2026 Show Schedule

CEDIA’s latest Recommended Practice RP-32 outlines objective, repeatable methods for measuring and verifying audio system performance. It provides a structured process to ensure that completed systems meet the intended design goals and client expectations. Importantly, RP-32 incorporates verification against the performance parameters defined in CEDIA RP-22: Immersive Audio System Design, allowing integrators to demonstrate whether a system achieves the targeted RP-22 performance level. This hands-on workshop introduces the recommended procedures of RP-32 and gives participants practical experience using a range of measurement tools and software. Attendees will learn how to gather reliable data, interpret results, and document system performance in a consistent and professional manner. The course is suitable for both residential and commercial applications, and is designed to support newer practitioners as well as experienced professionals who want to adopt a Recommended Practice-based approach to system verification. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: • Describe and apply the RP-32 methodology. • Perform objective, repeatable system measurements. • Verify performance against RP-22 parameters. • Document and communicate results clearly.

Registration will be open from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm.

Building a successful integration firm rarely follows a straight line. What starts as a small operation, often driven by technical skill and a strong client instinct, quickly runs into the realities of pricing, staffing, scope control, and long-term sustainability. For many CEDIA members, that journey is shaped not just by experience in the field, but by access to shared standards, education, and a network of peers facing the same challenges.

Hear from CEDIA members who embody the tenacity, creativity, and dedication required to grow a dream into a functioning, profitable business. This conversation centers on the moments that actually changed their trajectory. Early bets that paid off or didn’t, mistakes that forced a reset, and the shift from figuring it out alone to building with more structure and perspective. Expect honest reflections on what it takes to move from scrappy to sustainable.

We’ll unpack:

Decisions that set the foundation: pricing strategy, service mix, and when to narrow focus
Where outside perspective changed the game: learning faster through shared experience, not just trial and error
Scaling without breaking the business: hiring, delegation, and maintaining quality as project volume grows
Lessons worth borrowing: missteps, recalibrations, and what they would approach differently today

As the LED has become the mandated choice for light sources in luminaires it has changed dramatically how we design, specify, install, program, and interact with lighting systems. This transformative change has opened new opportunities for the CEDIA integrator: lighting can become an important part the business model for our industry. This workshop will discuss the impact solid state light sources have on the future of lighting including technologies like LED, Laser LED and OLED. Explore functionality like warm dimming, tuneable white, and warm white; expert selection and control of these sources in an occupancy can have a positive impact on those individuals living and working in the space. Discover how new powering technologies are impacting the use and consumption of electrical energy. Uncover how the new “Luminaire Level Lighting Controls” (LLLC) technology is changing the way we control and manage light in a space. The workshop will use case studies and real-life calculations. To create a sample lighting schedule and a lighting control detail, all through the lens of a CEDIA Smart Home Professional. Highlights: - Incandescent to Solid State, how lights sources have evolved. - A brief comparison of the luminous efficacy of the new lamps - Load calculations and lighting schedules - New powering options for lighting - New control and management technologies - How these changes will benefit the CEDIA integrator and the customer

In our industry the focus has always been on "what": what speakers, what screens, what control system, what shades, what projector, what seats...what, what, what. Where did "why" get lost among all the what’s? In this interactive presentation, we will communicate The Power of Why: how asking "why" creates a better, more full comprehension of customer's expectations. It is a business strategy that conveys your focus is on the customer's vision rather than on your own inventory. Ultimately, we show that this leads to better outcomes and long-term customer relationships.

Many integrators experience strong sales one quarter and financial stress the next, not because the work isn’t there, but because their financial systems aren’t designed for predictability. This session breaks down why feast-or-famine cycles persist and how to replace them with steady cash flow and sustainable profits. Attendees will learn how planning, cash forecasting, and understanding breakeven transform volatility into stability, allowing business owners to grow with confidence instead of reacting in crisis mode.

