HETMA and NEXXT Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Campus Innovation and Community Collaboration in the AI Landscape
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lake Forest, CA, October 6, 2025 — The Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA, hetma.org), the official advocacy organization for the higher ed vertical, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with NEXXT (nexxtnow.com), a global community of experience design and AV professionals, marking a significant step forward in HETMA’s mission to empower campus technologists and elevate innovation across higher education, and NEXXT’s vision for helping the AV industry navigate the AI landscape.
This collaboration brings together two organizations deeply committed to shaping the future of learning spaces, supporting workforce readiness, and fostering open dialogue among those driving digital transformation in higher education.
“HETMA’s strength has always been in its people, the higher ed technologists who come together to learn, share, and lift one another,” notes Erin Maher-Moran, HETMA Chair. “Partnering with NEXXT adds another dimension to that mission, giving our members access to a network dedicated to design thinking, future-focused exploration, and the reimagination of what campus technology can do for students and educators alike. Adding the educational benefit alongside the channel partner collaboration makes this a win-win for both organizations.”
Through this partnership, HETMA and NEXXT will collaborate on shared initiatives that advance the higher ed technology profession, including thought leadership development, community engagement, and research into the evolving intersection of technology and workforce demands, especially around AI and the industry.
HETMA Vice-Chair, Troy Powers, adds: “Collaboration has always been at the heart of HETMA. Working with NEXXT helps us expand that collaborative spirit beyond our own community by building bridges across industries, and creating opportunities for dialogue, experimentation, and innovation that directly benefit our campuses and the people they serve.”
The partnership underscores HETMA’s broader commitment to equipping its growing membership with the resources, partnerships, and professional pathways necessary to thrive amid a rapidly evolving technological landscape. It aligns with HETMA’s Road to 10K initiative, expanding the organization’s reach and impact across institutions and industries alike.
“In moments of transformational change, places for communities to convene, listen, and connect are critical,” said Byron Tarry, NEXXT’s Cheif Transformation Officer. “As the foundations of learning pedagogy shift ever faster in this AI age, I’m excited to explore how NEXXT can support HETMA’s outstanding community of campus technologists as they seek to navigate and lead in this moment. By recognizing and amplifying each other’s missions, we can foster more of the important discussion and ideation needed to drive campus edtech innovation, and support the workforce readiness imperative educational institutions are built to serve.”
This partnership will create opportunities for shared programming, cross-community events, and new professional development pathways designed to help higher ed technologists stay ahead of industry transformation. By combining NEXXT’s focus on experience design and future-of-work collaboration with HETMA’s advocacy and professional development initiatives, the partnership will offer members real-world spaces to test ideas, explore emerging technologies, and build sustainable models for institutional innovation. Together, they will collaborate on educational opportunities, event growth and support, and cross-community engagement.
“Change moves faster when people have a trusted place to compare notes,” Tarry continues. “As higher ed and AV-industry expectations converge, I’m excited to explore how NEXXT can support HETMA’s community of campus technologists, recognizing and amplifying each other’s missions, fostering richer discussion, and enabling the real-world experimentation that builds campus capability and workforce readiness.”
The HETMA–NEXXT partnership represents a shared vision for the future of higher education technology that is centered on collaboration, creativity, and community. Together, the organizations will work to empower campus technologists with the insights, tools, and connections needed to design the learning environments of tomorrow.
About HETMA
The Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) is a 501(C)3 advocacy organization focused on growing the influence and elevating the profile of the higher education audiovisual vertical. We accomplish our mission by connecting our community, educating our members, amplifying our collective voice, and impacting the broader AV industry. As an inclusive, supportive, and accessible organization, HETMA does not just represent a cause, we represent a community. We are by us and for us.
About NEXXT
NEXXT is a catalyst for transformation in an AI age. The pace of change isn’t just fast—it’s relentless. And for leaders, teams, and professionals across the AV, collaboration, and workplace sectors, it’s easy to feel caught between the pressure to move and the exhaustion of trying to keep up. NEXXT is where the AI-curious, committed, and courageous come together—building a community to learn, experiment, connect, and lead through relentless change.
Contact:
HETMA: https://hetma.org
NEXXT: https://nexxtnow.com
For more on the HETMA community, or explore partnership opportunities, join and visit at community.hetma.org.
