David Labuskes has announced plans to retire at the end of 2026 after 14 years with AVIXA.
During this time, Labuskes worked to encourage a transition towards an industry and profession that offers integrated experiences, seeing the industry evolve to include experiential designers, content creators, IT companies, and end users across a growing cross section of markets.
During this time, Labuskes oversaw the rebrand of InfoComm International to AVIXA in 2017, growing to become an organisation where more than 50% of AVIXA’s revenue is generated from training, trade shows, certifications, and additional offerings outside of North America.
Labuskes’ tenure saw him take the helm through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, navigating the cancellation of live events globally and supporting a critical part of the AVIXA community through disruption to their business models and supporting the wider AV industry through the transformation that hybrid working brought to the table.
In 2025, the number of CTS holders reached 15,000 worldwide, while AVIXA also launched the Audiovisual Network Professional (ANP) certification in 2024 under Labuskes’ leadership, a credential that provides AV and IT professionals with the ability to demonstrate their experience of integrating AV into a network.
Diversity stood out as a key drive for Labuskes, championing inclusion throughout the association’s platforms to ensure that a range of voices are represented. Under Labuskes’ watch, the AVIXA Women’s Council and Diversity Council were established, with the Women’s Council boasting more than 1,100 members and hundreds of attendees year after year at its annual breakfast at InfoComm in the USA.
Labuskes commented: “I would have never predicted the level of personal growth and fulfillment that accompanied these many years at the helm of AVIXA.
“The audiovisual industry has been a part of human evolution since the use of signal fires in early civilisation. The association now known as AVIXA was established in 1939, well before most of us were born. The responsibility and privilege inherent within the role I played for a tiny part of that timeline was one that could not have been fulfilled without the brilliance of the team of executives, industry volunteers, and dedicated AVIXA employees giving everything they have to deliver on our mission every day. I look forward to being in the stands watching the future successes of AVIXA and our industry around the world.”