  Builders, architects, and interior designers remain among the most valuable sources of project referrals for integration firms. Yet many integrators approach these relationships informally, relying on occasional introductions rather than a deliberate strategy for building long-term partnerships.
In today’s competitive environment, successful integration companies are increasingly developing structured strategies to collaborate with trade partners earlier in the design process and position themselves as trusted technology advisors.
In this session, Ron Callis explores how leading integrators transform casual industry connections into consistent referral pipelines. Drawing on decades of experience working with integration firms, this session outlines a framework for identifying high-value partners, establishing trust with design professionals, and creating mutually beneficial relationships that generate ongoing opportunities.
Participants will also learn how digital reputation, professional positioning, and collaborative communication influence how builders and designers choose their technology partners.
By building a deliberate referral engine with the design community, integrators can dramatically increase the quality and consistency of the projects entering their pipeline.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn how to:
● Identify and prioritize high-value builder, architect, and designer relationships.
● Position their integration firm as a trusted technology advisor during early project planning.
● Build structured partnership strategies that generate recurring referral opportunities.

  CEDIA’s newest Recommended Practice, RP-1, introduces a more consistent, engineering-focused way to understand and compare loudspeaker specifications. For integrators, designers, and audio professionals, the shift is significant: moving beyond incomplete spec sheets, ambiguous wattage claims, and marketing-driven performance numbers toward objective data that can be used to predict whether a loudspeaker is suitable for a given system, room, and performance target.

This launch session will provide an accessible but technically grounded overview of RP-1 and its most important takeaways for the residential integration community. Attendees will learn how the recommended practice organizes loudspeaker Performance Facts across passive and active products, why voltage-based data, SPL capability, impedance, sensitivity, directivity, bandwidth, distortion, and environmental specifications matter in real-world design, and how these measurements connect to better product selection, amplifier matching, and system engineering. The session will also show how RP-1 supports the broader CEDIA standards ecosystem, including its relationship to RP-22 and the push toward more predictable immersive audio outcomes.

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of RP-1 and why standardized loudspeaker Performance Facts matter for residential system design.

• Interpret core RP-1 data categories, including sound level capability, voltage-based specifications, impedance, sensitivity, directivity, bandwidth, and environmental factors.

• Distinguish meaningful SPL and electrical performance data from legacy ratings or marketing claims.

• Apply RP-1 takeaways when evaluating loudspeakers, matching products to project requirements, and communicating performance expectations with clients and project teams.

The CEDIA Design Build Training Course is an exclusive opportunity for CEDIA members to position themselves as trusted educators and industry leaders within the design and build community. This course is designed to empower members to deliver continuing education to architects, interior designers, builders, and other design and construction professionals—helping to foster valuable business-to-business relationships while elevating the profile of the smart home industry. Upon completion, participants become CEDIA Smart Home Continuing Education Instructors, gaining access to a robust library of approved educational content. This enables them to host professional development sessions for their local design and build partners, driving awareness of CEDIA, its members, and the integrated technology solutions that define modern smart homes. This programme is exclusively available to CEDIA members, offering a unique platform to build credibility, enhance industry influence, and grow your business through strategic education and engagement.

Join members of the CEDIA Foresight Committee for an interactive exploration of the forces shaping our industry. In this session, we will bridge the gap between our landmark Integrator of 2027 findings and our upcoming vision for 2030. This isn't just a lecture; it’s a deep-dive conversation designed to challenge your assumptions and inspire you to think critically about the near future. This is your opportunity to contribute to the conversation, ask the tough questions, and think deeply about the future of your role in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

Even the most well-designed service program fails if it isn’t sold effectively. This session focuses on how integrators can position service as a natural extension of the sales and installation process. Attendees will learn how to introduce service early in the sales cycle, handle common client objections, shift client mindset from “warranty” to “lifecycle support,” and equip their sales teams with the right language and tools to position service as a value proposition. We’ll provide real-world scripts, proposal integration strategies, and cultural shifts that drive adoption rates, build recurring revenue, and help manage client expectations around service.

Tired of reaching for the aspirin when staff, a prospect or client asks you to explain any of the ever-changing alphabet soup of mysterious letter combinations that populate our industry? To effectively communicate what you bid on, specify and provision you need to keep with the descriptors for the lexicon of video, audio, displays, and connectivity that seem to pop up almost every day. Whether you are new to the residential technology field or a long-time practitioner, if you can’t easily define or explain the likes of QD-OLED, SBTM vs SSTM, FWA, PD, UST, FALD, DCI vs DCP, VRR today, it is only going to get worse going forward. This fast-paced course, updated for Expo 2026, from CEDIA Fellow and long-time presenter Michael Heiss, will help you wade through the alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations to understand and demystify the descriptors you need to understand determine, compare and evaluate what is right for a given installation function.

