AV/IT Amplifier

Hosted by Ryan Gray

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143

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Higher education institutions rely on audio-visual (AV) and information technology (IT) solutions as a key backbone for modern teaching and learning. The AV/IT industry plays a critical role in providing these solutions, and it is important to highlight the latest trends, innovations, and perspectives in this sector. The podcast “The AV/IT Amplifier” aims to fill this gap by featuring interviews with people from Higher Education Institutions and the AV/IT Industry who have an idea, concept, perspective, event or product that would be helpful or interesting to the target audience of higher education technology managers. The host of the podcast is Ryan Gray, Assistant Director of IT at Yavapai College. “The AV/IT Amplifier” podcast will have a bi-monthly schedule with two recordings per month, each being split in half to provide for weekly episodes. Each episode will be targeted for 30 minutes to be about the length of an average commute. The first half of each recording will focus on the primary topic for that guest, while the second half will be a profile of the person. The podcast will not only focus on technical topics but also on non-technical ones such as effective people management, pedagogy, community building, building a personal brand, career planning, professional development and other similar topics for our audience. The split episode format allows for a dive into the topic and the opportunity to get to know the person and perhaps draw the connections between why that topic is so important to that guest.

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July 15, 2026Episode 14123 min

141: Average Size Zach with Zach Moss

Ryan Gray is back for week two with Zach Moss of Yavapai College, this time leaving project management mostly behind for the questions that really matter. Zach establishes his place in the Yavapai College hierarchy of multiple Zachs, explains why he considers himself an extrovert, looks back at his first job washing dishes in an Italian restaurant, and shares why he tries not to let fear make decisions for him, even when that philosophy has led to some objectively questionable choices.The conversation continues through alternate careers in chemical engineering, total commitment to the Apple ecosystem, listening to the same music over and over, and the unexpectedly serious accomplishment of building a remarkably flat bench. Then Ryan and Zach develop the concept for Zach, an action movie in which a different actor plays Zach in every scene without explanation, before getting into what it means when someone genuinely asks how you are doing and discovering that even a man who refuses to let fear make his decisions occasionally knows when to let common sense kick in.Topics DiscussedThe Yavapai College hierarchy of ZachsBeing an extrovert and drawing energy from other peopleLessons from a first job in an Italian restaurantRefusing to let fear make decisionsMoving from Virginia to Prescott without a jobAn alternate career in chemistry or chemical engineeringApple loyalty and listening to the same music over and overBuilding a six foot, extremely flat benchCasting the action movie of Zach Moss’s lifeHonesty, common sense, and knowing what not to sayConnect with Zachhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-moss-mba-pmp-4732b1290https://www.yc.eduConnect with Ryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

July 1, 2026Episode 14033 min

140: I'll Get There On Thursday with Zach Moss

In this episode of The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast, Ryan Gray sits down with Zach Moss, Project Manager in the IT department at Yavapai College, during a live recording at the Arizona Community College Technical Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Zach talks about what project management actually means inside higher education IT, where the work can stretch from campus remodel conversations to ERP replacement, portal launches, vendor coordination, and the daily challenge of keeping complex work moving across teams. The conversation quickly moves beyond timelines and task lists into the reality of leading projects when the technical answers live with subject matter experts, the stakeholders all have different needs, and the role often becomes less about having every answer and more about knowing how to remove the next barrier.Ryan and Zach also dig into transparency, ambiguity, risk tolerance, and the emotional intelligence required to manage technology projects without turning every issue into a crisis. Zach explains how taking good notes, focusing on the problem directly in front of him, building enough runway for timelines to shift, and meeting people where they are helps him keep work moving even when plans change. The episode closes with a wider conversation about accountability, trust, celebrating wins, choosing the right people for the work, and why successful project management in higher education often comes down to taking something that does not exist yet and bringing it together for students, faculty, and staff.Topics DiscussedRecording live at the Arizona Community College Technical Conference in TucsonZach Moss’s role as Project Manager in the IT department at Yavapai CollegeWhy project management looks different depending on the projectBuilding a project management role when the position is new to the departmentCoordinating work across ERP, portal, campus, and IT projectsLeading projects when the subject matter experts know the technical detailsRemoving blockers without personally knowing every system or acronymLiving in a constant state of emergency without treating every problem as a crisisTaking good notes and focusing on the problem directly in front of youKnowing when something is a Thursday problem instead of a Tuesday problemCreating enough runway so timelines can shift without panicThe difference between real imperatives and invented urgencyRecalibrating expectations when plans, features, or deadlines changeUsing transparency to build trust with teams and executive stakeholdersThe “you know everything I know” approach to project communicationWorking through forever projects and vendor implementation challengesWhitewater rapids as a metaphor for constant technology changeBuilding the right project team with the right ownershipMeeting people where they are in communication and work styleDefining project management as taking a scope or goal and bringing it togetherConnect with Zachhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-moss-mba-pmp-4732b1290https://www.yc.eduConnect with Ryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

