#340: Inside Lightapalooza 2026 with Tom Doherty — Education, Power, and What’s Next for Integrators

This is Automation Unplugged, and I'm Ron Callis.

This is Automation Unplugged, I’m Ron Callis. Today, we’re bringing you a webinar One Firefly and our partner WAC Lighting co-hosted in July 2026, titled “Lighting for Life: Helping Homeowners Understand the Impact of Light on Health and Aging.”

This is Automation Unplugged, and I'm Ron Callis. Today I'm joined by Henri Beaudoin, Founder and President of Elite Automation, a luxury technology integration firm serving clients across Washington and Texas. Henri is a former software engineer who built Elite Automation around a high standard for quality, strong engineering, and a great client experience. He's passionate about developing great teams and raising the bar for what a modern integration business can be.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I'm Ron Callis. Today's returning guest on this AI Insights segment is Ian Williams, Founder, President, and CEO of Aspire Audio Video Solutions, a luxury residential technology integration firm specializing in estate-level homes throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area. Ian was last on the show back in August of 2023, on episode 248, and that's the one to listen to for his full backstory. Today we're focused on something newer, and that's what he's been building with AI.

This is Automation Unplugged, and I'm Ron Callis. Today I'm joined by Curtis LeMaster, owner of Control Designer, a custom integration firm based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado that handles control, networking, lighting, shades, and audio for high-end residential projects. Curtis came into this industry in 2000 as a bookkeeper and worked his way into programming, eventually handling AMX systems for professional golfers, rock bands, and an Abu Dhabi prince's private theater. He started Control Designer in 2003, moved the business from Orlando to Colorado in 2015, and today runs a small, deliberately focused shop that takes on a few clients at time.