Spotlight on…

Troy Powers, CTS
AV Systems Support Lead
Northwestern University

Vice-Chair
HETMA – Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance

Connect with Troy Powers:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-powers-b5761393/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Centxrz

Troy Powers is a dedicated AV and IT professional known for his collaborative leadership and commitment to elevating higher education technology. As the Manager of AV Support at Northwestern University’s Central IT, Troy leads a team responsible for ensuring seamless technology experiences across centrally managed spaces and SLA-supported environments. His work focuses on optimizing AV operations to support faculty, staff, and students effectively.

Before joining Northwestern, Troy’s journey began with hands-on roles in construction, including roofing and framing, as well as holding an Electrician’s License in Virginia. An injury on the job redirected his path, leading him to discover his passion for AV technology as a student tech during college. This experience ignited a career that would eventually bring him to leadership roles in higher education and beyond.

Troy’s leadership extends beyond his role at Northwestern. As Vice Chair of HETMA (Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance), he plays an influential role in advocating for the role of AV in higher education. He has also led large-scale projects, including a post-pandemic initiative that outfitted over 200 classrooms with hybrid learning systems, ensuring flexible and accessible learning environments for students and faculty.

In his daily role, Troy balances managing a dynamic AV support team with strategic initiatives, such as the remodeling of Northwestern’s old Business School into a cutting-edge educational facility. His proactive leadership has significantly improved the reliability and perception of classroom support services since he joined the university in 2022.

Outside of work, Troy is an avid craftsman, with hobbies ranging from woodworking to leatherworking. He also enjoys exploring Chicago, attending baseball games—especially when the Washington Nationals are in town—and hiking with his dog, Riley. His passion for community building extends to his personal life, where he finds joy in discovering new places, connecting with people, and engaging in meaningful projects.

A strong believer in collaboration, Troy is deeply involved in industry organizations such as HETMA and AVIXA, helping to push the AV industry forward through shared knowledge, innovation, and advocacy. His leadership philosophy is grounded in persistence and kindness, inspired by two mottos he lives by: “Be excellent to each other” and “Goonies never say die.”

Looking ahead, Troy envisions completing his Master’s in Higher Education Administration at Northwestern, further strengthening his ability to advocate for technology’s role in education. His long-term goal is to continue growing his department and, eventually, take on a director-level role where he can make an even greater strategic impact on higher education technology.

1. Thank you for joining us for this month’s edition of the “Tech Manager Spotlight.” Start by telling us a little about what you do and a little about your background. 

I work for Northwestern University’s Central IT, where I manage the AV support team. My role involves overseeing AV operations across centrally managed and SLA spaces, ensuring smooth technology experiences for faculty, staff, and students.

I recently moved to Chicago for this position after spending most of my life in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. It’s been an exciting transition, and I’m enjoying getting to know the city.

Outside of work, my daughter, Brooke, is also in the AV world—kind of. She’s a Nursing student and works as a student AV tech at her college. If you’re attending InfoComm, you might even run into her—she’s officially HETMA’s Director of Badge Scanning Operations (a very serious and prestigious title, of course!).

2. Have you always worked in AV? What did the path look like for you to get to where you are now? 

I haven’t always worked in AV, but I’ve always worked with my hands. Before AV, I spent time roofing, framing houses, and building decks and sunrooms. I also held an Electrician’s License in Virginia, which I used for about a decade before an injury on the job changed my path.

That injury led me to attend college, where I started working as a student AV tech. That experience sparked my interest in AV, setting me on the path that ultimately brought me here to Northwestern University. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to grow within the industry, and now I also serve as the Vice Chair of HETMA, helping advocate for AV in higher education.

3. What is your morning routine?

My morning starts with taking care of Riley, my dog. I wake up, feed him, clean myself up while he eats, and then take him out for a walk.

Since I live right near campus, I usually get an early start from home, checking emails and assigning out tickets to my team for the morning. I also review our general IT help queue to catch any stray tickets that should be on our radar. By the time I step into the office, I already have a solid handle on the day’s priorities.

4. What does an average weekday look like for you?

My day starts with taking care of my best buddy, Riley. My newest team members arrive on campus around 6:30 AM, and they often call for help with issues, so I start checking emails and assigning tickets early. From there, I plan my day—if it’s packed with meetings, I might work from home; otherwise, I head to campus.

I like to check in on both of our support offices, making sure everything is running smoothly. If the weather is nice, I’ll take the chance to grab lunch by the lake. Since I start early, I typically head home around 3:30 PM and take Riley for a long walk, weather permitting.

In the evenings, I might work on a furniture project (though I have fewer since moving to an apartment in Chicago), play video games, or watch TV. I usually check back in with work once most classes are done for the day and keep my radio on at home in case the team or our student workers need anything. Most of my HETMA work happens in the evenings as well.

5. What does your busiest day look like? What are the challenges your role faces, and how do you overcome those? 

My busiest days are often filled with back-to-back meetings, managing a mix of tasks and ongoing projects. It’s a balancing act between coordinating with my team, handling issues as they arise, and strategizing for long-term improvements.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered in my role at Northwestern is overcoming some lingering perceptions about the Classroom Support office. Previous leadership faced a number of challenges, and as a result, there were periods of downtime and unreliability with classroom equipment. Despite these past struggles, we’ve worked hard to achieve nearly 100% uptime since I joined in 2022.