June 24, 2026Episode 13930 min

139: The Igloo Takeover with Laura Mills and Rebecca Wade

In this one off InfoComm 2026 episode, the tables turn as Laura and Rebecca from Igloo Vision take over the microphones and interview Ryan Gray for a change. What starts as a lighthearted booth conversation quickly turns into a surprisingly honest discussion about recognition, community leadership, HETMA’s future, the pressure of being seen by others, and why the best technology is often the kind instructors never have to think about.Ryan talks about winning AV Professional of the Year, the importance of working yourself out of a job, and why HETMA’s future depends on shared ownership beyond its original leaders. The conversation also dives into student centered classroom technology, including beamforming microphones, automated camera systems, capture workflows, and the role of AI in helping students translate class experiences into learning that fits their lives. Also, somehow, HETMA becomes cucumber lime electrolyte water and Ryan becomes “Persistence Man.”Topics DiscussedRyan being interviewed instead of hostingThe HETMA podcast takeover from InfoComm 2026Laura and Rebecca from Igloo Vision turning the tablesRyan’s role at Yavapai CollegeRyan’s role with Higher Ed AV MediaReceiving the AV Professional of the Year awardThe challenge of accepting recognitionWorking yourself out of a jobBuilding teams that create opportunities for othersHelping work outlive the person who started itHETMA as a volunteer driven organizationThe early growth of HETMA during the COVID eraShared ownership as the future of HETMABringing new leaders into the communityHETMA’s presence at ISE and international growthThe importance of education led community buildingHow higher education AV may translate differently outside the United StatesBalancing structure and substance in a growing organizationTechnology that supports teaching without getting in the wayDesigning AV systems around the student experienceBeamforming microphones in learning spacesShure ceiling microphone systemsAutomated camera systems and Huddly CrewLecture capture and recorded classroom experiencesAI searchable class contentSupporting working adults, parents, and students with complicated livesMatching teaching styles to student learning needsThe value of technology that feels automatic to instructorsConnect with Laura Millshttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/laurakellymillshttps://www.igloovision.comConnect with Rebecca Wadehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-wade-979094154https://www.igloovision.comConnect with Ryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

June 10, 2026Episode 13834 min

138: I Don't Wanna Be The Cheesey Boy with Philipp Gude

This week on the AV/IT Amplifier, Ryan continues the conversation with Philipp Gude of GUDE Systems, moving beyond the product conversation and into the people, personality, and philosophy behind the company. The episode starts with the most important technical matter of all: how exactly Americans are supposed to pronounce “Gude,” why “good” works just fine, and how quickly a strong product name can become a full episode worth of puns.From there, Ryan and Philipp get into the energy of InfoComm, what it means to make a traditionally dry category like power management feel engaging, and why smart power is more than just something sitting in the bottom of a rack. Philipp talks about working in a family company, his path through engineering, IT, and sales, the pride and responsibility of having his name on every product, and why his confidence in GUDE comes not just from the engineering team, but from the feedback he hears every day from customers. The conversation also wanders, in the best possible way, through Cologne, German beer, factory tours, grilled salami and gouda sandwiches, the future film Mr. Strom, and the value of creating enough trust that people will tell you the truth.Topics discussedThe difference between saying GUDE in German and saying “good” for English speaking customers.How GUDE’s slogan, “good, great, GUDE,” turns the company name into a natural brand advantage.The danger and delight of making too many power management puns.Why AV and IT people often build big public systems while personally preferring to stay in the background.Philipp’s answer to whether he is an introvert or an extrovert: both, depending on role and day.InfoComm as an exhausting but energizing week for people who thrive on connection.Making power management feel more engaging without losing sight of how serious and important it is.Philipp’s unexpected path into the family business after work in chemical industry, IT, engineering, and technical sales.What it feels like to sell a product that literally carries your family name.Why Philipp says his confidence in GUDE comes from customer feedback as much as from knowing the engineering team.GUDE’s firmware being built from scratch and the value of knowing what is actually inside the product.Cologne, the Cologne Cathedral, German beer, and why ordering “a beer” may be the right move in Germany.The imagined movie of Philipp’s life: Mr. Power, or better, Mr. Strom.The best sandwich question, answered with grilled salami and gouda.The importance of blunt, honest feedback from customers, colleagues, and team members.How assumptions about family businesses can miss the real story of how someone started.Where to connect with Philipp and GUDE Systems.InfoComm booth details and HETMA member show floor tours.Connect with Philipp Gudehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-gude-pdu/https://gude-systems.comConnect with Ryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

