Episodios

  • 112: If You're Reading This, It's Already Too Late with Frank Alaimo

    112: If You're Reading This, It's Already Too Late with Frank Alaimo
    Jun 25 2025
    In this episode of the AV/IT Amplifier, we’re back with the one and only Frank Alaimo, Manager of Classroom Technology Services at UNLV, for part two of our conversation. If you thought the first episode was candid, insightful, and full of AV realness, buckle up. We go deeper into career resilience, camping disasters, philosophical takes on human nature, and what it really means to be a no-nonsense decision-maker in higher ed tech.

    Frank opens up about rejection, redemption, and why knowing your worth makes you a better collaborator. We talk vendor etiquette, leadership clarity, trust, AI fatigue, ladder mishaps, and how higher ed AV has grown into a true force in the industry. This episode is as funny as it is fierce—and it ends with one of the best mic-drop sign-offs of all time. If you’ve ever had to re-interview for the job you didn’t get, or call your boss from a rooftop after a slip, this one’s for you.

    Topics Discussed
    • How not getting the first UNLV job opened a better door
    • Why applying for jobs keeps you sharp—even if you’re not leaving
    • The evolution of higher ed hiring practices
    • What Frank would be doing if not in AV (spoiler: not firefighting)
    • Why camping sucks until it doesn’t
    • A near-death ladder story that rewired his brain
    • Jealousy vs. evil—and which one is harder to detect
    • How Frank handles vendor relationships with clarity and conviction
    • Why higher ed should stop calling itself “end user”
    • The origin of “If you’re reading this, it’s already too late”

    Connect with Frank:
    https://www.unlv.edu
    frank.alaimo@unlv.edu
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankalaimo/

    Connect with Ryan:
    https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
    ryan@higheredav.com

    Follow the Show:
    https://twitter.com/AVITAmplifier
    https://higheredav.com/ryangray

    Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
    https://twitter.com/cdechter
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/

    Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts, feedback is very welcome and we look forward to hearing from you!
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    32 m
  • 111: What Would Frank Do? with Frank Alaimo

    111: What Would Frank Do? with Frank Alaimo
    Jun 18 2025
    Ryan Gray interviews Frank Alaimo, Manager of Classroom Technology Services at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Frank shares his journey from crashing on a friend’s couch to leading one of the most respected AV teams in higher education. They discuss what it takes to build a culture of trust, how to lead without losing your hands-on instincts, and the balance between autonomy, accountability, and just getting things done.

    The conversation covers leadership transitions, designing teams like projects, and how UNLV’s Rebel Flex program was developed, scaled, and even simplified—sometimes without telling anyone. Frank brings his trademark honesty and humor, talking openly about burnout, control, collaboration, and what it means to build something you don’t want to walk away from.

    • Falling into higher ed AV and staying for over 20 years
    • Working at a small Catholic college and pivoting to casinos
    • Moving to UNLV and building a full-service internal AV team
    • Transitioning from technician to manager during COVID
    • Designing teams the same way he designs systems
    • Creating new roles to retain high-performing student workers
    • Launching and scaling Rebel Flex classrooms
    • Simplifying tech for faculty without telling them
    • Balancing strong opinions with true collaboration
    • Thinking about legacy, succession, and what might be next

    Connect with Frank:
    https://www.unlv.edu
    frank.alaimo@unlv.edu
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankalaimo/

    Connect with Ryan:
    https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
    ryan@higheredav.com

    Follow the Show:
    https://twitter.com/AVITAmplifier
    https://higheredav.com/ryangray

    Voiceovers by Chris Dechter: https://twitter.com/cdechter
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/

    Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts, feedback is very welcome and we look forward to hearing from you!
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    32 m
  • 110: The Gray Matter Moment - State of Tradeshows

    110: The Gray Matter Moment - State of Tradeshows
    Jun 11 2025
    Live from the InfoComm Show Floor, right before opening Ryan gives us an update of where the state of industry tradeshows is and where its going! Whether your at the show this week or at home get a feel for whats happening and whats to come.
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    20 m
  • 105: You're Gonna Do Great with Charity Anne Caldwell

    105: You're Gonna Do Great with Charity Anne Caldwell
    Jun 4 2025
    We’re back for a brand-new second conversation with Charity Anne Caldwell — and this time we’re keeping it fun, insightful, and future-focused! Charity and Ryan swap stories about running for school board, building more inclusive spaces in tech, and why conferences like InfoComm are about so much more than just the gear. Charity also shares her sci-fi favorites, what makes great leadership in higher ed, and why asking “Why are we doing this?” is always a good place to start.
    If you’re packing for InfoComm, tuning in on the road, or just thinking about growing your career — this one’s for you! And remember… you’re going to do great.


    • The real experience of running for school board
    • Why representation in leadership matters — in schools and in tech
    • First impressions of InfoComm and the AV industry’s diversity challenges
    • The higher ed advantage in leadership representation
    • Why building community at local events is key
    • How sci-fi helps us process the world around us (and why Octavia Butler feels prophetic)
    • Dune, Hitchhiker’s Guide, and the irresistible pull of a good fictional universe
    • The “why” question higher ed teams should ask more often
    • The importance of building space for others to lead
    • Charity’s advice for anyone facing self-doubt: “You’re going to do great.”


    Connect with Charity:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charityannecaldwell/

    Connect with Ryan:
    https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
    ryan@higheredav.com

    Follow the Show:
    http://higheredav.com/ryangray

    Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
    https://twitter.com/cdechter
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/

    Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts!
    Feedback is very welcome — we look forward to hearing from you!
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    34 m
  • 104: We Only Exist If We All Exist with Charity Anne Caldwell

    104: We Only Exist If We All Exist with Charity Anne Caldwell
    May 28 2025
    Ryan Gray is joined by Charity Anne Caldwell, Classroom Technology Supervisor for the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In this lively conversation, they explore the unique culture of working in a medical school environment, the tension between tradition and innovation in higher ed, and how personal idealism can shape leadership.

