Women in the AV industry have long been trailblazers, breaking barriers, driving innovation and shaping the future of technology and integration. Their vision, leadership and expertise have left an enduring mark, inspiring progress across the field. This International Women’s History Month, Commercial Integrator is proud to honor their achievements with a special series. Throughout the month, we’ll be shining a light on some of the most remarkable women in AV, celebrating their contributions and sharing their stories to inspire and empower others in our industry.
Here, we spotlight Kristen Garner, Kramer’s senior regional sales director & senior director of business development North America education. She shares her accidental entry into AV and the importance of finding one’s niche. Mentored by Brenda Brook, she values consistent growth, customer impact and balancing tech advancements with human connection in the AV industry. Read #HerAVStory below.
Interview with Kristen Garner, Kramer’s Senior Regional Sales Director & Senior Director of Business Development North America Education
Commercial Integrator: How did you get into the AV industry?
Kristin Garner: Like many others, I got into the AV industry by accident. I started my career in healthcare, working as a communications manager. I was responsible for all the phone lines, cell phones and paging systems within the hospital. While my title wasn’t “engineer,” my role involved a lot of coordination with the IT team to ensure that communication systems were running smoothly. In addition to that, I worked with structured and AV cabling and helped install touch panels, projectors and other AV systems. This hands-on experience laid the groundwork for my transition into the AV industry.
CI: Have you encountered any difficulties or obstacles in your AV industry career?
Garner: One of the biggest obstacles has been finding my own relevant space within the industry. It’s important to determine where you fit — whether you’re working for an integrator, a manufacturer or an end customer. All these roles exist within the same tight-knit industry, but they have very different approaches and needs. It takes a deep understanding to navigate those nuances.
CI: Whom would you point to as the most influential and helpful mentors in your career? What did they do to help you?
Garner: I’ve been fortunate to have two key female mentors who really shaped my career. The first was a VP at the Girl Scouts where I worked in the early stages of my career. She trusted me with responsibilities that allowed me to develop my skills and grow in ways I might not have if I hadn’t had that trust.
The second is Brenda Brook, who I met while working at Crestron. She’s still one of my best friends and has been a huge influence on my career, especially in the AV industry. She pushed me into sales, something I was initially very resistant to. She saw potential in me that I couldn’t see myself. She had a lot of faith in my abilities, and after a little encouragement, I accepted the role and it ended up being a perfect fit.
CI: What is your proudest career accomplishment?
Garner: For me, it’s not about a specific award or recognition, it’s about the consistent growth I’ve experienced throughout my career. Everywhere I’ve worked, I’ve been promoted without asking for it. It is that recognition and trust that keeps motivating me to continue reaching for bigger opportunities and always aiming for that “brass ring.”
CI: What do you love most about working in the AV industry?
Garner: It’s all about the customers. I truly love seeing the impact our work has on them. When I visit clients and see how much easier their job has become because of the solutions we’ve provided, that’s incredibly rewarding.
CI: How can the AV industry become even better?
Garner: With the many evolving technological advances, such as streaming video, AI, AR and beyond, it’s important that we use them responsibly and intelligently. While the tech offers incredible potential, it can sometimes diminish the personal aspects of human interaction. We need to balance leveraging technology’s capabilities with staying true to the human connections that make us unique. Personally, I don’t want everything to be virtual. Even though it’s a great tool, I still enjoy seeing people face-to-face.
Would you like to nominate a peer or colleague — or perhaps yourself! — to be featured in this #HerAVStory series? If so, just email Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald, at [email protected].