June 3, 2026Episode 13729 min

137: Reliable as F*** with Philipp Gude

In this episode of The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast, Ryan Gray sits down with Philipp Gude of GUDE Systems during the final run up to InfoComm 2026. Philipp shares the story of GUDE as a family company, founded by his father more than 35 years ago, and explains how that structure shapes the company’s approach to decision making, long term investment, and customer relationships. The conversation quickly moves beyond power distribution as a product category and into the operational realities of higher education AV, where reliability, remote rebooting, standardization, and human support all become part of the same equation. GUDE will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas at booth C1706, where the company plans to showcase smart IP power solutions for AV and IT infrastructures. Ryan and Philipp also talk about the reputational nature of the AV industry, the value of HETMA Approved testing, and why feedback from actual higher education colleagues often matters more than a logo, spec sheet, or certification alone. Philipp previews smaller NEMA 5 15 PDUs, smart UPS products, vertical PDUs, remote reboot tools, open REST API support, plug and play drivers for platforms like Crestron, Q SYS, and Extron, and self healing watchdog functionality. The episode closes with a wider conversation about GUDE’s global reach, German manufacturing, US availability, international power standards, and how HETMA can build European presence by partnering with existing regional communities rather than trying to force a duplicate model into a place where strong networks already exist.Topics DiscussedInfoComm 2026 preparation and why the show matters to the AV industryPhilipp Gude’s role with GUDE SystemsGUDE as a family company founded more than 35 years agoSmart PDUs, power management, and power protection for AV environmentsWhy family company decision making can move faster than large corporate processesPeople first supplier relationships and the importance of access to real humansThe reputational nature of the AV industryHETMA Approved testing and real campus feedbackReliability, remote rebooting, and reducing unnecessary campus truck rollsInfoComm previews including compact NEMA 5 15 PDUs, smart UPS products, and vertical PDUsCampus standardization and AV systems becoming more like enterprise IT deploymentsOpen REST API support and integration with control and monitoring platformsSelf healing watchdog functionality and reducing trouble tickets before users notice issuesWorking across 120 volt and 230 volt power environmentsGUDE’s US presence, US stock, and NEMA 5 15 and NEMA 5 20 productsHETMA’s European growth opportunitiesPartnering with existing higher education technology organizationsUsing university case studies and presentations to create value across regionsThe human side of AV technology partnershipsThe upcoming deeper dive into GUDE gear and InfoComm coveragePhilipp's Post as discussed:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/philipp-gude-pdu_proav-avtweeps-activity-7463223348601290752-ni3nConnect with Philipp Gudehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-gude-pdu/https://gude-systems.comConnect with Ryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