To address this, we focus on building relationships with faculty and staff, providing consistent support, and ensuring they see the progress we’ve made. Through proactive communication and a commitment to reliability, we are slowly changing perceptions and fostering trust with the community we serve.

6. What do you enjoy doing on weekends? How do you spend your time outside of work? 

I enjoy spending my weekends building things out of wood, and more recently, I’ve taken up leatherworking as well. I also love spending time with my dog, hiking, and visiting national parks and monuments whenever I can. Lately, I’ve been having a lot of fun exploring Chicago – there’s always something new to discover, whether it’s trying out a new restaurant, catching a show or concert, or watching a baseball game. I especially enjoy it when the Nationals are in town!

7. Tell us about a project you are currently working on now?

We have a capital project underway involving the remodeling of the old Business School building, which is shaping up to be an exciting transformation. While I can’t share too many details at this stage, it’s a major initiative that will have a significant impact on our campus technology and learning spaces.

Beyond that, I’m always working on enhancing AV support and infrastructure across our classrooms, ensuring we’re providing the best experience for faculty and students. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes, and I’m looking forward to seeing how these projects evolve!

8. Comparing your career path over time, what are some of the moments, accomplishments, or projects that you’re most proud of?  

I think one of my prouder moments was what we accomplished following COVID. My former university was back partially in person that summer and fully in person by Fall 2020. We outfitted 200+ classrooms with hybrid systems, ranging from simple solutions to fully integrated setups, ensuring that students and faculty could engage effectively regardless of their location. The scale and urgency of that project made it one of the most impactful things I’ve been a part of.

Beyond that, being elected Conference Chair for the first time—after serving in the role by appointment for over a year—was incredibly validating. It showed that my peers valued my leadership and vision. Similarly, being elected to the HETMA Executive Board was a huge honor, and now, to be entrusted with one of the highest leadership roles in the organization is something I don’t take lightly. It’s a responsibility I’m proud to carry forward.

9. You’ve been involved with many higher ed and AV-industry orgs. Talk about why you get involved in the way you do and how that is impacting our vertical? 

I get involved because I believe in the power of community and that relationships are at the heart of everything we do in AV. The higher ed AV vertical is unique in that we aren’t competitors—we’re collaborators. When we share knowledge, experiences, and best practices, we elevate the industry as a whole.

Through my work with HETMA, AVIXA, and other organizations, I’ve seen firsthand how much impact we can have when we work together. Whether it’s advocating for higher ed professionals, shaping industry standards, or fostering relationships between end users and manufacturers, these efforts push our industry forward.

Getting involved also allows me to bring fresh ideas back to my own institution and implement best practices learned from others. It’s about making sure that as technology evolves, we’re not just keeping up—we’re leading the way.

10. Where do you see your career trajectory going in the next five years? Where do you envision yourself?

I’m happy where I am and excited about the opportunity to continue building this team and department into what it can and should be. There’s a lot of potential here, and I want to help shape a support structure that not only meets but exceeds the needs of faculty, staff, and students.

In the next five years, I also plan to complete my master’s in Higher Education Administration here at Northwestern. I believe having a deeper understanding of the higher ed landscape will only strengthen my ability to advocate for the role AV plays in education.

If I were to leave Northwestern, it would only be for a director-level position where I could have a greater impact on strategy and leadership. But for now, I’m focused on growing this team, refining our operations, and continuing to contribute to the AV community through HETMA and other industry collaborations.

11. What is your life motto and how do you apply it to your daily routine? 

I’ve always joked that I live my life by two quotes from movies I grew up with: “Be excellent to each other” and “Goonies never say die.” To me, these boil down to two simple but powerful principles—be good to people and never give up.

I also find inspiration in Henry Newbolt’s poem Vitai Lampada, particularly its theme of perseverance and duty. The line “Play up! Play up! And play the game!” resonates with me because it speaks to the idea of pushing forward, meeting challenges head-on, and carrying on even when things get tough.

I try to apply these every day, whether it’s in my approach to team leadership, problem-solving, or just navigating life.In AV support, challenges pop up constantly, and having a mindset that prioritizes persistence and kindness helps in everything from troubleshooting technical issues to fostering strong relationships with colleagues, faculty, and students.

At the end of the day, technology is about people as much as it is about hardware and software, and I think these mottos serve me well in balancing both.

12. Where do you see your career trajectory going in the next five years? Where do you envision yourself?

In the next five years, I envision my career continuing to evolve within the realm of AV/IT innovation in higher education. I aim to take on larger leadership roles, potentially overseeing a broader range of technology initiatives that encompass not just AV but also the integration of emerging technologies like AI, VR/AR, and smart campus solutions. My goal is to lead comprehensive digital transformation projects that will further enhance the educational experience and operational efficiency at institutions like UCLA.

I see myself collaborating even more intensively with interdisciplinary teams, including educators, IT specialists, and external technology partners, to identify and implement cutting-edge solutions. This will not only help me stay at the forefront of technological advancements but also ensure that the institutions I work with are equipped to provide the best possible environments for learning and collaboration.

Moreover, I hope to continue my involvement with industry organizations such as InfoComm, ETC, Educause, and DET/CHE, contributing to the broader AV community while staying informed on the latest trends and innovations. By sharing my knowledge and experiences, I aim to inspire and mentor the next generation of AV/IT professionals, ensuring the continued growth and evolution of our field.