After decades in the custom integration (CI) channel, Doug Greenwald is finally bringing his experiences to a new podcast called The Integrator Playbook. Created to help AV integrators and industry professionals build stronger, smarter, and more profitable companies, The Integrator Playbook will be hosted by Doug Greenwald himself, with the first episode available now on Spotify and YouTube.
Why integrators should take note
You don’t see a whole lot of media nowadays talking about custom integration (at least on the business side). Obviously you have CE Pro, but outside of that, resources have always been somewhat scarce, scattered and often leaning more into general business concepts than integration business concepts.
As such, Greenwald’s angle of delivering active integration business insights from the perspective of a professional integrator presents itself as a unique resource for veterans and newbies alike. It’s business advice delivered from an operator’s perspective based on firsthand, day-to-day experience from running an integration firm and that’s where a lot of its value lies.
For those unfamiliar, Greenwald is the owner of Creative Sound & Integration, a successful HTA Certified integration firm that has been on the CE Pro 100 (which measures the top 100 integration firms in the US) since 2001. He is also a 2026 CE Pro Master and the founder of the multi-award-winning ProjX360 project management software designed for the AV integration industry’s unique workflows.
The Integrator’s Playbook based around practical lessons learned in the field
The inspiration for The Integrator Playbook grew out of Greenwald’s presentation at CEDIA Expo 2025, where he spoke about the importance of process and operational systems within integration businesses.
According to Greenwald, the audience’s enthusiastic, eager response highlighted to him a growing demand among integrators for practical, firsthand insights from successful business owners actively operating in the field.
“What shocked me was how many integrators lined up to ask questions,” Greenwald adds.
“They were eager for very specific advice on everything from how much to charge for design drawings to how often to charge for service to how to handle progress payments. The kind of stuff that requires deep, active experience. In The Integrator Playbook, we’ll answer them all.”
Greenwald: ‘Industry is full of smart, hardworking people”
“Integrators don’t need more theory; they need real conversations about what actually works,” continues Greenwald.
“This industry is full of smart, hardworking people solving difficult problems every day. The goal of this podcast is to share those lessons, learn from one another, and give integrators practical playbooks they can apply in their own businesses. Whether you are just starting out in this booming business or are a long-time integrator, I guarantee you will find something of value in this podcast.”
Podcast to launch with four initial episodes
Episodes will feature a mix of solo insight, guest interviews and tactical discussions, with four episodes already recorded as part of the show’s initial rollout. Topics for the four episodes are as follows:
- Episode 1 (Available Now) – Featuring Creative Sound & Integration GM Steve Denne, both Greenwald and Denne discuss the early days of CSI’s business from 20 years ago to now, Doug’s journey to software, and the vision behind the podcast.
- Episode 2 (June 22, 2026) – Greenwald and Josh Christian of the Home Technology Association explore professional standards, certification and why accountability and best practices matter for both integrators and homeowners.
- Episode 3 (July 6, 2026)– Jason Sayen of I Am Sayen joins Greenwald to talk about what happens after the sale, including execution challenges, communication breakdowns, and the operational realities many firms face.
- Episode 4 (July 20, 2026) – Featuring Tony Shank, COO of Media Innovation Technologies, the podcast builds on themes introduced in Episode 3, examining one of the most common operational failure points in integration businesses: the transition from sales to production.
Being a guest on the podcast
If you’re a CE Pro reader and feel as though you have some insight worth sharing with Greenwald on the podcast, Greenwald has an open communication channel for anyone looking to be a guest. Interested parties can email Doug Greenwald at [email protected].
