Event Details

Mark Coxon is a Business Development Manager for XTG, AVI-SPL’s Experience Technology Group. He is focused on the interplay of people, space, and technology to create desired outcomes. He holds certifications in both Design (CTS-D) and Installation (CTS-I) through AVIXA, where he gives talks and facilitates workshops designed to unlock new innovations and opportunities. He describes himself as an accidental technologist and a Xennial bridging analog to digital gaps. He is a student of both animal behavior and behavioral psychology and is also a Krav Maga and Muay Thai instructor on the weekends.

Alexis is a leader with a 30-year career history and a proven record of accomplishment.  She has enjoyed working as an audiovisual technology provider in Live Events and AV Integration and is CTS- certified.  Alexis is a Business Development Executive at MidPoint Technology Group, an Integrator based in the DC/ Baltimore area.  Midpoint provides design and integration services for AV, Electronic Security Access and Surveillance, Structured Cabling, IT, Wireless Services, and Active Shooter prevention services for customers throughout the country.  

Lance McDonald is a Digital Workplace IT Senior Leader at Capital Group, a leading global financial services firm headquartered in Los Angeles. With over 25 years of professional AV experience, Lance is a seasoned expert in corporate AV, events, broadcast, and workplace technology. He oversees global enterprise standards and future roadmap development across 32 offices in 14 countries, supporting meetings, events, and workplace technology for over 10,000 associates. Lance's extensive experience spans from AV integration to corporate senior leadership, and he is a strong advocate for the synergy between Enterprise IT, Office Services, and Facilities functions. He holds CTS-I and D certifications and earned his Presidents and Key Executives MBA from Pepperdine University.

Sotaro Nishida has a rich and diverse history with Yamaha, spanning over twenty years. He was involved in the early days of their Mobile Digital Entertainment Content Business, and later in the Concert Films and Video Production and Distribution in Tokyo as Content Director and Producer. In 2014, Sotaro went on to work as Marketing and Sales Manager for Yamaha Professional Audio, Latin America at the Panama office, and later in Japan as Global Key Account Manager in various vertical segments. After having served as Pro Audio Strategy and Marketing Manager for Yamaha Music Europe in Hamburg, Germany, he took the position of CEO of Yamaha Unified Communications, Inc. He is currently VP of Business Solutions for Yamaha Corporation of America.

Frank Padikkala is an award-winning Technology Architect, Evangelist, Keynote Speaker and Social Media Influencer in the AV/IT space. With a background in IT/Cybersecurity, he advocates for the utilization of converged networks and technologies to create seamless user experiences. He places Innovation and Inclusion as his core values. Frank works at Zoom as a Snr. Technical Sales Architect - Zoom Spaces. He's previously worked at some of the leading tech innovators like Audinate, Panasonic and Diversified. Frank also served as the chair of the AVIXA Diversity Council until 2023. He is passionate about community building and creating opportunities to build Diversity and Equity in the AV industry. He’s won numerous awards for his industry efforts including AVNation’s 2022 AV Professional of the Year, Commercial Integrator’s 2022 Industry 40 under 40 list and Installation Magazine’s 2021 ProAV Influencer Watch List.