106: Basket of Ducks and Bunnies with Jon Hamilton

What happens when a former dinosaur-hunting integrator turns higher ed AV hero? In this episode, Ryan reconnects with Jon Hamilton — a man whose AV origin story begins in the ’80s and who now serves as a trusted fixture in the higher ed AV landscape.From aggressive integrator days to nurturing secret-service-style classroom support, Jon shares hard-won insights, hilarious metaphors, and a grounded philosophy on service, leadership, and staying calm when tech — or people — break down.Jon’s AV career evolution from thermal fax machines to Emory MedThe “giver” mindset and being proud of being the solid guyWhy working in AV is fundamentally a service industryThe Secret Service metaphor: take the bullet, get no creditKeeping the ducks and bunnies alive (you’ll just have to listen)On callings, middle school teachers, and the discomfort of real compassionAdvice for newcomers: don’t panic — and know enough to call BSWhy calm wins: from Kennedy to control roomsSubject matter expertise vs. impostor syndromeConnect with Jon:📧 [email protected]🔗 Jon Hamilton on LinkedInConnect with Ryan:https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Grayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/📧 [email protected] the Show:🎧 http://higheredav.com/ryangrayVoiceovers by Chris Dechter:https://twitter.com/cdechterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. Feedback is always welcome — and we look forward to hearing from you!