BICSI, the association devoted to advancing the information and communications technology (ICT) profession, hosted its annual Winter Conference & Exhibition (Jan. 31 - Feb. 3), last week in Orlando, Florida. Most ICT professionals in attendance traveled to the Orlando World Center Marriott for the BICSI Conference experience; additionally, many attendees experienced the hybrid conference online from remote locations around the world.
At the conference, both audiences heard the latest insights on technologies and topics defining the ICT industry's future, including discussions of 5G, smart cities, wireless and distributed antenna systems (DAS), data centers, the Internet of Things (IoT), optical fiber and passive optical networks (PON), Power over Ethernet (PoE), audiovisual (AV) technology, professional development, and more.
A conference of ICT-related firsts
This year's Winter Conference was largely defined by the unprecedented, which included inauguration of BICSI's first-ever female board president, Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, DCDC, ESS, during the BICSI's annual business meeting on Wednesday morning.
Another first came from the event's midweek keynote presentation, entitled, "Fast-Track Success in ICT" – A Live BICSI Podcast. For this presentation, Low Voltage Nation podcast host and founder Blake Urmos livestreamed his interviews with Lee Renfroe, RCDD, ESS, TECH, the BICSI board of directors U.S. southeast regional director who received a significant career boost after winning BICSI's Cabling Skills Challenge two years straight.
Urmos then spoke with Betsy Conroy, an expert ICT wordsmith and content consultant. Conroy received the BICSI ICT Woman of the Year Award in 2019, has served as chair of BICSI's Professional Development Committee, and helped found the Women in BICSI community.
This year's BICSI closing keynote speaker appropriately included another first with a presentation by Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) – a combat veteran, fighter squadron commander, White House fellow and Adviser, and the first woman Thunderbird pilot. Her talk focused on how her personal mantra, "Nobody wants a scripted life," has sculpted her attitude for success.
Conference notes
This year's BICSI Exhibit Hall buzzed with activity as vendors discussed turnkey solutions for real-world ICT industry challenges.Participating exhibitors featured their latest products and services during five-minute interactive What's New, What's It Do? presentations in the BICSI Theater. Online attendees visited the virtual BICSI Theater to view exhibitor videos.
With an official kickoff on Tuesday morning, opening remarks were bookended by two inspirational sessions, beginning with the Women in BICSI (WiB) breakfast and presentation about issues of "self-overcoming." Later, opening keynote speaker and serial entrepreneur, Scott Klososky, spoke about trends of human and machine integration in a riveting presentation titled "Trends, Technology, and Taking the Lead."
Wednesday's packed schedule included many technical presentations during the day, and a black-tie cocktail reception and the annual BICSI awards banquet that evening, where the following award winners for 2022 were honored:
- Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry – Andrew Cioffi, RCDD
- Presidential Eagle Award – BICSI Staff
- David K. Blythe/University of Kentucky Award for Outstanding Member of the Year – Henry Franc, RCDD, OSP
- Global Outstanding Member of the Year – Trevor Kleinert, RCDD, DCDC, NTS, TECH, CT
- Larry G. Romig Committee Member of the Year – George Fewell, RCDD
- BICSI ICT Woman of the Year – Ashley Haak Wills, RCDD, DCDC, OSP
- Emerging ICT Professionals Award – Heather Randolph
- BICSI Installer of the Year – Michael Ratliff, RCDD, TECH
Earlier in the week, contestants squared off for the 14th Annual BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge, which highlighted speed and quality of work in ICT-centric areas such as structured cabling installation, copper, and fiber cable termination, firestopping, bonding and grounding, cable assembly, and troubleshooting. Michael Ratliff, RCDD, TECH, of Glaze Communication Services, Inc., took home the title of 2022 BICSI Installer of the Year and a check for $5,000.
BICSI Cares, the charity arm of BICSI, sponsors a different children's charity for each BICSI conference. This year's Winter Conference supported Silly Sock Saturdays, which helps children in hospitals by bringing joy and happiness to young patients in the form of silly socks with comfort items like toys, coloring books, and more. A donation was presented to the charity just before the conference's conclusion.
Attendees and exhibitors alike said were thrilled to gather in person in Orlando and enjoy networking among their colleagues and friends. "It's refreshing to be back in person after two years. Everyone has been so upbeat and positive about returning to normal," offered David Kiddoo of the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA). "[This event's] leads were fabulous."
Online presentations will be available to both virtual and in-person attendees on the virtual platform until March 3, 2022. Additional details can be found at bicsi.org/winter.