    Charity shares insights about navigating institutional politics, the evolving role of IT in education, and how staying mission-driven sustains long-term fulfillment. From boundaries and burnout to community-driven strategies for survival, this episode captures the spirit of building meaningful careers — on purpose, not by accident.


    • Life inside a College of Medicine AV department
    • Differences between Gen Ed and Med Ed tech support
    • Growing influence in higher education institutions
    • Centralization vs. local autonomy in IT
    • Staying idealistic in long-term roles
    • Balancing management and leadership
    • Why cross-institutional collaboration is no longer optional

    Connect with Charity:
    • LinkedIn
    • Email: charityc@uic.edu

    Connect with Ryan:
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Email: ryan@higheredav.com

    Follow the Show:
    • Website

    Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts — we love your feedback!
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    33 m
  • 107: Then You Get The Magic Frog with Jon Hamilton

    107: Then You Get The Magic Frog with Jon Hamilton
    May 21 2025
    Welcome back to The AV/IT Amplifier! In Episode 107, host Ryan Gray sits down again with the one and only Jon Hamilton, Senior AV Manager at Emory University’s School of Medicine. Jon is a well-known voice in the higher ed AV world, and this episode gets personal — touching on everything from alternative career paths and deep-sea fishing to building trust, forging partnerships, and staying true to your word.
    💡 In this episode:
    • Jon imagines his own absurdist podcast idea
    • Discusses why military structure might’ve suited him
    • Explains how being an extrovert helped his AV career
    • Shares how he negotiates directly with manufacturers to benefit Emory
    • Gets real about trust, loyalty, and reputation in the industry
    • Ends with a legendary shirtless photo story and an even better sign-off

    Whether you’re in AV, higher ed, or just trying to be a decent human, there’s something in here for you.

    📬 Connect with Jon Hamilton:
    📧 john.hamilton@emory.edu
    🔗 Jon on LinkedIn

    📢 Connect with Ryan:
    🐦 @Ryan_A_Gray
    🔗 Ryan on LinkedIn
    📧 ryan@higheredav.com

    🎧 Follow the Show:
    🌐 higheredav.com/ryangray

    🎙️ Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
    🐦 @cdechter
    🔗 Chris on LinkedIn

    Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow and improve — and we’d love to hear from you!
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    31 m
  • 106: Basket of Ducks and Bunnies with Jon Hamilton

    106: Basket of Ducks and Bunnies with Jon Hamilton
    May 14 2025
    What happens when a former dinosaur-hunting integrator turns higher ed AV hero? In this episode, Ryan reconnects with Jon Hamilton — a man whose AV origin story begins in the ’80s and who now serves as a trusted fixture in the higher ed AV landscape.

    From aggressive integrator days to nurturing secret-service-style classroom support, Jon shares hard-won insights, hilarious metaphors, and a grounded philosophy on service, leadership, and staying calm when tech — or people — break down.

    • Jon’s AV career evolution from thermal fax machines to Emory Med
    • The “giver” mindset and being proud of being the solid guy
    • Why working in AV is fundamentally a service industry
    • The Secret Service metaphor: take the bullet, get no credit
    • Keeping the ducks and bunnies alive (you’ll just have to listen)
    • On callings, middle school teachers, and the discomfort of real compassion
    • Advice for newcomers: don’t panic — and know enough to call BS
    • Why calm wins: from Kennedy to control rooms
    • Subject matter expertise vs. impostor syndrome


    Connect with Jon:
    📧 jon.hamilton@emory.edu
    🔗 Jon Hamilton on LinkedIn

    Connect with Ryan:
    https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
    📧 ryan@higheredav.com

    Follow the Show:
    🎧 http://higheredav.com/ryangray


    Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
    https://twitter.com/cdechter
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/

    Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. Feedback is always welcome — and we look forward to hearing from you!
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    31 m
  • 103: Be Curious, Not Judgmental with Chris Kelly

    103: Be Curious, Not Judgmental with Chris Kelly
    May 7 2025
    Chris Kelly returns for Part 2! Ryan and Chris pick up where they left off, diving into everything from AV tech spaces that feel like “home” to the personal and professional journeys that shape us. Chris shares insight into his transition from mental health counseling to IT, how he approaches major life decisions, and why taking a pay cut for the right opportunity can be life-changing.

    The conversation also explores the realities of introversion in people-heavy fields, the art of self-care at conferences like InfoComm, and the often unseen resilience behind career pivots. Plus, Chris reveals his unique bucket list goal — summiting the highest natural point in every U.S. state — and the spreadsheet precision that fuels his adventures.

    🔹 Career transitions, risk vs. safety nets
    🔹 Mental health work vs. IT life
    🔹 Managing energy as an introvert
    🔹 Climbing high points across America
    🔹 Myers-Briggs deep dive: INTJ confirmed!
    🔹 Stay curious, not judgmental.

    Stick around for another round of the “last three questions” and a mic-drop final sign-off.


    Connect with Chris:
    📧 chriskelly@creighton.edu
    📬 advisory@hetma.org
    💬 Message Chris on the HETMA Community!

    Connect with Ryan:
    🐦 Twitter
    🔗 LinkedIn
    📧 ryan@higheredav.com


    Follow the Show:
    🌐 HigherEdAV — Ryan Gray


    Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
    🐦 Twitter
    🔗 LinkedIn

    ⭐ Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts — feedback is very welcome and we look forward to hearing from you!
    Más Menos
    35 m