I had the chance to attend the HETMA Roadshow at Marshall University on May 13, and it was a great experience. Not because of one big moment, but because of all the conversations, demos, and connections over the course of the day.
From the start, people were connecting. Not just between attendees and sponsors, but also between sponsors themselves. There was a strong sponsor presence, and more importantly, they showed up ready to engage. This was not a room full of passive booths. It was constant conversation, hands-on demos, and real dialogue between higher ed folks and the people building and supporting the technology we use. These events don’t happen without our sponsors, and the effort they put into showing up and being part of the conversation is what makes the Roadshow format work.
What stands out to me about these events is how practical they are. I didn’t leave with ideas that are going to sit in a notebook or get forgotten. I left with things I can take back and actually use. That might be a different way to approach a design decision, a product I want to take a closer look at, or just hearing how another institution solved a problem I’m currently dealing with. The value is immediate, and that’s not something you get from every conference.
One thing these Roadshows do better than larger industry events is create space for real conversation. At a show like InfoComm, it can be difficult to move beyond quick interactions because of the sheer scale. Here, there is time to slow down. You can have multiple conversations with the same people, ask deeper questions, and build connections that actually carry forward after the event. Whether it is time spent with manufacturers, integrators, or other higher ed peers, the ability to engage at that level is a big part of what makes these events so valuable.
Marshall made this one feel especially relevant to me. It is not a massive institution, and it is not in a major metro area. The university is just a little bit bigger than my school, and Omaha is hours from any other major metro area. Because of that, seeing a school like that able to bring this many higher ed AV professionals, manufacturers, and integrators together on campus is encouraging. That is one of the biggest strengths of the Roadshow model. It brings the community to places that might not otherwise have this kind of access, and that benefits everyone involved.
This Roadshow was also a little different for me because I had recently done a Campus Spotlight on Marshall. Going into the event, I already had a good understanding of their spaces and their approach to technology. But being there in person is what really makes it click. Reading about systems is one thing. Actually walking into the room, seeing them in action, and hearing directly from the people who support them is something else entirely.
A good example was the T1V systems they have deployed. I had a general sense of what they were from working on the article, but seeing them in use and having them explained on-site gave me a completely different perspective. That kind of experience is hard to replicate. It is also where these Roadshows really shine, exposing you to technologies or use cases you might not otherwise encounter, all within a higher ed context.
The structure of the day supported that experience really well. There was a natural flow between showcase spaces, classroom demonstrations, and time to connect. And honestly, some of the best conversations did not happen during scheduled sessions. They happened over breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Having that built in creates space for people to sit down together and just talk. There is something valuable about sharing a table with peers and industry partners in a more relaxed setting.
That carried into the after-hours event as well, which overlapped with attendees from the Inquiring Pedagogies (iPED) Regional Teaching Conference. That crossover added another layer. It was not just AV and IT. It was faculty, teaching and learning perspectives, and a broader view of how all of this connects. Those informal conversations ended up being some of the most valuable parts of the day.
On top of everything else, Marshall is just a great place to visit. The campus is beautiful, and Huntington is a town that is worth the trip. The schedule was full and left me wishing I had a little more time to explore. That is part of what makes these events different. You are not just attending a conference. You are stepping into another institution’s environment and getting a sense of how they operate and what matters to them.
As strong as this Roadshow was, it is just one stop. HETMA has more coming up, including May 26 and 27 in Mechelen, Belgium, and another on July 9 at Creighton University. Each one builds on the last, and each one brings a slightly different perspective depending on the host institution and the people in the room.
As strong as this Roadshow was, it is just one stop. HETMA has more coming up, including May 26 and 27 in Mechelen, Belgium, and another on July 9 at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Each one builds on the last, and each one brings a slightly different perspective depending on the host institution and the people in the room.
At the end of the day, this Marshall Roadshow was a good reminder of why this format works. It is the combination of strong sponsor engagement, open conversations, real-world learning, and a host institution willing to open their doors and share what they are doing.
