Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023 - 17

sponsored by
Chrissy Sara, CTS-I, 34
Senior Sales Support Engineer,
Sony Electronics
Sara's journey started in 2009 with broadcast
TV's ESPN, ABC and CBS networks, gaining
experience in various roles. Then, Sara moved
to Nashville to pursue front-end LED control
and product specialization. While working at
major league sports and higher-ed stadiums,
her passion for technical training was born.
She later pursued her passions by running the
training academy at Analog Way in Georgia as a
technology instructor. From there, she moved
to AVIXA as the fi rst female CTS staff instructor,
earning AVIXA's Educator of the Year. Sara also
ran the Women of AVIXA's CTS study group
for two years. Currently, she is a senior sales
support engineer for Sony Electronics.
Ben Thomas, 32
Head of Pro AV and Integrated
Technology Partnerships,
MarketScale
Thomas' aim in the industry is to amplify
the voices of the traditional and tangential
communities in pro AV. Through his
active relationships with AV organizations,
companies and professionals, he helps bring
new industry ideas and issues to the forefront.
His ongoing mission at MarketScale is to both
educate and engage B2B communities, while
persistently challenging and breaking down
the walls of tribal knowledge and exclusion.
TD SYNNEX on Helping
Young Professionals
to Find Their Passion
When it comes to seeding the next
generation of AV and IT professionals,
it's important for companies to
be intentional in their approach to
investing in their expertise. There is an
incredible opportunity in this industry
for fresh perspectives and diversity of
thought when organizations connect
with the younger generation.
Our advice to organizations looking
to bolster their youth talent pipeline
is to look at your workforce and
determine your goals. Look to the
community for ways to get involved
- through partnerships with schools,
through job fairs and through other
synergistic opportunities. Put yourself
in a young person's shoes and refl ect
on what attracted you to the industry,
as well as what kept you engaged. What
could have been better?
Along with internships, one way that
TD SYNNEX helps young professionals
fi nd their passion is through our
Discovery Representative Program,
which allows recent graduates to rotate
through departments to fi nd their best
fi t. This program helps participants
experience all facets of our business
and launch their career, but it also helps
our company discover new effi ciencies
and ideas. It's a win-win.
Once you've attracted great talent,
Erica Carroll, 36
Director, Product Marketing and
Training, Mersive Technologies
Carroll has built her career creating
award-winning training at multiple
AV manufacturers. Currently, she is
the director of product marketing and
training at Mersive Technologies, serves
as chair of AVIXA's Content and Learning
Committee, co-hosts the Women in AV
podcast and co-founded the Rosie Riveter
Explores Pro AV fundraiser.
it's just as important to retain that
talent. At TD SYNNEX, we often fi nd
that, when you pour into employees'
professional development, putting
them on a path to success, they
become the fi rst to give back to the
new up-and-comers, perpetuating
the cycle. It's also important to allow
employees to shape the culture
they want. TD SYNNEX has Business
Resource Groups that allow coworkers
to align on shared passions and engage
on matters important to them. This kind
of opportunity creates a culture where
people want to stay.
Sept/Oct 2023 | Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration
17
Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023