May 6, 2026Episode 13634 min

136: You Never Go Full Bald with Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly returns to The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast for week two with Ryan Gray, and the conversation picks up right where the first one left off: part Higher Ed AV Media strategy, part neurodivergent team therapy session, part comedy riff about baldness, gifts, and why some people should absolutely not be forced to sing an improvised jingle on command. Chris, Senior IT Support Specialist at Creighton University, HETMA Advisory Board Chair, and Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media, talks about his role supporting volunteer contributors, helping build consistency, and creating a structure that encourages people rather than making creative work feel like punishment. Ryan and Chris also get into the very real tension between spontaneity and planning, and why authentic collaboration often works best when people are not wired the same way.The conversation moves from HETMA and Higher Ed AV Media into broader reflections on workplace communication, neurodivergence, podcasting, and the vulnerability behind even simple questions like asking someone how they are doing. Along the way, Chris explains his state high point hiking project, Ryan tries to force a Higher Ed AV Media jingle into existence, and the two land on one of the great philosophical questions of our time: what separates someone who is authentically bald from someone who is merely playing bald? By the end, Chris revisits his previous sign off and updates it into something that fits both his own work and the larger HETMA community: “Stay curious and get connected.”Topics DiscussedChris Kelly’s role as Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV MediaSupporting volunteer contributors without making deadlines feel punitiveNeurodivergence, procrastination, planning, and creative workHow Ryan and Chris’s different working styles complement each otherBuilding teams around difference rather than samenessCamera gestures, Zoom delay, and the lived reality of using classroom technologyThe possibility of a Higher Ed AV Media jingleChris’s state high point bucket list and upcoming Arizona visitGift giving, social expectations, and practical decision makingBaldness, authenticity, and Chris’s updated catchphrase: “Stay curious and get connected”Connect with Chris Kellycontent@higheredav.comcontent@hetma.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kelly-272155122/Connect with Ryan@Ryan_A_Grayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comShow LinksHigher Ed AV Media: https://www.higheredav.comHETMA: https://www.hetma.orgHETMA Community: https://community.hetma.orgHETMA Roadshow at Creighton: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/omaha-roadshow-at-creighton-university-tickets-1602948595399?aff=ebdssbdestsearchVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

April 29, 2026Episode 13534 min

135: The Managing Editor with Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly returns to The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast for a conversation about media, volunteerism, accessibility, and what it means to help amplify voices across the higher education AV community. Chris, Senior IT Support Specialist at Creighton University, HETMA Advisory Board Chair, and newly announced Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media, talks with host Ryan Gray about how his deep engagement with higher ed AV content eventually turned into a larger role helping shape, edit, and support the platform itself.This episode is also a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a volunteer-driven media ecosystem alive. Ryan and Chris talk about the difference between polished corporate media and authentic peer-to-peer storytelling, the importance of making content creation less intimidating, and the many ways people can contribute without needing to be a professional writer, podcaster, or media personality. From accessibility and DEI to event recaps, campus profiles, content intake forms, and the search for a clear Higher Ed AV Media tagline, the conversation is ultimately an invitation for more people to step in, share what they know, and help tell the stories of the community.Topics Discussed• Chris Kelly returning as a standalone guest on The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast• Chris’s role as Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media• His claim to having consumed nearly the full Higher Ed AV Media podcast catalog• The value of being a voracious listener and reader before helping shape content• Why accessibility helped pull Chris deeper into the media side of the work• How volunteer organizations create opportunities for people who step forward• Ways people can contribute without needing to be the face of a podcast or article• The difference between authentic peer content and polished corporate media• Why Higher Ed AV Media needs a clear slogan or tagline• Chris’s Empowered by Design column and the challenge of writing regularlyConnect with Chriscontent@hetma.orgcontent@higheredav.comCreighton UniversityHETMA Advisory Board ChairManaging Editor, Higher Ed AV MediaConnect with Ryan@Ryan_A_Grayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comShow LinksHigher Ed AV Media: https://www.higheredav.comHETMA: https://www.hetma.orgHETMA Community: https://community.hetma.orgVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

April 1, 2026Episode 13431 min

134: They Don't Sit in the Classroom Like I Do with Mike McHugh

Mike McHugh is back for Part 2, and this half of the conversation opens up into something bigger than a technical discussion. Ryan and Mike talk about what it really takes to stay current in a field that never stops moving, from relying on trusted partners and professional communities to making room, when possible, for demos, articles, and the constant work of learning. They also dig into AV over IP, not as a buzzword or blanket answer, but as one tool among many that has to be weighed against cost, scale, reliability, and the real needs of a particular space.From there, the episode shifts into another side of Mike’s work that says a lot about who he is. In addition to his role in ITS media at Goshen University, he has spent years teaching first year students in courses centered on identity, community, career, and calling. That teaching experience has given him a different kind of credibility when talking with faculty and administrators about learning spaces, and it also reveals the throughline in Mike’s approach to the job: thoughtful service, lived experience, and a willingness to keep growing. The conversation closes with a glimpse into an upcoming May term in Maui, where Mike will lead students in a recovery focused learning experience connected to rebuilding efforts in Lahaina.Topics DiscussedHow Mike stays current as technology, standards, and expectations keep changingThe value of trusted integrators, dealers, webinars, forums, and professional organizationsWhy carved out time for professional learning is hard to protectHow Goshen University is thinking about AV over IP on a room by room basisWhy “future proofing” often turns out to be more like “future delaying”The difference between how spaces are imagined in design meetings and how they are actually usedWhy relationships and institutional trust matter so much in design and renovation workMike’s role teaching first year students in Goshen’s required core curriculumHow teaching has strengthened his credibility with faculty and administratorsMike’s upcoming May term in Maui tied to disaster recovery work in LahainaConnect with MikeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecsm/Connect with Ryan@Ryan_A_Grayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

