The acquisition of Almo Corporation by Exertis was completed in December 2021, and the company is currently following an ambitious schedule to be fully integrated by April 2022. At that time, the business will be rebranded as Exertis | Almo. Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing and communications for Almo Corporation, said the end of the fiscal year on March 31 was a natural target date to complete the process—and that everything is “falling into place” to meet that deadline. 

So, how does the Exertis acquisition help Almo customers? Craigmyle said the company now provides clients access to broader product offerings, in addition to existing benefits like the Almo ACCESS portal for ebusiness. “We have a lot more sales support in place, more business development managers,” she added. “Our customers have access to all these people to help with design and making sure they have the correct products for projects. That’s a big benefit.” 

[Executive Q&A: Almo Celebrates 75 Years by Giving Back]

Craigmyle is also excited about this year’s E4 Experience, which will make the first of four scheduled stops in Anaheim, CA, on March 22. Other E4 stops include Chicago in May, Washington, DC, in September, and Boston in October. The free, single-day events offer integrators, resellers, and consultants the opportunity to “Explore, Engage, Educate, and Expo.” 

The Anaheim conference program will include an assortment of courses, including a new session on cybersecurity. “It’s paramount that people understand the implications of what is being put on the network and how it affects their clients,” Craigmyle explained. 

A panel discussion, “Debunking the Myths of AVoIP,” moderated by Audinate’s Alesia Hendley, is expected to draw a crowd. Craigmyle also predicts a big turnout for “Conducting a Needs Analysis,” a session from Almo Pro AV’s own Tom Kehr, which was a popular draw at a recent event in Dallas. “It’s so important, and it seems fundamental,” she noted, “but no one’s doing training on that aspect of the industry.” 

In the exhibit hall, attendees will have the chance to see new products from Barco, Epson, LG, Panasonic, Peerless-AV, Samsung, Sharp/NEC, Sony, and other exhibitors. Craigmyle said some integrators are now in the habit of bringing their clients from various other industries to show them what kinds of products they can include in upcoming projects. 

Networking at E4 is also important. E4 provides a great in-person forum for potential new employees and employers to meet. Plus, regional shows offer an opportunity for Pro AV professionals who are still wary of travel and large crowds to interact with smaller groups of industry members. “E4 is a great place to start to get back out there,” Craigmyle added.

Almo Professional A/V, today announced its award-winning E4 Experience is back on tour with the first of four 2022 stops at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, CA, on March 22. The single-day experience features Almo’s signature four-pronged approach—Explore, Engage, Educate, and Expo—allowing consultants, resellers, and integrators to expand their business acumen and find new growth and success. 

“Our attendees tell us that a day spent at an E4 Experience sets them immeasurably ahead in terms of their connections, AVIXA-accredited knowledge, and exposure to trends and information they need to thrive," said Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing and communication for Almo Corporation. "We look forward to welcoming local Almo and Exertis Pro AV partners and their customers together in Anaheim.” 

The following companies will exhibit at E4 Anaheim: Absen, AMX, Atlona, Aver, Avocor, Barco, BrightSign, Canon, ClearOne, Epson, Huddly, Jabra, JBL, Kramer, Legrand AV, LG, Listen Technologies, Mimo Monitors, Netgear, Nureva, Panasonic, Peerless-AV, Samsung, Sharp/NEC, Sony, Spinetix, VDO360, and ViewSonic.

[Executive Q&A: Almo Celebrates 75 Years by Giving Back]

“As with all Almo E4s, attendees will be immersed in a full day of thought-provoking educational sessions led by the industry’s most well-respected and entertaining subject matter authorities," Craigmyle added. "Our intimate E4 setting provides invaluable time with attendees and, in this case, the opportunity to exclusively preview and receive early feedback on new technology before InfoComm.”

E4 Anaheim marks Almo’s first live event since the December 2021 announcement about Exertis acquiring Almo Corporation. Additional E4 Experiences scheduled in 2022 include Chicago on May 3, Washington, DC, on Sept. 23, and Boston on Oct. 20. To register, go to www.e4experience.com.

E4 Anaheim Sessions

Each session is worth 1 CTS, 1 CTS-D and 1 CTS-I AVIXA Renewal Unit:

KEYNOTE: The Future of Workspaces is All About Experiences
SPONSORED BY EPSON
Speaker: Gary Kayye, The rAVe Agency
Description: Creating a successful post-pandemic workspace that balances the needs of employees who want to work from different spaces

Power and Grounding: The Fundamentals
Speaker: Tom Kehr, Almo Professional A/V
Description: Focuses on best practices for one of the most misunderstood topics in AV

Installation Issues For Converged AV-IT Systems
Speaker: Chuck Espinoza, AVIXA
Description: Explores the equipment, issues, and test parameters needed for properly installed and tested structured cabling systems

An AV-Focused Network Security Class from an Actual Cyber Security Expert
Speakers: Gary Kayye, The rAVe Agency and Art Ehuan, Palo Alto Networks
Description: A real-world network security class focused on making sure AV equipment is safe

Panel Discussion: Debunking the Myths of AVoIP
Speakers: Moderated by Alesia Hendley, Audinate
Description: A panel of industry experts exposing the truths about AVoIP solutions when it comes to network infrastructure, scalability, flexibility, and cost

Conducting a Needs Analysis
Speaker: Tom Kehr, Almo Professional A/V
Description: Looks at the proper way to approach an audiovisual project

Successful Project Management for Design and Installation
Speaker: Chuck Espinoza, AVIXA
Description: Reviews the entire project management process from initiating to closing

Finishing a year of celebrations surrounding its 75th anniversary, Almo Corporation, a leading independent distributor of appliances, consumer electronics, pro AV equipment, and housewares, has achieved its year-long goal of giving back to 75 different organizations.

Sharing their time, talents, and donations, Almo employees led the charge to select organizations that were important to them, their local areas, and Almo-focused industries. From virtual runs and fundraising to working together to fill backpacks with school supplies and pack nutritious meals, Almo employees were steadfast in the support they provided and the difference they made during a pandemic year that has been difficult for so many.  

Organizations ranged from the American Cancer Society and the Convoy of Hope to Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House Charities, to name a few.

[Executive Q&A: Almo Celebrates 75 Years by Giving Back]

“I cannot possibly put into words how proud I am of all we’ve achieved, not only in the last 75 years of the company’s history, but especially now," said Warren Chaiken, president and CEO, Almo Corporation. "The process of giving back to 75 organizations has been extremely energizing. So many beautiful stories have emerged from this experience, and so many people and places are better off thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Almo employees.”

Additionally, Gene Chaiken, Almo Chairman of the Board, and his wife, Roz, were honored as Penn State’s Philanthropists of the Year for their donations over the years, which have resulted in 987 scholarships. According to Eric Barron, Penn State president, “Because of the Chaikens’ generosity, hundreds of students have been able to afford a Penn State experience, and the college’s academic programs have been permanently enhanced.”

Other recent philanthropic efforts include:

·        Almo offices across the country assembled 975 kits for parents and children staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

 ·        Almo collected food and diapers to support local foundations such as Long Island Cares, the Somerton Interfaith Food Bank, and more.

·        Since the 1950s, Almo has treated its employees with Thanksgiving turkeys. Each year, employees are given the option to donate their turkey or the cash equivalent to local food banks, which most chose to do this year.

·        More than 33,000 children in Baltimore City, MD, live with food insecurity each year. Through the organization Generosity Feeds, Almo and its vendor partners packed more than 5,000 meals to be distributed to the local community. 

SCN: How long have you been in this position?

Sam Taylor: Since we formed the division in 2009. I’ve been in the AV industry for 34 years.

SCN: How is Almo celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year?

ST: As a company, we decided the most productive and rewarding way to celebrate this incredible milestone is to give back – in 75 different ways. We’ve carefully selected 75 different organizations representing causes that are important to us, both professionally and personally. At InfoComm, we donated to AVIXA’s Michael Vergauwen Scholarship Foundation to support future AV professionals. Additionally, all the furniture in our booth (provided by our sister company Hanover) was donated to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore after the show. 

SCN: What are the short and long-term goals for Almo Professional A/V?

ST: Short-term, we continue to invest in our employees, our customers, and our vendor partners to deliver value-added distribution that is always industry leading. Relationships matter! Long-term, we are always looking for opportunities to expand our reach in markets such as IT and security, where we are expanding our market share. 

SCN: What are some of Almo’s sustainable business practices?

