Inside Integration

Episode 122: Hot Takes on the The CEPro Top 100

We unpack the CE Pro Top 100- why ADT, Vivint, and Guardian belong in CI, retail juggernauts vs. custom craft, consolidation (GHT, Daisy), electrical partnerships, and how to benchmark your business. Plus, a call for your “tools that blew your mind.”

Episode 121: Trade Association News and Old Men Yelling at Clouds

Another week, another shakeup in the world of industry associations...What the massive Apollo acquisition means for the future of the CEDIA Expo, and why the FCC is getting involved with your Wi-Fi router. Is the industry headed for "enshittification," or is this the dawn of the home "holodeck" revolution?

Episode 120: CEDIA Strikes Back (with, uh, a Battle of the Bands?)

The industry is shaking! Just days after we questioned CEDIA's future, the organization dropped a bombshell: they're leaving Denver. This week, we dive into the new multi-city rotation plan (Vegas, Orlando, Dallas) and what it means for the industry. Is this a brilliant strategy to attract new blood, a panicked reaction to the competition, or a sign they're finally waking up? We also break down other big changes for 2026, like the return of the Installation Skill Challenge and a Battle of the Bands. * "You think we're done? Watch this, pal." * "I still think it's interesting, you know, that somebody had to put out a press release to basically say, 'Hey, we're not dead.'" * "Nobody wants to see CEDIA die. You know, that really is like our that's our organization, right? Like we came up through this thing. But man, we got to do something here."

Episode 119: - AVIXA Buys Lightapalooza: What It Means for Resi

AVIXA quietly bought Lightapalooza—now what? We break down the history, strategy, and fallout for CEDIA, dealers, and manufacturers. Co-location with InfoComm, credentialing shifts, and why residential lighting’s growth matters. * “This is primarily a commercial organization jumping onto a primarily residential organization—and therein lies the tea.” * “It feels like the only one getting squeezed here is CEDIA.” * “Two idiots who don’t know anything, talking about mergers we heard about in the news.”

Episode 118: You Can’t Be Important to Everybody

Chris and Jayson swap Boise and SoCal road stories, break down how brands become favorites (and why you can’t be important to everyone), and get real about rep–vendor–dealer hustle: realistic dealer visits, heavy follow-ups, loyalty over games, and rep firm risks. Plus airport chaos, cheese curds, smoked-cocktail slander, and unfiltered CI tales.