CEDIA staff execute the association strategic mission under the guidance of the Board of Directors. Reach out to any of the team at any time if we can assist you with your CEDIA Membership or accessing our products and services.
Ensuring the Board has strong and responsible leadership together with a wide range of skills.
The principal purpose of the governance committee is to monitor the balance of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity on the Board and the succession plans for CEDIA's leadership.
The committee has focused on ensuring that your Board has strong and responsible leadership together with a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience, which are critical to creating long-term value and success.
The committee continued to take responsibility for the oversight of talent development and ensuring that a future talent pipeline is taken throughout the Group.
Edward Gilmore
Vice Chairperson
MaryEllen Oswald
Board Director
James Ratcliffe
Board Director
Eddie Shapiro
Chief Design Officer - SmartTouchUSA
Angela Larson
SVP, Business Operations and Strategic Partnerships - Savant
Nicolai Landschultz
Managing Director - IndigoZest
Melanie Niemerg
Owner, Integral Systems
Vice Chairperson
In 1988 as a professional classical musician, Ed began a parallel career as an audio consultant to a leading Architectural and Interior Design firm, which included designing, bidding out, and overseeing projects. By 1991, having learned many of the intricacies of custom installation, Gilmore formed his own full-service company, Gilmore’s Sound Advice, Inc. (GSA). Having been involved in the industry since the advent of audio distribution, the infancy of home theater, and witnessing the evolution of the “smart” home and residential control systems, affords Gilmore a broad historical perspective of the industry.
For many years, Gilmore’s Sound Advice strictly adhered to a word-of-mouth recommendation policy to insure the company’s commitment to superior installation and unsurpassed client support. This policy was directly responsible for an impressive, high profile client resume. With the move to an 8,000 square foot facility in 2016, Gilmore created one of the most unique showroom and event spaces in New York City. Additionally, increased workspace allows GSA staff to rack build, program, and test all systems before they leave the facility. This includes the ability to qualify dimming capabilities of LED lighting fixtures. An active member of CEDIA, HTSA, and HTA, a commitment to process, documentation, ongoing education, and certification underscores GSA’s commitment to provide clients with an informed assessment of the industry’s best available options and practices.
Board Director
MaryEllen Oswald is a seasoned consumer technology executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning partnerships, business development, publishing, and channel strategy within the custom integration and smart home industries. She currently serves as Partnerships Business Development Manager and Residential CI Channel Manager at Somfy Systems, where she leads strategic alliances, integration initiatives, and ecosystem development across the custom installation channel.
In her role at Somfy, MaryEllen focuses on driving scalable partnerships, advancing motorized shading and connected living solutions, and aligning manufacturers, integrators, and technology platforms to deliver seamless end-to-end experiences. Her work emphasizes collaboration, operational clarity, and long-term value creation for the CI community.
Previously, MaryEllen was the Founder and Publisher of Connected Design Magazine, where she successfully built a respected media platform bridging the worlds of technology, design, and architecture. Her entrepreneurial background continues to inform her strategic perspective, stakeholder engagement, and commitment to industry growth.
MaryEllen has been recognized for her leadership and long-standing contributions to the consumer technology industry, including being named a 2025 Powerful Women in Consumer Technology , 2024 CEPro's Women to Watch, a Women in Consumer Technology Legacy Award Honoree. She is deeply committed to mentorship, professional development, and advancing collaboration across the CEDIA ecosystem.
Board Director
James began his career in home technology and developed a passion for music, sound, and electronics from a young age when he joined a hi-fi store at the age of 14. His involvement with CEDIA started in 2002 and became the youngest member of the CEDIA EMEA Board of Directors at the age of 24. James established his design-centric, integration firm Homeplay, in 2006 with it earning the prestigious ISO:9001 accreditation for organizations that demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. Under his leadership, Homeplay became the second CEDIA member globally to achieve CEDIA’s Member of Excellence status and has been bestowed with numerous awards including CEDIA, Control4, D-Tools, and local business recognition. In 2018, Homeplay opened an experience center, with it winning Best Showroom EMEA at the CEDIA Awards. Over the years, James has continued to be heavily involved, assisting with the UK Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group, numerous CEDIA working groups, a UK lighting CPD course, and training at ISE. He regularly provides training to interior designers and architects as a CEDIA Outreach Instructor.
Chief Design Officer - SmartTouchUSA
Eddie Shapiro is chief design officer for SmartTouchUSA, which has operations in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. He has worked in audio/visual and low voltage for more than 30 years in areas such as installation, system design, programming, marketing, sales, and executive leadership. A CEDIA volunteer for more than a decade, Shapiro says his focus today is on new technologies, developing industry standards, and increasing the industry’s reputation among architects, lighting designers, builders, and the design industry. Shapiro is part of the CEDIA Technology Council, which focuses on emerging trends and key industry topics.
SVP, Business Operations and Strategic Partnerships - Savant
Angela is a 25+ year veteran of the smart home industry, overseeing all aspects of front-end business operations. She has a passion for bringing new technologies to market and breaking down evolving market trends.
Over the last several years, Angie and her teams have been focused on expanding the definition of smart home to include whole-home energy management as a foundation.
Managing Director - IndigoZest
Behind the business of IndigoZest is Nicolai Landschultz who brings over twenty years’ experience and passion as a Home Technology Professional. A twice certified CEDIA Certified Technology Professional, Lutron certified, RAKO qualified, KNX Partner and Control4 programmer (to mention but a few).
Owner, Integral Systems
Melanie Niemerg is an integration firm owner who walks-the-walk of doing work to bridge the technology and design-build communities. For example, she has sat on the board of NARI Tampa Bay (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), ASID, and is on the advisory board for the local trade school design program (PTEC). She is also a CEDIA Certified Outreach Instructor, enjoys hosting Lunch and Learn events, and is excited to join the Governance Committee.