ST: We are very focused on practices that reduce Almo’s overall carbon footprint and minimize impact on the environment. To date, three of our warehouse facilities use roof-mounted solar panels, with more to follow. By using sun-produced energy, we are able to drastically lower energy costs and send more than 65 percent of the solar electricity produced back into the grid.

[Almo Adds Solar Panels to WI Facility]

At the same time, today all Almo warehouses use motion-sensing lighting to cut electricity use in half. The forklifts in the warehouses are also being converted from liquid propane engines to efficient, eco-friendly, battery-operated engines that reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80 percent. 

SCN: Currently, what are some of the pro AV industry’s biggest challenges?

ST: Our industry challenges mirror many of the global challenges being experienced by other industries – supply chain, labor shortages, and restricted access to worksites. At Almo, we are doing our best to work through those challenges by offering a variety of different products including new technology, such as holographic telepresence. We are also contracting with well-vetted service partners and working on customized, creative applications with our integrators so they can continue to stay productive and profitable. 

SCN: Where do you see the pro AV industry heading?

ST: The future has never been brighter for pro AV. There is a lot of pent-up demand. Companies both small and large are updating their facilities to make them hybrid-friendly, which means there will be major AV updates required for years to come. AV is here to stay, and we have a front-row opportunity to make it all happen. 

SCN: How has Almo Pro A/V’s E4 Experience changed since the pandemic began?

ST: When the pandemic began, we were unable to travel and bring the E4 Experience educational and product showcase format to our partners in person, so we created the E4 Evolution, a virtual version, which has been wildly successful. Our first Hybrid E4 Experience in Dallas [scheduled for Nov. 30 at press time], combines the E4 regional/in-person and virtual platforms for the best of both worlds. AVIXA-credited sessions led by the industry’s top presenters will be available for live and virtual consumption. Many of our exhibiting manufacturers will be able to show new products that weren’t available at InfoComm. The hybrid model is ideal this year because it gives all our partners the ability to participate. 

[Almo Celebrates 75 Years at InfoComm 2021]

SCN: Are there new initiatives we are likely to see from your company?

ST: Always! We are getting ready to announce a major change in our services model, which will be welcomed and beneficial for our customers and labor partners. Stay tuned.

Almo Professional A/V’s Melody Craigmyle talks new products, training and marketing opportunities, and live holographic presenters for this year’s E4 Experience in Dallas and online for remote attendees on November 30. 

Almo Professional A/V will host its first Hybrid E4 Experience at the Hyatt Regency Dallas on Nov. 30, 2021. E4 Dallas combines the regional, in-person educational and product showcase format of an E4 Experience with its virtual E4 Evolution (E4v) into a simultaneous, one-day event. Both formats will feature live holographic presenters via ARHT Media technology, which is available exclusively in North America through Almo.

[Almo Celebrates 75 Years at InfoComm 2021]

According to Melody Craigmyle, Almo Corporation’s vice president of marketing and communications, "E4 Dallas is going to be an action-packed day of live learning and interaction, regardless of whether attendees are participating locally or virtually. We are using ARHT Media’s holopresence technology to beam in two of our session speakers—one from California and one from Washington, D.C.—live in Dallas and live on the virtual platform. We’ll also have some of the newest AV technology products on our exhibitor show floor, including first showings and products that are now shipping and available to immediately spec into integration projects.”

Craigmyle added that the E4v virtual stage will include live commentary throughout the day from well-known AV professionals, so virtual participants can get a first-hand view of what’s happening in Dallas. Sessions led by industry educators will explore the future of workspaces, cybersecurity, AV trends in house of worship, and post-pandemic AV business strategies. Plus, an NSCA roundtable will discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities for today's integrators.

[Almo E4 Program Explores the Reimagined Workplace]

The following companies will exhibit live at E4 Dallas: Absen, ARHT Media, Atlas, Atlona, Aver, Avocor, B-Tech Mounts, Barco, BrightSign, Canon, Centricity, DGC, Epson, Harman, Huddly, Jabra, Kramer, LG, Legrand, Listen Tech, Mimo, MuxLab, NETGEAR, Nureva, Optoma, Panasonic, Peerless, Samsung Consumer, Samsung Pro, Sharp Pro, Sharp/NEC, Sony, Spinetix, tvONE, ViewSonic, Vivitek, and Yamaha.

Register for the on-site E4 Experience in Dallas at here. 

Register for the virtual E4 Evolution here.

While the show floor and attendance of InfoComm 2021 in Orlando might be smaller due to the ongoing pandemic, the level of excitement the day before the exhibits opened had to be ten times greater than ever before.

It has been nearly 30 months since the last en masse gathering of AV industry #AVtweeps. The two-dimensional Zoom meetings and virtual happy hours have finally given way to in-person fist-bumps, hugs, and the clinking of real glasses in celebration of the reunion.

AVIXA mandated that everyone show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to keep everyone as safe as possible. But much like the safe pods of friends and family at home, the assurance led to many removing masks outside the convention center to further the personal connection.

As we walked through the show floor as exhibitors set up booths or attended sessions or an event such as Almo’s 75th celebration, the emotion of seeing industry friends was as strong as reuniting with old college roommates.

Highlights from Tweets posted on the day before the show floor opened.

(Left to right) AtlasIED’s vice president of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Gina Sansivero, is among the uber-excited. Kelly Perkins, CTS, is showing off her badge as the new marketing manager for Hall Technologies. James King, audio visual specialist at Stockton University, meets up with industry icon and InfoComm instructor Paul Zielie. AV Nation founder, Tim Albright, trying to master the art of the #AVSelfie during a panel session.

At InfoComm 2021, AV Technology’s content director, Cindy Davis, meets up with Joe Way, PhD, CTS, director of Learning Environments Information Technology Services at the University of Southern California, and chair of HETMA.

AVIXA’s senior director of marketing, Barbara Blaskowsky, sporting #10 of 30-plus shoes shipped to the show via a crate. This is what move-in day looks like.

During Almo’s 75th anniversary celebration, AVIXA’s CEO, Dave Labuskes, was presented with a generous donation for the Michael Fergauwen Fund Scholarship.

(Left to right) James King, audio visual specialist at Stockton University, finally got to meet industry expert, Steve Greenblatt , CTS, president, and founder of Control Concepts, in person. Paul Hickey, director of sales and marketing at TouchView Interactive, celebrates working with his daughter at the show. Renkus-Heinz booth is getting ready for opening day. Veteran AV industry writer Dan Ferrisi attends #AVraoke night.

(Left to right) Higher eds are in the house. In his exuberance, Joe Way, Ph.D., CTS, director of Learning Environments Information Technology Services at the University of Southern California, and chair of HETMA showcases his Tik Tok dancing talent (you be the judge). Brought together by HETMA, the higher ed family enjoyed their reunion. Tim Van Woeart, senior project supervisor at Rutgers University and executive board member of HETMA, doesn’t let the rain stop his migration to InfoComm 2021.

IHSE team takes a moment out of set up for a photo op and proudly displays its recent Installation Product Award 2021 from SCN magazine.

In celebration of Almo Corp.’s 75 years in business, Almo Professional A/V is focusing on 75 ways of giving back. As part of the yearlong celebrations surrounding this achievement, Almo employees are lending their time and talent, and the company is providing product and monetary donations to 75 different organizations.

During InfoComm 2021, Almo will be making a $4,075 donation to the AVIXA Michael Vergauwen Scholarship to invest in future AV professionals. Additionally, the company will be donating thousands of dollars’ worth of private-label brand furniture featured in the Almo booth to the West Orange Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Almo will be located at Booth #3328 at InfoComm 2021.

“As a company, giving back to our industries and communities is the most productive and rewarding way to celebrate our 75th anniversary milestone,” said Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO at Almo Professional A/V. “We’ve carefully selected 75 different organizations representing causes that are important to us, both professionally and personally. AVIXA’s Michael Vergauwen Scholarship is especially significant as we are passionate about mentoring and supporting those who will lead the AV industry in the decades to come.”

[ Countdown to InfoComm 2021 ] 

Taylor added, “We are looking forward to reconnecting with our industry partners in person this year at InfoComm and we have ample booth space to do so. We are also hosting several special breaks with refreshments and prizes in the Almo booth.”

Video above: Almo vice president of marketing and communication Melody Craigmyle speaks with AVNation’s Tim Albright about what Almo has planned for InfoComm 2021.

