Open2 elevating smart schooling: New role extends accelerated growth strategy for PPDS in the education market across North America, with a wave of new campus wide solutions set to be announced in the coming weeks – at FETC Philips booth 1434 and BETT UK Philips booth NJ54.

Jan. 18, 2024 -PPDS is excited to announce the promotion of experienced AV/IT education specialist, Patrick VanTreese to role of Director of Education Sales in North America.

Based in Tampa, Florida, Patrick – one of the education industry's most experienced and respected AV professionals – joined PPDS in September 2021 as Education Sales Manager, tasked with spearheading PPDS' growth ambitions in the education market, building brand awareness, and driving sales of PPDS’ suite of advanced across campus solutions.

Patrick has played an integral role in leading the company’s strategy for creating more engaging, collaborative, and inclusive learning environments with Philips Professional Displays in schools, colleges, and universities across North America, surpassing all company targets and ambitions.

From classrooms to cafeterias, through sports facilities to student dorms, PPDS now has one of the industry's most complete portfolios of dedicated education AV solutions in North America, providing advanced and highly innovative visual hardware and software to support every area of the campus.

Examples include (also being showcased at FETC on Philips booth 1434, at BETT in the UK Philips booth NJ54, and TCEA booth 2429, as well as at ISE in Barcelona on Philips booth 3P500) digital signage (Philips Signage 4000 Series D-Line and Philips Signage 3000 Series Q-Line, dvLED (Philips Unite 6000 Series L-Line), videowalls (Philips Videowall X-Line) and ‘zero power’ Philips Tableaux displays). Both FETC in the US and BETT in the UK will also debut the all-new Philips Interactive 4152 E-Line 4K, interactive classroom display bringing additional choice of educational features to teachers and students.

Available in 65”, 75”, and 86” sizes across both model variants, the new collaboration inspired Android SoC Philips Interactive Series’ both feature a stunning new 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD interactive touchscreen, with 40-touchpoint interaction – doubling those available from predecessors – helping to bring tutors and classmates together like never before and encouraging them to share their creative capabilities.

A class above

As Director of Education Sales, Patrick will lead and advance the team’s education strategy in North America, identifying new business opportunities, partnerships, relationships, and revenue streams as PPDS looks to firmly establish itself as the trusted solution provider of choice throughout all educational levels.

Discussing his new role, Patrick VanTreese said: “Since joining PPDS two years ago, the company, both nationally and internationally, has evolved and excelled. The strength of our teams, and the quality and innovation of our dedicated display hardware and software solutions, inspire me, our partners and, more importantly, tutors across North America. I’m proud of what our team has achieved to date, and we’re still just getting started. In my new role as Director of Education Sales I’m excited about the opportunity to help take PPDS to the next level. When I joined, I described the company as a sleeping giant in the education space. That giant is now very much awake.”

Patrick’s vast knowledge and experience – now entering his fourteenth year – continues to bring invaluable support and influence for PPDS teams in North America and to those in PPDS’ sales regions globally. He has also become a prominent and distinguished figure within the EdTech community, regularly attending local and international industry events.

PPDS Director of Sales, Bruce Wyrwitzke, to whom Patrick continues to report, added: “Since day one, Patrick’s commitment and enthusiasm have been an inspiration and have only further fuelled our belief in our Philips education displays and solutions, which continue to bring new opportunities and transformational change. Not just in the classroom, but across entire campuses, and even for those studying remotely. I’m thrilled Patrick has accepted this new position as Director of Education Sales, continuing the upward trajectory he and the team have worked so hard on.”