CEDIA Awards - Best Sales Representative

The CEDIA Best Sales Representative award celebrates individuals that go above and beyond to put their customer first, excelling in customer service.

We are delighted to present the 2025 nominees below, submitted by the industry, they now need your vote to determine the regional winner.

Voting Parameters:

• Multiple votes are accepted from one company, but only one vote per person is accepted and for the nominee in your region
• Voting is open now to members & non-members and closes on July 18th.
• CEDIA will recognise a winner in each region and will announce the recipient at their local CEDIA Smart Home Awards ceremony.

Vote now

Americas  |  Asia Pacific  |  EMEA

Americas Nominees

Brandon Ash - Martin Logan Ltd - Canada

With over 21 years in the consumer electronics industry Brandon would considered himself a "lifer". 

What started as a part time job while studying turned into a career, with many different stops along the way. From working the retail floor, to supporting it as a product specialist, technical support agent, trainer and sales rep, Brandon has touched all facets of our industry.

While having spent time working on the video and the PC side of consumer electronics, audio has always been his passion. From growing up with a mother who introduced him to classic rock greats and an older brother the big 4 thrash metal bands. To his father purchasing there first 5.1 system and rewatching Predator endlessly afterwards, he's been hooked.

Professionally, he believes that to be a great rep requires a combination of availability, knowledge and honesty. These qualities have allowed him to foster relationships and add value to his dealer partners. Understanding each person requires a tailored approach has lead to being recognized in his fiel

Robert Bacci - Coastal Source - USA

I started in the Electrical/Consumer electronics field in 1985. I have work as a master electrician, integrator, Operations Manager, Sales Manager and Sales Rep over the past 40 years. I was one of the first Electricians in the state of Illinois to become a certified Lutron Homeworks programmer. I’ve worked for various companies including Bose(winner of a Summit award), URC and now I’m with Coastal Source.

Anel Bayon - LK Associates, Inc - USA

Anel Patricia Bayon, a Venezuelan native with a degree in Dentistry, emigrated to the United States in 2003. In 2004, she secured an opportunity with an AV dealer in South Florida. After several years in the industry, she was appointed to a position on the Rep side in 2006, where she has remained ever since. Her understanding of the needs of dealers and her ability to fill various roles on the Rep side have been instrumental in providing the service that the AV industry demands, particularly in the South Florida market.
Bayon has had the privilege of working with a top rep in the Country and some of the most renowned vendors in the industry, creating a mutually beneficial partnership with almost every dealer in the area.

In 2020, Bayon was recognized with the “CEDIA - Rep of Year” award. In her own words, “Out of the awards I have been a part of receiving throughout my career with LK & Associates Inc, being awarded the CEDIA Rep of Year award, holds the utmost significance for me. I take great pride and responsibility in fulfilling numerous tasks and requests that I am entrusted with, managing them as if they were my own. I genuinely value every dealer and vendor I collaborate with, recognizing that my dealers are my responsibility. I treat them with pride and respect, as their success is directly tied to my own.”

Bryan Bentley - ProAct Sales, Inc - USA

Bryan Bentley is the President of ProAct Sales, an independent manufacturer's representative firm based in Plainview, New York. Over the past two decades, he has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and success.

Prior to his tenure at ProAct Sales, Bentley served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999 and then again from 2001 to 2002, where he honed leadership skills and a strong work ethic that he continues to apply in his professional endeavors. He began his career at ProAct Sales in 2000 as a warehouse manager, steadily rising through the ranks by taking on increasing responsibilities, growing as a sales professional, and demonstrating strong leadership and operational insight. Later promoted to General Manager, Bentley played a pivotal role in expanding the company's reach and capabilities. In January 2021, he was appointed President, overseeing day-to-day operations and the firm’s distribution arm, Custom Partners.

