AVIXA Appointed Leadership for Upcoming Events
The organization named four executives to lead the launch of RESIDE and Lightapalooza at InfoComm 2027.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
Live Poll
Do you believe industry trade shows are still a valuable way to build professional connections?
AVIXA has appointed four new leaders to manage the development and execution of the RESIDE and Lightapalooza events. These shows are scheduled to debut in Orlando at InfoComm 2027.
Why it matters
These strategic appointments support the growth and introduction of specialized residential technology programming within the broader InfoComm event framework.
The new leadership team oversees an event series that grew from 225 attendees at its 2022 inception to 1,600 attendees in 2026. The appointees bring a combined total of over 70 years of industry experience.
The players
AVIXA
This trade association serves the global audiovisual industry and provides resources for professional development.
Lisa Staszewski
She serves as the new show director with 13 years of industry experience.
Keisha Wooten-Smith
She is the senior manager of live content and holds 15 years of industry experience.
Vanessa Sayen
She acts as the senior manager of audience development and marketing with 25 years of experience.
Jody Larsen
She serves as the senior account manager and has 20 years of experience with CEDIA.
The details
The new leadership team includes Lisa Staszewski as show director, Keisha Wooten-Smith as senior manager of live content, Vanessa Sayen as senior manager of audience development and marketing, and Jody Larsen as senior account manager. AVIXA acquired the Lightapalooza event, originally established by HTSA, to integrate it into the upcoming Orlando-based residential technology showcase.
Timeline
Lightapalooza was established in 2022.
Vanessa Sayen was honored as a CE Pro 40 member in 2024.
Lightapalooza attracted 1,600 attendees in 2026.
RESIDE and Lightapalooza will debut in June 2027 at InfoComm in Orlando.
Market Landscape
The transition of Lightapalooza into the InfoComm ecosystem mirrors a broader industry trend of consolidating niche residential technology summits into larger, commercial-grade professional conventions. This move positions AVIXA to capture more market share by integrating specialized home-tech experts into its established trade event network.
Industry professionals and residential technology providers should prepare for new networking and product exhibition opportunities as these events move under the InfoComm umbrella. Attendees can expect a more consolidated event experience in Orlando that integrates previous HTSA-led programming into a larger professional convention setting.
The takeaway
The appointment of experienced leadership signals a shift toward professionalizing smaller residential summits through established trade show infrastructure. Companies involved in the residential technology sector should align their event strategies with the upcoming 2027 expansion in Orlando.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and staffing changes, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Systemscontractor.
Live Poll
Do you believe industry trade shows are still a valuable way to build professional connections?