An in-depth review session to help you prepare for the Cabling & Infrastructure Technician (CIT) Certification exam.

As technology becomes a fundamental part of every built environment, it’s essential that designers and architects understand how to accurately represent low voltage systems on construction documents. This class will provide a practical introduction to the newly updated J-STD-710 standard symbol set designed to bring clarity and consistency to drawings that include AV, networking, lighting control, and other integrated technologies. In this session, you’ll learn: the purpose and value of using low voltage symbols and plans in design, engineering, and construction documentation, how to interpret and apply the updated J-STD-710 symbols in your drawings, best practices for coordinating with integrators and other stakeholders during the design phase.

Real-world examples of how clear documentation improves outcomes, reduces change orders, and enhances collaboration. Whether you're working on residential or commercial projects, this course will give you the foundation to confidently incorporate connected technology into your plans—and improve communication across every stakeholder in the project.

Looking for tips to improve your communication skills between employees, business owners and clients? This isn’t that class. It is, however, a practical introduction aimed at improving your critical audio listening skills through an understanding of the physical propagation of sound, active listening, psychoacoustics, and more. Suitable for anyone who runs demonstrations, evaluates products, or calibrates audio systems this class is a mixture of science, and practical listening sessions.

If you’re going to sell service plans, you need an efficient process you can execute, every time; the thing about a service process is that it doesn’t exist until you define it. That’s what this session is about. During this workshop, we will help you build a core process for how you want to approach service within your business. Attendees will develop an optimized workflow, explore best practices for channeling service requests, staffing considerations, communication standards, and tools that support scalable service delivery.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming both the way integrators work and the technologies they deploy in homes. But with innovation comes responsibility. This session explores the ethical and practical challenges integrators now face. Rich Green will examine key issues, such as, copyright infringement, privacy, data security, and the implications of always-on cameras and microphones. How do you protect client data from misuse or hacking? What guardrails should be in place to prevent unintended actions by autonomous systems? And where does liability fall when AI makes a mistake? Attendees will gain actionable insights into best practices for ethical practice and integration, including system design considerations and risk mitigation strategies. This session will help you navigate the intersection of AI and ethics, empowering you to lead responsibly in the age of intelligent homes.

  Recurring service revenue is essential for an integrator’s stability and scalability. In this workshop, you will learn to structure, price, and package service offerings tailored to your business. We will break down service tiers, SLAs (response times), and remote support strategies; we will also explore how you can establish membership pricing and labor policies that will protect your bottom line while delivering client value. Whether you are starting fresh or refining an existing program, this session provides a practical blueprint for building a profitable, scalable service model that fosters long-term client relationships.

This one hour educational presentation covers the technology ecosystem for homebound patients, including sensor networks, voice and switch access, environmental controls, medication and fall monitoring, telehealth integration, and privacy preserving monitoring strategies. The session balances clinical goals (safety, adherence, independence) with installation realities (interoperability, wiring, power, network resilience) and includes real world case studies and retrofit vs. new build decision criteria. Evidence and design patterns from ambient assisted living research and industry practice inform recommended workflows. 

  Older homes have character, history, and charm — but they weren't built with smart lighting, whole-home audio, or high-speed networking in mind. This panel explores the unique challenges and creative solutions that come with retrofitting legacy properties for modern technology, from working within existing architecture and avoiding costly structural changes to setting realistic client expectations and pricing retrofit projects profitably. Whether it's a mid-century modern in the hills or a historic estate, integrators who master the retrofit will never run out of work.

CEDIA members are encouraged to attend the CEDIA Member Reception, an exclusive opportunity to join us for a drink, network with your global peers. A great way to kick-off the start of a exciting show. Book your ticket today, to secure your place. Followed by the CEDIA Townhall.

Non CEDIA Members will be turned away

Register for the CEDIA Town Hall, where the global association for smart home professionals will reveal the results of its 2026 Professional Smart Home Market Analysis (USA). Led by CEDIA’s new Director of Research, this session will provide a clear breakdown of the industry’s current trends, highlight areas of growth and change, and explore what these insights mean for your business in 2026 - Priority Seating for CEDIA Members

Registration will be open from 7:00 am - 5:30 pm.