Almo Events at InfoComm 2021 (Booth #3328)

9 – 10:30 a.m. Breakfast with Almo at Tiffany’s
Coffee, cappuccinos, espressos and pastries
Attendees can enter to win a $250 gift card to Tiffany & Co.
Sponsored by Barco

1:30 – 3 p.m. Get Iced with Almo
Hand-scooped Haagen Dazs ice cream
Attendees can register to win a $100 gift card
Sponsored by Legrand

3:30 – 5 p.m. Happy Hour
Wine and beer to wrap up the day on the show floor
Attendees can register to win a Kegerator
Sponsored by Sharp and Sharp/NEC

75 Ways of Giving Back: Local Action

AVIXA’s Michael Vergauwen Foundation. Almo’s monetary donation will be applied to the scholarships for students in pursuit of a technical or advanced degree related to an audiovisual career. They are one-time awards paid toward tuition for applicants studying a subject related to AV at a community or technical college, or those entering at least their third year of undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited program.

West Orange Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. Proceeds from sales are put toward building affordable homes for deserving families. The products set for donation can be found in the Almo booth throughout InfoComm and include modern seating, several full dining sets, a mango wood and iron console table, and a mango wood end table.

Almo E4 Program

While visiting the Almo booth, attendees have the opportunity to register for the first Hybrid E4 Experience, taking place in Dallas on Nov. 30, 2021. E4 Dallas will mark the first time that Almo combines the regional, in-person educational and product showcase format of an E4 Experience with its virtual E4 Evolution (E4v) in a single event.

InfoComm is giving our readers a free Exhibit Hall pass to the show! Use VIP Code “FUTURE” to redeem your free pass. Click here to register.

For the latest show updates, visit our InfoComm 2021 hub.

Get your free copy of SCN's 2021 Integration Guide to Distribution.

How Distribution Helps Integrators

When curating a new installation, there are plenty of options for buying pro AV products, but distribution might be the quickest and easiest way  for integration firms to accomplish their goals. SCN chatted with integration firms and a few distributors to understand the advantages of going through distribution.

Learn more about these major pro AV distributors in the 2021 Integration Guide to Distribution:

• Almo Professional A/V
• Broadfield Distributing
• Exertis ProAV
• Herman ProAV
• Ingram Micro
• Snap One
• SYNNEX Corp.
• TecNec

Click here to download the 2021 Integration Guide to Distribution.

Almo Professional A/V has revealed remaining 2021 and all 2022 dates and locations for its E4 Experience regional, in-person and E4 Evolution (E4v) virtual programs.

The 2021-2022 E4 programming includes:  

• E4 Experience Boston: Oct. 7, 2021
• E4 Experience Dallas: Nov. 30, 2021
• E4 Evolution (E4v): Dec. 14–15, 2021
• E4 Experience Anaheim: March 22, 2022
• E4 Experience Chicago: May 3, 2022
• E4 Experience D.C.: Sept. 23, 2022
• E4 Experience New York: Oct. 20, 2022

“Integrators and resellers are working harder than ever right now but are still looking to reconnect, learn about the latest industry trends and see the newest available products, which makes the single-day, regional focus of an E4 Experience ideal,” said Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing and communications for Almo Corp. “For those who are unable to break away, our virtual E4v programming gives them the same opportunity with the flexibility to integrate learning into their schedules from anywhere and at a time that is convenient for them.”

For more information on Almo's E4 events, visit e4experience.com.

Nureva and Almo Professional A/V have announced a U.S. distribution agreement; Almo will work with its integrators, dealers, and consultants to accelerate adoption of Nureva’s audio conferencing product line throughout the United States.

[AV Integration Distributor Guide]

“Nureva is one of the first companies to offer a room-based audio solution that successfully combines ease-of-use, simplified deployment, and flexible room coverage at a reasonable price point,” said Rob Ziv, vice president of business development and strategy, Almo Professional A/V. “Nureva products are now part of the Almo Sound Options professional audio group, which provides a curated portfolio of audio products combined with the audio-specific sales, technical and engineering expertise needed to complete a successful AV installation through a single source.” 

“Almo is a highly reputable AV distribution company, and we are excited to work with them to accelerate adoption of our products in business and higher education,” added Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “With their renowned expertise and solid distribution experience, we expect that Almo will build on our success and substantially grow our channel beyond our established channel.”

Almo Corp. has added 529 roof-mounted solar panels to its Wisconsin-based warehouse—a move that Almo says will reduce the facility's use of grid-generated electricity by 80 percent

[Pro AV Manufacturers Share How They Are Reducing Their Carbon Footprint]

Almo says the addition of the WI warehouse solar panels is expected to produce 254,565 kWh of energy annually—about the average electric use of 21 homes per year—while generating enough electricity to offset 151,170 miles worth of gasoline (based on greenhouse gas emissions) and 339,420 pounds of coal (based on carbon dioxide emissions) on a yearly basis.

The completion of the WI warehouse marks the third roof-based solar panel remodel that Almo has completed since 2019. Almo’s 2020 conversion to solar panels for its Philadelphia, PA, headquarters warehousing space alone has enabled Almo to send more than 65 percent of the solar electricity it produces back into the grid.

Watch the video below to learn more about Almo's use of solar energy. 

“At Almo, we are focused on sustainable business practices that reduce our overall carbon footprint and minimize our impact on the environment so we can give back to the communities where our facilities are located," said Mike Shive, Almo's vice president of operations. "Our solar-paneled warehousing facilities, which have continued to operate throughout the pandemic, have reduced electricity consumption by 45 percent in 2020 alone.”  

Almo also plans to update its Georgia warehousing facility to roof-mounted solar energy in the near future.

Working from home might be working well for now, but we need to get back to the office eventually. And when we do, there will be a lot to rethink. This was the theme of the presentation “The Reimagined Workplace: The Role of Existing and Emerging Technology” on Wednesday during Almo Professional AV’s Spring E4 event.

Presented by Pete Coman, chief technology officer at PTS New York, the talk covered the reasons why we need to return to offices, design trends that are reshaping the way we use these spaces now, and emerging technologies that will further optimize the workplaces of the future. 

Related: Almo Pro A/V to Provide OfficePro End User Software Training Packages

So why should we go back when we’re just as productive—if not more productive—working from home? According to Coman, it’s not just about us; we need to think about the next generation of workers. “I learned being mentored by others, by having people beside me to show me the ropes, and we can’t lose focus of the fact that the workplace is an incubator for the next generation,” he said. “We as industry professionals need to be giving back to the next generation coming through so we can help them learn and get this experience.” He also pointed to a quote by the late Steve Jobs emphasizing the importance of informal, in-person interaction in the development of creative ideation.

Coman then went on to highlight how the ideal office should operate in 2021 and beyond. The following are some of the key characteristics.

Frictionless

Our goal, Coman said, is to have our workplaces operate as simply as an Amazon Go store. “That is our goal as digital workplace experience designers: to design these seamless, frictionless environments,” he said. To accomplish this now, companies are implementing check-in kiosks, apps for reserving spaces in hotdesking offices, and the ability to use personal devices to control rooms. Going forward, Coman expects to see more voice control make its way into the office, as well as devices like the Amazon Echo Show. Another frictionless tech he’s seeing companies implement is intelligent cameras that automatically frame meeting participants’ faces, delivering the close-up shots to which we’ve become accustomed from remote work on our laptops.

Platform Neutral

Now that videoconferencing is central to our work lives, it’s key that the rooms in our workplaces are capable of handling all of the platforms out there. “Manufacturers need to develop technology that allows us to add a room that we didn’t create,” Coman said. “If I get invited to a Teams meeting and I have Zoom Rooms, I should be able to add my Zoom Room to that meeting invite and walk in and have [one touch to join].” 

More Cloud

Coman believes that cloud computing will help to further improve the user experience in offices. “How do we reduce the hardware required for these spaces?” he asked. He offered the example of software DSP (digital signal processing): “Whether you’re running it in the cloud or on a PC locally, having the ability to enhance the audio experience without having another black box in the room is a real advantage and we’ll start to see more organizations going down that path.”

Flexible, Adaptable

With uncertainty around how companies will be utilizing their space going forward, designing for flexibility has never been more important. “We’re designing the power and the data to be in locations that are appropriate if the room needs to be flipped or the purpose needs to be changed,” Coman said. He urges designers to have discussions with companies at the outset: “What else could this space be used for? Get the infrastructure ready, and work out how these rooms could be used or could be transformed moving forward.”  

