InfoComm International just announced that David Bright, President of Kramer Electronics USA, has won the 2016 Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award. Bright will receive his award in a ceremony preceding the keynote address at InfoComm 2016 in Las Vegas, held June 4-10.

The Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award was renamed in 2015 to honor the late Mackey Barron, founder of HB Communications and former member of the InfoComm board of directors. It is the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the association.

“Dave Bright has been an active, committed member of the AV industry for more than 30 years, and his and Kramer’s support of InfoComm has been remarkable,” said David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. “He’s served on our Leadership Search Committee, participated in our executive events, counseled on industry trends and issues, and championed a longstanding partnership between Kramer and InfoComm to train AV professionals who pursue certification. As a respected leader and mentor, much like Mackey Barron, Dave has helped countless AV professionals in their careers, including me personally, for which we are all indebted to him. We are thrilled he’s receiving the first Distinguished Achievement Award to bear Mackey’s name.”

Bright and Barron were close friends, sharing many leadership attributes. “Having worked for Dave directly for more than 24 years, he has been both a mentor and father figure to me,” said Clint Hoffman, vice president of marketing for Kramer Electronics USA. “My success and happiness at work and in life, and the success and happiness of so many others who’ve worked with him over the years, are 100-percent, directly attributable to Dave. I can never thank him enough and I know that there are an incredible number of people who feel the same way I do.”

Bright started in pro AV selling cathode ray tube displays for Mitsubishi. He eventually formed the company’s Professional Electronics Division, which became one of Mitsubishi’s most profitable in the U.S. He became the first employee of Kramer Electronics USA in 1997 and spent the ensuing 19 years positioning the company as one of the most innovative and fastest-growing in the industry.

Each year, InfoComm International recognizes outstanding AV professionals for their contributions, leadership and commitment to excellence. In 2016, the InfoComm Awards Committee, a panel of volunteers, received nominations from across the AV industry and named winners for the Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement, Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV, CTS Holder of the Year, Educator of the Year, Women in AV and Young AV Professionals Awards. The Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year Award is bestowed by InfoComm staff.