By Adrienne Meyer
6…5…4…3…2…1…
The countdown is on! We have 6 more weeks until we all gather together for the 2026 CSIA Conference in Baltimore from May 4-8, and I am so geeked about the program that we have planned for our system integration community!
From bestselling author Dan Heath and ever popular economic speaker Alex Chausovsky to educational sessions from almost 30 system integrators, the event is packed with the information you need to know to “Navigate Change” in this industry. (Bonus: You’ll get a free copy of Dan’s book if you let us know during registration that you want one!)
And since the past few years have definitely proven that axiom that “nothing is constant but change,” this is where you need to be to prepare yourself for the shifts that will continue to happen.
Two Pre-Conference Workshops: Best Practices and Marketing
To maximize travel budgets, pre-conference workshops are back for those who want to couple the conference with a deeper dive into key topics.
The Best Practices Workshop is a two-day event for owners and senior managers that focuses on implementing CSIA Best Practices, benchmarking current processes, and achieving CSIA Certification. Want to know how to get started with implementing the Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual but not sure where to start? This is where.
In addition, marketing professionals will want to join the one-day event “100% Authentic: SI Marketers Share Real Stories, Real Results.” This workshop brings together some of the most experienced and innovative marketers for system integration firms to outline proven strategies for SI firms. If you’re working to grow or improve your marketing, this is the session to learn more.
Explore It All
The full schedule of sessions is now available on the conference website. Past conference attendees will notice a change to the overall schedule: Instead of holding the traditional “Town Hall” in the middle of educational content on Thursday, CSIA will be opening the event with an Update to the Membership. Acting as the official annual meeting for the association and replacing the Town Hall, this Update to the Membership will inform members what they can expect from their association and give a guide on getting the most out of the conference. This change has allowed CSIA to maximize the educational content and keep the learning focused on site, and it will be paired with a virtual member feedback session in Q4.
If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll want to do so now. Not only will we have impactful presentations, but there will also be many opportunities to make new connections and strengthen the ones you have, including at the new Idea Exchange Hour, multiple evening receptions, curated breakfast, and lunch tables, and even an Orioles baseball game. It’s the one event of the year by system integrators, for system integrators. Join us to find your community and find your people while you learn, network, inspire, and share.
If you have registered, please let everyone know by using this special link.
What Do You Need?
CSIA is the home for system integrators, a resource and community on which SIs can rely as they grow their businesses and grow professionally, and for CSIA to offer the benefits that its members need, we need input from our members.
This is why I am so grateful to the many members who have invited me into their facilities to have in-depth conversations about what challenges they are facing as SIs, how they are using the association, and what they need for growth.
Member Visits
Since January, I’ve been fortunate to visit the teams at:
- ATI Systems
- Axis Engineering Group
- Motion Control Corporation
- Advanced Process Control & Optimization (APCO)
- SPI Automation
- CEC Controls Company
These conversations have reinforced the importance of key member benefits, such as the CSIA Conference, but they also have highlighted opportunities where we can facilitate connection and provide more education for our community.
These findings have been echoed by the 2025 Member Survey which ran in December, and I want to thank all the members who took the time to complete it.
Didn’t get the chance to give your thoughts at that time? Our 2026 Member Survey will shift to the beginning of Q3 this year to take it away from the “end of year crunch,” so watch your inboxes at that time.
In addition, my door is always open if you have feedback, have questions, or have thoughts about the direction of industry. Drop me a line, and we can find time to chat.
How Is Your Business Performing?
CSIA offers a range of tools to understand how your SI business is doing, both allowing you to track your own metrics over time and to benchmark against other SI firms. If you’re not familiar with the package of benchmarking tools that CSIA has, check out the recorded webinar “Benchmark Like a Pro: CSIA Tools to Drive Growth, Talent, and Operational Excellence,” through which you can learn how you can:
- Spot trends fast using EZ Stats, a quick monthly update on integrator activity.
- Track performance in real time with CSIA Pulse, the industry’s go-to quarterly dashboard for key metrics.
- Compare metrics with peers with CSIA’s Salary and Benefits annual report – freshly updated with data for 2026 and designed specifically for system integrators.
Are you interested in helping shape these or new tools that allow SIs to understand meaningful and useful KPIs? Reach out to me to learn about how you can get involved with the Benchmarking Committee.
With Thanks to Our Volunteer Committee Members
CSIA’s strength and longevity is due to the hard work and passion of members who have contributed to shape the organization.
As the next conference approaches, the Best Practices Committee would like to recognize three key contributors whose terms are coming to a close:
- Eric Martin – JAE Automation
- Remco Kappert – EKB
- Eric Schaefer – Retired (Gray Solutions)
All three have had lengthy terms on this committee, with Eric Schaefer in particular serving as chair. We want to thank them for their dedication to support all system integrators with best-in-class business guidance!
