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191: Women Breaking Barriers in AV: Resilience, Representation & Rising to the Challenge ft. Claudine C. Pellington

Welcome to the ⁠Events Demystified Podcast⁠, hosted by ⁠Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, WMEP⁠.

In this episode, I am pleased to have a real talk about the ups and downs in the AV trenches with Claudine C Pellington, CVEP, an AV veteran, show director and show caller, founder of CCP Audiovisual. During our time together, Claudine shares her experiences of building a successful career in a male-dominated field, her path from music to AV production, the challenges she has faced, and the importance of resilience, mentorship, and believing in oneself. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in or already working within the AV industry, especially women and people of color. Tune in for a powerful discussion on representation, hard work, and paving the way for the next generation of women in live events and technology, and be inspired to lead with courage and clarity.

VIDEO EPISODE

GUEST BIO

Claudine C. Pellington is an accomplished AV/Live Event Professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Her journey started with a passion for music began at a young age, where she was deeply involved in her high school’s band programs, including marching band, concert band, and symphonic bands. She was also selected to perform in prestigious ensembles such as the All-Star Band and the All-County Percussionist Band. This immersion in music sparked her curiosity about the technical aspects of music production, ultimately leading her to pursue and obtained her degree in Recording Arts in 2005.

While in college, Claudine honed her skills working on both independent projects and as a recording engineer. Upon graduation, she continued her work as a freelance recording engineer, collaborating with local producers and independent artists. Through hard work, dedication, and networking, she was able to build a strong reputation in the industry, eventually discovering her passion for the AV industry.

Over the past two decades, Claudine has worked with multiple multi-million and multi-billion-dollar companies in the audio-visual sector. Her drive and expertise led her to take on leadership and management roles, where she further refined her skills. Motivated by her desire to provide a more personalized service, she founded CCP Audio Visual, LLC. Through her own company, Claudine offers tailored Audio Visual Show Management services, ensuring each event is executed with meticulous attention to detail, and that every client’s needs are fully understood and met. Her commitment to professionalism and success remains the core of her business philosophy.

Fun Fact:

I would have to say music lead to my discovery of AV/Live Event Show Productions that I now have had a career in for 20 years now.

🔍 Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
03:12 Breaking Myths in AV Industry
05:58 Claudine’s Journey into AV
12:03 Anca’s Parallel Journey
17:50 Challenges and Resilience in AV
22:05 Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces
34:01 Handling Conflicts and Personalities
37:41 Making AV Industry Inclusive
39:56 Mentorship and Its Impact
41:16 A Tribute to My Best Friend and Mentor
42:10 Transitioning to Freelance
43:59 Challenges and Rewards of Freelancing
46:21 Navigating the AV Industry as a Woman
50:04 Overcoming Technical Challenges
01:05:41 Advice for Aspiring AV Professionals
01:11:00 Final Thoughts and Networking

Connect with our Guest at the links below:

Website: www.ccpaudiovisual.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccpav/

Connect with your Podcast Host at the links below:

Speaker website: https://ancaplatontrifan.me/
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ancatrifan/⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anca.platon.trifan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.mindful.maven/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eventsdemystifiedpodcast/

Follow the podcast on Spotify, and/or Instagram, LinkedIn page, and our YouTube page to stay updated on the latest episodes, behind the scenes reels, and join the conversation.

⁠⁠Original Podcast Music written and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fable Score Music.

“Events: demystified” Podcast is brought to you by Tree-Fan Events, a leading woman-owned boutique event planning and production agency offering a comprehensive approach to event management and production, with a focus on enhancing the attendee experience with the #FIT4EVENTS framework for a holistic event cycle in order to create memorable events.

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About Events Demystified Podcast

As a seasoned event professional, podcast host, and AI strategist, Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, WMEP champions women behind the scenes in AV, event production, and technology. She advocates for becoming #FIT4EVENTS—mentally, physically, and emotionally—as well as for diversity in AV and the integration of AI in events. Through this podcast, she goes behind the curtain to bring the magic of event production and technology to the forefront, demystifying AV, AI tools, and event technology for in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences.

This podcast is sponsored by Tree-Fan Events LLC—a woman-owned event production agency integrating AV, AI, technology, and data-driven strategies to make every event a seamless and engaging experience.