So how will businesses compete in the next decade? What skills will technology integrators need to stay relevant in a world shaped by rapid disruption and the rise of AI? Simple. Businesses that will win will be those that leverage the most impactful human traits that A.I. won’t be able to replicate (at least not for the foreseeable future): Creativity, Intuition, Curiosity, & Imagination.

During his time as Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan Wardle saw how organizations across industries looked to Disney for guidance on how to create a culture of innovation and provide their teams with the tools needed to leverage their most important asset: their people. The same challenge exists today in the custom integration space, where firms are navigating new technologies, rising client expectations, and increasing competition—yet often lack the tools to consistently think differently and stand apart.

But here’s the challenge: until now, no one has made innovation tangible. Many companies hire an innovation consultancy or build an “innovation department,” only to find that they have not truly driven cultural change and embedded innovation across the entire enterprise.

The reality is that innovation is often discussed, but rarely operationalized. In an industry where differentiation increasingly comes down to experience, design, and creativity—not just technology—that gap becomes even more pronounced.

What if, instead, there was a Design Thinking Innovation Toolkit? One that everyone could use that makes creativity tangible, innovation easy, and the process enjoyable? Drawing from years spent integrating innovation into Disney’s experiential storytelling, Duncan Wardle shares tools and techniques CEDIA professionals can use to approach projects more creatively, collaborate more effectively, and uncover new opportunities in every client interaction—ultimately embedding innovation into every aspect of your business’s DNA.

CEDIA Members can pick up a complimentary bagel & coffee before heading to the show floor!

Non Members will be turned away

  Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how businesses operate, yet many integration firms
remain uncertain about where AI can deliver meaningful value in their day-to-day operations.
Beyond marketing or content creation, AI tools are increasingly being used to improve internal
workflows, streamline communication, and enhance productivity across multiple areas of the
business.
In this interactive workshop, Ron Callis will guide participants through practical ways integration
companies can begin leveraging AI to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.
Drawing from real-world applications currently being deployed across integration firms,
attendees will explore how AI can support tasks such as meeting summaries, proposal
refinement, project documentation, internal communication, and strategic planning.
Participants will gain hands-on exposure to simple frameworks for integrating AI into everyday
business workflows and will leave with practical ideas they can immediately apply within their
organizations.
Rather than focusing on technical complexity, this session emphasizes practical implementation
and real-world business impact.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn how to:
● Identify operational areas where AI tools can improve productivity and efficiency.
● Implement simple AI workflows for documentation, communication, and decision
support.
● Develop a structured approach to introducing AI tools within their organization

You don’t have to own one, but Mike and Ken both do, to know that EVs are important to many of your clients. This CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Michael Heiss presents a deep dive into EV charging gives you the facts you need to know to help make charging truly “plug and play” for clients while it lets you know how to plug into increased profits. Bring your questions for Master Electrician and CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ken Erdman to help you with on where EV charging and "Vehicle-to-Load" enhance and back up your clients' whole house systems as well as there cars.

Rich Green returns with his Inside Scoop from Silicon Valley to share insights that are both enlightening and terrifying. Our businesses are on the brink of profound transitions from Extended Reality to Artificial Intelligence. We’ll soon have humanoid robots walking around our client’s homes. Will they really be pressing touch panel buttons? There's a new world coming. Prepare yourself by attending this year’s edition of Rich Green’s signature presentation.

  A bill of materials is not a performance specification. For too long, system expectations have been defined by equipment lists rather than objectively measurable outcomes. But what does a list of products really tell a client about how a system will perform — and how does that distinguish you from competitors selling the exact same equipment?
 
As projects become more complex and clients more informed, the industry is moving toward a new standard of accountability: proving that a finished system performs as promised. This session explores the growing importance of closing the loop between design intent, client expectations, and objectively verified results, with a primary focus on the upcoming RP32 recommended practice.
 
We will examine how measurement, commissioning, and verification are becoming essential not only to technical excellence, but also to commercial credibility. As clients increasingly expect demonstrable outcomes rather than confident promises, evidence-based delivery is rapidly becoming a competitive advantage.
Expect practical discussion around verification workflows, measurable standards, client communication, and the future of professional accountability in system design.

