What has always intrigued me about the custom integration industry is just how niche it is. Relatively speaking, it is not a very big market, and aside from some of the larger manufacturers, everyone largely subscribes to the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. That was especially clear among the integrators who attended Total Tech Summit 2025.
Looking ahead, the format will take on a new dimension. Starting next year, the event will co-locate with CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo, combining the intimacy and depth of the Summit’s one on one conversations with the scale and momentum of the broader show floor. It is essentially the best of both worlds. Attendees will still get the focused vendor meetings and high-level discussions that make the Summit unique, but now layered into the larger ecosystem of education, networking and product discovery that CEDIA Expo delivers. If anything, the merger reinforces what this year’s attendees told me: meaningful dialogue drives this industry forward.
A Gathering of Top Performing Integrators
The three day event in Orlando brought together some of the best and brightest minds in both the commercial and residential channels, but I spent most of my time focused on the residential programming at the Renaissance hotel, which sits within viewing distance of Sea World. Workshops, one on one vendor meetings and panel sessions sparked thoughtful conversations about where the industry is headed and how these leaders operate. Still, the most valuable part of the event remains the time spent talking shop with the best of the best.
Total Tech Summit is not like most industry conferences. It is an invite only event for top performing integrators with the numbers and track record to back it up. Residential firms in attendance average 23 years in business, with most generating between 2.5 million and 6 million annually. On the commercial side, firms average 35 years in business and nearly half have 50 or more employees. Combined, attendees reported more than 1,000 completed projects over the past year across homes, offices, campuses and venues nationwide.
Insights From the Panels and Workshops
I also had the opportunity to moderate two panel discussions. The first explored the demands of working with ultra-high net worth clients. Matt Emmi of One Button, Glen Keoghan of Lightworks and Lutron’s Melissa Andresko agreed that the luxury market is defined by simplicity, discretion and trust. They emphasized that credibility comes from deep expertise, long term partnerships and reliable brands. Early communication, clear decision paths and strong documentation were recurring themes, and lighting and shading dominated the conversation as essential elements of the luxury experience, especially as tunable lighting and wellness continue to gain traction.
Reliable networks and proven products form the backbone of low maintenance systems, and because so much of the work is designed to disappear into the home, firms rely on photography, case studies and showrooms to demonstrate their capabilities. It was a strong reminder that luxury integration is rooted in disciplined design and technology that quietly enhances the environment.
The second panel focused on humility and peer learning. Even among the top integrators in the country, the willingness to learn from others remains essential to long term success. Featuring Adam Zell of Boston Automations, Eddie Bloom of Entertainment Design Group and Keith Harrison of Total Home Technologies, the discussion underscored how often integrators at the top of their game credit their growth to openness, collaboration and shared problem solving. I will be sharing more takeaways from that session later this month.
Workshops expanded on those themes with sessions on hiring best practices and marketing, two areas where integrators commonly struggle. Attendees walked away with actionable strategies they can implement immediately, reinforcing how well curated and practical the Summit’s programming is.
More Focused Vendor Meetings
Another cornerstone of Total Tech Summit is the one-on-one meeting format. Unlike a typical trade show where integrators walk a chaotic show floor and try to squeeze in a few meaningful conversations, the Summit structures intentional, uninterrupted time with vendors. Those meetings give integrators the space to dive into product roadmaps, discuss specific project needs and explore partnership opportunities without distractions.
For many dealers, these focused conversations are the difference maker. The meetings are short, but they are concentrated, and both sides show up prepared. Integrators often bring real project scenarios or pain points to the table, while vendors tailor their conversations around those needs instead of delivering a generic pitch. It creates a more productive dynamic and accelerates decision making in a way that is hard to replicate at a traditional event.
It also gives integrators direct access to higher level vendor representatives who understand the complexities of custom installation work. Instead of bouncing between booth staff or waiting in line to speak with a product specialist, dealers sit face to face with decision makers, engineers or category managers who can answer detailed questions on the spot. That kind of access builds trust and helps integrators feel confident about the brands they choose to support.
What Attendees Value Most About the Summit
Those benchmarks are part of what makes the Summit such a useful place to learn, and integrators like Dean Wilson of Phoenix Systems said as much throughout the week.
“This is my fourth Total Tech Summit, and as a CI firm in the Tampa Bay market, the one on one attention our more established employees get from vendors gives us a real advantage over other events,” says Dean Wilson of Phoenix Systems. “It is a well put together and highly organized program, and even though it is condensed, you genuinely feel like your input matters.”
First time attendees like Karly Batson of SCS Home Entertainment shared a similar reaction.
“This is my first year at Total Tech Summit, and I have really enjoyed the networking events and the boardroom discussions,” says Karly Batson. “I have been able to meet vendors I had never heard of before, and I am excited to bring some of those products into our business. The workshop conversations on hiring were incredibly valuable, the after dinner networking events were awesome and I hope to attend again next year.”
While workshops and panels delivered plenty of insights, the informal conversations were just as valuable. Everywhere I turned, integrators were picking each other’s brains about best practices, vendors, product reliability or even the basketball game playing on the video wall at the lobby bar.
At one point, I asked a dealer at that same bar what they liked most about Total Tech Summit. It was the last full day of the event, with roughly 60 attendees, staff and vendors gathered around.
“This,” the dealer replied while looking around.