Consider Emerging Technologies

Coman spent a lot of time highlighting innovative new solutions that he believes will have an impact in the office of tomorrow:

• Transparent OLED displays integrated into glass-walled boardrooms, easing the compromise between tech and aesthetics
• Acoustic air curtains that frame out workspaces with invisible dividers that facilitate meetings from desks without interrupting those nearby
• Induction charging built into work surfaces, streamlining the ability to come in and start working from a laptop, and eventually, wireless power
• More personal climate control
• More personal lighting, implementing circadian rhythms
• Technology to make workplaces healthier
• Wearable technology that monitors our health and mood

In the nearer future, though, Coman sees tech like facial detection and people counting sensors that regulate occupancy, as well as analytics software that provides a better picture of space usage growing in adoption sooner than later. “COVID has fast-tracked a lot of these technologies,” he said. “Previously, people thought ‘That’s a nice idea; that’s a nice-to-have.’ Now these technologies are really becoming a must.”

Due to the exploding use of virtual software platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and Crestron, Almo Professional A/V announced it will offer training services for these platforms thanks to a new partnership with OfficePro. As a result, these training packages can be incorporated into an AV project to add incremental revenue and ensure user adoption following an installation. OfficePro is also sponsoring Almo’s spring 2021 E4 Evolution (E4v), a live digital education event for the design and specification of AV systems.

Taking place March 9-11, 2021, E4v offers three days of unique content worth up to 14 AVIXA CTS Renewal Units (RU). Registration for E4v is free to integrators, end users, and tech managers. OfficePro is participating in a Subject Expert Insight interview during E4v on March 10, 2021, to discuss the pros and cons of three popular software platforms.

“Now more than ever the use of soft codec systems like Zoom and MS Teams has become widely adopted, which in turn increases the demand for training on how to use these platforms effectively,” said Brian Rhatigan, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “This training service helps the integrator add value to the installation while ensuring the end user’s greatest chance for success with the software technology.

“Since almost everyone now relies on these systems and organizations have shifted to a remote workforce, it is important that professionals are educated on how to most effectively use them to conduct day-to-day business.”

“OfficePro’s partnership with Almo gives the AV reseller access to training content from an organization that is uniquely focused on the AV community,” said Michael Doolittle, vice president of client engagement, OfficePro, Inc. “It enables resellers to generate incremental revenue by offering a critical product without having to add staff.”

OfficePro Training Packages Available Through Almo

• Cisco Webex
• Cisco Webex Rooms
• Crestron Mercury
• Crestron UC Rooms
• Microsoft Surface Hub
• Microsoft Teams
• Zoom
• Zoom Rooms

To meet the needs of the booming Unified Communications Collaboration (UCC) market, Almo Professional A/V and Jabra have formed a new distribution partnership.

As a result of the partnership, Almo now offers Jabra’s full line of PanaCast Video Conferencing Cameras and Speak Series of Conferencing Speakerphones. 

[The Integration Guide to Conferencing & Collaboration]

“Jabra has a proven history in the manufacture of audio products, particularly headsets. The expansion into the UCC category with the PanaCast camera and Speak speakerphones is significant for our partners engaged in this explosive market,” said Brian Rhatigan, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “Aligning with Jabra gives our integrators and resellers more flexibility when it comes to specifying UCC systems for their clients. Additionally, Jabra has formed strategic alliances with other vendors, which allows Almo partners to source multi-vendor solutions from a single provider.”

“The technology landscape is changing rapidly for customers across industries, and we need strong partners with deep experience to help bring Jabra products into this evolving market,” added Cheryle Walline, vice president, NA Channel and Distribution for Jabra. “Adding Almo to our portfolio of partners brings years of expertise in the AV space to our product offerings, and our partnership will enable more companies to better navigate and optimize technology to meet the unique needs of this environment.”

Jabra has joined Almo’s spring 2021 E4 Evolution (E4v), a live, digital education event for the design and specification of AV system. Registration for E4v, which takes place March 9-11, 2021, is now open and free to integrators, end users, and tech managers.

Jabra is sponsoring the live session, “The Reimagined Workplace: The Role of Existing and Emerging Technology” taking place March 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. EST, worth 1 AVIXA CTS RU.

Almo Professional A/V's  E4 Evolution (E4v) is set to take place March 9-11. The E4v features the ability to access six customized subject matter halls—digital signage, education, emerging technologies, corporate AV, pro audio, and UCC—and original, curated AVIXA-certified sessions delivered by industry educators.

“The most unique aspect of the E4v is the ability to choose from six different solutions centers—similar to a pavilion area at an in-person tradeshow. This gives attendees the ability to fully customize their experience and easily focus on what they need to know now,” saidMelody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing for Almo Corp. “The spring E4v is stacked with all-new, non-repeated sessions taught by the brightest visionaries in the industry on topics designed to prepare integrators for the optimistic outlook expected in AV this year.”

Each E4v session is worth one AVIXA CTS Renewal Unit (RU), with the opportunity to earn an additional RU following each live presentation. The spring 2021 E4v education lineup follows with more details about each session available here.  

Registration for E4v is now open and free to integrators, end users, and tech managers.

Despite the many pandemic-related challenges faced in 2020, employees at Almo Corp. continue to move forward with a focus on being grateful and giving back through participation in numerous local and national outreach efforts. Blood donations, food and toy drives, and participation in physical activities such as walking and golf charity events framed up the fall and holiday season for Almo employees.

“There are so many people in need right now and our employees recognize this and want to help in every capacity possible—I’m humbled by their passion and willingness to donate time and resources with gratitude,” said Warren Chaiken, president and CEO, Almo Corp. “Our business model centers around serving the needs of our customers and community. Almo employees are living this model every day. Having the ability to improve the lives of others is a powerful privilege that comes with a sense of obligation. Acting on this allows us to create meaning by making the lives of others better, whether they are loved ones, people in the community, or people across the nation.”

Food Donation

Almo donated nearly $4,000 to the Somerton Interfaith Food Bank in Philadelphia while also making significant donations of non-perishable food items to local food banks across the country, including The Assistance Center of Towson Churches in Maryland and Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank in New York. As a result, hundreds of families had food on the table for Thanksgiving.

Toy Drive

Almo hosted a Toy Drive to benefit the Philadelphia-area Pottstown Cluster of Religious Charities and St. Christopher’s Hospital Oncology Unit. Maryland Marine Toys for Tots also received donations. Through these contributions, Almo collected hundreds of toys and many gift cards to help make the holidays special for others.

Blood Drive

Almo teams across the country donated as part of the Red Cross Blood Donation program.

American Red Cross Disaster Fund

With the large number of hurricanes and wildfires raging across the country—some even affecting Almo employees, partners, and customers—Almo employees chose to make monetary donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Fund, offering support to those in dire need.

Anti-Defamation League Virtual Walk

ADL Philadelphia hosted a virtual walk to help build community even from home. Many Almo employees participated in this walk in an effort to help while improving their own strength and health. This was part of a national movement that took place in October.

Golf Classic

This fall, Almo employees participated in the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia (PAL) 29th annual Golf Classic. The proceeds raised by the event helped cover operational expenses for the youth served during these uncertain times. Almo manufacturing partners also sponsored this event, including Samsung, EMA, Midea, Galanz, Danby, Sharp, and Bosch.

Get your free copy of SCN's 2020 Integration Guide to Displays and Mounts.

DOWNLOAD NOW

State of Display

Video screens have become a ubiquitous and essential part of our daily lives, impacting the ways in which we learn, work, and play. Because of this, how they're added to our communal settings needs to be accomplished in a mindful way. Increasingly, systems contractors are finding ways to incorporate displays and mounts into our environments in ways that feel useful, entertaining, and—for the customer—like a worthwhile investment.

Product Showcase

Check out the latest displays and mounts from companies like Absen, Chief, Planar, Neoti, and more. 

At Issue

Experts from industry-leading companies like Almo Professional A/V, Peerless-AV, and Sony discuss the way displays and mounts enliven the way we work and learn in a communal setting.    

Download the Integration Guide to Displays and Mounts.

2020 has been a rough year for all of us—personally and professionally. But there are always rainbows after every storm and our industry continues to move forward and discover new ways of innovating

With Thanksgiving 2020 around the corner, AV professionals reflected on the year and shared what they are thankful for in 2020.

Melody Craigmyle, VP of Marketing and Communications, Almo Corp. 

I’m thankful for new opportunities. While 2020 presented many roadblocks, AV has been an essential conduit for business, education, healthcare, socialization, worship, entertainment, fitness, and more. It’s hard to believe that we have been working, meeting and learning without stepping foot in an office or on a tradeshow floor for a majority of the year. We’ve even figured out how to “beam” ourselves into events and meetings via holographic telepresence! The opportunities will only continue to expand for our industry.

