Gail Leach Carvelli
Launched in 1996, Cabling Installation Expo was the first annual "hands-on" trade show to serve the cabling industry. Not only did the event attract more than 120 exhibitors, but it also debuted bicsi`s (Tampa, FL) Installation Training and Registration Program.
Cosponsored by bicsi and Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine, Cabling Installation Expo `97, to be held October 13 to 15 at the Charlotte (NC) Convention Center, promises even more. In fact, more than 150 companies--manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and service providers--have signed up to exhibit at the event (see page 63). And bicsi will once again offer its Cabling Workshop and Cabling Installation Training and Registration Program as well as other bicsi seminars and technical sessions (see page 69). Also on the agenda are the Installer Tips Contest, with a grand prize of a trip to the Colorado Rockies, and a comprehensive Product Forum for product demonstrations.
The exhibits will officially open at 5 PM on Monday with a reception, and bicsi will kick off its Cabling Workshop that morning with a two-part technical seminar covering the revised tia/eia-569a standard. The second part of the seminar will focus on the small office/home office, also known as soho, cabling.
After the opening address, which will take place Monday afternoon, bicsi will offer two additional sessions: "Standards that Affect the Installer," presented by Donna Ballast, registered communications distribution designer (rcdd), bicsi`s standards representative and author of Cabling Installation & Maintenance`s "Ask Donna" column; and "System Furniture Gives the Installer Little Respect," presented by Dennis Mazaris, rcdd.
On Tuesday, October 14, and Wednesday, October 15, bicsi will continue its Cabling Workshop with a number of sessions that cover topics such as codes and rules, fiber optics, basic testing, Category 5 installations, and construction specifications. Many of the sessions are being offered at basic to advanced levels.
Closing speaker Larry Csonka will deliver his talk late in the day on Wednesday. The National Football League star will share his philosophy for becoming a winner. Csonka was named the Most Valuable Player in the Miami Dolphins` victory of the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII.
Also scheduled for Wednesday afternoon is the awarding of the grand prize for the Installer Tips Contest. The prize--a three-day, four-night vacation for two at a resort in Colorado`s Rocky Mountains, which includes deluxe accommodations, airfare, and a rental car--will be presented to the person who comes up with an innovative installation tip that saves time and money. The grand prize for last year`s Expo was a 31/2-horsepower mini-Indy car.
Contest judges will look for simple or innovative shortcuts or cost-saving solutions for problems relating to cabling installation or maintenance. Winning tips, as well as those suitable for publication, will be featured in future issues of Cabling Installation & Maintenance. Entry forms will be available on the trade show floor, and entries must be submitted in time to be judged on Wednesday morning.
Cabling Installation Expo `97 will also feature Product Forum. The forum will give visitors a chance to find out how the latest technologies work, see cutting-edge products in action, and learn about the technical services offered by high-technology manufacturers and distributors. During exhibit hours, demonstrations will take place at regular scheduled intervals in the lounge area of the show floor.