Category Archives: Episode

Episode 104: Everybody Loves Jimmy Paschke



On this week’s podcast, Jimmy Paschke joins us from Gastonia, NC, where he is settling into his new role as VP of sales and marketing for Apex Technologies US, the distributor of high-performance European AV brands. Jimmy is a hugely popular figure in the custom integration business, joining Apex from SurgeX, where he was director of sales for many years. His expertise in the custom AV channel runs deep, having previously held director of sales positions at prominent AV companies, including Core Brands and Panamax, as well as sales management positions at D&M Holdings and Kaleidescape. Jimmy also served on the board of the Azione Unlimited buying group. Now, he is working with Apex owner Ryan Donaher (best known for his long-time role at Meridian America), where he will work directly with sales reps to drive business, while Ryan continues to focus on dealer sales and support.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 103: TDA’s Patrick Hartman on Tech Team Building and Spartan Races



On this week’s podcast, Patrick Hartman joins us from Reno, NV, where he is general manager for Technology Design Associates (TDA). TDA, which is owned by Ron Wanless, serves clients in Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. Patrick and Jeremy discuss how they worked together to help launch the CEDIA Business Xchange conference back in 2014 and have kept up over the years, talking tech and physical fitness (including Patrick’s passion for extreme trail obstacle races.) Patrick offers his industry veteran wisdom and insight into team building and solving business challenges facing the professional home technology integration industry and surprises Jeremy with how many well-known companies and individuals he has worked with over the years.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 102: The Loop’s Eric Crawford is Passionate About Process



On this week’s podcast, Eric Crawford joins us from Boise, ID, where he is owner of The Loop, a custom integration firm serving The Treasure Valley area of Idaho. Jeremy connected with Eric years ago to discuss his CEDIA class on the importance of having a great process for designing, building, installing, and servicing integrated home systems. Since then he’s always there for ResTech when they needed a quote in the magazine, but this is the first time they’ve done a deeper dive into Eric’s business and career. When Jeremy reached out to him recently, he found out that Eric was on vacation, doing a “digital detox,” completely disconnected from tech for 11 days. That’s where today’s conversation starts, but then we learn so much more about Eric’s unique path to creating The Loop and his mission to provide the best systems and service in the business.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 101: Heather Sidorowicz on Commercial AV Tech from InfoComm



On this week’s podcast, Heather Sidorowicz joins us from Hamburg, NY, where she is owner of Southtown Audio Video, Western New York’s premier audio-visual company. Heather is a Residential Tech Today contributing writer and former CEDIA board member. Today, during her third Residential Tech Talks appearance, Heather shares her favorite discoveries from last week’s InfoComm trade show, a convention that is primarily focused on the commercial AV integration market. InfoComm is a great place for integration companies, like Heather’s, that do both light commercial installations and home projects to learn about new products and technologies that, yes, will fit into commercial-market-oriented projects, but also might someday make their way into high-end homes, as well. Heather is also our resident health tech wearables reporter, so we will also catch up on her latest experiences with that tech, as well.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 100: How David Warfel Made Professional Home Lighting Design More Attainable



On this week’s podcast, David Warfel joins us from Madison, WI, where he is founder of Light Can Help You, a lighting design firm that caters to the custom integration industry. David and his company step in as trusted advisors and collaborators for many home tech professionals who first gained their expertise in audio, video, networking and lighting control, but only recently expanded into actual lighting and lighting design. Through his insightful and entertaining writing on his own Language of Light blog and appearances on tech panels, David has become one of a handful of seemingly omnipresent lighting designers looked to for guidance in the CI channel these days.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 99: Motorized Shade Tech Improvements with Hunter-Douglas’ Scott Stephenson



On this week’s podcast, Scott Stephenson joins us from Denver, CO, where he is the director of product management – motorization at Hunter Douglas. Scott and Jeremy have been collaborating a lot lately thanks to the generous opportunity afforded by him, his company, and his PR agency Caster Communications that led to six Hunter Douglas Gen 3 motorized shades being installed in Jeremy’s own home. Scott has been with Hunter Douglas now for almost five years, but his residential tech career also has included a seven-year stint as senior product manager, lighting & comfort at Control4, and before that nearly four years working for, Colorado vNet. In this episode, we retrace Scott’s path to becoming a motorized shades expert, talk about what makes Hunter Douglas Gen 3 shades better than Gen 2, and share some of things Jeremy has learned about motorized shades in the relatively short amount of time that he’s live with them in his house.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 98: The Future of IOT Tech with Avi Rosenthal



On this week’s podcast, Avi Rosenthal joins us from Ashburn, VA, where is the managing partner of Bluesalve Partners, a company launched three and half years ago to help start-ups as well as established companies manage the Internet of Things business landscape. Through their deep connections with manufacturers, dealers, retailers, and users, Bluesalve and its team of consultants help clients with the insights and resources needed to develop, market, and manufacture products and services for the IoT Industry. Avi has held leadership roles throughout the IoT industry, including Nortek, Legrand, Evolve, and Superna. He also recently returned from the Integrated Systems Europe convention in Barcelona, Spain, where he caught up with some of the most important companies in home tech.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 97: Showroom Redesign Insights from Premier’s Jason Barth



On this week’s podcast, Jason Barth joins us from Carmel, Indiana, where he is owner, CEO, and lead designer of the Premier Group, a residential and commercial integration firm that he co-founded with two college friends back in 1999. Premier has a beautiful showroom in the Indiana Design Center that was completely renovated during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Jason has experienced some firsts with new AV products over the past two years and his team pulled off an impressive showroom renovation that is worthy of discussion during the podcast.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 96: Racing Simulators with Millennium’s Bill Lehman



On this week’s podcast, Bill Lehman joins us from Indianapolis, where he is co-owner and president of the home tech integration firm Millennium Sounds. Bill and Jeremy have known each other for a few years, ever since his company was asked by Control4 to install Jeremy’s house-wide network and integrated audio video system. Millennium is involved in a cool new venture with Indy 500 racing champion Tony Kanaan and his custom-built racing simulators. Jeremy had the chance to attend a Millennium-hosted fundraiser at the company’s new Motor District Garage Condo recently where he totally embarrassed himself on the sim while Kanaan looked over his shoulder. Despite his horrible virtual driving…. the event, the event location, and the technology itself was too cool not to share on the podcast.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!


Episode 95: Tech Training Insights from Giles and Dennis



On this week’s podcast, CEDIA’s Senior Vice President of Member Success and Sales, Giles Sutton, and Powerhouse Alliance Executive Director Dennis Holzer join us from Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, PA, respectively, to discuss industry training and smart home technology trends. What these two gentlemen have in common is a passion for not only the overall success of the AV integration business, but specifically the technical training that is needed in this industry. Last year at this time, they announced a CEDIA training partnership and Powerhouse’s commitment that every PowerHouse location will have at least one CEDIA-certified instructor, offering dealers the peace-of-mind that their new hires are learning the right protocols and standards of work to be successful on the job. Today, we’ll talk about how that partnership has evolved as well as other opportunities for technical training, certification, product trends, and more.

Today’s episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. 

Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!