InfoComm Names Christa Bender, CTS, and Hope Roth, CTS, Harald Thiel Volunteers of the Year
FAIRFAX, VA — May 2, 2016 — InfoComm International® is pleased to announce that Christa Bender, CTS®, Account Manager at Pivot Communications, and Hope Roth, CTS, Programmer at Riordan Brothers, have won its 2016 Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year Award for their efforts to help women in the commercial audiovisual industry study for and pass the Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS) exam. Bender and Roth will receive their awards in a ceremony preceding the keynote address at InfoComm 2016 in Las Vegas, held June 4-10.
InfoComm’s Volunteer of the Year Award is given by InfoComm staff to individuals who contribute to the association's mission.
"Christa and Hope have been involved in the Women of InfoComm Network (WIN) Council since it began, and they took it upon themselves to promote the importance of CTS to women and others in our industry," said David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. "Hope's motivational talk at the InfoComm 2015 WIN breakfast was an inspiration to many. The two respected CTS holders then launched the WIN CTS Study Group to encourage others to pursue certification. InfoComm is proud of their efforts and thanks them for playing a role in advancing the industry."
Bender, an industry blogger and podcast host, was cited as one of Commercial Integrator’s 2015 Top 40 Influencers Under 40 and a 2015 Systems Contractor News Power Player. She earned her CTS in 2010 and spent several years handling inside sales and marketing for Applied Video Technology before taking her current position at Pivot Communications. She is working toward her CTS-D certification.
Roth started her technology career by earning a degree in computer science before transitioning to commercial AV. She also was among Commercial Integrator's 2015 Top 40 Influencers Under 40 and a 2015 Systems Contractor News Power Player. She earned her CTS in 2012 and became a Crestron-Certified Programmer. Roth is currently studying for her CTS-I exam.
Each year, InfoComm International recognizes outstanding AV professionals for their contributions, leadership and commitment to excellence. In 2016, the InfoComm Awards Committee, a panel of volunteers, received nominations from across the AV industry and named winners for the Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV, Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement, CTS Holder of the Year, Educator of the Year, Women in AV and Young AV Professionals Awards. The Harald Thiel Volunteer of the Year is the one award bestowed by InfoComm staff.
About InfoComm International
InfoComm International® is the global trade association representing the commercial audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, InfoComm has more than 5,400 members, representing over 70,000 AV professionals worldwide, including manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end users and multimedia professionals from more than 80 countries. InfoComm International is the leading resource for AV standards, market research and news. Its training, certification and education programs set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. InfoComm International is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers in the Western Hemisphere. InfoComm also produces trade shows in China, Europe, India, Latin America and the Middle East. Additional information is available at infocomm.org.
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