BICSI wraps conference, Surfaro recognized

    Jan. 31, 2013
    BICSI celebrates 40 years, presents awards

    Source BICSI

    Photo courtesy BICSI
    Left to right: Jerry Bowman, BICSI President; Mel Anderson, Ph.D.,USF - College of Engineering; Steve Surfaro, Axis Communications; and Harry Pfister, BICSI Past President during the awards presentation at the 2013 BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibitions.
    Left to right: Jerry Bowman, BICSI President; Mel Anderson, Ph.D.,USF - College of Engineering; Steve Surfaro, Axis Communications; and Harry Pfister, BICSI Past President during the awards presentation at the 2013 BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibitions.

    BICSI, the association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry, celebrated its 40th anniversary as well as a successful winter conference and exhibition last week in Tampa. The five-day event concluded with industry awards presentations.  

    The sold out exhibit hall opened on Sunday, January 20 with the show running through the 24th. BICSI President Jerry L. Bowman, RCDD, NTS, RTPM, CISSP, CPP, CDCDP; BICSI Executive Director and CEO John D. Clark Jr. CAE; and BICSI Exhibitor Liaison Committee Chair Kurt Templeman, RCDD opened the exhibits during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Nearly 180 vendors displayed products and solutions and the exhibit hall was also home to the sixth annual Cabling Skills competition. Some 4,000 attended the event, according to BICSI show statistics.

    BICSI is a professional standards making association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the voice, data, electronic safety and security, project management and audio and video technologies.

    “This conference is a very special celebration for BICSI,” said Jerry Bowman, president, at the opening ceremonies. “We’ve come a long way in 40 years, and while this is a time for reflection, it is also a time for forward thinking. We are proud of all that has been accomplished, but we continue to look ahead, always moving forward, to ensure the stability and prosperity of this great association and ever-evolving industry,” he said.

    “Without BICSI’s efforts, through its standards, publications and volunteers, the industry that we enjoy today would have probably never happened,” said William Hatton, RCDD, NTS, of HatMac Communications in Brandon, Fla. “BICSI thought out of the box. This conference is a chance for all of us to meet and see how much BICSI has given. We are still able to network, meet old friends and make new ones.”

    “As we end our 40th anniversary celebrations, I can say without hesitation that this conference has been the true definition of the ‘BICSI Experience’,” added Bowman.

    Pfister award for ESS/industry work

    The last night of the show, BICSI celebrated the accomplishments of those who have displayed dedication to the organization and the ITS industry, and the audience was privvy to a performance by the legendary KC & The Sunshine Band. Among other awards, one in particular stood out and was presented to Steve Surfaro, security industry liaison, Axis Communications, Chelmsford, Mass.

    Surfaro received the Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry recognizing lifetime achievements or a major accomplishment. Surfaro was instrumental in advocating and establishing the BICSI Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) credential. The award was sponsored by the University of South Florida, College of Engineering.     

    Axis Communic 10212963