beyond — providing education, solutions, and inspiration centered on home technology. She is currently the Secretary for the global Board of Directors of CEDIA and a long-time volunteer of the association. She is also member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the American Society of Interior Designers, and the Home Builder’s Association.

In these groups, she provides education focused on including technology in the designed environment. As a CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI), she provides CEUs and educational sessions for architects, interior designers, and others in the design/build profession. She is a thought leader on industry panels, a keynote speaker, and has won multiple awards including the 2024 Carol Campbell “Inspiration Award,” a 2019 Powerful Woman in Consumer Technology, Volunteer of the Year for CEDIA, and TITAN 100.  

Jennifer Kirkpatrick, Director of Sales, American Lighting 

Kirkpatrick has spent the last 11 years developing multiple sales channels throughout the organization. In 2019, she advocated to start Proluxe, the custom integration channel brand within the company, and immediately saw the benefit of working with integrators to not only control the fixtures, but design systems based on their clients’ needs. With years of experience working with lighting designers, retailing lighting showrooms and contractors, Kirkpatrick’s experience has helped dealers successfully break into the lighting fixture space. 

Jennifer Mallett, Owner, Level up Automation  

Treasurer of the CEDIA Board of Directors, Mallett has been in the home technology industry for 24 years with 15 years’ experience on the manufacturer side and eight years’ experience as the owner of Level Up Automation. She founded Massachusetts-based Level Up in 2016 with a vision to bring outstanding home automation experiences to the mid-market segment. In 2020 she founded Level Up Franchise, which has pioneered the first national franchise system in the industry.

Level Up Automation creates smart homes and intelligent buildings in Massachusetts, Arizona, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland. Previously, Mallett served as the head of the residential custom installation business unit for Bose in the U.S. and Canada, as well as providing additional global leadership advisory roles in Europe, India, the Middle East, and Australia. She graduated Bentley University with a BS in Marketing and is a CEDIA Certified Outreach Instructor.  

Katherine Spiller, Director of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, Steinway Lyngdorf 

As director of sales and marketing for the Americas, Spiller serves crucial areas at Steinway Lyngdorf. She joined the luxury audio company over 15 years ago and has played a pivotal role in establishing the brand’s prominence in North and South America. Previously, Spiller served at the White House for the National Security Council and honed her expertise in luxury branding, PR, and marketing from career experience in New York City. 

Katye Bennett, CEO, KMB Communications 

Bennett is the CEO of KMB Communications, a boutique communications firm that anchors the intersection of technology and design by connecting brands, buyers, and prospective audiences through creating compelling content and conversation that elevates and amplifies. A 30-plus year AV industry veteran, she is part of the Designhounds Influencer Network and also serves on the NAHB Custom Technology Work Group; is a strategic advisor to the CEDIA and HTA communities; contributes to Residential Systems and the Technology Designer Day of Discovery at CEDIA Expo. Bennett has been a speaker at CES, and she is the founder of the AV Yoga group. Additionally, she hosts two popular podcasts, Connecting Tech+Design and AV Trade Talk. 

Kimberly Lancaster, President & Founder, Caster Communications 

Lancaster is the president and founder of Caster Communications, a consumer and emerging tech PR, social media, and consulting firm that specializes in helping smart home, specialty AV, digital health and technology clients expand their global reach. Priding herself on Caster’s stellar reputation, expanding client base, and impressive accomplishments, her work ethic, dedication and enthusiasm for this business are core values she instills in the Caster team every day.

Over nearly three decades, Lancaster has cultivated an esteemed background in public relations and has worked on everything from startups to Fortune 500 companies to the path in-between, including taking major accounts from startup to NASDAQ. She is a member of the WBENC, PRSA, CEA and CEDIA. Kim is a speaker, presenter and certified instructor, and teaches courses on PR and social media for multiple organizations. She has been named a top social media influencer for #smarthome, #CEDIA and #InfoComm, and is a winner of the Alcott Award, PBN’s Women to Watch; she is a former ‘40 Under 40’ and PRSA’s Excellence Awards recipient.  

Krista Haughey, Senior Director, North American Sales, AudioQuest 

An active board member of Women in Consumer Technology since 2009, Haughey has gained a deep understanding of both the CI and performance audio sectors of the consumer electronics industry. She previously worked as director of strategic accounts for Sonance, as well as the national sales manager for Cleerline Technology, and national sales manager for Autonomic Controls. Additionally, she has served as a board member of the Consumer Technology Association. Haughey arrived at AudioQuest as a regional sales manager for the Southwestern U.S.

