As CEDIA approaches the 30th anniversary of its founding (it became an association in November of 1989), we continue our chat with a variety of members on CEDIA’s history and impact.
On CEDIA’s growth and evolution
David Humphries, Atlantic Integrated (CEDIA Chairman of the Board): CEDIA has changed over the years from a small organization in the early 1990s, to the leading association in home technology. It’s evolved. As technology has
evolved, so has the organization. You know, technologies today that didn't even exist four or five years ago, CEDIA's at the forefront of that. It keeps its membership informed. It's great.
David Weinstein, Lutron Electronics (CEDIA Board Treasurer): I think the combination of an excellent staff committed to the future direction, the board that is working very synergistically with the staff, our incredible members, and this beautiful
facility that allows us to bring in members, specifiers, industry associations, has never been greater to forge ahead and really grow through this wonderful association and the vision of its members.
On the importance of CEDIA
David Graham, Grahams (Former Chairman UK): So, as a business, we wouldn't be doing the things that we do today if I hadn't got involved with CEDIA. We'd probably still be selling hi-fi and home cinema as our main business. Now that accounts
for only about a third of our business, the rest being made up of lighting, networking, access control, security systems, everything that encompasses home technology. Without CEDIA, we would never have learned about those things or had an opportunity
to develop our business in that way.
Hal Clark, Commercial Electronics (Founding Member): CEDIA represented an industry that gave a musical artist like me a living wage, inspired me to not be afraid of change, and enabled me to help others in a direct way.
Marilyn Sanford, LincEdge (CEDIA Fellow): If you do something as a hobby, that's a discretionary decision, that's something you chose to do because you love it. Now to be able to turn that into a business? Where you can actually do this and
feed your family and grow from it, is really special.
Joel Silver, Imaging Science Foundation (2018 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner): We take care of things for people. We don't want them to have to worry about what button to press where.