In a world where experience is king, it’s the AV industry that makes it go round. From The Sphere to your favorite concert, it’s the audiovisual pros that make it happen. But there’s a problem: the industry is facing a talent crisis, and it’s looking pretty homogeneous.
The AV Industry’s Diversity Problem
Let’s break it down with some cold, hard stats: according to Zippia, a whopping 91% of AV technicians are men, with an average age of 43. Only 16% are in their 20s, and fewer than 39% are non-white. It’s like stepping into a time machine set to “tech bro past.”
Enter NextLVL Learning, Inc., a non-profit that’s determined to flip the script on AV careers. Born from the minds of Pace University’s George Chacko, this organization is on a mission to show the next generation that AV is more than just “roadie for rockstars” – it’s a legit career path with serious potential.
From Campus Event to Industry Disruptor
It all started with the AV Talent Summit at Pace University last year. Picture this: 200 industry pros and high school students crammed into a room, suddenly realizing that AV isn’t just about plugging in speakers. The event was so popular, that they had to bring in extra chairs – a clear sign that they were onto something big.
Fast forward to October 2024, and NextLVL Learning is officially a non-profit, ready to shake things up. Their secret weapon? Experiential learning. “We believe in learning by doing,” says Chacko. Forget boring lectures and homework – these guys are all about hands-on experience, culminating in an “AV Olympics” that puts skills to the test.
InfoComm Takeover and Mentor Matchmaking
NextLVL Learning isn’t messing around. They’re planning to send at least five students to InfoComm 2025, the AV industry’s biggest shindig. But this isn’t your average field trip – each student will be paired with a mentor on the show floor, getting an insider’s view of the industry that you can’t find in any textbook.
The organization is cooking up a mentor/mentee program that’ll pair college students with industry pros. And because this is 2024, there’s talk of a badging system that’ll let students flex their new skills on LinkedIn. It’s like gamifying your career path, and we’re here for it.
Summits, Road Trips, and Industry Domination
The NextLVL team is gearing up for its second annual AV Talent Summit, and this time, they’re taking over the entire Pace University campus center. AVIXA, the AV industry’s association, is even jumping on board to add a second day of pro-development sessions.
But why stop there? NextLVL Learning is planning to take their show on the road in 2025, hitting up Florida and the West Coast to create a “triangle of support” across the U.S. It’s like the Chicago Bulls’ triangle offense, but for nurturing AV talent.
The Bottom Line
NextLVL Learning is out to prove that AV is more than just “Taylor Swift concerts,” as Chacko puts it. With a rockstar board of directors and industry support pouring in, they’re poised to rewire the AV industry from the ground up.
Want to join the AV revolution? Head over to TheNextLVL.org and get ready to level up your tech game. The future of AV is looking brighter – and a whole lot more diverse.
Tim Albright is the founder of AVNation and is the driving force behind the AVNation network. He carries the InfoComm CTS, a B.S. from Greenville College and is pursuing an M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. When not steering the AVNation ship, Tim has spent his career designing systems for churches both large and small, Fortune 500 companies, and education facilities.
