Lisa Harmer

Senior Marketing Director

What I do: I do all things marketing – creative services, PR, social media, advertising, packaging, you name it. I also love a good spreadsheet.
Why I do what I do: I love marketing. And what could be more amazing than marketing smart home technology? It's like high-tech magic that is truly life-changing.
If I didn’t do what I do, I’d do this instead: I would be pursuing my dream of writing trashy romance novels, a snarky mommy blog and Sundance movie scripts full-time, not just in the wee hours of the morning.
What makes me tick: I am a Pisces. Creative, intuitive, open-minded, maybe a little melodramatic. Just a little.
What makes me “talk”: Activity and adventure, travel, good food and good wine especially with good friends, my amazing family, any race with a medal just for finishing. And shoes.
I geek out about: All of the cool "kid-control" things I can do with Control4. It actually makes me feel like my life is somewhat under control!
I want the world to know: This is my actual eye color. This is not my natural hair color.

Posts By Lisa Harmer

The Control4 App is on FIRE!:

The Control4 App is on FIRE!

July 25, 2014

Amazon Fire, that is. Today, Amazon started shipping their new Fire smartphone and the Control4 app will be one of the first apps available for customers. The Amazon Fire phone comes with a year membership of free Amazon Prime shipping, along with an entirely new sensor system called Dynamic Perspective which responds to the way you hold, view and move the phone, 3D and face-recognition technology (the screen actually moves with your eyes!) and Firefly, which lets you point the phone at items and click to identify them.

The Home of His Dreams

June 30, 2014

When an electrical engineer envisions his “dream home” you can be certain that some pretty sweet technology will be high on the list of requirements. That was definitely the case for this Florida homeowner whose house is surrounded by water, infused with light and leverages Control4 to provide seamless, elegant control of virtually everything.

MainStreet America Showcases Control4

June 18, 2014

In the heart of Houston, Texas, there’s a parade of showcase homes where home aficionados can peruse the latest and greatest in home design, décor and technology. It’s called MainStreet America, a collection of 12 fully finished, decorated and designed homes that will never be lived in but serve solely to let people shop for the features and functionality they envision for their next home. As developer Mike Feigin states, “There is no place like this in the world.”

An Innovative Office for Innovative People

June 16, 2014

For high-tech entrepeneurs, having a high-tech space where they can share their passions, percolate their business ideas, and rub shoulders with potential investors who also happen to know a little something about starting a business is key to success. The Winklevoss twins (yes, those Winklevoss twins) recently founded a private investment firm to support budding start-ups and their 5,000-square-foot office in New York City features innovative technology designed to promote digital collaboration and high-speed innovation.

Do You Need a Connected Home?

May 28, 2014

Control4 CEO Martin Plaehn answers this question and more on Bloomberg Television’s “In the Loop.” Martin provides insight into the reasons why customers need and want to be connected and why having a seamless, singular – and secure - solution to control things is becoming a critical issue for people. “All of our lives are connected today…why not make them work together rather than colliding with one another?” suggests Martin. "That’s what Control4 does. We bring them together so they behave as an orchestra, not separate instruments.” Martin also covers security questions and interoperability with Apple and Android devices, as well as the evolving smart lighting market.

Outdoor Entertaining: Our Top 5 List

May 23, 2014

Memorial Day weekend here in the US is pretty much the official start of summer for most of us. We take this three-day weekend to start a sun-filled summer of picnics, golf, camping, fishing, beach visits, outdoor barbecues and, if you’re lucky, a lot of lounging by the pool. We thought we’d kick off the summer season by highlighting a few of our favorite automated outdoor spaces.

Top 5 Ways to Pamper Your Pets With Home Automation

May 20, 2014

In honor of National Pet Month, we thought we would share some of our favorite stories about how pet lovers use home automation to protect, entertain, soothe and care for their favorite furry, feathered and scaly friends.

Home Automation Troubleshooting for Dummies

May 15, 2014

I am not a technical person. Nor is my hubby. I’m lucky that my sister used to be an “IT guy” in a previous life and is able to help me set up everything from my PS4 to my wireless network. Every so often, though, I have to troubleshoot electronics on my own, and that includes my home automation system. I’m starting to figure out a few of the basics for troubleshooting by talking not only to my sister but also to others who have Control4 home automation. It turns out that we sometimes blame Control4 products for some mysterious issue when, in fact, it was something else that deserved the blame—the wireless network, a defective TV, satellite service issues, etc. Sometimes it was even operator error (yep, that means me!). Here are a few real-life experiences that might help you get your system back on track.

Smart Homes with Bob Guiney

May 14, 2014

Bob Guiney, former HGTV host and popular Bachelor from the reality TV series (who happens to be one of my personal favorites), recently discussed the evolution of the smart home on a number of local news stations nationwide. In case you missed the conversation on your local news, here’s a video where Bob discusses networking gear that keeps you up and running even when storms or emergencies cut power – and your internet connection, smart tint on windows that offers privacy and functionality, and, of course, Control4 home automation solutions.

