Higher Ed AV Awards Announce Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
The Higher Ed AV Awards are premiering at InfoComm 2023 on Monday, June 12, 2023, to recognize the best people, projects, and products that impacted the higher education over the past year. In its inaugural year, the HEAV contributors have unanimously voted to honor six audiovisual professionals–four from higher ed institutions and two corporate allies–who have helped shape the path of AV for the higher ed vertical throughout their careers.
Each of the recipients will be recognized in person at the 2023 Higher Ed AV Awards on June 12, 2023, at the Orlando Improv Theatre at Pointe Orlando, at InfoComm 2023. In alphabetical order by last name, the 2023 awardees are:
Willie Franklin, Otterbein University
Willie Franklin’s career began in 1983, as the Media Technician, Learning Resource Center, at then Otterbein College, and later advance to both the Senior Technology Specialist and Director or Instructional Services positions at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. He retired August 2022, after serving as the Event and Technology Coordinator, Office of Events and Conferences. He established the Otterbein University’s Classroom Technology Refresh and Innovation Program, consulted and coordinated the integration and rollout of Otterbein University Digital Signage messaging system, and lead in the transition from analog classrooms to the design and implementation of all digital classrooms. Willie was Awarded the Model Citizen Award by the President of Otterbein University.
Willie’s philosophy is to leverage emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication as the guiding principles in the design, implementation and utilization of instructional technology, event technologies, media production techniques and innovation in video conferencing systems. He is a Life Member of Educational Technology Collaborative (E.T.C.), CCUMC, frequent guest on AV Nation TV podcast, serves on the E.T.C. IDEA Committee, Martin Luther King Legacy Committee, Leadership Westerville, Westerville, OH, and member of Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Willie received both an Electronics Technician Degree and Applied Science of Electronics Degree from Derry University, Sound System design from Synergetic Audio Concepts, and Bachelors in Business and Organizational Communication from Otterbein University. Willie now serves as the sole proprietor of Franklin DJ and Event Services, based in Westerville, Ohio.
Julie Johnston, Indiana University
Julie is currently the Executive Education Vertical Director for Avaya SLED. Julie has spent the majority of career in higher education. She started her career teaching educational technology courses and moved to leadership positions early in her career. Julie has over 25+ years working in Instructional Technology Leadership positions in higher education and K-12. Her recent position managed four entities of Indiana University’s Learning Technologies: Classroom Technology Services, Learning Space Design, Collaboration Technologies, and Student Technology Computing. Along with managing these services, she was ultimately responsible for the technology design of Learning Spaces for the campus, specifically active learning classrooms, informal learning spaces, and student technology center spaces. She was instrumental in the launch of Indiana University’s active learning initiative, Mosaic (mosaic.iu.edu) She also designed a new type of innovative learning space at IU called the Idea Garden (http://ideagarden.iupui.edu) where students could go to explore emerging technology as well as collaborate with high end technology collaboration software and tools. Her most recent project, The Digital Gardener, was a faculty support initiative designed to improve digital literacy, creativity and student learning. Julie was actively involved with Educause as a team member on the Learning Space Rating System (LSRS) project provides a set of measurable criteria to assess how well the design of classrooms support and enable active learning. Julie also co-led the Educause Learning Space Working group – a group of learning space experts/colleagues interested in learning space design.
Darryl Krall, Panasonic Connect
Darryl Krall With 25+ years as an A/V, IT and UC professional his focus has always been in Higher Education. He is a National Sales Manager for Panasonic Connect – Professional Imaging & Visual Systems Division. Darryl also leads Panasonic’s Higher Education initiative with the Panasonic Higher Education Advisory Council. Darryl was an adjunct faculty member for many years teaching Business classes. He is passionate about the value of lifelong learning and the importance of education.
He has participated in ETC since 2010 and is currently on the ETC Board of Directors since July 2021 started his 2ndterm on the board in July 2023. Darryl has also been the Corporate Membership Committee Chair since August of 2020 supporting active engagement with all ETC members. He serves on the Program Committee developing, planning, and execution of the ETC in person conference in October 2020 at the University of Central Florida and currently on the program committee planning for the 2023 ETC conference at the University of Southern California.
Darryl has a Masters of Science in Communications from Northwestern University & a Bachelors of Arts in Technology & Marketing from De Paul University.
Don Merritt, PhD, University of Central Florida
Dr. Don Merritt is the Director of the Office of Instructional Resources (OIR) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and is also President of the Educational Technology Collaborative (ETC). Don started in radio / tv in 1990 and worked in broadcast news and video production through 2003. His other work includes Emmy-nominated productions, internationally screened documentary work, and experimental theatre projects that used telepresence to combine actors and audiences across North America in real time.
UCF is one of the largest public universities in the US with nearly 70,000 students in Orlando, Florida. OIR is the in-house AV integrator for UCF, and the office is responsible for over 900 AV installations in classrooms and conference rooms at campuses across Central Florida. OIR currently has nearly $20 million in projects underway including full renovations, upgrades, and new construction touching nearly 400 spaces at the university.
The mission of the Educational Technology Collaborative is to provide leadership and a forum for information exchange to the providers of media content, academic technology, and support for quality teaching and learning at institutions of higher education. ETC (formerly the Consortium of College and University Media Centers, CCUMC) has been a leader in higher ed AV for 50 years and has found new vigor with the elevation of AV services since the pandemic.
Justin Rexing, Western Kentucky University
Justin Rexing is an accomplished audio video professional with 20 years of experience in the industry. Justin Rexing currently works as an Audiovisual Design Engineer for Western Kentucky University, owner of Rexing Consulting Group, LLC and co-founder of the AV SuperFriends, LLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and holds a Master of Science, both obtained from Western Kentucky University.
Justin has served on multiple task forces and committees for AVIXA, including PETC and the AVIXA Foundation Board which he helped to lay foundational work to grow the industry. As a Senior Faculty member of AVIXA, he has helped teach multiple 3-day courses such as Managing AV Staff and Spaces, CTS Prep and Net Tech. He has also assisted in revising and developing curriculum for the 3-day courses taught at InfoComm each year.
Justin has also written multiple articles in the industry including the November 2017 cover story for AV Technology Magazine titled “Get Darwinian”. Taking time to help aspiring AV professionals in the industry is something he is passionate about.
Gina Sansivero, Atlas IED
Gina Sansivero is currently the VP of Marketing and Corporate Communications at AtlasIED. She has over 15 years’ experience working within the audiovisual, security, and communication technologies industry in marketing and business/ market development roles. As a marketing professional, Gina has helped commercial technology manufacturers develop and strengthen their brand profile, reputation, and reach, as well as strategically align sales and marketing efforts to increase revenue generation and exceed corporate goals. As an active industry cheerleader, Gina believes in giving back to an industry that has helped her mature professionally and volunteers for a number of industry associations and boards including Higher Education institutions, WAVIT, ETC, NSCA, and AVIXA among others.
Join us in congratulating our 2023 Higher Ed AV Hall of Fame recipients!
Purchase tickets and nominate your favorite people, projects, and products at the Higher Ed AV Awards page: https://www.higheredav.com/higher-ed-av-awards.