By Ryan Thurston, Founder – Atlantic AV

LEADING FROM THE FRONT OF THE INDUSTRY 

This past month, Nancy and I had the opportunity to attend the ProSource Summit in Nashville—an event that has become an important part of how we stay connected to the heartbeat of our industry.

It’s not your typical trade show. What makes ProSource unique is the level of collaboration. You’re surrounded by some of the best integrators, business owners, and manufacturers from across the country, all in one place, all focused on pushing the industry forward. There’s a shared mindset—everyone is willing to open up, share ideas, talk through challenges, and ultimately help each other get better.

For us, that’s invaluable.

A big part of our time there was spent in continuing education—diving into where things are headed, not just where they are today. Technology in the home is evolving quickly, and staying ahead of that curve takes intention. It’s not something that happens by accident. Being in rooms with people who are shaping that future gives us perspective that you simply can’t get anywhere else.

We also spent a good amount of time meeting with many of the manufacturers we work closely with. These are the relationships that directly impact what we bring into your home. Getting an early look at what’s in development, understanding the direction of their product lines, and having real conversations about performance and reliability is a huge part of what we do behind the scenes.

A lot of those conversations happen under NDA, so I can’t share specifics just yet—but I can tell you there is some incredibly exciting technology on the horizon. The kind of advancements that don’t just add features, but truly improve how systems perform and how people interact with their homes.

What stood out most, though, was the sense of community—and really, more than that, a sense of family.

This industry is filled with people who genuinely care about what they do. Many of the relationships we’ve built over the years have grown into close friendships. There’s a tight-knit, family-like atmosphere at ProSource that you don’t find just anywhere. Being able to sit down, share meals, catch up, exchange ideas, and support each other both personally and professionally is something Nancy and I truly value.

And of course, being in Nashville, we made sure to take in some of the incredible live music the city has to offer. It’s hard not to feel inspired when you’re surrounded by that level of talent and energy—especially for someone like me who has always had a deep passion for music.

And yes… we did our best to blend in. Boots and cowboy hats were absolutely part of the program.

At the end of the day, trips like this aren’t just about us—they’re about what we bring back. The ideas, the relationships, the early access to what’s coming next—all of it feeds directly into how we design, build, and support the systems in your home.

Because our goal has always been the same: to stay ahead of the curve so your experience at home feels effortless, reliable, and just works the way it should.

— Ryan Thurston  
Founder, Atlantic AV