AU #331: Navigating Uncertainty Part II: Expert Strategies to Stay Agile and Grow in a Shifting CI Industry
This is Automation Unplugged, I’m Ron Callis. Today we’re bringing you Part II of our panel series “Navigating Uncertainty: An Open Forum for Dealers on the State of the Industry.” recorded in August of 2025. In May of 2025, we convened a group of industry leaders for Part I of this discussion — sharing real-world advice on tariffs, pricing strategies, growth opportunities, and operational resilience. The response was overwhelming, and you asked us to go deeper. That’s what we set out to do in Part II. In this follow-up session, the panel explored late-2025 dealer priorities, from hiring and retaining new talent to winning in the lighting category, leveraging HTA certification and storytelling for luxury differentiation, and addressing operations, exit planning, and AI adoption.
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Show Notes
SHOW NOTES
During this panel, you’ll hear from:
- Myself — Ron Callis, CEO of One Firefly
- Matt Bernath, President of VITAL, LLC
- Joseph Kolchinsky, CEO of OneVision Resources
- David Warfel, Founding Designer of Light Can Help You
- Mark Langston, Partner & Chief Lighting Advisor of Light Can Help You
- Jason Sayen, Founder of I Am Sayen
- Josh Christian, CEO of Home Technology Association
- And Rebecca Sternlicht, Corporate Marketing Lead at One Firefly, panel moderator
Visit the episode page on our website to get the audio recording, show transcript, and full video. Now let’s dive back into the conversation and hear what our expert panel had to say in Part II of Navigating Uncertainty.
About One Firefly
One Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.