Since joining the company in 2018, Haughey has successfully grown a range of accounts while becoming familiar with high-performance audio. Most recently, she was named senior director, North American Sales — a role in which her natural leadership, eagerness to grow, and dedication to excellence find a perfect home at AudioQuest. 

Kristin Bickett, Head of Nest Enterprise Sales – Platforms & Devices Organization, Google 

Bickett has worked in many capacities building, driving, or turning around business teams at companies that make best-in-class products, from Ghirardelli and Levi’s to Lexar and Logitech. She has worked in supply chain, sales operations, channel marketing, product marketing, sales and channel management for these organizations with a laser focus on bringing great products to consumers.

Bickett joined Nest over 13 years ago as the first head of sales and channel marketing, initially a team of one. She designed and executed Nest’s go-to-market strategy and built the brand’s commercial relationships with major retail, HVAC wholesale partners, and their first energy partner. Since joining the Nest Enterprise team in 2015, Bickett has brought her consumer products expertise to a new space, driving program success, bringing innovative strategic business initiatives to life across Google Nest’s distribution channels as she led channel management for the business. Recently she returned to a sales leadership role running the business across all Nest Enterprise partnerships.  

Lisa Montgomery, Account Manager & Copywriter, KMB Communications 

A veteran of the custom industry on the media side, Montgomery has spent more than 25 years analyzing and reporting on the home technology marketplace. As the former editor of Electronic House and sister publication CE Pro, she has developed a deep sense of the industry, including the trends that are shaping the way consumers use technology to enjoy a healthier, happier, more productive life at home.

Writing is her passion, be it for a consumer or trade publication, online content, or literature for manufacturers involved in the home technology industry. Montgomery understands how to make an impact through thoughtful, insightful messaging to help consumers make smarter buying decisions and professionals grow their businesses.  

Lucette Nicoll, Founder, Nicoll Public Relations 

Nicoll has a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. A CE Pro Masters honoree, she is the founder of Nicoll Public Relations, a full-service boutique PR and marketing communications agency. Established in 1987, Nicoll Public Relations specializes in representing manufacturers and brands within the consumer electronics industry, and over the years has represented highly regarded companies such as Bowers & Wilkins.  

Maryellen Oswald, Partnerships Business Development Manager & Residential CI Channel Manager, Somfy Systems 

Prior to joining Somfy, Oswald was the founder of Connected Design. She is an avid sports fan and passionate about smart home technology. Recently, Oswald was inducted into the 2024 Women In Consumer Technology Legacy Awards, and she was a 2020 recipient of Dealerscope’s Most Powerful Women in Consumer Technology, which recognized her dedication to the channel and mentoring women in the electronics industry. 

Owning over 25 years of dedicated involvement in the consumer technology industry, Oswald started her career as a project manager in publishing before transitioning through various facets of marketing and events, eventually leading to her role as founder & publisher of Connected Design. 

Melanie Malcom, Co-Owner, Bespoke Home Cinemas 

Malcolm is co-owner of Leeds, Yorkshire, U.K.-based Bespoke Home Cinemas specializing in cinema and smart home technology across the U.K. residential market. She currently sits on the global board of directors for CEDIA and was recently appointed to the Governance Committee. In 2016, Malcolm was elected to the CEDIA EMEA board and contributed to CEDIA’s global alignment process.

An active CEDIA volunteer, she has served in roles including secretary on the executive board, chair of the Smart Home Apprenticeship Trailblazer Committee, and CEDIA Smart Home Awards judge for the EMEA region. She is also a director of Together For Cinema, a community interest company that focuses on designing and installing home cinema rooms in children’s hospices and other suitable locations in the U.K. 

Melanie Niemerg, Owner, Integral Systems  

Niemerg is an integration firm owner who walks-the-walk of doing work to bridge the technology and design-build communities. For example, she is on the board of NARI Tampa Bay (National Association of the Remodelers Industry) where she put on the COTY Awards (Contractor of the Year), devoting months of her time to putting on these awards to recognize contractors in Tampa.

She won the John Marzulli Presidents Award from NARI Tampa Bay in recognition of the work she did on COTY. Recently, Niemerg was chosen by St. Pete Life as a Women in Business for their Special Edition, and she is on the board of the local NKBA chapter where she helps to host local events at nearby Pinellas College for design students. Additionally, Niemerg has taught classes about being a technology integrator.  

