Automation Unplugged Podcast
Automation Unplugged is a Facebook Live show recorded weekly with our host Ron Callis, Owner and CEO of the digital marketing agency, One Firefly. In each Automation Unplugged episode, Ron speaks with leading industry personalities and technology professionals to discuss all things business development, technology trends, and more. These interviews are designed to help our clients and members of the custom integration industry keep up-to-date with the latest news as well as learn from experts in the field.
Episodes
SHOW NOTES
We cover:
- How the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers is creating unprecedented demand for skilled labor across the country
- The five pillars of workforce resilience, including employer branding, candidate experience, career development, culture, and proactive workforce planning
- Practical strategies to help integrators attract, hire, and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive labor mark...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Robert and I discussed:
- Why selling his company at age 30 turned out to be the best lesson of his career.
- How their showroom and light lab sell what a conversation never could.
- The in-house training program that cut ramp time for a job site lead from ten years to two.
- And why a $20 million company had to go back to a single point of contact to keep feeling small to its clients.
Whether you...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Mike and I discussed:
- How AI image editing helps his team solve real client challenges — from removing private artwork and family photos before sharing project images, to swapping out unlicensed content on screens.
- How he uses simple ChatGPT prompts to turn a designer's scale elevation drawing into side-by-side visuals, helping clients make decisions faster and reducing costly change-orders ...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Ollie and I discussed:
- Why founder-led sales eventually becomes the ceiling on your growth, how the "founder advantage" makes it unfair to expect your salespeople to sell like you do, and the path to getting off the hamster wheel.
- The five-pillar operating system Sales Velocity uses to build scalable sales machines—positioning, process, people, performance, and planning—and how to find...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Jason and I discussed:
How he scaled Austin Home Systems from a three-person shop to 26 employees and over $7 million in revenue.
How reading Traction helped him define his target market of custom home builders and break through the million-dollar ceiling.
Why joining a ProSource peer group and learning to “be vulnerable” with fellow dealers has been, in his words, life-changing for his busin...
SHOW NOTES
We cover:
- How AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity are changing the customer research journey — and why integrators need to rethink how they present themselves online
- The concept of EEAT — Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust — and how businesses can use content to strengthen their online visibility and credibility
- Practical strategies for capturing and creating conte...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Jon and I discussed:
- How his experience in NASCAR shaped the way he approaches precision, pressure, troubleshooting, and entrepreneurship in the integration world.
- Why professional design documentation, outsourced engineering partnerships, and strong project planning are critical.
- And how Jon is building Fusion Automation through relationships with architects, designers, and builders, while leani...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Blake and I discussed:
- How one simple ChatGPT project opened his eyes to the business potential of AI and led him to start building his own software tools.
- Why Claude Code, AI skills, agentic coding, and tools like MCP are helping non-traditional developers solve real business problems faster than ever before.
- And how Blake built LVN Signals, an AI-powered platform that helps contractors uncover ...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, David and I discussed:
- How EOC Audio grew 400% in six years by prioritizing "buying right," leveraging the power of buying groups, and hiring talent in advance of growth.
- Why long-term success comes from "saying yes" to clients and builders alike, and how David used 12 years of live radio hosting to build a legendary reputation in his market.
- And A look at the rising demand for sophisticated ligh...
SHOW NOTES
We cover:
- Why smart ceiling fans represent a growing opportunity for integrators — from comfort and energy savings to aesthetics and whole-home control integration
- The evolution of ceiling fan technology, including DC motors, airflow optimization, and smart controls
- How AI search and large language models are changing the customer journey — and why integrators need to rethink their online visibility s...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Hally and I discussed:
- The power of peer groups and why her V11 group in ProSource has become her most valuable business asset for vulnerability and growth.
- How she saved a client over $120,000 by re-engineering a high-voltage lighting hurdle into a low-voltage solution.
- And the AI revolution in integration and her journey from "just an email helper" to using Claude for site readiness an...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Jeremey and I discussed:
- His journey from the pro golf circuit to tech inventor, including the wild story of pitching a helmet-cam prototype to investors in a wedding buffet line.
- The strategic decision to "throttle" growth by raising prices, ensuring his team maintains a high standard of quality and reputation without burning bridges by growing too fast.
- How he is leveraging a new 4,000...
SHOW NOTES
We cover:
- How AI search is changing the way prospects research integrators, compare companies, and decide who to contact
- Why foundational SEO strategies — like Google Business Profile optimization, on-site content, backlinks, reviews, and technical SEO — still matter in the age of AI
- And what business owners can do now to help AI tools understand, trust, and recommend their company when potential clie...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Shawn and I discussed:
- How implementing a structured operating system and focusing on core values allowed Shawn to step back from the "trenches" and empower his team to lead.
- The specific strategies Logic uses to maintain a six-minute response time and build a "sticky" recurring revenue model that keeps clients for life.
- And Shawn’s insights on how AI is streamlining internal operations and...
SHOW NOTES
We cover:
- The Four Experiences of Light — and how each plays a distinct role in how people live, relax, and interact with their spaces
- How to sell lighting without selling products, using real-world examples like restaurants, hotels, spas, and homes to help clients emotionally connect to the value of great lighting
- How to market lighting effectively, with strategies that help prospects understand why lighti...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Corby and I discussed:
- Why trying to handle your own marketing and web design is often the worst business decision an integrator can make, especially when trying to scale.
- How shifting from "free courtesy support" to tiered recurring service contracts can transform your cash flow and strengthen client satisfaction.
- Why Micro LED technology is the most significant advancement since plasma and how ...
SHOW NOTES
During this webinar, you’ll hear from myself and Russell Warnhoff, Custom Integration Manager at Sony.
We cover:
- Why projection is still a profit engine — and how it competes in key ways against large TVs and direct-view video walls
- Why the Sony brand carries weight and how to use Sony’s “Lens to Living Room” storytelling to elevate your sales conversations
- How to actually market big...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Doug and I discussed:
- How his background in luxury goods like wine and art allows him to connect emotionally with affluent clients and sell a lifestyle rather than just technical gear.
- The strategic challenge of scaling a business while maintaining the high-touch, personalized "owner experience" that luxury clients expect.
- Why he uses his viral social media presence as a form of "social proof" to...
SHOW NOTES
Host Ron Callis announces an exciting update to the Automation Unplugged lineup. Starting in June, the podcast's fourth episode each month will pivot from marketing segments to dedicated AI Insights. Join us as we sit down with industry experts to explore real-world AI use cases, practical applications for integrators, and what is actually working in the business world today.
To get the video announcement, visit: onefire...
SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Scott and I discussed:
- The evolution of his career from AV integration business owner, to 18 year career with Crestron and even a stint in the NASCAR sponsorship world all preparing Scott to build and lead his high-end lighting design studio
- Why lighting is a critical, high-growth vertical for integrators
- The realities of project management in the lighting space and why ...
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