CEDIA Appoints Dolenc and Klein to Executive Leadership Team

CEDIA has appointed of Paul Dolenc as vice president of education and Mitchell Klein as vice president of business development effective April 29, 2024. Dolenc and Klein join the now eight-person executive leadership team, reporting directly to Global President and CEO, Daryl Friedman.

“Individually, Paul and Mitch bring valuable experience from their accomplished careers, and both have the track records of success to propel CEDIA forward,” Friedman said. “But even more powerfully, together they bring a combined fresh view to CEDIA. Paul’s experience in trade education will bring a new vision to CEDIA training, and his electrical background will provide an insider’s view of the opportunities for CEDIA members where our industries intersect. Mitch will balance that knowledge with his deep understanding of the integration industry’s past and present — and the foresight to envision its full potential. I am excited to welcome them to CEDIA’s leadership team.”

With more than 15 years of experience, Dolenc’s extensive background in curriculum development, education, and apprenticeship management led to success during his previous tenure as vice president of education and training with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC). He led the organization’s national education and training strategy for more than a decade, which resulted in expanded instructor training programs, significant yearly growth in apprenticeship graduates, enhanced program accreditation with increased credit hours for graduates to earn advanced degrees, a more diverse range of professional development offerings, and the establishment of articulation agreements nationwide with community colleges, technical schools, and high schools.

“My passion for workforce development has been a driving force throughout my career, and I am excited to help shape and reimagine CEDIA’s education and training programs to further its mission,” Dolenc said. “Together with the CEDIA team, I am committed to ensuring that CEDIA’s education and certification initiatives continue to be the leading source of knowledge for the professional smart home industry.”

Klein most recently served as the director of alliances strategy at Silicon Labs, leading initiatives aimed at expanding and accelerating the global adoption of smart technologies. With more than 30 years of experience in the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape, Klein has dedicated his career to designing and implementing strategic programs that simplify and popularize IoT technology deployments. The former CEDIA board chair is responsible for championing the association several initiatives, including the launch of certification programs, the establishment of the government affairs program, and the creation of the Management Conference series. His distinguished contributions earned him a CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award in September 2019.

“My longstanding history with CEDIA has deeply shaped my career, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my experience and passion for advancing the industry to CEDIA once again,” Klein said. “CEDIA has always been at the forefront of innovation in the professional smart home industry, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to drive new initiatives and further enhance the growth and success of the association and its members.”

CEDIA has just concluded a record year for new member acquisitions, its first-ever CEDIA Smart Home Day on Capitol Hill to lobby for integrator recognition, and a return to financial and organizational stability with a balanced budget and extension of Friedman’s contract through 2027.