Speakers

Since 2018, Mike Pedersen has led the Audiovisual Experience Team (AVXT) at Iowa State University, bringing more than 30 years of engineering expertise—26 of those focused on professional audiovisual systems. Under his leadership, AVXT manages AV systems in over 200 classrooms and provides consulting, installation, and repair services campus-wide. In 2023, the team earned the Higher Ed AV Team of the Year award from Higher Ed AV Media.

Mike is recognized as a leading voice in the AV industry. He holds dual Certified Technology Specialist credentials in Design (CTS-D) and Installation (CTS-I)—a distinction shared by only about 800 professionals worldwide. His contributions have been honored with AVIXA’s CTS Holder of the Year award (2018) and induction into the Higher Ed AV Hall of Fame (2025).

A frequent speaker and educator at major conferences—including InfoComm, ETC, MCUAV, NW/MET, and HETMA—Mike also serves on AVIXA’s Membership and Certification Renewal Committees and previously chaired the Technology Managers Council. He is a board member for the Educational Technology Collaborative (ETC) and has held leadership roles with HETMA, including its original steering committee.

Before joining Iowa State, Mike spent nearly two decades at Mechdyne Corporation in roles spanning engineering management, R&D, and pre-sales engineering. Beyond his professional work, he actively supports STEM education initiatives and previously served on the Governor’s North Central Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board.

Mike earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with distinction from Iowa State in 1994, with a minor in History, and is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management.