Sarah Rose Honored by IDEA Hall of Fame After Decades of Service and Industry Leadership
Inducted into the IDEA Hall of Fame after more than two decades of industry involvement, Sarah Rose used her acceptance speech to focus not on her accomplishments but on a philosophy that guided her career: "raise your hand." The longtime Daktronics leader challenged industry professionals to embrace their unique perspectives, get involved and help shape the future of live event entertainment.
Justin Ochsner on 7/29/2026
Categories: Pro Sports and Colleges
When Sarah Rose stepped to the podium to accept her induction into the IDEA (Information Display & Entertainment Association) Hall of Fame, she began with gratitude.
"Over the course of the last few days, I have been able to reflect on my career and the impact this organization has had on my life. One word kept coming to mind: gratitude."
She included this theme throughout her Hall of Fame acceptance speech at the 2026 IDEA Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, in July. The honor recognizes more than 25 years of involvement in the organization and her contributions to both IDEA and the live events industry over that time.
Throughout her career at Daktronics, where she currently serves as Vice President of Global Services, Sarah focuses on supporting customers, developing teams and helping others succeed. That includes helping customers maximize their investments while ensuring successful installation, integration and operation of their LED display systems.
Raise Your Hand
Another focus of Sarah’s acceptance speech was stepping up and getting involved. This stemmed from the early days in her career when she was eager to learn from those around her.
“I absorbed everything I could. I listened. I learned. And then I reached a point where I asked myself, ‘How can I give back? How can I contribute?’”
The answer was simple: “I raised my hand.”
Over the years, that willingness led her to serve on the Content Committee, represent allied members, serve on IDEA’s Board of Directors and contribute on numerous initiatives, including the Women’s Committee, Inclusion & Outreach Committee and Hall of Fame Committee.
This led to efforts to introduce high school and college students to careers in the industry and to preserving the organization’s history through podcast interviews with longtime members.
“It’s all about willingness and getting involved to help strengthen the organization and the industry we all care about,” Sarah said. “We each have gifts and talents to share. It just takes willingness to get involved and help make a difference.
The People Behind the Moments
“What makes IDEA truly special isn’t one person or one company. It’s the community.”
Sarah notes that many individuals in the live events, sports and entertainment industry are working behind the scenes to deliver something special to audiences. Something memorable. Something they can’t experience if this community doesn’t come together to make it happen.
“Many of you are never on the field of play,” Sarad added. “You’re behind the scenes creating unforgettable experiences, building moments that fans will remember for a lifetime and shaping the emotions that make sports so powerful.”
She credited IDEA for creating a community where professionals can come together to share ideas, challenge one another and imagine what comes next.
“As I look around this room, I see a community that better reflects the people we serve. The fans who fill our stadiums, arenas and venues. The diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures and perspectives. And I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come.”
Beyond the Award
The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to honor excellence, preserve history and inspire future generations.
Sarah’s career reflects all three. She’s helped customers across nearly every business unit at Daktronics and worked alongside teams in nearly every state and continent. She’s mentored colleagues and dedicated countless hours to helping IDEA evolve and grow.
And her final message to the audience at the awards reception was encouragement for others.
“Don’t sit back waiting for someone else to solve the problem. Instead, be the person who raises your hand and says, ‘I can help.’”