Homeowners are increasingly asking for “circadian lighting,” “human centric lighting,” or “healthy lighting”—but the marketplace is full of conflicting claims. This panel brings together lighting researchers, integrators, and manufacturers to debunk common myths and provide evidence based guidance. Panelists will explain the fundamentals of circadian effective lighting, discuss real world performance versus expectations, and outline practical design and installation strategies that work in residential environments. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to deliver healthy home lighting solutions that are scientifically grounded, aesthetically pleasing, and technically achievable.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:
1. Differentiate fact from fiction regarding circadian lighting claims and marketing language.
2. Explain the science behind circadian effective lighting and its relationship to sleep, mood, and daily rhythms.
3. Identify practical design strategies for implementing tunable white, spectral tuning, and time based lighting schedules.
4. Evaluate products and platforms for accuracy, controllability, interoperability, and long term reliability.
5. Communicate realistic outcomes to clients and avoid overpromising results.
6. Leverage healthy lighting solutions as a business differentiator in the growing wellness focused home market.

Hear from some of the integration firms named to the CE Pro 100 about what makes them successful and what led to them being named to this year's list of the top firms in North America.

  The era of implicit network trust is ending. As the smart home ecosystem matures, the residential integrator’s role is rapidly expanding from technology installer to digital risk manager. This forward-looking session maps the six critical trends that will dictate the future of our industry’s curriculum and business models.

We will explore the paradigm shift of Identity replacing Network Trust as "Zero Trust" architecture moves into the home and analyze the growing liability of Vendor Cloud Risk where integrators inherit the vulnerabilities of the products they sell. Attendees will examine the business impact of expanding Privacy Regulations for high-net-worth clients and why Cybersecurity Clauses and Insurance Mandates are becoming non-negotiable contract standards. Finally, we will discuss the market reality: Security is no longer just the best practice, it is the primary Buying Criterion for the next generation of clients. Join us to define the roadmap for a secure, insurable, and profitable future in AV.

Most business owners believe they will be ready to exit someday but very few are actually prepared. Whether the goal is a sale, succession, or long-term independence, exit readiness is built through financial clarity, strong systems, and predictable profits. This session focuses on what buyers and successors truly look for, and how to align financials, operations, and leadership to maximize value. Attendees will leave with a practical roadmap for transforming their business into a transferable, valuable asset within the next 24 months.

In many high-end residential projects today, the first conversations about technology are happening long before an integrator is even invited to the table. Architects, interior designers and builders are increasingly shaping how technology fits into the home, from the placement of displays and speakers to the integration of lighting, shading and infrastructure. Integrators who understand how to collaborate effectively with these partners are finding themselves involved earlier in projects, gaining greater influence over system design and ultimately delivering better outcomes for clients.

Light is not just for seeing. It is biological information. Modern humans spend around 90% of life indoors, yet most smart homes optimise for brightness, scenes and energy codes - not human biology. We automate convenience while ignoring circadian timing, glare stress and spectral balance. This session reframes light as a nutrient for the indoor species. Drawing on neuroscience and photobiology, it explains how light regulates sleep, alertness, mood and recovery - and how poor design can create chronic visual and neural load. Attendees will learn how to apply circadian-aware scheduling, reduce glare, and integrate biologically informed lighting into residential control systems - turning smart homes into environments that actively support human performance and wellbeing.

This session is focused around optimization of internal systems and processes. Rather than focusing on more profit through more sales, this class will provide concrete tools and resources to enable to enable business leaders to optimize their internal systems for improved profitability, client experience, and growth. Topics will include how to standardize quoting for peak efficiency, tools to improve clarity of expectations across a team, and creating an organization that can operate beyond the owner. Time will also be provided for breakout sessions and conversions to share lessons learned from other integrators.

As the lines between residential and commercial spaces continue to blur, many residential integrators are stepping confidently into the world of ""resimercial""—a growing market that includes everything from home offices turned hybrid workspaces to tech-enabled small businesses like boutique fitness studios, local restaurants, and small commercial offices.