Winning Over Mom with Simple Home Automation

May 7, 2014

As moms, we have to be great at compromising but we all know that when “mama’s happy, everybody’s happy.” When a tech-wary mom in Tampa, Florida, was confronted with her AV geek husband and son’s dreams for a high-tech automation system, she was skeptical to say the least. Her fear that their whole-home audio system, off-the-hook home theater and high-fidelity gaming systems would ruin the lovely redesign of their home and, even worse, would be impossible for her to manage, were quickly put to rest – thanks to Control4 and Hoppen Home Systems.

Automated Garage for Prized Cars and Motorcycles

May 2, 2014

For a bachelor with a penchant for fancy sports cars and sport bikes, what could be more ideal than a dedicated storage area in the basement for his prized possessions? An automated elevator, of course. The elevator lets him easily lift the cars up to the main floor where he can show them off before returning them to their safe haven – all with the push of a button. The Control4 automation system goes beyond the auto show, of course. The entire home is designed to entertain with whole-house audio and dedicated lighting scenes that give the parties as much horsepower as the vehicles downstairs.

The Internet of Things: What does it all mean? [INFOGRAPHIC]

April 30, 2014

Every time I turn on the TV or check my news feed online, I am bombarded with conversations about the Internet of Things, the smart or connected home, home automation and home control. But what does it all mean and how does it fit together? What is the “Internet of Things”? What does it mean to have a “Connected Home” vs. a “Smart Home”? What is automation vs. control? As experts in the field for the past decade, we’ll try to make some sense out of this new vocabulary that is increasingly part of our everyday conversations.

Tips for Energy Management [INFOGRAPHIC]

April 24, 2014

Who says it’s not easy being green? With Earth Day this week, we thought we’d compile a few tips and tricks on how you can use home automation to help manage energy use in your house. Check out these 10 easy ways Control4 technology can help you save energy…and the environment.

Is This the World’s Greenest Home?

April 22, 2014

In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to highlight this beautiful and amazingly green California home, which uses sustainable and regenerative materials plus a high-tech home automation system from Control4 to maximize energy efficiency. The homeowners wanted to debunk three myths in green home building: (1) Green homes are ugly, concrete boxes, (2) Green homes are twice as expensive as a standard home, and (3) Living in a green home requires you to fundamentally change your lifestyle.

How Smart Is Your Home?

April 10, 2014

That’s the question the popular review site Angie’s List asked in a recent article about the proliferation of smart home technology. The answer? Your home can be as smart as you want it to be, and if you want to keep up with the Joneses (or the Jetsons), you should start considering automation technology as a “must-have” for your home... Angie’s List notes that industry leaders are saying that now is the time to get on the home automation bandwagon. “There is massive interest in home automation,” says Dave Pedigo, senior director of learning and emerging trends for the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association, based in Indianapolis. “We are at the tipping point for the automated home, and that growth over the next decade will be exponentially larger year over year.”

It's Here! The Internet of Things & The Connected Home

March 28, 2014

Why is everyone talking about the 'Internet of Things' as some futuristic fantasy? It's already here, and it's in your home in the shape of wireless home automation.

And the Winner is…Wireless Lighting!

March 4, 2014

The award-winning Control4 Wireless Lighting family recently added another prestigious industry accolade to its list of wins when it was named the 2014 Electronic House Product of the Year. In its review, Electronic House notes, “Control4 Wireless Lighting meets the needs of most residential and commercial projects worldwide and addresses the evolutionary adoption of LED technologies...

Oscar Extravaganza!

February 26, 2014

We celebrate a few non-traditional holidays in our house like they are Christmas. The Superbowl and the Oscars. As a diehard Broncos fan, the Superbowl this year was devastating, and embarrassing, and something I’d like to forget. We can only hope that the 86th Annual Academy Awards this Sunday turns out better. We have a group of equally nerdy, movie-buff friends who gather for Oscar night every year. We crowd around our 70” Sony TV—usually reserved for Sunday football and weeknight basketball games—to watch from the first red carpet interview to the final sign-off from Ellen.

Wiring Guide for Smart Home Building

February 22, 2014

It’s starting to feel a little spring-like in Utah, and unlike much of the country where major snow and ice storms in December and January have stunted winter home-building efforts, we’re starting to see a lot of new construction. The big building season is starting to heat up, much like the weather, and according to Forbes, “homebuilders should be optimistic” about the overall demand for new homes in 2014 and 2015.

Let's Get (Pumpkin) Crackin'!

November 26, 2013

As we head into the holiday season, it's time to revisit a few favorite family traditions. We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year, which should be interesting since I managed to get my Control4 system installed but I still have no furniture in my formal dining room. Card tables it is, people! I'm not too worried about the turkey and potatoes and I make a killer gravy. Baking, however, is not my thing. A somewhat touchy subject since my mom is famous for her homemade pumpkin pies. I have never ever been able to emulate her perfectly flaky, perfectly designed pie crusts no matter how many hands-on lessons she gave me.

Top 5 Features Homebuyers Are Looking For

November 20, 2013

As the housing market continues to heat up, it's interesting see what trends are changing. Are people still looking for big walk-in closets, stainless steel appliances and spacious kitchens? Sure. But there are signs that times are changing. Earlier this year, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate published a survey of the next generation of homebuyers, 18-35 year olds who are challenging the traditional norms surrounding home purchases. It turns out high-tech features are top on the list of features homebuyers are seeking.

