LAS VEGAS, NV — As the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip signaled the opening of InfoComm 2026, a poignant undercurrent flowed through the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, the Chief Executive Officer of AVIXA (the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association), is preparing to step down. Having previously announced his intention to retire at the conclusion of 2026, Labuskes finds himself in a period of reflection, balancing the immediate demands of the industry’s largest North American trade show with the long-term trajectory of the organization he has steered for over a decade.
Under his leadership, AVIXA transitioned from a trade association primarily focused on hardware and technical standards into a global authority on the "experience economy." As he looks toward his final months in office, Labuskes remains focused not on his personal legacy, but on the continued evolution of the industry and the "stewardship" of the community he helped build.
Main Facts: The Retirement of a Visionary
The announcement of David Labuskes’ retirement marks the end of a transformative chapter for the professional audiovisual (Pro AV) industry. Since taking the helm, Labuskes has overseen the rebranding of the association (formerly InfoComm International) and a massive expansion into international markets.
In his recent addresses at InfoComm 2026, Labuskes emphasized that while he does not view himself as a "legacy guy," he takes immense pride in the professional caliber of the team he will leave behind. His philosophy of leadership is rooted in the "Scout" mentality: leaving a place better than he found it.
The 2026 show serves as a bookend to his career, highlighting several key strategic shifts:
- The Transition from Hardware to Application: A move away from technical "buzzwords" toward real-world immersive solutions.
- Market Convergence: The blurring lines between traditional Pro AV and the broadcast sector.
- Geographic Stability: Confirming long-term commitments to host InfoComm in its traditional homes of Las Vegas and Orlando.
- Community Preservation: Reinforcing the "soul" of the industry through face-to-face networking and peer-to-peer problem solving.
Chronology: A Decade of Integration and Globalization
To understand the weight of Labuskes’ departure, one must look at the timeline of his tenure, which began in 2013. At that time, the industry was at a crossroads, grappling with the "IT-AV convergence."
The Rebranding Pivot (2017)
One of the most significant milestones in Labuskes’ career was the 2017 rebranding of InfoComm International to AVIXA. This was not merely a name change; it was a fundamental shift in mission. Labuskes recognized that the value of AV was no longer just in the boxes and cables, but in the integrated experiences those tools created. This move brought architects, designers, and end-users into the fold, significantly broadening the association’s reach.
Global Expansion and Digital Transformation
Throughout the early 2020s, Labuskes pushed AVIXA to become a truly global entity. He oversaw the strengthening of partnerships in Europe (via ISE), Asia, and Latin America. Even when the global pandemic threatened the very concept of live events, Labuskes led the organization through a digital pivot, ensuring that the Pro AV community remained connected through virtual platforms and remote learning initiatives.
The Road to 2026
By the time he announced his retirement in early 2026, Labuskes had successfully navigated the industry through a post-pandemic recovery that saw record-breaking attendance and revenue in the Pro AV sector. His final year has been dedicated to "polishing the stone," ensuring that the association’s governance and strategic goals are robust enough to survive his exit.
Supporting Data: The Shifting Landscapes of Pro AV
The data emerging from InfoComm 2026 reflects the trends Labuskes has long championed. The Pro AV industry is no longer a monolith; it is a collection of specialized verticals, each experiencing different growth trajectories.
The Rise of Immersive Experience Areas
At InfoComm 2026, the traditional booth-centric floor plan was supplemented by three massive "Immersive Experience Areas." These were designed to showcase AV application rather than just specifications:
- Retail: Focusing on spatial audio and interactive digital signage to drive consumer engagement.
- Workplace: Addressing the ongoing evolution of hybrid work and the need for seamless, high-equity meeting spaces.
- Live Event Fan Experience: Showcasing how massive LED volumes and real-time data visualization are changing the stadium and concert experience.
The Broadcast-AV Intersection
Labuskes highlighted "Broadcast AV" as the critical vertical to watch. As content creation becomes decentralized, corporate entities and live venues are increasingly adopting broadcast-grade technology. According to AVIXA’s recent market intelligence reports, the broadcast segment within Pro AV is seeing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that rivals traditional corporate AV, which remains the top-grossing vertical.
Logistics and Location
Despite persistent industry rumors regarding a move to new cities like Chicago or New Orleans, Labuskes provided hard data on show locations. He confirmed that contracts are signed for several years to come, maintaining the rotation between Las Vegas and Orlando. His reasoning is based on data-driven logistics: these two cities possess the infrastructure (hotel keys, convention square footage, and flight accessibility) required to host a show of InfoComm’s scale.
Official Responses: Stewardship and the "Campfire" Philosophy
In his official statements during the Las Vegas event, Labuskes spoke with a mix of pragmatism and sentimentality. He was quick to credit his staff for the organization’s success, calling them "extraordinarily talented."
"I’m happy to have been a part of it and to have been a steward of it for the time I’ve been here," Labuskes stated. "In scouts, we were taught to leave it better than you found it. If somebody says that Dave left it better than he found it, I’m good with that."
Regarding the evolution of the show, Labuskes expressed a desire for a more mature industry dialogue. "I hope I hear less buzzwords and I see more application of AV as a solution and as a delivery tool for experiences," he noted. He argued that the "magic" of InfoComm isn’t found in the technical specifications of a projector or a speaker, but in the "soul" of the gathering.
"There’s a campfire, there’s a magic, there’s a soul of InfoComm," Labuskes explained. "That’s why people keep coming back—and that’s why we are so careful to protect those gatherings, those spaces, and those times."
Implications: The Future of AVIXA Post-Labuskes
The departure of a long-standing CEO always brings a degree of uncertainty, but the implications for AVIXA appear to be focused on continuity rather than disruption.
The Search for a Successor
The AVIXA Board of Directors is currently engaged in a global search for a successor. The challenge will be finding a leader who possesses both the technical understanding of the AV channel and the visionary capability to engage with "adjacent industries" like architecture, IT, and content creation. Labuskes’ successor will inherit an organization that is more global and diverse than ever before.
Solving the "Language Barrier"
One of the most significant hurdles identified by Labuskes is the communication gap between Pro AV buyers and broadcast manufacturers. "They’re speaking two very different languages," he admitted. The implication for the future is that AVIXA must become a "translation hub," providing the education and certification (CTS) necessary for these two worlds to merge effectively.
The Experience Economy 2.0
As Labuskes heads toward retirement, he leaves the industry positioned at the center of the experience economy. The future of Pro AV will likely move further away from "integrated systems" and closer to "integrated environments." The success of the immersive areas at InfoComm 2026 suggests that the association will continue to prioritize how technology makes people feel and how it facilitates human connection.
Conclusion
David Labuskes’ tenure will be remembered for its expansion of the definition of "audiovisual." By the time he officially retires at the end of December 2026, he will have transformed a technical trade group into a global community of experience designers. While he may not be a "legacy guy" by his own admission, the "better" state in which he leaves AVIXA is a testament to a decade of thoughtful stewardship. For the thousands of professionals who attend InfoComm, his departure marks the end of a steadying influence, but his "campfire" continues to burn bright, lighting the way for the next generation of AV innovators.
