Speaking ahead of a manufacturer executive roundtable on the future of the custom home and residential integration industries, Paul Miller — CEO of Forge, the parent company of CEDIA Expo and CE Pro — used his first public remarks at CEDIA Expo to directly address swirling industry speculation about the show’s future and to affirm his company’s commitment to the custom integration channel.
Miller, who took the stage at the Smart Stage before a panel featuring executives from ADI, Crestron, Lutron, Origin Acoustics, and Sony, opened by sharing his background in semiconductors and componentry, calling it a pleasure to see a show “where all of those ingredients actually go” into finished solutions. He described the residential integration space as a “technology disrupted and technology enabled industry” and praised the energy he found walking the show floor in Denver.
“It is also clear that this is the largest dedicated residential AV systems integration show in the US,” Miller said, adding that nowhere else does the community gather “at this scale or with this level of focus” on the professionals and technologies shaping the connected home.
Addressing the Acquisition Head-On
Miller acknowledged that the formation of Forge — created through Apollo’s acquisition of Emerald and Questex, the two companies that previously owned CEDIA Expo and its related media properties — has prompted questions from the industry about what the change means going forward.
Rather than sidestep the topic, Miller addressed it directly, telling attendees that Forge understands the show’s role in helping integrators grow their businesses by connecting buyers and sellers, and that the company is committed to continued investment in the event, its audience, and the opportunities it creates.
He also suggested the show itself will need to evolve alongside the industry. Miller noted that while AV remains fundamental to the business, integrators are increasingly expanding into whole-home categories — lighting, energy management, security, and outdoor technology — often working alongside architects, designers, and builders to deliver a complete home experience.
Despite that broader lens, Miller emphasized that the show’s foundation isn’t changing. “We are the place where the professional integrator remains at the heart of CEDIA Expo,” he said, adding that expanding the conversation to the total home “isn’t about moving away from the core,” but about creating more opportunity around it.
Putting Rumors to Rest
Miller used part of his remarks to directly confront speculation he said has been circulating about the show’s future.
“This is not the last CEDIA Expo,” Miller told the audience. “We’re going to see you in Vegas next year, and we’re going to continue to invest in this product.”
He said he wanted to put any rumors about the show’s direction to rest, stating plainly that Forge cares about the industry and the event and believes in its future.
A Call for Feedback
Miller closed by inviting direct feedback from exhibitors and attendees, saying he had already spent the previous day listening to input on what’s working and what isn’t.
“I want to hear from you, exhibitors, attendees,” Miller said. “I heard a lot yesterday. What’s working? What’s not working? What can we do better? And I know there are things we can be doing better. And what can we do to help this become the place that you want to be in the years ahead?”
He encouraged attendees to approach him in person throughout the show to share what Forge could be doing better.
“We’re all in on this event,” Miller said, before handing the stage back to Dan Ferrisi, Forge’s Group Director of Content and Editorial for Industrial and Tech, to introduce the executive roundtable.
Forge has confirmed that CEDIA Expo will return next year in Las Vegas.