Lisa Barlow Flournoy, Marketing Support Manager, DVIGear

Few of us could have anticipated how profoundly challenging this year would be. True to the resilience of the human spirit, we have found a greater sense of community—even in isolation. Events and opportunities that demanded foot traffic heretofore have opened doors by going virtual. We’ve seen this from exhibition hall to museum to classroom. While family and friends have been shut in, we have discovered that videoconferencing technology is not that difficult to master and is as, or more, rewarding than our streaming services. While admittedly we lose much in forsaking face-to-face interaction, there has nonetheless been a proliferation of creativity activity, from dining room table to corporate halls. I am grateful for what joins us together, and the many opportunities we have had to grow in compassionate understanding of one another this year.

Andrew Gross, Director of Sales, UC Enterprise, Crestron

I am thankful for my work family at Crestron, and all of the relationships I have been able to build with our partners and dealers. Through the power of technology, we have all been able to effectively collaborate and connect people even through the most challenging of times. The AV industry has overcome many obstacles, and I am honored to be a part of such a dynamic, hardworking group that has made a difference for so many people.

Rachael Harris, Service Assurance Engineer, Large Financial Institution

I am thankful for the communities that I have become aligned with through the experience of this extremely unpredictable year. Mandated distancing allowed me to get to know the friends, family, and colleagues in my immediate sphere more intimately. This has also been a time for building new relationships. "Going virtual" in 2020 opened an opportunity to meet, see, and hear the thoughts of AV pros who I would not have been exposed to in my normal routine. I have made some great friends, found a brain trust, and even have the opportunity to share my own thoughts. I am so impressed by the creativity, brilliance, and energy of my AV industry colleagues. I am very grateful to be a part of this community and look forward to meeting, hearing, and contributing much more.

Paul Richards, Chief Streaming Officer and Director of Business Development, PTZOptics & HuddleCamHD

The pandemic created urgent demand for the hardware supporting video conferencing, broadcasting, and livestreaming. I am grateful for our shipping and operations teams for rising to the challenge and fulfilling the high demand for our cameras and accessories. Some days we are moving more product than our warehouse can fit! I am also grateful for our live streaming studio and producer Mike Luttermoser. Combined with Mike’s stellar production capabilities, we have been able to use the studio and our hardware solutions to stay connected with our customers—recording tutorial videos, broadcasting our weekly shows, and even live streaming events. 

Tomer Mann, EVP, 22Miles

This year, I’m thankful that I have had the opportunity to help keep people safe amidst the pandemic through my work with 22Miles. When the pandemic first struck, we were able to quickly pivot our business to provide necessary and beneficial applications, such as our TempDefend thermal screening solution and Protection-as-a-Service software suite, addressing safety, hygiene, and continuity to help keep people, businesses, and facilities of all types safe and support re-opening measures. We’re looking forward to continuing to develop new technology to help promote safety and wellbeing worldwide.

Cory Schaeffer, Director of Alliances and Market Development, QSC 

I am thankful to be a part of such a supportive and connected industry. Over these past several months, I’ve witnessed an overwhelming level of support among my AV peers, and it’s very encouraging and heartwarming to watch—whether it’s reaching out to someone that lost their job to offer help, guidance, or even just to listen; offering sympathy to those that have lost a loved one; listening to peers as we deal with the unrest of a divisive world; or even to encourage connections through virtual happy hours or #AVFitness. 

This year has shown the best of our industry! We have leveraged technology to stay connected, create an even stronger AV community, and inspire each other on a more personal level. It’s been a challenging year, and yet we’ve seen so many people rise up with strength and support. For that, I’m thankful.

Tim Albright, Founder, AVNation

Each year, we sit back and reflect on what we are thankful for. This might come as a bit of a surprise, but I am genuinely thankful for the year 2020. No, I don’t wish the hundreds of thousands who have perished from the COVID-19 virus. The challenges, though, has forced me to rethink, re-invent, and get creative. It’s also forced some interesting mental and physical changes. Sitting here on the precipice of 2021, I can confidently say I can’t wait to see what next year has in store ... 'cause we’re going to handle it. 

Joe Way, Ph.D., CTS Director, Learning Environments, University of Southern California

I am thankful for the connection that I have made with both my AV family and higher ed colleagues. This pandemic has brought us closer to one another in ways we couldn’t have imagined pre-COVID. The care, love, uplifting, and unity of one another has inspired me to want to give back to our AV community even more than before. I know I couldn’t have made it through this without you all, and it’s the strength I get from you that I am able to use to build up my own staff, for whom I am also extremely grateful for. 

Steven Durkee, President, AV Division, Legrand

Although it’s been a difficult year for many, I’ve been very thankful for our team at Legrand and our partners this year. The character, perseverance, and focus of our team—specifically over the past six months—has created many reasons to be thankful despite the challenges. Everyone rallied around the efforts to ensure our teams’ safety and maintain our ability to continue to deliver essential services. And we couldn’t have done it without the support of our partners; it was really impressive to see our relationships get even stronger when the going got tough, that’s when you know you have true partnerships. I’m also thankful for the strength of some of our categories this year and the future opportunity in AV—not only will some of the categories that realized growth during COVID evolve into long term market growth opportunities, I’m confident the AV market is positioned to rebound in general. 

Katie Rogina, Marketing Manager, Spinitar

In a year that has brought so much uncertainty and doubt, 2020 has given me plenty to be thankful for… In March, when the economy tanked, my employer, Spinitar, fought hand-over-fist to keep their employees employed, and succeeded. In July, my husband and I welcomed our second beautiful baby girl, Dani Jo, who was healthy and bright-eyed from the moment she was born. In October, with the help of fellow #AVTweeps, family and friends, Spinitar raised $55,000 in charitable donations for City of Hope, a leading cancer research hospital in Southern California. Overall, while 2020 left a negative impression in our history books, it wasn’t too bad to me. Today, more than ever before, I am thankful for my family (fellow Spinitarians included), faith and friends. 

Mark Corbin, President, Vanco Intl.

First and foremost, I’m thankful for the health and wellness of our staff here at Vanco International. I am also grateful to contribute to an industry that continues to thrive, even when faced with the many challenges presented this year. At Vanco, our whole team—from product management, to customer service, to tech support, and everyone in between—works exceptionally hard to provide creative solutions for our supportive and loyal customers, and we pride ourselves on delivering products that aid in helping our dealer community continue to build on their successes year after year.

Lauren Simmen, Director of Marketing, SurgeX

I’m thankful that this is the industry I get to stand on the front lines of every day. That pandemic revealed just how collaborative, caring, and creative a group the AV industry is. Dealers, manufacturers, and even competitors have all come together to share best practices on how they’re helping each other stay afloat and relevant throughout rapidly changing market conditions. Masks, travel restrictions, and stay-at-home orders may have us apart but the camaraderie and compassion that we have shown for one another from afar, is something for which I am truly grateful.

Pippa Edelen, Director of Global Marketing, Avocor

I’m thankful to be able to be a part of an industry, and a company, that values keeping the global workforce safe during these unprecedented times. The team at Avocor has worked tirelessly this year to develop products that support a hybrid approach to sustaining the ongoing workplace, classroom, and office culture shifts. We understand that the future of work looks a bit different than it once did, and in order to stay connected in today’s market, businesses—large and small—need to invest in collaboration technology to support distributed teams and students.

Dennis Holzer, Executive Director, PowerHouse Alliance 

I am truly thankful for my mentor who guided me into the AV industry in the first place. As a result, I have developed many strong relationships across my career that I am grateful for—especially those who make me look good! 2020 has been a year of "If it can happen, it will happen.", and the PowerHouse Alliance distributor members have not missed a beat. Never once, have I heard “Why us?” or “Why now?” from anyone across our team. The members have come together to mind share, innovate, and adapt procedures and practices in order to protect our employees while continuing to fulfill orders efficiently and offer exceptional service to our dealers.

Paul Hales, President and Product Designer, Theory Audio Design

We started shipping the first seven Theory products just ahead of the pandemic—not an ideal time to launch a new brand! For that reason, I am especially grateful for the stellar Theory team and all of our reps, distributors, and dealers that have worked so hard to support the brand’s mission to change the commercial audio landscape in 2020 and beyond. Via a thoughtful ecosystem of high-utility products, we aim to bring a new level of performance and product refinement to the commercial AV segment and it wouldn’t be possible without these dedicated partners.

Almo Professional A/V has a new distribution partnership with LEA Professional. In stock and ready for order today, Almo now carries LEA Professional’s complete line of Network Connect Series of IoT-enabled amplifiers with cloud connectivity. LEA Professional is also the latest manufacturer to join Almo’s Sound Options dedicated audio sourcing and technical engineering group.

