BICSI, the conference for the information technology and transport systems industry, held its winter conference in Orlando last month.
The association, which is also a standards-making body, closed the 2012 BICSI Winter Conference and Exhibition logging more than 4,500 attending the event.
Many of the Pre-Conference Seminars sold out and the Annual Business Meeting drew a large crowd as Jerry L. Bowman, RCDD, RTPM(i), NTS, CISSP, CPP, CSI, assumed his new role as president.
During the Opening General Session, Brian Hansen, RCDD, NTS, CSI, outgoing BICSI president, spoke about BICSI’s newest credential, the Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC.
Cabling skills challenge
The fifth annual BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge came to a close during the conference, as well. After competing in several events, including structured cabling; copper cable termination and firestopping; fiber termination; cable assembly; cable troubleshooting/technical support; professionalism; and a written competency exam; winners were named during the event’s award banquet. Some 16 installers were involved in the challenge.
The overall winner with the highest score of the competition was named the 2012 BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge Installer of the Year: Thomas “Lee” Renfroe, RCDD, ITS Technician, Certified Trainer, of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, walked away with the honor, a trophy and a check for $5,000. Other awards were donated by challenge sponsors, including 3M; Chatsworth Products Inc.; Corning Cabling Systems; JDSU; ERICO; HellermannTyton; KITCO Fiber Optics; Berk-Tek, A Nexans Company; Fluke Networks; Sumitomo Electric Lightwave–FutureFLEX Air-blown Fiber Division; KLEIN TOOLS; AFL; FIS; Harger Lightning and Grounding; DYMO Rhino; Specified Technologies Inc.; Middle Atlantic Products; and TIA.
At the conference, there was much more talk of IP networks, convergence and integration, no big surprise. The security component was on hand as well, with the Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) credential that's proving popular with technicians and installers. On the exhibit floor, there was more software and new enclosures with the emphasis on data centers and efficiency reigning supreme.
