A passionate advocate for mentoring and advancing women in technology, Melissa Andresko will receive the 2023 Smart Home Leadership Award presented by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® at CES® 2023.
Andresko serves on CTA’s Executive Board, Board of Industry Leaders, Smart Home and Accessories Division Boards, and is a CTA Foundation Trustee. Named ‘One of the Most Powerful Women in Consumer Technology’ by Dealerscope magazine in 2018, Andresko often appears in the media and at conferences to share smart home user experience and product adoption expertise.
In a Q&A with CTA, Andresko, who is Chief Corporate Brand Ambassador for Lutron Electronics and in 2019, was awarded the Women in Consumer Technology Legacy Award, reflects on winning the award and looks to the future of the smart home industry.
What are some of the contributions to the smart home industry that you’re most proud of?
My passion is helping consumers, especially seniors and the disabled, realize the benefits of smart home products. I’ve spent more than a decade driving the adoption of smart home products in different ways.
Participating in CTIA and CEDIA boards, committees, and events is very rewarding. I chaired the CTA TechHome board from 2016-2018. Under my leadership, we advocated and led members to change the name to the Smart Home Board to better reflect the industry landscape.
What do you anticipate the smart home space will look like in the future?
Even after nearly 25 years in the industry, I still marvel at the advances we have seen over the past 5, 10, and even 20 years. It’s fascinating how smart home means something different to everyone. To some, a smart home means using a voice assistant to play music or create a shopping list, to others it’s having a motion-activated light in their laundry room, and to many, it’s a home with many Internet of Things devices controlled by an app.
We’ve seen a tremendous shift in consumer sentiment and adoption of smart home products. Early on, consumers didn’t grasp the benefits of the products and viewed them as gadgets. Today, smart home products solve problems, assist with caregiving, create peace of mind and simplify everyday tasks and routines.
My hope for the future is that consumers continue to see the benefits these products bring to your home and family, and that living in a smart home is the norm and not the exception.
In what ways do you hope your selection for this award will inspire others in the consumer technology industry?
There are only so many hours in the day to volunteer and explore your passions. My passion is consumer and industry advocacy by volunteering on CTA boards and committees. Your fellow board members are not competitors—we’re all here for the exact same reason—to find common ground in our passion to take care of our customers and to advance the consumer electronics industry.
To see people from various disciplines and backgrounds work together toward a common goal is rewarding and I encourage everyone to find their passion like I did and pursue it with enthusiasm and rigor.
Each year, CTA presents the award to an individual who has made significant contributions to the growth and success of the smart home industry and shows continued dedication and service to the consumer tech industry. Andresko will be recognized at the 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards Reception at CES 2023 in Las Vegas on Jan. 6. Click here to learn more.