Collaboration Week NY 2025: A Look Back at Three Days of Insightful Discussions
/We just wrapped up Collaboration Week New York 2025, hosted by the IMCCA , and I couldn't be more pleased with how the event unfolded. Over three days, we explored the latest trends in collaboration, unified communications, and workplace technology – fostering meaningful conversations between industry leaders, experts, and attendees.
Day 1: Cisco ’s NYC Headquarters – The Intersection of Collaboration, AV, and Building Management
We kicked things off at Cisco’s New York headquarters, where the focus was on the merging of collaboration and AV data with building management systems and controls.
Mark Peterson of Shen Milsom & Wilke provided a deep dive into how these traditionally opposing disciplines are beginning to converge (a topic I recently explored in an article – link here). He then moderated a panel discussion featuring experts from Yorktel ( John Latini ), The Walt Disney Company ( Kevin Hyatt ), and Xyte ( Andrew Gross ), who shared their real-world experiences in integrating these technologies.
One of the key takeaways? While we’ve historically used data for after-the-fact decision-making, AI-driven analytics now enable real-time adjustments – things like automating lighting, air conditioning, and shades in response to actual room usage.
Later, Cisco’s Mark Miller walked us through how Cisco’s global office spaces are being transformed for the modern hybrid workplace, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of a distributed workforce.
Day 2: Crestron’s Customer Experience Center – AI’s Role in Collaboration
Tuesday’s sessions, held at Crestron Electronics Customer Experience Center, dove into one of the hottest topics in collaboration today: #GenerativeAI.
Industry analyst Kevin Kieller delivered an in-depth presentation on the state of AI in collaboration platforms, followed by a panel discussion featuring Sam Kennedy ( NetSpeek ), Sharath Abraham ( Jabra ), and industry expert Marc Cooper. They tackled pressing questions on practical AI applications, its limitations, and the potential risks it poses – particularly in highly regulated industries.
We then heard from Crestron’s Brad Hintze, who shared Crestron’s perspective on AI and automation in their solutions, followed by Zoom's Eugenio Bayo, who outlined Zoom’s vision for AI and where the industry is headed.
Day 3: Pace University – Preparing the Next Generation
The final day took us to Pace University, where the discussion centered around the next generation of talent entering the industry. The premise? Millennials and Gen Z experience collaboration differently, which means organizations must rethink how they design offices and technology for the future of work.
Dr. S. Ann Earon of TRI moderated the day's conversations, ensuring an engaging dialogue between panelists and attendees. Then George Chacko introduced those in attendance to NextLVL Learning Inc.
A True Industry Dialogue
What stood out most throughout Collaboration Week NY 2025 was the level of interaction between speakers and attendees. These weren’t death-by-PowerPoint sessions – they were dynamic conversations amongst all the attendees. The engagement, questions, and discussions made it clear: the industry is evolving, and events like these provide an invaluable space to exchange ideas and insights.
A huge thank you to our sponsors: Lenovo, Neat, XYTE, Yorktel, QSC #Q-SYS, and Zoom, as well as our incredible host venues – Cisco, Crestron, and Pace University. The IMCCA is the nonprofit industry organization that has supported collaboration for over 25 years. We are proud to facilitate these conversations.
As Director of Emerging Technology for IMCCA and Chair of this event, I’m honored to be part of an agnostic forum where the entire community of consultants, analysts, integrators, manufacturers, and end-users can come together to discuss the latest trends in collaboration and unified communications. Competitors were sitting side-by-side, engaging in the discussions for the good of the entire industry.
The slide presentations from the event will be available in the next few days at CollaborationWeekNY.org.
