Vetted Solutions Assists in the Recruitment of New CEO for CEDIA
October 22, 2021 – Washington, D.C.- based executive recruitment firm Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Daryl Friedman as global president and CEO of CEDIA, the global trade association for the home technology industry, in Indianapolis, IN. He will assume the role on Nov. 29. “We’ve found someone that I am confident will be the step-change in leadership that CEDIA needs and deserves,” said Jamie Briesemeister, CEDIA board and executive search committee member. “Daryl has decades of experience in trade association leadership and member advocacy. He exudes a humble nature that draws conversation and consensus, and he deeply values technical expertise and artistry. Daryl has a vision for what CEDIA can be—and will be—and he has the experience to realize it.”
Mr. Friedman’s selection concludes a lengthy and deliberate search led by Vetted Solutions. The process entailed multiple rounds of interviews and exercises, including one final meeting where the candidate questioned the search committee, asking candid questions about the role and expectations.
“The CEDIA board was keenly aware of the need to attract a visionary leader,” said board and executive search committee member Alex Capecelatro. “CEDIA plays an important role for many of our businesses, but the landscape has shifted dramatically over the last few years. We’re all adjusting to a post-pandemic world; Daryl can help us usher in this new era for our industry.”
“Daryl is a very positive, thoughtful and inspiring communicator,” said David Weinstein, CEDIA board vice-chairperson. “He is ready to listen, understand and engage in constructive dialogue. I believe that he will apply what he already knows as well as what he learns to allow him to lead from the front. There is so much opportunity for the custom integrator community at this time. With Daryl in this leadership role, I am very confident that he will help us to raise the profile of our association for the mutual benefit of the entire system integration and control industry.”
“I want to thank the CEDIA staff, particularly interim co-CEOs Giles Sutton and Kory Dickerson, for their steadfast leadership during this process,” said Rob Sutherland, CEDIA board chairperson. “They’ve steered the organization through incredibly challenging waters. Now, as the new CEO takes the helm, we’re in a very strong position. Daryl will be working closely with staff and the board to create and execute a strategic plan that serves the whole industry.”
Recruiting the Next Generation of Non-Profit Leaders
In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ Hunt Scanlon Media host, Rob Adams, is joined by Jim Zaniello, president and founder of D.C.-based Vetted Solutions, a boutique executive search firm focused on recruiting non-profit leadership. In this podcast, Mr. Zaniello discusses the current state of recruiting for non-profit organizations and associations. He then discusses the impact of the pandemic and touches on diversity and inclusion at non-profit institutions and how recruiters are assisting. Listen Now!
Mr. Friedman has spent more than 30 years in non-profit leadership roles, having overseen membership, advocacy, industry relations and the technical wing for the 25,000-member Recording Academy. The academy, known globally for the Grammy Awards, is the association representing technical and creative professionals in music. Mr. Friedman successfully advocated for legislation providing assistance to the recording community during the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting the rights of creators in the streaming era, earning the title of “the music creators’ man in Washington” from Billboard. He also conceived and grew Grammys on the Hill, an annual advocacy program attended by both congressional and music industry leaders. He has worked to grow and modernize the academy’s membership, leading initiatives to update recruitment practices to reflect the industry’s diversity.
“Having represented audio professionals for most of my career, I’ve long admired CEDIA for championing immersive audio experiences in the home,” said Mr. Friedman. “Now, as our homes become the hub for work, education, entertainment and wellness, CEDIA members are the indispensable partners for making our homes more comfortable and connected. This is truly CEDIA’s moment, and I am honored to join the team at this exciting time.”
CEDIA is the global industry association and central touch point for companies that design, manufacture, and integrate technology for the home. With a keen focus on education, workforce development and industry standards, CEDIA continues to build on its more than 30-year legacy as the industry leader in delivering the resources that set members on a pathway to prosperity.
Non-Profit Recruiters
Vetted Solutions, a specialist in conducting non-profit, government, and association sector recruiting assignments, focuses on recruiting board members, CEOs and senior staff positions for prominent and well-known organizations nationwide. Recent searches that the firm has conducted include executive director for the Association for Creative Industries, chief operating officer for the American Society of Microbiology, executive director for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and executive director of the American Academy of Optometry.
The firm’s president and founder Jim Zaniello has worked for more than two decades in positions ranging from non-profit executive director to publisher of a leading tool for non-profit executive search. He is also said to have an intimate understanding of the complex demands of the executive office through his own experience as executive director at several associations and non-profits.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
