BICSI Winter Conference Prepares Industry Pros to Excel
The BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition is the flagship annual event of BICSI, a global professional association that supports the information and communications technology (ICT) industry through education, standards, certifications, publications, and networking opportunities. The Winter Conference brings together ICT designers, installers, project managers, consultants, and vendors from across the world to share insights, explore new technologies, and build community within the profession.
The theme for Winter 2026 was “Building the Foundations for the Future,” reflecting the industry’s focus on strengthening core infrastructure knowledge and applying it to emerging technologies that range from next-generation networks and AI infrastructure to evolving wireless systems and integrated smart solutions.
The conference took place January 18–22, 2026, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL. Activities included pre-conference masterclasses, technical education sessions, keynote presentations, industry exhibits, networking opportunities, an awards banquet, and the annual Cabling Skills Challenge.
Covering the ICT Ecosystem
The core conference was organized around multiple education tracks, designed to cover major trends and practical topics across the ICT ecosystem.
Intelligent Infrastructure Advancements: Sessions in this track dealt with innovations in network design and smart building infrastructure. Presentations explored how infrastructure must evolve to support more connected, resilient, and scalable environments for enterprises, campuses, and cities.
Wireless Innovations: This track focused on the latest wireless technologies and strategies including 5G deployment considerations and planning for future wireless applications. Attendees learned about optimizing wireless coverage while maintaining performance standards vital for mission-critical facilities.
AI Transforming Business: AI is reshaping ICT design and operations, and this track covered how organizations are integrating AI to enhance network efficiency, automate infrastructure management, and address complex system performance challenges.
AV and Security Integration: As audio-visual systems and physical security solutions become tightly connected to data networks, sessions in this track illuminated best practices for integration, standards alignment, and emerging trends in digital signage, video analytics, and smart facility management.
Optimizing Data Centers: Given the massive increase in data traffic worldwide, this track offered guidance on data center design, high-density power and cooling, and infrastructure strategies to support increasing computational loads while maintaining reliability and efficiency.
Professional, Career & Business Development: Not limited to technical topics, this track emphasized career growth, business leadership, and soft skills that help industry professionals succeed.
Keynote presentations provided broad strategic perspectives that complemented the technical sessions. Notably, opening keynoter Thomas Koulopoulos revisited a keynote he gave to a BICSI conference approximately a decade earlier, in which he cast his futurist’s eye on what was to come for the gathering of professionals and the industry as a whole. He pointed out that even in the face of unpredictable circumstances ahead, having a plan for the future based on trends and patterns serves individuals and organizations well.
Exhibits: Where Technology Meets Practice
The Exhibit Hall was a central hub of activity throughout the conference, with more than 120 exhibitors showcasing the latest products, solutions, and services across the ICT spectrum, from cable management and optical fiber systems to enterprise network hardware and next-generation connectivity tools.
The exhibitor directory reflected a broad cross-section of manufacturers, distributors, and service providers, enabling attendees to connect with the companies shaping the tools and infrastructure of tomorrow’s networks.
Skills Challenge and Awards Recognition
A highlight of BICSI Winter each year is the Cabling Skills Challenge, a competition that draws ICT installers and technicians from around the world to demonstrate precision, speed, and technical mastery in real-world tasks. Competitors must have earned at least one of BICSI’s Cabling Installation Credentials: Installer 1, Installer 2, and Technician. The challenge includes 8 events: Structured Cabling System Installation; Copper Cable Terminations/Firestopping/Grounding and Bonding; Fusion and Mechanical Splicing; Cable Assembly; Cable Troubleshooting/OTDR Troubleshooting; Fiber Link Testing; Professionalism/Orientation; Competency Exam.