“LEA quickly caught the attention of the pro AV industry with its IoT commercial install amplifiers that provide remote monitoring and management," Rob Ziv, vice president of business development and strategy for Almo Professional A/V said. "LEA amplifiers are highly flexible and offer excellent performance at surprisingly competitive prices. We look forward to immediately helping our integrators build LEA into their pandemic/social distancing projects.”

[The Integration Guide to AV in a Post-COVID-19 World]

According to Ziv, the benefits of incorporating LEA products are extensive “Remote monitoring and management minimizes truck rolls for service, allowing integrators to create recurring revenue while keeping employees safe and able to troubleshoot remotely. At the same time, all amps occupy a single RU, which minimizes rack space. LEA products offer extremely high reliability with a six-year warranty and three-year advance replacement so integrators can install with confidence.”

“The highly-skilled sales team, eight automated distribution centers, and the ability to be a single point of contact for multiple system components makes Almo uniquely positioned provide AV professionals with the benefits of LEA’s amplifiers,” added W. Scott Robbins, VP, global sales, LEA Professional. “Our distribution partnership will allow integrators to keep their projects moving forward with audio products that help meet COVID-related guidelines and solve some of the challenges businesses are dealing with today.”

Next week, Almo Professional A/V will host the fall 2020 E4 Evolution (E4v), its virtual program that provides live online education and expert insight on topics to help resellers and integrators evolve and thrive. Part of the E4 Experience platform, all E4v sessions are first-run and led by the established educators. Additionally, all sessions are worth both AVIXA CTS-I and CTS-D Renewal Units (RUs).

According to Tom Kehr, more AV professionals are realizing the value of both CTS-I and CTS-D certifications. “With both credentials, clients can expect better design, better efficiency, and less rework and troubleshooting. And in the end, having a satisfied client can solidify an ongoing relationship and create reoccurring business opportunities.”

Related: Almo Hires Former AVIXA Instructor Tom Kehr

In Kehr’s October 29 session, “The Future of Events: Hybrid, In-Person, VR & More,” attendees will learn how the new world of hybrid events must be engineered and how the AV industry is equipped to do this through technology, UCC and AV systems. Joining Kehr, Donald Guzauckas Jr., vice president and general manager of HB Live, will provide insight into what our post-COVID world will look like.

Additionally, E4v features three live NSCA roundtables covering the topics of Digital Signage Technology, Next-Generation Workspaces, and Direct-View LED Systems. For each day of E4v, Almo is providing the NSCA education foundation with a $1,000 donation to help further education opportunities for future systems integrators.

According to NSCA director of industry outreach Tom LeBlanc, “One of the things we like about Almo’s E4 Experience and now E4v is the emphasis on helping integrators transition to earning more service revenue, which is an important focus for NSCA members. Almo is creative when it comes to training and launching services for integrators to sell. We look forward to leading business lunch discussions throughout E4v about how to connect service and growth opportunities to current trends.”

Industry veteran and president of Steamroller Digital Joel Rollins is set to emcee the live fall E4v. “Just because people aren’t gathering physically—at least for now—doesn’t mean they aren’t continuing to learn and innovate,” he said. “There have been many virtual events this year, but Almo’s E4v in particular has done a fine job of pushing the limits of these conferences into real experiences. E4v is not just about following along, it’s about jumping in and challenging the organizations that make up our industry to be better, faster and smarter. I believe E4v attendees will get a lot of out of this event—as emcee for it, I know I will.”

Click here to learn more and register. 

Almo Professional A/V has hired former AVIXA senior staff instructor Tom Kehr, CTS-D, CTS-I as an in-house system designer and trainer.

In this newly created role, Kehr serves as Almo’s full-time system design and training resource for manufacturers and authorized resellers; he is responsible for the development and delivery of a curriculum to improve the education, performance, and certification levels of all Almo stakeholders. 

Next month, Kehr is leading a live educational session about the future of events during Almo’s E4 Evolution (E4v) virtual program.

[Almo Fall Virtual E4 Evolution Set for October 27-29]

“Tom is well-known and respected in our industry for his design proficiency, instructional excellence, and breadth of knowledge,” said Rob Ziv, CTS-D, CTS-I, vice president of business development and strategy, Almo Professional A/V. “The addition of Tom elevates Almo’s educational and technical capabilities beyond any other distributor offering. He is available as an invaluable resource for our customers and vendor partners to provide insight, structured training, and technical content.”

Prior to joining Almo, Kehr was senior staff instructor for AVIXA and before then, he worked as senior designer for a large Washington, D.C. area design/build firm. In addition, Kehr has been heavily involved in church audio, leading ministry teams and training volunteers in both permanent and portable venues. He also owned a regional sound reinforcement company for more than 16 years. Kehr is a member of SynAudCon and AES and is a licensed amateur radio operator.

Almo Professional A/V announced dates and advancements to the Fall 2020 E4 Evolution (E4v), its virtual program that provides online education related to the design and specification of AV systems. Part of the E4 Experience, E4v features fully curated, live and interactive AVIXA-certified sessions led by educators on relevant topics to help AV attendees thrive in today’s challenging economic environment.

The fall E4v is taking place over the course of three separate days—October 27-29, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT—with each day featuring entirely unique content and an exclusive NSCA-led roundtable.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Fall 2020 E4 Evolution.

“The E4v platform enables Almo to offer free, quality education that is live and online to more AV professionals than ever before,” said Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing and communications, Almo Corp. “The fall E4v is taking place over the course of three shorter days, each featuring original curated content, equating to less screen time per day and the opportunity for attendees to choose the sessions that are most pertinent to their business needs.” 

Each E4v session is worth one AVIXA CTS Renewal Unit (RU) with the opportunity to earn an additional RU following each live presentation. 

To learn more or to register, visit e4evolution.com.

Get your free copy of the 2020 AV Integration Distributor Guide.

Beyond Selling Boxes: AV Integrators View Distributors as Partners 

While the AV products distribution company’s primary goal is to sell gear, that’s not all they do. Those who understand that helping their AV integrator partners succeed has a direct impact on their own success are offering a number of services designed to do everything from streamline cash flow management to providing education, training, and even on-site labor when necessary.

 Want to read more? Download the 2020 AV Integration Distributor Guide.

Learn more about these major pro AV distributors in the 2020 AV Integration Distributor Guide.

• Almo Professional AV
• Broadfield
• D&H
• Ingram Micro
• Shoreview
• Stampede
• Starin, A Midwich Group Company
• Synnex

Click here to download the 2020 AV Integration Distributor Guide.

Almo Professional A/V has expanded its Contract Labor and Project Support offering to now include Engineering and Drafting Services. The expansion comes as Almo partners are looking for ways to keep projects moving forward while providing a smooth and coordinated installation from start-to-finish.

“We are all acclimating to an inevitably changed world,” said Cory Allen, director of contract labor and project support. “With that acclimation comes redefined procedures, processes, and whole new ways of doing business. While our partners are concentrating on those changes, we are right alongside them with resources such as engineering and drafting—as well as our entire suite of managed services—to help them ignite their projects.

Related: Almo Offers ‘Work-From-Home’ Portable Conferencing Kit

“Through this service expansion, Almo can take conceptual ideas and convert them into meaningful designs. We can now provide integrators with a valuable technical resource, particularly if they are looking to scale beyond their normal ability, source cost-effective pricing, or are in need of specialized expertise.”

The new service offering includes:

Drafting: With minimal information, the team can turn concepts into thorough designs in any CAD template.

Engineering: Provides turnkey engineering from start to finish for a wide range of projects in industries such as commercial AV, education, entertainment, and more.

Consulting: Decades of experience to create streamlined CAD standards for drafting practices.

The What: Almo Professional A/V has announced a “Work-From-Home” hardware bundle featuring a Yamaha portable USB and Bluetooth speakerphone and a Huddly Go conferencing camera.

The What Else: The bundle (GO-BLK/YVC-200-WHT/BLK-KIT) includes the Yamaha YVC-200 speakerphone with professional features such as adaptive echo cancellation, automatic gain control, and Human Voice Activity Detection (HVAD), which can distinguish the human voice over background noise. It supports both a wired USB connection and wireless connection via Bluetooth and is available in either black or white. The Huddly Go is a 16 Megapixel 720p HD 16:9 conferencing camera with an ultra-wide 150-degree viewing angle. It features dynamic light optimization, a six-element glass lens, and digital pan/tilt/zoom for a superior conferencing experience all in a compact package that fits in the palm of a hand.

