If you’d told me ten years ago that I’d end up winning Best Technician at the CEDIA Smart Home Awards, I honestly wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, I was deep in the corporate IT world, after nearly two decades of software development and management roles, and completely unaware that the smart home industry even existed. I’d always been interested in technology, but I didn’t realize there was a whole ecosystem behind it. It wasn’t until products like Google Nest started appearing in the early 2010s that something clicked. I found myself reading more and more, feeling genuinely excited about tech again in a way I hadn’t for years.
After some encouragement from my wife, I began researching the sector more seriously and discovered CEDIA. That’s when it became clear that the smart home industry offered a genuine career path. In 2016, I made the decision to leave my job and enroll in a CEDIA bootcamp. The course began on the second day of my new career and was designed for people with a couple of years’ experience, so it was a steep learning curve. Passing the exam confirmed that I was heading in the right direction.
Even the process of putting an entry together encourages you to reflect on what you’ve achieved, which is something that many of us rarely take time to do when we’re busy moving from one project to the next.
Today, I run my own business as a sole trader, which means wearing a lot of hats. From meeting clients and designing systems to installation and commissioning, every project involves multiple roles. For me, the most rewarding part is the hands-on work. Seeing a system come together and watching a client experience it for the first time makes all the effort worthwhile.
Winning the Best Technician Award was a real surprise. I entered after some encouragement from Jenn McGuire at CEDIA, with no expectations. Becoming a finalist was exciting in itself, but hearing my name announced as the winner on the night of the ceremony was something else entirely. The recognition has been a huge confidence boost and a reminder of how far I’ve come since those early days.
One of the projects I included in my submission perfectly sums up why I enjoy this work. The property was a 15th-century farmhouse with hardly any network infrastructure, and because there was no major renovation works planned, installing new cabling wasn’t really an option. Drawing on the knowledge and best practices I’ve picked up through CEDIA, it took a lot of testing, creative problem-solving, and persistence to find the right solution. In the end, everything came together really well, and the client was genuinely delighted with the result. I think that really proves that determination and adaptability are essential qualities for any technician.
Related: The CEDIA Smart Home Awards 2026 – Expert Advice for Entrants
Looking ahead, I’m keen to continue developing my skills. After completing my KNX training last year, I’m particularly interested in delivering a full KNX project and exploring new areas such as home cinema design. Staying involved with further CEDIA training and events continues to provide both inspiration and valuable learning opportunities, too.
For anyone considering entering the CEDIA Smart Home Awards, my advice is simple: go for it. Even the process of putting an entry together encourages you to reflect on what you’ve achieved, which is something that many of us rarely take time to do when we’re busy moving from one project to the next.
It’s been quite a journey, and winning the award has only motivated me to push further. If the past 10 years have taught me anything, it’s that you never really know where saying “why not?” might take you.
If you want to enter the 2025 CEDIA Smart Home Awards, visit www.cedia.org/awards. The program will remain open for entries until April 11 for Integrator categories and June 6 for Business, Individual, and Manufacturer Product categories. The early bird deadline for Manufacturer Product categories is May 6.
