Almo E4 Experience 2025

For sixteen years, Almo’s E4 Experience has proven that you don’t have to travel far to get high-value AV education and see the latest technology firsthand. As regional trade show formats gain momentum across the industry, E4 stands out. This is a program that blends hands-on learning, business development, and manufacturer engagement in a single, one-day experience.

At the Chicago stop this fall, Greg O’Rourke, Almo’s director of trade shows and events, summed up the show’s purpose succinctly:

“Sixteen years since its formal launch, the E4 program continues to evolve and, as a result, it continues to grow.”

That growth isn’t just about adding cities. It’s about relevance. E4 has become a proving ground for how education and technology intersect in a rapidly shifting AV and IT landscape.

Education That Keeps Pace with Change

E4 started as a straightforward manufacturer showcase. Today, it’s a curated learning environment built around real-world challenges. Each stop features multiple CTS-accredited sessions that speak directly to what integrators, consultants, and end users face on the job. Everything from AI adoption to hybrid-workspace design to cross-platform management.

In Chicago, the program featured AI-focused keynotes from Microsoft’s Amanda Stewart, who explored practical ways artificial intelligence is reshaping collaboration and meeting-room design. It wasn’t theory; it was implementation.

O’Rourke explained the shift this way: “We listen to integrators and dealers first, end users, and then design the program around them.”

That end-user-driven mindset informs the E4 curriculum. Sessions are now scheduled in the mornings and late afternoons to maximize time on the show floor, a direct response to attendee feedback.

“Based on feedback, we’re shifting our classes to give attendees more dedicated time on the show floor,” he said. This balancing act between classroom education and hands-on demos is what makes E4 feel less like a trade show and more like an industry workshop.

Practical AV User Needs

One of the products I got to see firsthand was the Panasonic AV Cart. The Artome PT-VMZ-AVCART is a complete, professional-grade media console on wheels. This cart is created with the needs of modern education, business, and event environments in mind. It’s as if the product designers talked to every AV geek in education and said “tell us your ultimate AV cart”. And then made it.

The cart is made with black oak, which gives a furniture-quality appearance that integrates into professional spaces. The system features height adjustability, ensuring projection alignment regardless of the room configuration or audience size.

The cart is specifically pre-wired to accommodate any Panasonic VMZ series projector which is sold separately. This integration means you get seamless mechanical and electrical control. The Artome cart even has a built-in 2.1 speaker system. This audio solution delivers significant audio power, eliminating the need for separate external speakers, amplifiers, and associated cables.

The JBL Collaboration

Another of the standouts at the Chicago E4 was Almo’s partnership with JBL’s Roadshow program. The live demos gave attendees a firsthand listen to the company’s latest ceiling and column speakers. This was an opportunity to actually hear the difference instead of just reading a spec sheet.

“That’s the first time that we’ve ever done anything like that with an E4,” O’Rourke said. “And we’re very excited about it.”

I was there for that session, and the crowd engagement told the story. JBL turned a standard booth visit into a full sensory experience. Only it was a dedicated room where they could show off new ceiling speakers. Including using 70 volt speakers to distribute stereo sound in a space.

Accessibility Meets Professional Development

In an industry where travel and education budgets are tight, E4’s biggest advantage remains its no-cost structure. Parking, meals, and sessions are all included, and those sessions earn CTS Renewal Units (RUs).

“There is nothing that attendees have to pay for,” O’Rourke emphasized. “Parking is validated, and your meals are covered.” That’s breakfast and lunch, dear reader.

That matters for technicians, educators, and IT professionals who need continuing education but can’t always get to InfoComm or CEDIA. The single-day format keeps it manageable. You can attend sessions, meet with vendors, and still be home that evening.

E4’s approach gives regional access to global expertise. For many smaller integration firms and universities, it’s their primary opportunity each year to talk directly with major brands and see technology up close.

AV Education Meets Network Reality

One of E4’s quiet strengths is how naturally it bridges the AV-IT divide. Nearly every class now touches on networking, data security, or device management. This is a reflection of where the industry is headed.

O’Rourke noted during our conversation that many attendees are IT professionals looking to better understand AV.  Not just integrators checking out the latest gear. That’s by design.

“We’ve seen a growing number of IT managers coming to E4 because they want to know how these systems fit into their networks,” he said.

Sessions in 2025 focused on hybrid collaboration, UC platform integration, and troubleshooting across AV and IT infrastructure. These are all aimed at helping tech leaders align their AV decisions with corporate network standards. The day wrapped up with great industry insight and perspective from Steph Beckett of rAVe, Alesia Hendley from Sennheiser, and Dan Farisi of Commercial Integrator.

For manufacturers, this audience shift means new conversations. It’s less about specs, more about deployment. For attendees, it means leaving with applicable knowledge, not just a bag of brochures.

Almo E4 Experience Bottom Line

For an industry increasingly influenced by IT and AI, education has never been more critical. The E4 Experience delivers that education where people are without cost barriers or logistical hurdles. It’s not a replacement for the big national shows, but it’s a vital complement: a regional learning hub that keeps professionals current, certified, and connected.

As O’Rourke put it, “E4 is about building relationships as much as it is about technology.” Sixteen years in, that focus on people, learning, and access continues to be Almo’s greatest differentiator.