March 25, 2026Episode 13330 min

133: It Might Just Be Future Mike with Mike McHugh

In Episode 133 of AV/IT Amplifier, Ryan Gray talks with Mike McHugh of Goshen College about what it means to build a career, and a legacy, at a small institution where everybody knows everybody and the work is always personal. Mike shares what it has been like to spend more than two decades at a 900 student college in northern Indiana, doing everything from classroom technology support and system design to campus events, athletic streaming, video, and recording. The conversation gets at something a lot of higher ed AV people will recognize right away: when the school is small, the team is small, and the mission is clear, the job becomes a constant balancing act between capacity, creativity, relationships, and service.What makes this episode especially strong is how naturally it moves between practical AV work and the deeper human side of the profession. Mike talks about revisiting systems he built decades earlier, realizing that the “future somebody” who has to deal with those decisions might just be him. He reflects on community, consistency, and stepping into new ways of contributing, from running for leadership in ETC to helping bring stability and follow through to The AV Life. This is a conversation about institutional memory, saying yes when students are at the center of the ask, and what it looks like to keep showing up for the long haul.Topics DiscussedWorking in higher ed AV at a small private collegeWearing multiple hats across classrooms, events, athletics, and mediaHow small campus culture changes the way AV work gets doneThe upside and pressure of being known across an institutionRevisiting and replacing systems you built years earlierThe difference between building for “future somebody” and building for “future Mike”Finding professional community through ETC, HETMA, and Higher Ed AV MediaMoving from membership to leadership in professional organizationsWhat consistency and follow through mean in media and podcast productionHow behind the scenes contributions create visible resultsConnect with MikeLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecsm/Connect with Ryan@Ryan_A_Grayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/ryan@higheredav.comVoiceover by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!

February 25, 202658 min

Special: HETMA Presents... Live Keynote from the HETMA Virtual Conference

Recorded live as the Friday keynote on Day 3 of the HETMA Virtual Conference, this AV/IT Amplifier crosspost pulls a fast moving hybrid conversation from sister show HETMA Presents, combining #Roadto10K and This Month in Higher Ed AV into one session.Host Ryan Gray is joined by Britt Yenser, Tim Van Woeart, and Gina Sansivero to unpack the month’s community theme, Time to Level Up, and get specific about what leveling up actually looks like in real careers, real teams, and real life. The first half is personal and practical: leadership shifts, classroom design growth, mentoring, self awareness about learning styles, and the uncomfortable reality that documentation and continuity can feel emotional because it forces us to admit we will not be in the role forever.The second half pivots into a timely industry conversation sparked by a UK trade piece that framed education AV spend as wasteful and trend driven, followed by an AVWeek discussion and a HETMA board response op ed. The panel digs into why the framing landed as dismissive, why collapsing K 12 and higher ed into one story produces bad conclusions, and why higher ed AV decisions are shaped by governance, accessibility, security, procurement, and lifecycle realities, not shiny object chasing. Articles Discussed:Original article: https://www.avinteractive.com/news/systems-design-integration/are-educational-institutions-wasting-their-money-on-av-14-01-2026/Discussion on AVWeek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FLQnVhkwlAHETMA response op ed: https://www.avnation.tv/2026/02/04/oped-higher-ed-is-not-wasting-money-on-av-but-we-are-tired-of-being-talked-down-to/Join the conversation at community.hetma.orgHost: Ryan GrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/Panel:Britt YenserLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt-yenser/Tim Van WoeartLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/Gina SansiveroLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-sansivero/This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.

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