In this session, you’ll explore the real-world crossover opportunities and challenges of expanding from residential into light commercial integration. We’ll discuss:

Outfitting home offices and small conference rooms with professional-grade solutions

Designing and deploying AV and automation systems in small bars, cafés, and retail environments

Key differences in code, product selection, and client expectations between resi and commercial

How to assess when to take on a project solo—and when to partner with a commercial integrator

Join us to learn from industry peers who’ve successfully made the leap and walk away with insights to help you grow into this hybrid market with confidence and strategy.

Please join Technology Designer Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Douglas Weinstein as we explore one of the premier performance homes in North America, the Phoenix House in Vancouver, British Columbia. Joining Doug on stage will be Architect Nick Bray, Builder Todd Best, Interior Designer Josephina Serra and Technology Designer Mike Freedman in a conversation about the design-build process and how the trades worked together on this amazing home. No matter what trade you are involved in, learn how to communicate and collaborate with your trade partners so you can maximize your scope and budget, and have a seat at the earliest discovery meetings, well before budgets have been allocated. Learn about why performance homes offer unlimited potential for all trades to elevate the built environment and deliver healthy, engaging and connected experiences for homeowners in the luxury residential market.

Limited seating. Free and open to all registered attendees and exhibitors. RSVP link will be provided in post-registration communications.

Screen sizes in residential projects continue to grow, and integrators now have options that extend far beyond even the largest consumer televisions. Ultra-large TVs, direct-view LED displays and video wall systems are opening new possibilities for delivering truly massive visual experiences in the home. This session explores where these technologies make the most sense, from large living spaces and sports lounges to dedicated media environments. Panelists will discuss installation considerations, viewing distances and how integrators are positioning extra-large displays and video walls to create statement-level video experiences that go well beyond the traditional television.

When smart home systems fail, control platforms often get the blame. But in many cases, the real culprit is power. As homes add more connected technology, clean and reliable power is becoming a critical foundation for system performance. This session explores why energy management is gaining importance in custom integration projects and how technologies like power conditioning, battery storage and intelligent load management are helping integrators deliver more reliable systems.

Exclusively Sponsored by SAVANT

Design is all about the end user, your customer. Peter Aylett and Rich Green will change how you think about the true needs of your clients and give crisp, concrete examples of the Design Thinking Process. You will leave with new insights for improving your sales, design and operations.

Out of sight—but never out of impact. For a matching curated tour that supports this course, visit Technology Designer for information regarding tickets and daily schedule here. In today’s most elegant spaces, the best technology is often the kind you don’t see. Invisible Innovation explores how cutting-edge solutions like hidden speakers, motorized lifts, architectural lighting, concealed screens, and flush-mount devices can seamlessly blend into any design without sacrificing performance. This course is designed for the design-build community—architects, designers, builders, and integrators—who want to create cleaner aesthetics and smarter spaces. Attendees will learn why early collaboration is key to making hidden technology work, what products and systems are available, and how to plan for the structural, electrical, and system considerations these discreet solutions demand. When planned right from the start, invisible tech enhances the experience without ever disrupting the design. 

In real-world system design, perfection lasts approximately three minutes. This fast-paced 90-minute live session takes the RP22 recommended practice out of the abstract and into the messy, fascinating reality of actual room design. Together, we will build a room from scratch in real time, applying RP22 principles as we go and balancing engineering with the real world realities of actual rooms, interior designers and awkward client requests. Then comes the fun part. Throughout the session, the audience, that's you, will throw “curve balls” into the design process: impossible budgets, heritage restrictions, unrealistic seating requests, and all the other challenges that turn straightforward design into engineering compromise. Working live, we will explore how experienced designers navigate these competing demands while still delivering systems that perform predictably and measurably within RP22 guidance. This session is equal parts engineering, problem-solving, and design psychology — a practical demonstration that great system design is not about avoiding compromise, but understanding which compromises matter most. Expect live modelling, discussion, audience interaction, and a healthy respect for the stubborn realities of rooms.

AI is not just a feature, it’s a business strategy. This session explores how integrators can package, position, and sell intelligent control systems in the luxury market. From recurring services to premium differentiation, AI-driven experiences create higher margins and deeper client relationships. Learn how to move beyond hardware-centric proposals and build long-term value through software and intelligence.

