Editor’s note: Commercial Integrator has updated this story as of January 6 with additional, exclusive comments from Exertis Almo’s Sam Taylor.
Philadelphia-based Exertis Almo just announced its executive vice president and COO, Sam Taylor, is set to retire later this year. As part of this transition, Dan Smith, most recently U.S. vice president of sales, IT and commercial large-format displays, at LG, has been named his successor. Exertis Almo describes itself as the largest and most specialized value-added North American AV distributor.
Smith assumes the position of Exertis Almo’s EVP/COO on January 17, 2023. Taylor will remain involved in the business and lead the transition until his official retirement in June.
A Tremendous Impact
“Sam has made a tremendous impact on the pro AV industry as a well-respected distribution expert who has brought immeasurable opportunities to his staff, vendor partners and the reseller/integrator community,” the president and CEO of Almo Corp., Warren Chaiken, says. “In 2009, Sam was instrumental in the formation of Almo Pro A/V, which quickly grew to become the largest pro AV distributor. Then, following Exertis’ 2021 acquisition of Almo Corp., Sam successfully led the integration of two major pro AV businesses to become Exertis Almo.”
Taylor reflects, “After more than 35 years in the pro AV industry, I have had the opportunity to experience more than I could’ve ever imagined, with the ultimate goal of growing the essential role of distribution. I am now looking forward to spending time giving back both inside and out of the pro AV industry.” He continues, “Dan Smith is the ideal successor for EVP/COO at Exertis Almo, having served in leadership positions for manufacturer, distributor and integrator companies, which gives him a diverse perspective. Over the next six months, we will work together through the transition to ensure that business remains as per usual, and that growth continues for our employees and partners.”
“I am both humbled and honored to step into the role of EVP/COO for Exertis Almo,” Smith says. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for Sam and look forward to working with him to ensure that our staff and our channel relationships continue to thrive.”
Why Now?
In an exclusive interview with Commercial Integrator, Taylor offers insights into why he chose now to retire. “I love this industry, and I love working at Exertis Almo,” Taylor declares. “We have built an exceptional team of professionals who are at the top of their game. The time is right for me to let someone take over so that I can move on to the next chapter in my life and focus on some of my personal interests, like spending more time with family and helping others.”
In more exclusive comments to CI, Taylor delves a bit deeper into how he plans to occupy his time upon completing the transition to retirement. He says, “An avid swimmer, I am embarking on a philanthropic project that centers on this lifelong passion. Living part time in Kentucky, I came to realize that Kentucky State University (KSU)’s pool has been out of operation for nearly two years. I am leading fundraising efforts so that we can make the necessary repairs to get the pool back in operational condition.”
Taylor cites the fact that KSU is a public, historically black land-grant university, and he notes that statistics show that minorities are 50% more likely to drown because of limited access to pools and swimming lessons. Taylor adds, “My next goal is to start a swim program for college students. In addition, I am working with the local YMCA on providing swimming lessons for underprivileged children who wouldn’t otherwise have access to this life-saving skill.”
Exertis Almo’s EVP/COO Sam Taylor
As EVP and COO for Exertis Almo, Taylor is in charge of more than 250 employees, with annual revenues of approximately $1 billion. Prior to Exertis Almo, Taylor served as EVP and COO of Almo Pro A/V, which was formed in 2009 and quickly grew to become the largest pro AV distributor in the industry, with global reach. He was also president of Electrograph Systems, and he has held various other sales, engineering, technical and management positions in the pro AV industry.
Taylor is a pioneer of the “value-added” distribution model, having built the first AVIXA-trained outbound distribution sales team, the first business development management team for technical and expert support, and the first set of AV managed services to create a path for resellers to expand their reach and earn recurring revenue. Taylor forged relationships with many manufacturers that never considered distribution but chose it because of this model. He also led the charge as the first to offer free, high-quality education, giving attendees AVIXA CTS-renewal units, as part of the E4 Experience. This series of Exertis Almo traveling showcases, bringing together reseller/integrator education, networking and product exhibits, is renowned in industry circles.
“I have always been a strong supporter of AVIXA and the CTS program because continuing education is critical for this industry to evolve,” Taylor adds. “Through our E4 Experience, we are leading the charge in the number of issued CTS renewal credits.”
Exertis Almo’s New EVP/COO, Dan Smith
Smith is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of AV experience in roles that have encompassed the manufacturing, distribution and systems integration sides of the industry. Most recently, Smith spent nearly 13 years at LG as the US vice president of sales for the IT and commercial large-format displays. He has also held positions in sales, product management, product marketing, supply chain procurement and business process improvement at companies including Magenta Research, Samsung, Tech Data and Inacom Corporation.
Smith holds an MBA and a BS in Business Administration and Management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He also holds associate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Marketing. Smith carries a lifelong passion for continuous learning and combined with his industry experiences, he looks forward to threading new paths to success in the continuously changing landscape of technology distribution.