Melissa Andresko, Chief Corporate Brand Ambassador, Lutron 

Lutron is the only company Andresko has worked for since graduating from Moravian University 26 years ago. Her passion for helping consumers with their technology needs has meant she is an involved participant on multiple association committees aimed at helping the industry. She sits on numerous CTA and CEDIA boards and committees, serving on the CTA’s Executive Board, as well as the boards of Industry Leaders, Smart Home and Accessories Division. She is also a CTA Foundation Trustee; was a recipient of CTA’s 2023 Smart Home Division Leadership Award for her outstanding service; and a 2019 CE Pro Masters inductee among numerous accolades she has received.

Andresko’s wide-ranging responsibilities have included: starting Lutron’s consumer-facing PR in 2002; managing its Ultimate Home Theater Experience exhibit at Disney’s Epcot; getting 10 Lutron artifacts added to the Electricity Collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History; and maintaining a CEDIA Expo presence and everything to do with the Lutron Excellence Awards program. 

Michelle Ferlauto, Chief Operating Officer, SoundVision 

Ferlauto has been a vital part of the Charlotte/Lake Norman area smart home industry for over a decade. Her multifaceted role at SoundVision includes overseeing the company’s day-to-day logistics, managing its marketing strategies, and co-hosting the firm’s podcast series, “Simplifying Life Through Technology.” She has been part of the EOS Leadership Team at SoundVision for the last four years.

Ferlauto has championed the company’s Service Memberships at SoundVision, allowing continued support to clients beyond installation, and creating a program at a time when it was very uncommon in the industry. Beyond her professional achievements, Ferlauto’s activist nature inspires her to advocate for herself and all women in the AV industry. She is an active member of CE Pro‘s Total Tech Summit Advisory Board and participates in various alternative outlets to support and promote our business. Her industry involvement also includes ProSource volunteer marketing planning committee. 

Miranda Grantham, National Sales Manager, Origin Acoustics 

Grantham has made a name for herself at Origin as a “quiet force” and one of the most well-respected people in the custom electronics industry. The nominating person asserts that Grantham’s hustle “is second-to-none and she gets results through strong leadership and pure talent.” She can connect with anyone about anything and strives to make people feel important in whatever way is meaningful to them — and calmly handles any challenge with grace and power. 

Morgan Lawrence, Director of Communications, The rAVe Agency 

Lawrence spearheads rAVe’s public relation efforts, and for over a decade she has been crafting impactful public and media relations strategies for leading brands in the custom installation and audiovisual industry. Lawrence holds her Accreditation in Public Relations, a mark of distinction for PR professionals, and she enjoys the constantly evolving landscape of the custom installation and audiovisual industry.  

Nicole Riddle, Member Development Director for Custom Integration, Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) 

One of the most passionate and driven members of the NMG team, Riddle loves working with people. She has years of experience with both small and large businesses and has a knack for building strong relationships and earning trust. Riddle joined Nationwide as a director in April 2023, working from Minneapolis. She’s responsible for members of Azione Unlimited, Oasys, and Ellipsys commercial technology group. Through her background in buying groups and working for manufacturers, she’s been a key player in the rapid growth of Oasys and Ellipsys groups. Before Nationwide, Riddle was with Focal Naim. She also spent 7+ years at ProSource as a district manager for Midwest custom integrators. Earlier in her career, Nicole worked for DirecTV. 

Roberta Lewis, Founder, Roberta Lewis & Associates 

Lewis is an industry icon with 40 years of successful consumer electronics retailing and professional A/V sales, Internet marketing, manufacturing sales and public relations, marketing, and communications experience. Roberta Lewis & Associates, LLC was founded in 2005 to support the broad range of electronics and technology businesses with public relations, marketing, and CE centric strategic sales consultancy. Recently, Roberta received three industry awards: She was named a Dealerscope 2021 Hall of Fame Honoree and a 2021 Women in Consumer Technology Legacy Award winner. In addition, she was recognized as a CE Pro Master in our Class of 2020. 

Rosa Vanessa Sayen, Marketing & Custom Project Specification, LK & Associates 

After graduating from ITT Tech with a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, Sayen went to work for projector manufacturer SIM2 as a CRT technician. She was responsible for troubleshooting and repairing projectors. At a conference, she was given the opportunity to manage the press release of a new product and after that, was promoted into marketing and training for the U.S. Division.

