While most of the publications and associations in the industry RIP YOU OFF by charging a pay-to-play “entry” fee to enter their awards, Infocomm is standing by their tradition of making entry free for their 2017 Awards.

Each year, InfoComm recognizes outstanding AV professionals for their contributions, leadership and commitment to excellence. After nominations are received, the InfoComm Awards Committee selects the winners who are then honored at the InfoComm June show. InfoComm is accepting 2017 award nominations until March 31, 2017.

The awards include:

• Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV Award: This award highlights important contributions made by industry individuals to the science of AV. The award calls attention to the AV and information communications industries by recognizing pioneers who made scientific breakthroughs resulting in new AV technologies that impacted the manufacture and sales of novel products enjoyed by audiences worldwide.
• CTS Holder of the Year Award: This award calls attention to the AV industry by recognizing Certified Technology Specialist holders (CTS, CTS-D and/or CTS-I) who are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.
• Educator of the Year Award: This award highlights important contributions made by an individual to the professional development, education and training of the AV industry. These contributions have impacted audiences worldwide. This award is presented annually for outstanding achievement in AV education for that particular year. I was honored with his award in 2005.
• Fred Dixon Service in Education Award: The overall purpose of this award is to call out an individual recognized by association members and the industry as worthy of a lifetime achievement award in AV education. It is bestowed upon an individual who exhibits excellence throughout his or her entire body of work and to someone nearing or at the end of his/her educational career. It is not awarded annually; rather it is based on a given year and whether there is an appropriate candidate for such a prestigious award.
• Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year Award: This award uncovers and celebrates the volunteer who has contributed greatly to the association and who is not recognized in other ways for that contribution. It is awarded annually for contributions made to the association within the last one to two years. This award winner is determined by staff.
• Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award: This award’s overall purpose is to call out an individual recognized by association members and the industry as worthy of a lifetime achievement award. Two major criteria are applied — the career accomplishments and the individual’s contribution to the AV industry through InfoComm International. The Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed on an industry member by the association. I was honored with this award back in 1995 (back before it was named for Mackey) for the work I did for 10-years on the InfoComm Projection Shoot-Out.
• Women in AV Award Award: This award calls attention to the AV industry by recognizing women who are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.
• Young AV Professionals Award: This award calls attention to the AV industry by recognizing that young people are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.

Just click on the name of the award above to enter anyone you think deserves to be recognized by InfoComm!