The Sound of Wellness explores how sound influences mood, focus, comfort, and overall well-being, and why it deserves a place in every design conversation. Rather than focusing on products, this engaging panel examines how interior designers, technology integrators, and manufacturers can work together to create homes that sound as beautiful as they look. Through real-world examples and practical insights, attendees will discover how intentional soundscapes, thoughtful collaboration, and design-friendly technology contribute to healthier, more emotionally supportive living environments and exceptional client experiences

Sponsored by Infratech

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond voice assistants and beginning to shape how technology behaves inside the home. From intelligent cameras and adaptive audio to automated system behaviors and smarter control platforms, AI is introducing a new layer of intelligence to residential AV systems. In this session, panelists examine how AI is being applied across AV, security and control platforms, what it means for system design, and how integrators can begin preparing for homes where technology doesn’t just respond to commands but actively interprets the environment.

Sponsored by Josh.AI and SAVANT

 An estimated 15–20% of the global population is neurodivergent — including individuals with autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory processing differences, and other neurological variations. For residential integrators, that translates to a massive, underserved market hiding in plain sight: clients and family members who live in homes that were never designed with their brains in mind.
The problem? Most smart home designs default to neurotypical assumptions. Complex touchscreen interfaces with dozens of options. Automation routines that fire unpredictably. Lighting scenes that shift without warning. For neurodivergent residents, these “features” aren’t conveniences — they’re barriers. They create sensory overload, erode predictability, and undermine the sense of safety and control that a home should provide.
This session equips integrators with practical, actionable strategies for designing neuroinclusive smart home environments. Attendees will learn how to specify sensory-friendly lighting with tunable white and flicker-free drivers, implement soundproofing and acoustic management for noise-sensitive residents, simplify user interfaces to reduce cognitive load, build routine-based automation sequences that prioritize reliability over novelty, and tailor environmental controls — HVAC, air purification, temperature zones — to individual sensory profiles.
But this isn’t just about doing the right thing. It’s smart business. Neuroinclusive design principles benefit all residents — the same techniques that help a child with autism also create calmer, more intuitive homes for every occupant. Integrators who embrace this approach differentiate themselves from competitors, unlock new referral channels through healthcare providers and occupational therapists, and position themselves for growth in accessibility-focused markets including assisted living and therapeutic environments.
This session bridges the gap between clinical understanding and technical implementation, giving integrators the vocabulary, frameworks, and confidence to consult with neurodivergent clients and their families — and to deliver homes that truly work for every brain.

Cameras have quietly become one of the most powerful—and most scrutinized—devices in the connected home. As AI-driven detection improves, so do concerns about where video data is processed, stored, and accessed. Edge AI is changing that equation by keeping analysis local, enabling faster response times and more intelligent automation without defaulting to the cloud. For integrators, this opens up new possibilities around occupancy awareness, perimeter detection, and system-wide triggers—but also raises important design decisions around network architecture, data handling, and client trust.

This training will cut through the noise to focus on current capabilities, where edge processing delivers measurable advantages, and where cloud-based systems still play a role. Drawing on perspectives from both the control layer and camera manufacturers, the discussion will center on real-world deployments, design tradeoffs, and how these systems perform in the field.

Let's face it- Interior designers hold a tremendous influence on luxury design projects. Wouldn't it be nice to have them on our side? In this session, we will review ways of effectively winning over luxury designers, how to speak their language, and how to keep them calling you first for future work. We will discuss the typical pain points, how to help avoid them, and how to establish yourself as an essential resource for them and their luxury clientele. We will review examples of effective documentation, how to distill technical documents down to "Need To Know" forms they understand. We will review the selections process, how to disarm resistance early in the conversation, and how to help each other deliver spectacular projects. We will discuss fair referral compensation packages, when to discuss it during the project life cycle, and when to pay it.