In 2008, Bentley earned the prestigious title of Sonance Sales Representative of the Year, a testament to his dedication, expertise, and strong sales acumen. He continued to build on that success, being named Séura Sales Representative of the Year in 2011. His leadership has elevated ProAct Sales to new heights, guiding the firm to be recognized as Sonance’s Representative Agency of the Year an impressive four times—a reflection of his strategic vision, relentless drive, and commitment to excellence.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bentley is known for his "can do" attitude and dedication to his team. He enjoys fishing and is an avid supporter of New York sports teams. When not cheering from the sidelines for his children, he can be found rooting for his favorite teams alongside his wife.

David Bydalek - Dow Electronics - USA

Blake Carder - Orion Advanced - USA

I’ve been in the AV industry for over 35 years, starting in retail and spending the last two decades as a manufacturer’s rep. In 2022, I teamed up with my business partner, Paul Mallizzio, to purchase Orion Advanced.  

At Orion, I focus on supporting our vendors and customers with hands-on service and clear communication. Whether it’s helping dealers stay ahead of the curve, solving problems in the field, or bringing new products to market, I believe in being responsive and easy to work with. It’s about building real partnerships and friendships that last.  I am thankful for the relationships I have enjoyed over the years. 

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to concerts, catching a good game, and getting away when I can.

Chris Gilray - Phoenix Marketing Group LLC - USA

Chris Gilray is the Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Marketing Group LLC, a national manufacturers’ representative firm headquartered in Charlotte, NC (with roots in Lincolnton, NC). Since its founding in 2018, the company has emerged as a premier luxury technology rep in the CEDIA channel.
Under Chris’s leadership, Phoenix Marketing Group partners with leading lighting, automation, audio/video, and shading brands—such as Bang & Olufsen, Origin Acoustics, Lucetta CI, Colorbeam, and others—to provide integrators, designers, architects, and contractors with seamless tech integration for residential and commercial spaces.

Chris is known for championing a relationship-driven and culture-first approach. He frequently posts about teamwork, networking, and strategic growth, and even hosts The Phoenix Nest podcast to spotlight industry leaders. His thought leadership emphasizes that people and partnerships—not just products—are the key to lasting success.

Dee Jones - RS Pro Sales, LLC - USA

I’ve been in the industry a lot longer than I care to admit, a little over 40 yrs. I have been in my current position with RS Pro Sales for 12 years and I cover Indiana and Kentucky markets for our company. I could not be working with a better group of guys. I enjoy working with all my dealers and consider them all friends. My main focus is working with everyone to ensure that they’re up to date on the latest and do whatever I can to help them be successful.

Chris Kane - AVPRO Global Holdings - USA

Chris Kane is the Vice President of Residential Sales - Americas at AVPro Global. With almost 40 years of experience in CE sales, including a significant tenure at AudioControl that commenced in 1992 following ten years in consumer electronics (CE) retail, Kane is a trusted figure in the North American residential audio/video/smart home market. Chris is responsible for overseeing North American business development initiatives, which include streamlining sales processes and unifying AVPro's diverse brand portfolio, including AVPro Edge, AudioControl Pro, Bullet Train, Murideo, Then Audio, and now RTI. His expertise encompasses strategic planning and execution, performance management, and team leadership, all aimed at expanding AVPro's market share and providing enhanced value to customers. In 2019 Chris was recognized as a CE Pro Master and is also recognized for establishing and maintaining strong relationships across the CE community, built through extensive in-person and online presentations, dealer training seminars, and a consistent presence at key industry tradeshows.

Jim Knight - Redwood Marketing, Inc - USA

Jim Knight is the Principal at Redwood Marketing Inc., where he has over 3 decades of experience in the custom installation and consumer electronics industry. He began his career in sales at IBM while attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  After college, Jim was the director of sales at Polk Audio, Wharfedale, and vice president of sales at IAG.

His background includes technical sales, distribution, and strategic consulting, giving him a well-rounded perspective that continues to benefit dealer and manufacturer partners.  Under his leadership, Redwood Marketing has earned a reputation for blending creativity with analytics, helping clients—from emerging startups to established enterprises—find their voice in a competitive market.