From SIM2 she moved to Stewart Filmscreen where she was the national sales trainer and worked with dealers around the country. She also created the in-house training for dealer events. Moving on to Media Décor, she was responsible for product specification, marketing and also helped design and launch products. She also assisted in positioning the company for the sale to Leon Speakers. Her next stop was director of marketing at Vutec, and now Sayen handles marketing and custom project specification for LK & Associates.   

Shenelle Enos, Director of Sales, D-Tools 

As a leader on the D-Tools Cloud sales team, Enos drives the process and mentors new sales associates to best communicate the value of D-Tools software to the customer integrator community. She has been with D-Tools for 18 years working her way up through the customer service and sales ranks. It is a common refrain to hear from D-Tools users that Enos’ presentations on D-Tools Cloud are “the best software demonstration I have ever experienced,” enthuses her nominator. 

Stephanie Scola, Vice President of Marketing, KEF 

Renowned for her innovative strategies and transformative marketing initiatives, Scola has played a pivotal role in elevating KEF‘s brand presence during her two decades-plus in the industry. With extensive experience in marketing consultation and regional sales, her career spans various roles that have honed her strategic and creative abilities.

Her ability to navigate complex international markets and forge strategic partnerships is invaluable to KEF. Scola is celebrated for her blend of creativity and strategic thinking. She has a proven track record of turning bold ideas into successful campaigns, driving KEF’s growth and market leadership. Scola is also a mentor and thought leader, dedicated to learning and implementing new marketing trends while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.  

Sue Toscano, Owner, Toscano Communications 

Toscano entered the consumer electronics/high-performance audio/video industry in 1997, working under Lucette and John Nicoll at Nicoll Public Relations. In 2017, she went out on her own and launched Toscano Communications. Five years later, she was honored by Dealerscope magazine as one of the Most Powerful Women in Consumer Technology. During her nearly three-decade career, Toscano has proudly represented some of the CE industry’s most respected brands and visionaries. 

Veronica Esbona, Partner & Managing Director, TIG Global PR 

A brand strategist and storyteller, Esbona specializes in high-impact public relations, content marketing, media and influencer relations, marketing communications, and brand development. With 25 years of experience in the consumer, residential, and professional AV technology markets, Esbona brings expertise to her current role as partner and managing director of TIG Global PR. She is committed to amplifying clients’ voices and driving growth by crafting narratives that resonate with audiences, ensuring every campaign achieves maximum impact and ROI.

Previously, Esbona was president of InGear, a content creation agency she helped establish and grow into a leading PR player in the AV space. During her tenure, she demonstrated her expertise in brand development, media relations, social media strategies, and customer outreach programs, working closely with manufacturers, distributors, and dealers alike. Her clients have included BenQ, Legrand | AV, RTI, and Russound, among many others. 

Victoria Garcia Massimo, Director of North American Operations, Airzone 

Massimo has worked at Airzone for practically her whole career, since earning her bachelor’s degree in Product Engineering. While still under 40 years old, she has risen to become Airzone’s head of operations for the North America, leading a sales and support team that has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years.

As part of her strategic vision for launching this decades-old Spanish HVAC control company into the U.S. market, Massimo recognized early that there was enormous untapped potential for the custom integration industry to incorporate HVAC systems into home automation. She has been instrumental in forging partnerships between Airzone and leading home automation platforms, including Crestron, Lutron, Control4, Elan, and Savant. She has also led the way for Airzone to launch official integrations with Z-Wave, as well as popular smart thermostats from Nest, ecobee, and Honeywell.  

Wendy Vinelli, President, GAL Electronics 

Vinelli stands out as another in the small community of women at the helm of an integration company. But she doesn’t just oversee the business; she actively participates in installations alongside her team, demonstrating a hands-on approach. Vinelli’s deep expertise in the industry, particularly in control systems and AV installation shines in Atlanta’s bustling AV market. Her commitment extends beyond state borders, as she juggles various roles within the company.  

Whitley Campbell, Smart Shades and Lighting Consultant, DSG Metro & DSG Distributors  

Campbell is a dynamic 28-year-old who began her professional journey in the medical field in 2014. After dedicating several years to healthcare, she discovered a new passion in the Audio/Video industry, where she has been making her mark for nearly two years. Campbell’s creativity and drive also led her to pursue further education in interior design, earning a certificate in Landscape design, AutoCAD, and Interior design. Her diverse skill set and commitment to personal growth exemplify her inspiring adaptability and relentless pursuit of her dreams.

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