Related: Almo Professional A/V Launches Almo Financial Relief Alliance

“Over the last month, we have had to adapt to the changes involved with working, teaching, learning and interacting from home,” explained Brian Rhatigan, director of business development, Almo Professional A/V. “The remote workforce must be able to conduct business professionally so employers and school districts are equipping their employees with the web-based communication tools they need to do their jobs from home. This bundle was created specifically to provide reliable, high-quality audio and video from a remote environment so people can continue to work, instruct, learn and communicate while staying safe and healthy.”

The Bottom Line: The Work-From-Home kit is lightweight and portable so it can be easily moved throughout the house, and is designed to keep business professionals, educators, and learners more connected.

To assist its partners during uncertain times, Almo Professional A/V has introduced the Almo Financial Relief Alliance in partnership with some of its manufacturing vendors. As part of this program, Almo is offering an additional 30 days of extended credit terms to qualified reseller partners.

Almo Financial Relief Alliance manufacturers include alliances with LG Business Solutions USA, AtlasIED, Avocor, Barco, BrightSign, Harman Professional Solutions, Huddly, Kramer, Legrand US, Maxell, NEC, Peerless-AV, Sharp, Sony, and TOA Electronics.

[Tackling the Uncertainty: The AV Industry Faces COVID-19]

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize that some installations are on hold and that cash flow is a challenge for many of our customers,” said Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “Almo Financial Relief Alliance is here to help with an additional 30 days of extended terms. This allows our partners to continue planning ahead as much as possible. We all remain hopeful that the tide will soon change so our partners can get back to the normal pace of business and continue creating amazing AV installations and experiences.”

To learn more about the Almo Financial Relief Alliance,  visit go.almoproav.com/alliance.

Almo Professional A/V has expended its partnership with Sony Electronics to distribute Sony Imaging Products & Solutions in the U.S. Previously only available in Latin America from Almo, the distribution firm is now providing its partners with access to Sony’s Professional BRAVIA displays, full line of 3LCD professional projectors, and PTZ cameras in the U.S.

Sony has also joined the 2020 Almo E4 Experience, coming to Santa Clara, CA on March 13 and Washington, D.C. on April 3.

[Almo Launches Almo AV-As-A-Service Financial Solutions]

“Sony is a well-respected brand with very strong line of displays, projectors, and cameras for the professional market that our U.S. partners ask for by name,” said Brian Rhatigan, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “We expect that Sony will be a major highlight to our E4 Experience and know our resellers and integrators are looking forward to seeing the newest professional products Sony has to offer on the tour this spring.”

“Almo has a long history of providing high-quality sales and customer service to the Professional AV integrator marketplace,” added Mark Bonifacio, director of sales and marketing, Sony Electronics Professional Division. “We look forward to expanding Sony’s presence in the AV marketplace through our relationship with Almo.”

Almo Professional A/V is kicking off 2020 with its newest service offering, Almo AV-as-a-Service (AVaaS) Financial Solutions. 

Through the backing of Almo Pro A/V in the form of what the company calls "flexible and competitive finance and leasing options," Almo says reseller partners now have a "more competitive advantage so they may pursue larger, long-term installation opportunities and provide customers with the latest technology, job site labor services, and recycling/replacement options."

“Integrators and resellers sometimes need flexible options to finance larger projects and grow their businesses. At the same time, their customers don’t want to buy hardware that becomes obsolete in a few years," said Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “Through our new AVaas offering, the biggest benefit to the dealer is managed cash flow and the ability to get paid up front while offering the end user one monthly payment."

[The Buck Starts Here: AV Financing Options]

Taylor added that when it’s time for that technology refresh, the reseller who did the original installation is in a perfect position to earn that business again. Almo AVaas Financial Solutions also allows partners to offer end users lease-to-own, recycling, and equipment removal options.

"This financing enables our partners to close deals, accelerate buying decisions, improve schedule replacement cycles, and much more," concluded Taylor. "When the end user customer uses AVaas, they can apply operating funds instead of capital expenditures. Because they no longer own the hardware, they can easily replace it when the technology changes.”

To help create a warm, comfortable living space for families with children receiving hospital treatment, Almo Corp. has provided a total of 23 major appliances to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Philadelphia. The appliances are part of a significant expansion by which RMH is tripling its capacity through the construction and renovation of a new housing tower in Philadelphia.

The appliances donated by Almo have been placed in three different areas of the tower:

• A patient-protected floor for post-bone marrow patients and their families. This floor contains eight suites with private kitchenettes for longer stays and for those families with immunocompromised patients.
• A lounge on the same floor with a small cooking area so families can get out of their rooms into a restricted community environment.
• The family kitchen, which is a small kitchen and storage area for families to prepare their own meals if preferred.

“As parents, our greatest concern is the wellness of our children—and if they are faced with long-term illnesses, there’s nothing we want more than to be near them and to create a sense of stability while they receive treatment and heal,” said Warren Chaiken, president and CEO for Almo Corp. “Our hope in donating these appliances is to make the stay for these families more comfortable and more convenient, so they have the ability to spend some quality time together, even if they are not at home. If we can positively impact the lives of these children and their families during their stay in Philadelphia, then we feel we have been successful.”

Chaiken noted that in an Almo company-wide poll, childhood illness was a cause that employees felt strongly about championing. As a result, all Almo offices across the nation are engaged in philanthropic activities to benefit local RMH facilities and to give back to their communities.

“Guest families at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House often stay for extended periods of time and helping to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives is one of our top priorities,” said Susan Campbell, CEO of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. “Almo’s generous donation of appliances for our family kitchen and in the rooms for our immunocompromised guests have allowed us to provide a more home-like environment for these families.”

Almo Professional A/V has acquired certain assets of NewComm Distributing, the distribution arm of manufacturing representative, NewComm Technologies. 

As a result of the acquisition, Almo Pro A/V is now sourcing all of NewComm’s ClearOne inventory, while giving former NewComm customers access to Almo Pro A/V’s more than 60 AV brands, nine warehouse locations, Sound Options dedicated audio sourcing and technical engineering group, and revenue-generating Managed Services. 

[Almo's Sam Taylor Discusses the Company's History and Continued Expansion]

“This acquisition offers benefits for both our existing partners as well as former NewComm customers,” explained Rob Ziv, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “Our existing partners now have a larger quantity of inventory to access in different locations throughout the nation. At the same time, former NewComm customers can now take advantage of all Almo Pro A/V has to offer to increase profits and margins—such as products from the top AV brands—and business-expanding services like content creation for digital signage, sourcing labor, control systems, ClearOne DSP mixer programming, and bandwidth service.” 

“When we made the business decision to exit distribution, we wanted to make sure our customers would be taken care of by a reliable, well-stocked and technically-astute distributor,” added Alex Schouten, sales and dealer communication for NewComm Distributing. “Almo Pro A/V has a proven, secure path for these resellers and integrators with the benefit of ongoing opportunities for growth and profitability in the future.” 

Almo Professional A/V has joined forces with Zoom to offer fully kitted Zoom Room Hardware Bundles, all of which will be stocked and ready for shipping in the U.S. and Latin America, and designed to transform any area into an easy-to-use collaboration workspace. 

Almo has also entered a new distribution partnership with Huddly, and now offers Huddly Cameras, which are Zoom Room-approved with the Huddly IQ featured in the “Huddle Room” bundle. This bundle is being shown in a dedicated Zoom Room demo area during the Almo E4 Experience, coming to New York Metro on September 25 and Atlanta on October 15. 

In addition to the E4 Experience, the Huddle Room bundle is being shown in the Avocor booth at Zoomtopia in San Jose, October 15-16, and in the Almo Professional A/V booth at InfoComm Colombia, October 23-25. 

“Being able to work with Zoom to provide these readily available hardware bundles is a true advantage for our partners and their end user customers,” said Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “At Almo, we evaluated collaboration software options for several years and found Zoom to have the best features and intuitive user options available. In fact, Zoom has become a key communication tool that is prevalent in the day-to-day business life of more than 350 Almo employees.”

“We worked with Zoom to design specific bundles based on their ease of installation for our integrators and to help them create the most seamless customer experience,” said Brian Rhatigan, CTS, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “Our new partnership with Huddly allows us to bundle the automated Huddly IQ camera, which is Zoom Room-approved. Through these carefully selected Zoom Room Hardware Bundles, Almo is making it easy for integrators to get all of the necessary components in a single box, with a single SKU, from a single supplier. All of the hardware included in these bundles has been approved by Zoom for use on the platform, which takes out all the guesswork and ensures compatibility. And, the best part is that that our Zoom Room Bundles will be stocked and ready to ship.”