Jim’s collaborative style, deep industry insight, and commitment to innovation continue to set the tone for Redwood’s client-first culture. A passionate mentor and speaker, Jim stays at the forefront of technology and is committed to helping businesses not just grow—but thrive.

Aside from running his rep firm with his wife, Roz, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, going to concerts, and traveling.

Jay - KOA - USA

Darren Kolotyluk - Morris-Tait Associates - USA

Darren Kolotyluk is a Principal and Vice President at Morris-Tait Associates, bringing over 35 years of experience in the custom installation and consumer electronics industry. He began his career as a Salesman & CI installer in the late 1980s and has since built a reputation as a hands-on leader and trusted advisor across Canada and the Western States. Known for his philosophy of “Earn the Right to Talk About It,” Darren has held key roles including National Sales Manager for Trends Electronics and Territory Manager at Sonance before settling down at Morris-Tait Associates. His background spans technical sales, distribution, and strategic consulting, giving him a well-rounded perspective that continues to benefit Morris-Tait’s dealer and manufacturer partners.

Ray McDonald - Associated Lighting Representation, Inc - USA

Raymond McDonald brings 24 years of experience, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to his customers in his role at ALR. From his early days on the retail floor to leading application engineering for commercial lighting controls, Raymond has carved a path as a trusted resource for all things lighting, controls, shades, and A/V. Today, he supports luxury residential dealers and contractors, offering technical insight and standout customer service. When he’s not at work, Ray enjoys spending time hiking, fishing, camping, and participating in Spartan Races.

David Renzema - ADI | Snap One - USA

I am the son of a career sales rep, Dwight Renzema. I joined his independent rep firm, Columbia Electronics in the PNW in 1998 and spent 6 years learning the business. After Dwight left the business and moved out of state, I joined forces with Michael Gross and the NW Marketing Team and continued to serve the PNW territory building relationships with dealers and vendors. In 2007 an opportunity was given to me by Ernie Coulter, thank you Ernie, to be part of a sales team expansion at an emerging Control company called Control4. They were at the early stages of expanding their sales force from their original 5 person sales team to a full nationwide sales force. Eighteen years later, through remarkable growth and change, and two acquisitions I have continued to bring our amazing brands and products to market and serve our dealers/partners in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

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Asia Pacific Nominees

Dee Bubeck - Crestron - Australia

Dee continually strives to elevate the standard of projects in the Residential channel through proactive outreach to Builders, Architects, Developers, Integrators and End-Users about the importance of partnering with CEDIA Members for Projects. The best in class service & support from Dee stems from his vast real world experience in previous roles designing & project managing Luxury Integrated Homes & Cinema projects direct to home-owners. He is one of the very few Manufacturer Reps with real-world experience at the coal-face of the industry.

From his prior roles designing large luxury projects, Dee has worked with many brands and systems. He therefore provides impartial recommendations to Dealers based on what works well within the eco-system. The benefit of this experience and feedback from Dealers allows Dee to provide information without having "check with the tech support guys" like so may other brand Reps have to do due to their lack of first hand experience Designing & Commissioning luxury systems.

By participating on Crestron Stands at various Tradeshows & Design shows as well as doing Speaking Roles at these shows, Dee has been able to generate interest from Architects, Designers & Developers which leads to direct sales opportunities for Integrators throughout Australia.

Richard Cadet - Interdyn Pty Ltd - Australia

I have been involved in the audiovisual industry for over 30 years, including retail, integration, and wholesale. Having had the privilege of representing and offering class-leading brands from some of the best manufacturers, I have been able to engage, empower, and support integrators and retailers who care about delivering amazing technology experiences for their customers' homes and strive to be a key supplier partner to their businesses.