BICSI-Certified Technician Douglas Sherwood won his second consecutive Installer of the Year award in what was his final Cabling Skills Challenge. During his acceptance speech for the award, Sherwood announced it would be his last time competing in the Challenge, and called on his peers in the industry to participate in BICSI activities on all levels—by competing in the Cabling Skills Challenge, by enhancing their capabilities, and by volunteering to support the association’s mission and goals.
During his impassioned speech, Sherwood said, “I challenge every competitor out there. Jot down notes. Think about what you can do differently. Challenge yourself. Come back and compete again. Come back and do your best. Also, tell other technicians and installers about this event, in hopes to get more applicants. This will be my last year competing in the Cabling Skills Challenge. … Lastly, I want to challenge each and every one of you to get involved, give back … BICSI has so many volunteer opportunities. Pick one. Help support BICSI and the future of the ICT community.”
Sherwood, who is employed by CBRE, beat out 12 other competitors to win the crown of Installer of the Year. Along with bragging rights, the victory earned him a trophy and $5,000.
The reveal of Sherwood as Installer of the Year was part of BICSI’s Annual Awards Banquet, which is always among the most memorable and celebrated parts of the BICSI Winter Conference. It brings the community together to honor individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and impact within the ICT profession.
Listed here are the awards BICSI gives out annually, along with descriptions of the achievements each award recognizes, and this year’s recipient. Though handed out in January 2026, each recipient is considered to be the 2025 recipient of their respective award, because the time period for which they are being recognized is through the end of 2025.
Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry: Presented in partnership with the University of South Florida, this award recognizes lifetime achievement or major contributions that have advanced the telecommunications field. 2025 Recipient: Robert Hertling, RCDD, OSP
Presidential Eagle Award: Awarded at the discretion of BICSI’s president to individuals or groups that have shown outstanding leadership and commitment to the association’s mission. 2025 Recipient: John H. Daniels, BICSI’s chief executive officer
Global Outstanding Member of the Year: Recognizes members who have significantly expanded and strengthened BICSI’s global footprint through volunteerism, leadership, and advocacy. 2025 Recipient: Hideki Takahashi
David K. Blythe/University of Kentucky Award for Outstanding Member of the Year: Honors extraordinary contributions by a member to BICSI’s programs, standards, education, or community engagement. 2025 Recipient: Alvin Gilmore, RTPM, TECH.
Larry G. Romig Committee Member of the Year: Celebrates exceptional volunteer service on BICSI committees, which are essential to the organization’s governance and standards development. 2025 Recipient: Mark Corp, RCDD, OSP, RTPM, TECH, CT
ICT Woman of the Year: Recognizes outstanding contributions by a woman in the ICT profession, encouraging diversity and leadership within the field. 2025 Recipient: Bree Murphy, RCDD
Recipients of these awards are celebrated not only for technical achievement but for their dedication to uplifting the ICT community through mentoring, volunteerism, standards work, education, and innovative leadership.
Going Beyond
BICSI’s other major U.S.-based educational event of the year is titled BICSI Beyond 2026. Taking place August 30 through September 2 in Las Vegas, BICSI Beyond 2026 delivers different formats for teaching and learning than what is offered in the annual Winter Conference.
BICSI explains, “BICSI Beyond delivers a forward-focused learning environment designed for professionals working across different roles, sectors, and technologies united by the need for coordination, consistency, and shared expectations. You can expect practical education, real-world insight, and cross-disciplinary perspectives that translate directly to projects, teams, and operations.”
The late-summer event will carry the theme “Systems in Sync: Powering the Connected Future.” BICSI continues, “BICSI Beyond showcases programming that reflects the latest industry developments. Tracks will focus on uniting systems, from infrastructure and wireless to automation, AI, and security, so professionals can design, deploy, and manage interconnected solutions that stay relevant and help reduce risk. This programming reflects the reality of today’s connected world: Systems overlap, responsibilities intersect, and risk increases when alignment breaks down.”
More information about BICSI Beyond, other events, and numerous other professional-development opportunities are available at BICSI’s website, bicsi.org.