From the May, 2015 Issue of Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine
I am pleased to announce we have launched our inaugural Cabling Innovators Awards program, the purpose of which is to formally, publicly recognize some of the most innovative uses and applications of cabling technologies. You may be familiar with product-award programs; they are common among trade publications like ours and select the "best of the best" new products introduced to an industry within a certain time period. As our magazine staff discussed the possibility of beginning a program to recognize accomplishments in our industry, we considered the concept of such a straight-up product awards program. But we pretty quickly, and enthusiastically, decided to go in another direction. The Cabling Innovators Awards program is meant to recognize ingenuity and innovation wherever it is found in the value chain of a cabling project. It is with purpose that we use the word "Innovators" in the program's name, because our intent is to honor the people and organizations--innovators--whose efforts have produced real, valuable results. Innovators can include a product or system manufacturer, of course, but also a project's designer, installation contractor, ultimate end-user, and others.
On many occasions I have listened with admiration to stories about cabling and communication-system projects told by the principals involved in them. From the consolidation of data centers for state-government agencies, to the coordinated efforts required to provide services to a multi-site retail establishment, and many more, the accomplishments that professionals like you make on a regular basis are noteworthy. And we decided it is time to do just that--make note of them. We're extremely fortunate that BICSI is allowing us to use their Fall Conference, taking place September 21-24 in Las Vegas, as the venue in which we will present our inaugural Cabling Innovators Awards.
We've built a web page that includes information about the program's rationale, requirements, and entry procedures. Please know there is an entry fee for the Cabling Innovators Awards program, which will defray the program's administrative costs.
We hope you will find the Cabling Innovators Awards a worthwhile program in our industry. I believe it has been a long time coming for professionals in our industry to be recognized for the inventiveness, vision, and yes, innovation that they--no, that you--bring to the jobsite, whatever that jobsite might be. You can find detailed information on the program at www.cablinginstall.com/innovation-awards.html.
Patrick McLaughlin
Chief Editor
[email protected]
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