Why I’m Attending Crestron Masters 2025

There are conferences you attend to stay informed, and then there are conferences you attend to stay sharp. For me, Crestron Masters has always been the latter.

This May, I’ll be heading to Madrid to join AV professionals from around the globe for this year’s Crestron Masters. It’s one of the few events on the calendar that consistently challenges me—not just as someone who covers the AV industry, but as someone committed to learning and evolving with it.

Crestron Masters Certification

This year Crestron has launched its brand-new Modern Work Certification as part of the Master curriculum, a learning track that focuses heavily on what Crestron calls the “modern workplace,” and that’s not just a buzzword. It’s a reflection of how quickly our industry continues to shift. AI-enhanced systems, intelligent video, AV-over-IP infrastructure, and flexible collaboration tools aren’t just things we talk about anymore—they’re part of the baseline expectations for clients, users, and integrators alike.

This year is heavy on Crestron’s 3C’s (Content, Collaboration and Control) as well as leaning into their AI solutions and integration. In this moment, I am not surprised. AI-enabled AV systems are being developed, designed, and deployed in spaces from corporate to higher education. The Modern Work Certification (which is earning me 5.0 AVIXA RUs for CTS, CTS-D, and ANP certification levels) brings together best practices as well as the technical solutions that make productive and engaging collaboration a reality in today’s offices and classrooms.

Constant Learning

What draws me in, year after year, is the way Crestron Masters balances forward-thinking innovation with hands-on application. The curriculum goes beyond product updates and into the real-world strategy behind them—why these technologies matter, how they’re implemented, and what integrators and AV decision makers need to succeed with them.

It’s also an opportunity to connect with peers who are solving the same problems from different angles. I mean, it’s the biggest congregation of Crestron programmers annually. Whether it’s through a panel, a hackathon, or a hallway conversation, the value comes just as much from the people as it does from the sessions themselves.

For me, attending Crestron Masters is about investing in my own understanding of the technology, the challenges IT and AV users face, and the direction the industry is heading. I’m not going to Madrid just to learn what’s new. I’m going to better understand what’s next.

I’ll be sharing a follow-up after I return with the key takeaways, insights, and maybe a few surprises from this year’s Crestron Masters. Plus, I’ll be trying my hand at getting Modern Work Certified. Stay tuned.