When 75 of the world’s leading event technology services providers unite to form
the world’s most comprehensive event technology network, the resultant formidable
force in the event industry generates unlimited opportunities to share knowledge
and stimulate industry growth through engagement between its members.
The global AV Alliance network was originally formed to facilitate project
requirements for clients through a network of regional representatives. The idea
was to create an alliance of AV providers which could be relied on to service each
other’s clients with the same high standards, across the globe.
All members are independently managed companies, are among the leading
providers within their respective regions and are committed to providing a
consistently high delivery level. The AVA membership has grown to 75 companies
which serve 102 locations around the world – which equates to a massive 5,733
employees involved in a massive count of 100,248 projects per year.
The membership is selective with only one representative included per region and
applicants are required to fulfil a catalogue of qualitative assessment criteria
focused on the respective company’s quality and reliability.
Gearhouse South Africa represents South Africa within the AV Alliance and has
successfully managed numerous events for their international partners.
In 2015, Gearhouse South Africa identified two deserving employees to participate
in the AV Alliance’s inaugural Skills Swap program. Designated technicians spend a
month working as part of the team at one of the other international companies on a
one-to-one swap basis. For Ezekiel Mashimbye, Senior Audio Technician at
Gearhouse Johannesburg and Ryan Shepherd, Project Manager at Gearhouse’s Cape
Town branch; it was the chance of a lifetime.
Mashimbye (“Zieks’) spent September at Neumann&Muller Veranstaltungstechnik in
Stuttgart, Munich and working at the IAA in Frankfurt on a prestigious motor show
while Shepherd travelled from Karben and Werne, Germany to Hilversum,
Netherlands during October. “In Karben, I worked on large scale corporate and in
Hilversum the focus changed slightly to a more scenic/custom graphics focus for
exhibition stands and displays’ says Shepherd. He was given the opportunity to
work in all departments on a rotational basis under the guidance of Satis&Fy Project
Managers, Oliver Heyde, John Van Gaal and Thanos Souliotis. Zieks also worked in
a hands-on capacity as part of the Audio team under the guidance of
Neumann&Muller Project Managers, Moritz Spath and Felix Mohrle.
A representative from Satis&Fy and Neumann&Muller will join the Gearhouse team
for a month in November and February respectively.