"We have been looking for an opportunity to partner with Almo Professional A/V so the creation of the Zoom Room bundles has been an ideal way to bring our Zoom Room-approved conference cameras to Almo integrators in a package that is both efficient and readily available for collaboration spaces," said Nicolas Domeyko, VP Americas at Huddly. "We couldn't have picked a more exciting time to join the E4 Experience and look forward to showcasing our AI-powered cameras in the Zoom Room demonstrations this fall."  

Zoom Room Bundles

The following Zoom Room Bundles are available now through Almo: 

Small Huddle Space (1-2 people)

• MXL AC-404-Z Low Profile Conference Microphone 
• Logitech BRIO 4K Ultra High-Definition Camera

Huddle Room (2-7 people) 

• Huddly IQ Camera Videoconferencing Camera
• MXL USB Conferencing Microphone Kit
• Lenovo ThinkCentre M920x Tiny PC
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5-inch
• JBL PSB-1 2.0 Channel Active Soundbar

Zoom Room Bundles with Almo Managed Services for Digital Signage

When the Zoom Room Bundles are combined with Almo’s Managed Services for Digital Signage, integrators can also provide content for Zoom Room signage mode so when the screens are not in use they can serve as digital options or corporate communications boards, and at the same time, provide recurring revenue options for integrators. 

According to Jim Nista, senior director of content creation services for Almo Professional A/V, “We have found that many of Zoom’s digital signage users are running employee-facing content. Almo Digital Signage services include content templates, such as widgets with easy-to-deploy information, like news, weather, custom calendars, waiting lists and tickets. Almo also offers standard content templates for digital menus and lobby directories. These templates can be added to the Zoom Room bundle like a product, with the added benefit of allowing integrators to earn recurring revenue for the life of the installation.” 

Almo Professional AV has entered a distribution partnership with Mimo Monitors. As part of the new relationship, Mimo Monitors has joined the Almo E4 AV Tour, which is coming to Boston on Sept. 21 and Nashville on Oct. 25 and 26.

“As the first Pro AV distributor for Mimo Monitors, we look forward to showing our partners how these products are intuitive and easy to incorporate into essentially any digital signage, huddle space or conference room installation,“ said Brian Rhatigan, director of business development for Almo Professional AV. “Having Mimo Monitors on the E4 AV Tour gives so many of our attending partners the ability to learn more about the company and to see the products in live demonstrations.”

“Almo is a well-respected commercial AV distributor and this distribution relationship gives resellers and integrators greatly expanded access to our small touchscreen niche products,” said Mike Campagna, chief marketing officer for Mimo Monitors. “Participating in the E4 AV Tour is a highly efficient and effective way to get our products in front of the resellers and integrators who buy from Almo. Our products are sleek, intuitive and easy-to-use so we wanted to give attendees the opportunity to see them first-hand.”

During the fall E4 tour, Mimo Monitors will showcase its new 10.1-inch Vue P-Cap Tour open frame display with BrightSign Built-In. This open frame display provides a fully encompassing, reliable, all-in-one digital signage solution that harnesses the power of the Mimo Vue technology and integrates the industry-leading BrightSign platform. The result is a high-quality, easy-to-install digital signage solution that’s immediately digital signage-ready, making it extremely simple to use, especially for those already reliant on the BrightSign platform.

AV distributor Almo Professional A/V, is showcasing dozens of the industry’s newest products on the E4 AV Tour, coming to the Boston Newton Marriott on September 21.

“It’s been two years since the tour last stopped in Boston and local attendees will soon discover how much the E4 program has grown and evolved since then—it’s basically an entirely new experience,” explained Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing & communications, Almo Corporation.

Craigmyle added, “One piece of feedback we always get from E4 attendees is that you can really get one-on-one with top manufacturers and talk about the projects you are working on. E4 is small enough to get that exclusive time but also large enough to have all the newest industry products that perhaps were launched at InfoComm but haven’t begun shipping until now. This exhibit hall is also ideal for those who didn’t make it out to InfoComm in June.”

“We encourage our integrators to bring their end user clients to the exhibit hall portion of the event, which features new products from more than 40 manufacturers, and use it as a local showroom,” noted Craigmyle. “This gives them the ability to show some of the complete AV solutions that are available through Almo.”

Some of the newest products on display during the Boston leg of the E4 AV Tour include: AVOCOR F2 Series AVF-6550 touchscreen displays, BrightSign Series 4 XD and XT players, Epson Lightscene EV-10 Digital Signage Projector, NEC V864Q 86-Inch 4k Panel Display with RPi, Peerless-AV Xtreme High Bright 492, and much more.

E4 Boston is on September 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Boston Newton Marriott. The event is complimentary, including parking, for Almo Pro A/V’s reseller, integrator and consultant partners.

To register, go to http://shows.e4avtour.com/boston18/venue/. Registration has also opened for the final E4 event of the year, taking place in Nashville on October 25 and 26.

Name: Sam Taylor

Position: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Company: Almo Professional A/V

Overtime: Taylor is an avid swimmer. In his spare time, he is a volunteer assistant coach for the Johns Hopkins Men’s and Women’s swim teams.

SCN: What is your position, and what does it entail? What are your responsibilities?

SAM TAYLOR: I’m the EVP and COO for Almo Professional A/V. I am extremely proud to lead an incredible distribution team comprised of the some of the best sales, marketing, and technical experts in the industry. We take pride in providing customers with the full distribution experience on a local and a personal level. Our company is a division of Philly-based Almo Corporation, a 72-year-old, family-owned distributor of consumer electronics and appliances.

SCN: How long have you been at this position?

ST: Nine years—since Almo Professional A/V formed in June of 2009. Almo Professional A/V may be the youngest distribution company in the industry, but we’ve quickly grown to become one of the largest with global reach.

SCN: How has your background prepared you for your role?

ST: Before Almo, I was president of Electrograph Systems. We grew from a small distributorship of 13 employees with an annual revenue of about one million dollars to a company with 250 employees and 500 million dollars in annual revenue, making us the largest ProAV distributor at that time. When Almo Pro A/V formed in 2009, we started at zero and, less than a decade later, we are experiencing revenue near 500 million dollars. We know what it takes to grow and we are just getting started!

SCN: What are your short- and long-term goals?

ST: Well someday, I’d like to visit Antarctica…but that’s a different Q&A! Short-term, our business goal is to exceed that 500 million in revenue this year, which we are on track to achieve. Our long-term goal is to continue blazing the trail by always delivering new opportunities for our partners to advance, learn, and become more successful and profitable.

SCN: What is the greatest challenge that you face?

ST: We are always looking for ways to make our resellers and integrators more successful—because when they achieve success, we achieve success! Margins for hardware continue to drop at the distribution and reseller level, which has been happening for some time now. That’s why we focus on providing entire solution systems at Almo. We are always looking for ways to empower our partners.

SCN: Where do you see the AV distribution market heading?

ST: Currently, the AV distribution market is healthy and thriving. I see distributors playing an increasingly important role in the industry—in doing so they must provide more than just AV products. Almo Pro A/V offers technical expertise, global reach, ongoing training and education, design support, managed services, and much more, all of which strengthen our partner relationships and help bring more business to the channel.

SCN: Are there new initiatives we are likely to see from Almo?

ST: We just announced Almo’s acquisition of Insteo, a well-respected content creation company. Through this acquisition, we can accelerate what can be offered in terms of expanded content platforms for digital signage installs, including proprietary cloud signage and custom content. We now have a team of in-house experts on staff to offer expertise and expedited service throughout the U.S. and into Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean—with plans underway for further geographic expansion.

We also just launched our new “No Hassles/No Questions” return policies, which give us some of the best return policies available today. This makes it easier for our resellers and gives them almost instant credit when things go wrong. My good friend Alan Brawn always says, “How you respond is what separates the great companies from the rest of the pack.”

SCN: How can systems contractors better position themselves to profit from products and/or services you have to offer?

ST: Almo Corporation has been in business for more than seven decades. We have and always will guarantee 100-percent customer satisfaction. The relationships we build and the positive outcomes are what are ultimately most important to us.

At the same time, Almo is one of the first distributors in the industry to create a path for resellers to expand their reach through managed services, which we’ve just greatly expanded through our acquisition of Insteo for content creation. We also offer installation, bandwidth and surveillance, and control systems services. All of these are designed to give our partners the ability to grow their businesses while enjoying the resulting recurring revenue streams.

Many integrators are already using our services to improve their bottom line. Others just need to reach out to us to see how we can help them grow and deliver a better end user experience for their customers.