Ep. 26 - $100M+, Multiple Times: Sam Malik on Building Teams, Scaling Companies & Winning in A/V

Ep. 27 – Stacking Days: Sal Amato on Discipline, Relationships & Success

What creates long-term success, talent, motivation, or discipline? In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with industry veteran Sal Amato, whose career spans Toshiba, Samsung, Sanyo, Panasonic, Barco, Kramer, and now Optoma, for a conversation on relationships, leadership, and the power of stacking days. Sal shares the story behind his 2,000+ day streak of walking at least five miles every day, his personal 30 calls/day rule, and how small actions repeated consistently can transform your health, career, and life.  Walking 5+ miles for 2,000 consecutive days  The 30 calls/day relationship-building rule  Discipline vs. motivation  Leadership and team-building lessons  Career growth and mentorship  InfoComm and A/V industry trends  Advice for young professionals Success isn’t built in a day. It’s built by stacking days. Connect with Leo and Sal: Sal Amato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sal-amato-6780384/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sal-amato-6780384/] Leo Golubitsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Are You on the Hunt? Visit: https://birddogtalent.com/ [https://birddogtalent.com/]   #AVTweeps #AVJobs #ProAV #AVIndustry #InfoComm #AlwaysOnTheHunt

Ep. 26 - $100M+, Multiple Times: Sam Malik on Building Teams, Scaling Companies & Winning in A/V

How do you build not just one successful business but multiple $100M+ businesses in the A/V industry? In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with industry veteran, SCN Hall of Fame member, Commercial Integrator A/V Living Legend, and AVIP founder Sam Malik for a conversation on leadership, growth, scaling teams, and building businesses that last. Drawing from leadership roles at Toshiba, Sanyo, Vivitek, Optoma, Maxhub, and more, Sam shares lessons on profitability, hiring, culture, and what it really takes to scale organizations.  Building multiple $100M+ businesses  Leadership and team-building strategies  Hiring and building high-performing teams  Revenue vs. profitability  Working across global cultures and organizations  Why onboarding impacts retention  AI, InfoComm, and A/V industry trends  AVIP, networking, and personal branding  Advice for young professionals entering A/V Whether you're a sales leader, manufacturer, integrator, recruiter, or early in your career, there are lessons here for anyone looking to grow. Connect with Leo and Sam: Sam Malik: LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammalik/] Leo Golubitsky: LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Are You on the Hunt? Visit Birddog Talent [https://birddogtalent.com/]   #AVTweeps #AVJobs #ProAV #AVIndustry #InfoComm #AlwaysOnTheHunt

Ep. 25- Finding Success by Being Yourself: Jessica Sanders

In Episode 25 of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with Jessica to talk about career growth, authenticity, and what it really takes to succeed in the AV industry while being fully yourself. Jessica’s journey has taken her from church sound tech and touring musician to integrator, rep firm, distributor, and now overseeing global distribution for a major LED manufacturer. Along the way, she became one of the industry’s strongest voices in DirectView LED, helping manufacturers and distributors rethink how LED could successfully scale through the channel. But this episode goes deeper than business strategy. Jessica opens up about her transition, the fear of how the industry would react, and how carrying the weight of hiding part of herself affected both her confidence and career. She shares how learning to live authentically ultimately made her stronger, more confident, and more effective professionally. Leo and Jessica also discuss: * Why top performers make noise instead of blending in * The importance of mentorship and feedback * Building cultures where people actually thrive * Adapting, evolving, and owning your career path * Why “doing the basics” still separates the best from everyone else This episode is about growth, resilience, authenticity, and finding success by finally being yourself. Connect with Leo and Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-sanders-255b6847/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-sanders-255b6847/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/]   Are You on the Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com [http://birddogtalent.com/]

Ep. 24 - Mark Knox: Betting on Yourself!

What does it really take to bet on yourself? In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with Mark Knox to unpack a career built on taking risks, making bold moves, and refusing to blend into the background. Mark didn’t follow a traditional path into A/V. He started pulling wire, worked his way through project management, and broke into some of the biggest names in the industry including Sony and Sharp/NEC. Along the way, he built a reputation for one thing: showing up, speaking up, and making his presence felt in every room he walked into. But the biggest move came when he walked away from a successful corporate career to start Pixel Audio Video. Mark shares the real story behind that decision, turning a side hustle into a full-time business, the pressure of leaving behind a steady income, and the mindset required to move forward without a safety net. From landing early clients to scaling the business, he breaks down what it actually looks like to take that leap of faith. The conversation also covers: * Why the most successful people focus on solving problems, not titles * The difference between working in a business and running one * How to create real impact, whether you’re in a global company or a small team * The importance of being intentional, building relationships, and making others better Mark also shares how he’s now focused on building something bigger than himself, creating opportunities for the next generation and helping bring new talent into the A/V industry. This episode is about ownership, growth, and the willingness to take a risk when most people stay comfortable.   Connect with Mark and Leo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-w-knox/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-w-knox/]   Are you on the Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com [https://birddogtalent.com/]

Ep. 23 - Hiring in 2026 Might Be Even Tougher: Best Practices for the A/V Industry

Always on the Hunt is back for 2026, and Leo and Bayley kick things off with a clear message for A/V leaders: hiring isn’t getting easier, and in many cases, it’s about to get harder. After reflecting on a slow and uncertain 2025, marked by delayed hiring mainly due to tariff concerns, they explain why 2026 could be even tougher. With demand increasing and surveys showing most workers are choosing stability over change, candidate movement is slowing, especially among the passive talent companies actually want to hire. Drawing from Leo’s recent presentation at Total Tech Summit and real-world recruiting experience, Leo and Bayley review best practices for hiring in the A/V industry, highlighting why reactive hiring creates pain, how proactive planning changes outcomes, and what separates companies that consistently attract great people from those that struggle. This episode is both a reality check and a playbook. The takeaway is simple: if you plan to hire in 2026, you need a strategy, you need to start early, and you need to be proactive. The war on talent is real, and the companies that win are the ones prepared for it.   Connect with Leo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Connect with Bayley on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayley-arens/]   Are You on the Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com [https://birddogtalent.com/]