A professional life dedicated to technology in different areas has been the one that Margarita Reyes Canchola, founder and general director of the Mexican AV integrator G4 Audio y Video, has had.
By Richard Santa
Combining the integration of AV technology with spiritual development, Margarita Reyes Canchola has managed to position herself in the Mexican audiovisual industry by providing harmony in her work group, customer satisfaction with the result of her integrations and promoting the professional development of her work group and, in the last year, of women in the AV industry of her country.
His first steps in the world of technology were with LG Electronics Mexico as manager of The Computer Division and recording products. Then, in Ingram Micro Mexico as Manager of Special Accounts and in Microformas as Manager of Corporate Accounts. Thanks to the experience and contacts acquired in the aforementioned companies, in 1998 she had the opportunity to be the founder of the AMX office in Mexico.
He recalled that working for Microformas, the AMX brand visited the company and invited them to a System Design course in the city of Dallas, Texas. "I was the only sales person who had my valid passport and all the desire to go to the course, so I was selected to travel. On the trip I met the founder of AMX, Scott Miller, a very simple man whom I met at the door of the company and took me to the training room. I did not know that he was the owner of the company and when he was later presented to me I was surprised because I thought he was another employee because of his simplicity. I thought with such a director, I would like to work in this company."
In those beginnings, AMX was a small company and Margarita Reyes learned a lot from people like Michael Olinger and Lynnette Gracey, who were the representatives for Latin America and with whom she shared many experiences and met both the people of Cedia and InfoComm, as well as integration companies from all over the world.
Creating a company
There are many achievements that our Professional of the Month has achieved in the AV industry. In 2002, while still at AMX, the Mexico office won the award as the company's best international office. In addition, he has had the opportunity to meet several industry leaders such as Joel Spira of Lutron in 2004 and Randy Klein of Crestron in 2014, corroborating their simplicity and leadership.
Adding all the knowledge acquired and the support of other partners, Margarita Reyes decided in 2004 to start her integration company. And already independently she created in 2011 G4 Audio and Video, a company in which she is the General Director.
"My great professional support has been Edgar, my husband. He is a telecommunications engineer and works for Dimension Data, Cisco's global wholesaler. Edgar has supported me so that G4 Audio and Video is the company it is, since both have worked together to get projects for companies like HSBC and Banamex," he said.
Your normal workday starts with the first cup of coffee while you check your emails. Friday is the planning day of the following week, because sometimes they must attend work meetings, courses or facilities and also promote their services. The technical team has its own work dynamics and coordinates with customers.
"Our challenge has been to keep up with companies that have been in the industry for many years and have a larger team, so we strive to exceed customer expectations without that meaning giving away our work. On the contrary, we like to make customers see that design and engineering have an added value as well as the solutions of the brands with which we work," he said.
G4 Audio and Video also has a plan for technology school interns that has given them good results. "Helping those leaving schools and training them has helped us complement the team."
Train, innovate and diversify
In his tour of the AV industry, he highlighted three aspects of his learning:
1) Innovation: Every year it is renewed, there are always new equipment, solutions and products, because to make a project or reach a point, there are many ways and technological options within the industry.
2) Diversification: So many specializations that the industry has and that have been increasing, such as automation, digital signage, streamining, voice, etc.
3) Constant training: every day there is something to learn, know and marvel at technology, which is why I support all training efforts for professionals.
On the evolution of the AV industry in Mexico, he stressed that he always finds ways to grow even though it has an economic recession. "The companies that are my market will always need our services. In fact, growth rates are moderate (8 - 10%) but at least they have not stagnated; for me I believe that what is missing is to promote a healthy competition where we all win and also that the projects are designed in a way that not only the price is seen but also the efficiency of it. Sometimes cheap products don't meet expectations."
She currently belongs to the global business network BNI (Business International Network) in the strategy 21 chapter formed by business owners and is convinced that word-of-mouth references are the best tool to promote G4 Audio and Video. Several interesting projects and friendships have come out of this network. BNI's motto is to win by giving.
Women in AV
Margarita Reyes' leadership in the industry has been consolidated with the formation of the group of women in the Mexican AV industry, thanks to the support of InfoComm. This group started in 2014 and has had a good response from industry professionals.
"I am convinced that women have a lot to contribute and learn in this industry and our idea is to team up with manufacturers, promoters and professionals, not because most are men, both genders have qualities that the industry needs and that we must also transmit to the new generations."
She added that due to the statistics they handle, in the AV companies of Mexico there are more and more women collaborating and the technical area is the one that has fewer members. Most are concentrated in sales and administrative. The group currently has a record of more than 50 women. "The objective of mujeres AV is to have a forum to make us known, share experiences and help the recognition and growth of the industry in Mexico and Latin America."
A spiritual life
Our Professional of the Month has a degree in Communication sciences and Marketing from UNAM. She has lived for 16 years with her partner and has a daughter, Ana Margarita, 20, who is studying economics and voice-over and from whom she hopes to inherit her mother's company.
"We really like being at home and cooking together as well as inviting our friends to listen to music. I have a pet, a Siamese cat named Samantha who is part of the family." Margarita enjoys yoga, biking, and meditation. Doing these activities that she is passionate about, she had the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama in 2013. She is currently studying a Diploma of Holistic Healing, since for her the spiritual part is the complement to happiness and abundance.
Margarita Reyes concluded by stating that "I predict for G4 Audio and Video a great future and I am very happy to be part of the AV world".