Andrew Gleeson - Snap One - Australia

Andrew Gleeson is the Area Sales Manager for South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria at ADI | Snap One, where he’s been proudly supporting the industry for over five years. With more than a decade at Legrand Australia prior—driven by a strong passion for the Bticino and KNX products —and early beginnings in electrical wholesaling, Andrew has built his career from the ground up, starting as a storeman/driver and working his way to branch manager.

In his current role, Andrew is deeply focused on ensuring end clients clearly understand the technology they’re investing in. He believes that aligning the project outcomes with client expectations is crucial for long-term satisfaction and industry credibility. As he often says, “Anything is possible—with the right budget, and the right integrator.”

When he’s not working, Andrew enjoys running and spending quality time with his partner Nikki and their children usually on away somewhere creating memories.

Nitin Heryani - Integrate Unlimited - Australia

Since the early days of working as a Business Analyst, one thing was very clear, Nitin’s love for cinema only kept on growing. In the beginning, at an early age of 24, installing HTIB’s started as a side hustle, not very profitable, but lots of fun.

Couple of years into the side hustle, Nitin’s interest grew into other facets of residential technology, smart home automation, multi room audio, home cinema etc all integrated. In search of more knowledge, Nitin started his annual trips of visiting CEDIA and ISE shows for a few years, which helped him fine tune his skills for home cinema and take smart home integration as a full time profession.

When in Australia, during his tenure as a Project Manager for a Commercial Integrator, an opportunity presented itself to become a representative of certain noteworthy brands for the Australian market. It was the perfect opportunity for him to dive head first into the realm of residential technology, which he grabbed with both hands.

In the beginning, like most startups, it was a rocky road, but, Nitin found business associates who not only supported him, but are now great friends. As they say, business is done with people, not products.

Nitin continues to make inroads into the dynamic residential technology industry with a very simple but realistic approach of making his clients work effortless with ease of doing business.

David Lowton - Cogworks - Australia

David Lowton is an accomplished sales leader with over 30 years of experience in high-end audio, home cinema, and home automation. As General Manager of Cogworks, he has been instrumental in expanding the company’s footprint across Australia and New Zealand—securing exclusive distribution partnerships with globally respected brands including Meridian Audio, Christie, BenQ, and BEC Akustik.

David’s success stems from his ability to forge strong dealer relationships, identify emerging market trends, and deliver results through deep product knowledge and strategic thinking. His passion for premium AV and automation solutions has driven significant sales growth, particularly in the luxury residential and custom integration markets.

Recognised for his customer-first approach, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality, David continues to elevate Cogworks’ reputation as a trusted partner for high-performance, design-led solutions.

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EMEA Nominees

Ian Andrews - Aldous Systems (Europe) Ltd - UK

My name is Ian Andrews, and I’m the Operations Manager at Aldous Systems. I’ve been with the company since 2008, and over the years I’ve built strong relationships with both our customers and suppliers. I manage logistics and purchasing, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes and that delivery dates are kept up to date. I also have a strong technical background in IP telecommunications and structured cabling.

What matters most to me is finding the right solution for each customer. I enjoy problem solving, supporting the team, and making sure we deliver excellent service every step of the way. Working in the smart home industry keeps things exciting, there’s always something new to learn, and I genuinely enjoy being part of it.

Katie Baker - RGB Communications Ltd - UK

I've been working at RGB for almost 4 years now and I love it.  The Dealers and Suppliers that I deal with on a daily basis are brilliant. 
They were all so helpful and patient when I first started, as I was a total newbie to the Industry and now who'd have thought I'd be here, writing a bio for an award nomination.

My ultimate aim is to ensure everyone who I talk to feels heard and gets a response from me, even if it takes a few days to provide a full outcome.  I'll always keep people updated until their query has been resolved one way or another.  Customer Service has been part of my whole working life so just comes naturally to want to help people and get the best result.... and I do love a chat!

Dale Bottomley - DALI Audio UK Ltd - UK

I started out working in HI-FI and AV over 20 years ago and my passion for good quality audio remains as strong as ever. I joined the DALI sales team in 2018 and have thoroughly enjoyed the past 7 years. The role allows me to do what I enjoy best: connecting with people, understanding how our customers run their businesses, how we can be part of the process, and of course, working with fantastic products. Every day is a learning day!