No matter how advanced the technology, the most vulnerable part of any connected home is still the wetware — the humans who use it. CEDIA’s new consumer-facing Home Cybersecurity Guide helps homeowners and their families understand online safety and privacy in clear, relatable terms - from smart devices to daily digital habits. This workshop equips integrators to confidently use and discuss the guide with clients. You’ll learn how to translate cybersecurity best practices into friendly, accessible conversations that help clients protect their networks, data, and family members. Through discussion, examples, and role-play, you’ll explore how to make cybersecurity part of your design process and after-care service — reinforcing your role as the trusted guardian of both hardware, software, and yes, the wetware. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe how the Home Cybersecurity Guide supports homeowner education and confidence. 2. Identify common digital vulnerabilities in connected homes — technical and human alike. 3. Communicate cybersecurity concepts to non-technical audiences with clarity and empathy. 4. Build long-term client trust by protecting every part of the system: hardware, software, and wetware.

The Art and Language of Light
Architectural Lighting Fundamentals for the
Luxury Smart Home
Technology alone does not create an exceptional luxury
residence; experience does. Architectural lighting is one of the most
powerful elements in today’s smart homes, significantly influencing
wellness, emotional connection, and the overall living experience for
luxury homeowners.
As clients become increasingly educated about the necessity of quality
recessed fixtures, their expectations for integrated homes will extend far
beyond automation. Beautiful Architectural Lighting is no longer about
selling fixtures or control systems; it is a defining feature of luxury living
and wellness. While many integrators excel at technology infrastructure,
architectural lighting can be difficult to specify or present confidently.
Sherry Harbour, an architectural lighting expert, is delighted to bridge
this gap. This session will introduce the foundational principles,
terminology, and essential information regarding architectural lighting
that is immediately applicable to luxury residential projects. Sherry's goal
is to educate and empower integrators to initiate meaningful
conversations with homeowners, architects, interior designers, and
builders about the benefits of Quality Architectural Lighting.
By deepening integrators' knowledge about architectural lighting,
it will inevitability strengthen client trust, expand their expertise, and
add a new profit center to their business. Intentional lighting strategies
create wellness centered environments that feel harmonious and
emotionally connected to the luxury experience. Attendees will leave
Sherry’s session feeling inspired and ready to engage about Architectural
Lighting.

The presentation of the CE Pro BEST Awards, honoring the very best products and technologies being deployed in the custom integration market.

The exclusive member-only lounge, will opened up to the wider community for a Connection Hour. Providing the opportunity for you to network with CEDIA members from around the globe, connect with CEDIA Staff and explore what is possible when you become a CEDIA Member. 

Non CEDIA Members will be turned away

Kick off CEDIA Expo/CIX in style with the Opening Party on Wednesday night, September 2. Enjoy an electric lineup of industry musicians and a headlining set from the legendary CE Pro All‑Star Band—the perfect high‑energy start to an unforgettable week.

Registration will be open from 7:00 am - 5:30 pm.

CEDIA Members can pick up a complimentary bagel & coffee before heading to the show floor!

Non Members will be turned away

This foundational session givesintegration pros a clear, practical understanding of power management without overwhelming them with engineering language. The goal is to help attendees understand what power management means, why it matters, and how to recognize opportunities where power-related issues can affect client satisfaction, system performance, and long-term service outcomes. Many integrators still think of power management in narrow terms: surge protection, battery backup, or rack-level conditioning. This course broadens that understanding and explains the larger category in a way attendees can confidently apply in real client conversations. Attendees will learn how power issues affect the connected home, why those issues are becoming more important, and why integrators should be involved in the conversation early rather than waiting until problems appear after installation. Key Learning Areas What CI salespeople need to know about power management Common misconceptions that limit the category Why power management is broader than surge protection or backup power How outages, voltage fluctuations, poor power quality, and transfer delays can affect connected systems Why the integrator has an important role alongside the electrician What “complete power resilience” means in practical client-facing terms Basic battery chemistry concepts salespeople should understand How power management reduces service issues, protects client trust, and strengthens project value How to begin positioning power as part of the home’s infrastructure, not an optional accessory

Today’s clients aren’t buying products; they’re investing in a vision for how they want to live. Yet designers, builders, and technology professionals often sell from separate perspectives rather than focusing on the experience homeowners ultimately want to achieve. Join moderator Katye McGregor Bennett and panelists Sharon Sherman, Elizabeth Lord-Levitt, and integration professionals as they explore how outcome-first thinking leads to better collaboration, stronger client relationships, and more successful projects. Attendees will learn practical strategies for translating client aspirations into coordinated design, construction, and technology decisions that support wellness, comfort, livability, and intentional luxury