AVIXA has announced four leadership appointments for RESIDE and Lightapalooza, the residential integration and lighting events set to join InfoComm 2027 in Orlando, Florida.
Lisa Staszewski has been named Show Director, Keisha Wooten-Smith joins as Manager of Live Content, Vanessa Sayen has been appointed Senior Manager of Audience Development and Marketing, and Jody Larsen joins as Senior Account Manager.
The new team brings experience across event strategy, business development, marketing, audience development and live content programming. AVIXA said the appointments are intended to support the growth of both shows as they prepare to debut alongside InfoComm 2027.
The appointments follow a spring stretch in which we’ve tracked AVIXA’s deeper move into the residential channel. In May, Connected Design spoke with AVIXA’s Jenn Heinold and HTSA’s Tom Doherty about the future of Lightapalooza after AVIXA’s acquisition of the event, with both emphasizing that the lighting-focused show would keep its own identity while gaining the reach, resources and adjacency of InfoComm.
Connected Design later covered the launch of RESIDE, framing the AVIXA, HTSA and ProSource effort as another signal that the residential and commercial AV worlds are moving closer together. In subsequent coverage, Doherty and Heinold described the 2027 model as co-location rather than a merger, with RESIDE, Lightapalooza and InfoComm sharing a roof while preserving the communities, education and business reasons that bring each audience to the table.
“As we prepare for RESIDE and Lightapalooza to debut at InfoComm 2027, it was important to assemble a team that understands the needs of this community and opportunities ahead,” Heinold, Senior Vice President, Expositions, Americas for AVIXA, said in a statement announcing the new appointments. “Vanessa, Jody, Lisa, and Keisha bring unique strengths and a shared passion for advancing the residential integration community. Together, they create a strong foundation for the shows and will help shape them into a destination for technology launch, learning, business growth, and industry connections.”
Staszewski most recently served as Vice President of Marketing for NTP Events, where she developed marketing and audience development strategies for events including SpaceCom, APTA and NAB Show. She has 13 years of experience in the event and trade show industry.
Wooten-Smith brings more than 15 years of experience developing conference programs and live content experiences for nonprofit, corporate, media and association audiences. She previously led executive summits at Coqual and held event leadership roles at Magnet Media and Essence Communications.
Sayen, a 2024 CE Pro 40 Women to Watch honoree, has more than 25 years of experience working with manufacturers, dealer networks, buying groups, architects and designers. Most recently, she managed dealer engagement and communications programs at LK & Associates, supporting more than 30 partner brands. She has also served as a CEDIA Outreach Instructor.
Larsen joins AVIXA after more than 20 years with CEDIA, where she served as Director of Business Development and Sales. In that role, she worked with residential integrators, manufacturers and industry partners while supporting membership, sponsorship and revenue growth.
“RESIDE and Lightapalooza represent an important opportunity to bring together the professionals and organizations shaping the future of residential technology,” said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, CEO of AVIXA. “By creating a team with expertise across the residential market and event industry, we are creating the momentum needed to position the shows as the leading destination for the residential integration community.”
RESIDE is being developed as a purpose-built event for integrators, manufacturers and service providers in the residential market. The event is a joint venture between AVIXA, HTSA and ProSource, designed to strengthen connections between the residential and commercial AV industries.
Lightapalooza, established in 2022 by HTSA, serves the residential lighting channel. The event has grown from 225 attendees in its first year to more than 1,600 in 2026.
