Backstage Pass: A Conversation and Q&A with Tom and Steve Alford

Daniel Litwin
Feb 20, 2020
Learn more
Alford Media AV events live shows Promoted Content technology Thought Leadership

 

Steve Alford, President, and Tom Alford, Executive Vice President, of Alford Media joined Backstage Pass to talk about the events industry, evolving technology and what makes Alford Media successful. They also answered the burning questions listeners wanted to know.

Over 35 years in the events industry, Alford Media has experienced the evolution and changes in the industry. Steve said the industry is trending up over the past ten years, and technology continues to change. “The big challenge today,” Tom said, “is finding new and exciting ways to present information that grabs people’s attention.”

What do Tom and Steve think are the next big technological trends in the industry? Steve believes 5G will play an important role in increased speed and bandwidth in ballrooms and event spaces. Tom said there is now a backward trend in the utilization of lower resolution LED; people who want bigger screens at a lesser price-point. Due to advances in technology, lasers are now cheaper than before, which Tom sees as an old trend becoming a new one.

In terms of what makes their organization successful, both agreed it is the people working at Alford Media that are the difference-makers in providing exceptional service and results for their customers. . As Tom put it, “If you don’t have the right people in place, all the best tech in the world isn’t going to get you there.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Pro AV Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Pro AV Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication. A new episode of the Pro AV Show drops every Thursday.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

AI
What Does Winning Look Like in the Age of AI-Driven Marketing?
November 24, 2025

As AI-powered tools—from agentic browsers to enterprise copilots—rapidly reshape how consumers search, learn, and buy, leaders are being forced to rethink not just their tech stack, but their teams, processes, and expectations. With 92% of companies planning to increase AI investments while only 1% consider their deployments mature, a clear disconnect emerges between AI excitement…

Read More
Karen Alter
Why the Best Leaders Don’t Climb Straight Ladders: How Karen Alter Built Success Through Detours
November 24, 2025

As companies push to decarbonize, modernize infrastructure, and bring new technologies to market, the leaders who stand out aren’t always the ones who followed a straight career path. Increasingly, it’s the people with the zigzags—the folks who’ve worked across different industries, adapted to new environments, and learned to make decisions under pressure—who bring the clarity…

Read More
intuition
Allowing Inspiration to Grow from Intuition: How Inner Guidance Drives Real Career Growth
November 21, 2025

In a workplace culture increasingly shaped by rapid change, rising expectations, and new definitions of leadership, professionals are redefining success beyond titles and output. Empathy, intuition, and inner alignment — once seen as intangible “nice-to-haves” — are now emerging as competitive advantages. As recent workforce studies show that human-centered leaders drive higher engagement and…

Read More
SEO
SEO in the Age of AI: What CMOs and CEOs Need to Know About AEO and GEO
November 20, 2025

In an era when AI-driven search experiences are reshaping how customers discover brands, marketing leaders are navigating a confusing landscape of new acronyms, shifting behaviors, and bold industry predictions. Despite widespread claims that “SEO is dead,” the data tells a different story: organic search traffic has continued to grow even as platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini,…

Read More
Related
Safer Cities: How Milestone and Axis are Shaping Urban Safety
Software & Technology
Safer Cities: How Milestone and Axis are Shaping Urban Safety
November 10, 2025
radio expedition
Healthcare
Into the Icy Unknown: Ironman Triathlete Dennis Ward Leads a Bold Radio Expedition to One of Earth’s Most Isolated Places
October 30, 2025

Few places on Earth are as remote—or as thrilling—as Bouvet Island. Located deep in the South Atlantic Ocean and often battered by fierce winds and icy seas, it’s one of the most isolated spots on the planet. Reaching it requires months of planning, physical endurance, and a daring spirit. For amateur radio operators, however, Bouvet…

Read More
Bouvet Island
Healthcare
To the Edge of the World: The 3Y0K Bouvet Island DXpedition and Its Youngest Explorer
October 23, 2025

In February 2026, an international team of 24 amateur radio operators will embark on a bold mission to one of the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth—Bouvet Island. Among the world’s most isolated islands, Bouvet offers no harbor, no shelter, and no easy way in. Yet from this icy outpost in the South…

Read More