Shane Caswell - Webro Cables & Connectors Ltd - UK

Joining the industry in 2008 I've helped launch two leading cable brands to market...and learned a lot from my mistakes along the way!

A simple family man and a music obsessive, I love my job and the AV/CI industry.

I'm very humbled to be nominated, for me, when you have a great product sales isn't about selling, it's more about building relationships & customer service, so this nomination is also for the team behind the scenes at Webro.

Jayaprakash Chinnamuthu - Crestron - India

With more than 20 years of rich experience in the Home Automation Industry in general and being a part of the Crestron family for 17 years. Jayaprakash is an outstanding person in this field. Currently handling the role of Director - Residential & Strategic Initiatives with Crestron. He is the one who has a single and complete view of the Home Automation market and helping partners build their business. And making sure the best possible experience for the end users.  He is a CEDIA Volunteer in the CEDIA India Member Engagement Working Group and working with the Smart Home Professional community.

Alex Cockram - ADI | Snap One - UK

Area Sales Manager/Business Development Manager at ADI | Snap One for the past 4 years. 20 years experience in the Technology sector, with 13 years Home Automation/Custom Install experience across a variety of technical, training and sales roles. Committed to helping solve real-world solutions for customers and driving business growth.

Jodie McKeown - Habitech - UK

I am a Customer Service/Sales Representative at Habitech Ltd which I absolutely love.
When I first started at Habitech, I remember telling them I will work my butt off for them and I feel I do just that! I will always try my best to fulfil all of our dealers needs and will always help where I can.
I can honestly say, hand on heart, this is truly the best job I have ever had.  I love all of our dealers (even the pain in the arse ones 😃) and everyone I work with.

We have such a great team of people and I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

Harsh Patel - Cavitak Marketing - India

With over a decade of experience in Smart Home Automation, I began my journey with college projects and have since grown into a key industry leader. Currently serving as National Product Lead – Automation & LMS at Cavitak, I successfully represent world-renowned brands such as Crestron, B.E.G., Rhombus, and Somfy in India.
A dedicated learner and innovator, I continuously explore and integrate cutting-edge technology, collaborating with Systems Integrators and industry influencers on luxury projects that redefine smart living. Passionate about industry growth, I remain committed to excellence, shaping the future of automation with expertise, vision, and a drive for innovation.

Joao Pinto - ADI | Snap One - Western Europe & DACH

Born and raised in Portugal, started from a young age to connect with the AV Industry (my father worked in the distribution business) and my career quickly moved to Custom Install (since 2012). As an Area Sales Manager at Snap One, I drive and leverage my expertise in tech sales to exceed quotas, foster growth and expand partnerships across multiple countries. During my decade-long career, my strategic skills have enabled me to develop profitable cooperations throughout Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. I excel in utilizing data-driven insights to provide optimal solutions, combining analytical thinking with emotional intelligence and negotiation skills. 

Mel Smith - Custom AV Distribution - UK

I joined the AV industry in 2006 shortly before my 21st birthday and will celebrate 20 years of commitment early next year. My career started in Commercial AV, with the Midwich group, where my journey to becoming a sales person truly began.

Following two breaks from the industry whilst on maternity leave I returned to a management role and shortly after in 2018 moved to the Invision division to experience the world of Residential AV. It became quickly apparent that this was a different beast and one that I have developed a strong connection and passion for.

I missed being the feet on the street and relinquished my management responsibilities a few years later, this allowed me to get back on the front line and in early 2025 I moved my career to CAVD. It feels like the door to my potential has been unlocked and I have elevated my profile in the industry.

Working with an amazing team, top class manufactures and awesome integrators has allowed me to deepen my understanding of the industry even further, be more connected to the journey of a project and be passionate about offering top class service, I am honoured that this has been recognised through this nomination.