Meeting Of The Minds

By Ryan Abeling
( Systems Contractor News )
published

  • Business Leaders Discuss the State of the Industry at the Annual Manufacturers’ Forum
  • An industry favorite, the InfoComm Manufacturers’ Forum returns this year with an entirely new panel and another chance for attendees to hear the latest news and debate the issues with the companies that provide the products of the trade.
  • This year’s forum takes place Tuesday, June 16th from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Moderating the forum is the editor of ProAV Magazine, Brad Grimes, and his plan is to cover a range of current topics. The backgrounds of the panelists this year range from security to videoconferencing. Featured this year is Thomas Hansen, Vice President, Bosch Security Systems, Communications Systems Division;Pierre Richer, President and COO, NEC Display Solutions Americas; Joseph Sigrist, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Solutions Division, Polycom; and Jeff Porter, Executive Vice President, Scala.
  • “The Manufacturers’ Forum really kicks off the Show’s events,” comments Jason McGraw, Senior Vice President of Expositions for InfoComm. “The event really addresses the state of the industry, business issues, and technology trends these companies are seeing. There’s always a lively discussion.”
  • This year the Manufacturers’ Forum will be more conversational in tone, with panelists seated on stage in executive chairs. “It’s going to be in the Chapin Theater, so there’s definitely going to be ample seating,” McGraw notes.
  • McGraw also mentioned the close proximity of the rest of the evening’s events following the forum. “Our big opening reception and the ExpoJam! are also happening that night in the ballroom right next door. People just coming in, or those who have attended IPD and Super Tuesday courses, can go right into the Manufacturers’ Forum and hear what these executives have to say. It will certainly be enlightening and there will be some good give and take. We’ve been doing it now for a number of years and it is always a highlight of the Show. There are always some great sound bites that come out of the conversation.”
Ryan Abeling