Is Control4 Smarter Than My 3-Year-Old?

November 7, 2013

My daughter is a bit of a midnight mischief maker. We tuck the little angel into bed every night around 8:30, kiss her sweet little head, make sure the nightlight is on and the Dora Pillow Pet snuggled by her side. Then my husband and I close the door and head downstairs to tidy up the house and watch some TV or go sit on the patio to enjoy a little catch-up chat after our busy day.

Now That’s Hot: The Wonders of a Smart Thermostat

October 18, 2013

We recently moved into a new house. Actually it’s an older house, built in 1998, but it was new to us. Having come from a fully automated Control4 home where the thermostat was placed discreetly in the basement and the sensor was hidden behind the textured paint, you can certainly imagine my shock when I saw the thermostat in our “new” home.

Making a Scene

June 19, 2013

When I first got my Control4 system, the guys kept asking me what kind of “scenes” I wanted. Blank stare. I had no idea what they were talking about. Five years later, scenes are my best friend. A “scene” in Control4-world is a combination of controlled events that are activated at the touch of a button, or if you choose to automate them you can set them to trigger based on a time of day or some other event, like a garage door opening.

Selling a Control4 Home: Transitioning Your System to a New Owner

May 24, 2013

Because of the housing market upswing, my husband and I made the decision to sell our home and upgrade to something a little bigger, a little newer, in a neighborhood closer to the mountains where our kids can start school this fall. A young, newlywed cou

Buying a Control4 Home: Transitioning a Previously-Owned System

May 21, 2013

According to ABC News, the housing market is "roaring back to life." That's been evident here in Salt Lake. Once dormant construction sites are bustling and frames are flying up almost overnight. "For Sale" signs are popping up everywhere you turn, and "S

Saved By The Charge

May 1, 2013

Like most parents, I'm used to changing my fair share of batteries. We buy Costco-sized packages of all shapes and sizes of batteries and go through them at an alarming rate. The amount of time and money I spend changing batteries is almost as unnerving a

Staging Your Home for Sale... Control4-Style

March 27, 2013

With the housing market on the upswing, we finally decided that it was time to sell our home and move into a bigger place. I had been looking for a new home long enough to know that "staging" a home for sale is critical. With so many people shopping onlin

Mom = Sherpa

November 5, 2012

One thing nobody tells you before you become a parent is how many bags are involved. As a busy, working woman, I have to be prepared for anything and my life has to be fairly portable --so I already had an oversized purse, a computer bag and a gym bag. Ne

Sometimes It's The Little Things

October 5, 2012

One of my most vivid childhood memories is of my dad, running around the house turning off light switches, hollering at the top of his voice: "Why are all these <bleep> lights on? How hard is it to turn a <bleep> light off? I'm

Day of Caring

September 17, 2012

There are probably a lot of things you may not know about Control4. And some you may not care about, like the fact that our ice machines cannot keep up with demand. We like our drinks COLD. One of the coolest things about this company is its quiet contrib

Keeping Up With Control4

September 13, 2012

Control4 turns up in the strangest places. We've had product sightings on NBC news shows, Law & Order, and even American Idol. And then one of our dealers (who has asked to remain anonymous - for obvious reasons) sent us this note:

Control4 & Sony Partnership Delivers an Elevated Automation Experience

September 5, 2012

Today Control4 and Sony announced the world's first fully integrated AV receiver with Control4 Automation built right in. That's right. One world-class AV receiver loaded with functionality, a slew of streaming media services including my fave, Netflix, a

Luna...

August 24, 2012

Some companies have office dogs. At Control4, we have Luna the Office Sugar Glider. We do things a little different around here.

Movies We've Seen A Million Times

August 7, 2012

I saw an ad for a series called Movies I've Seen A Million Times where famous people dish about their favorite movies. Of course, the picture of the movie When Harry Met Sally caught my eye. I was just watching that last week for what was surely the milli

In the Market for a New TV?

July 30, 2012

I am. As of this weekend I have not one, but two televisions that need to be replaced. It's a little embarrassing to admit this, especially given the industry I work in, but I am not always on the cutting-edge of electronics technology. I might be what yo

Best Buy...Apple Wannabe?

July 10, 2012

Well, you can't blame Best Buy. Not really. Marketers, tech people...we all secretly want to be Apple. But do you think Best Buy's new store design is enough to lure you back into the store, not just to shop but to buy?

Rhapster....

July 3, 2012

Can you hear it? Yes, that's the sound of over 15 million songs streaming through your Control4 system. Rhapsody has been a perennial favorite feature, loved by Control4 owners everywhere. And now that we've introduced integrated Napster functionality in

Peace and Comfort During a Catastrophe

June 20, 2012

We've been keeping an eye on the High Park Fire near Fort Collins, Colorado. When you live in a desert state, wildfire season is a scary time of year and the High Park Fire has been terrorizing people in Colorado for over a week already. With over 58,000

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