Awards

This award highlights important contributions made by industry individuals to the science of AV. The award calls attention to the AV and information communications industries by recognizing pioneers who made scientific breakthroughs resulting in new AV technologies that impacted the manufacture and sales of novel products enjoyed by audiences worldwide.

2020 Adele De Berri Pioneers of AV Award

Bruce Howze
Fellow Engineer, Biamp
President and Founder, Community Professional Loudspeakers

While working as a young audio engineer and doing live sound mixing touring for groups like Jefferson Airplane and other emerging artists in the sixties, Howze saw a need for better equipment in the industry and decided to start his own company Community Professional Loudspeakers in 1968. He pioneered the use of manufacturing horn systems and enclosures with fiberglass to create large, yet lightweight, loudspeaker systems. He is also credited with many industry firsts, including the first coaxial all-horn system and the first large-format midrange compression driver, among others. Howze remains active in the company today and continues to research and develop new loudspeaker technologies.

This award recognizes Certified Technology Specialist™ holders (CTS, CTS-D and/or CTS-I) who are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.

2020 CTS Holder of the Year Award

Mark Higgason, CTS-D, CTS-I,
Executive Vice President and Partner, Encompass Audio Visual LLC

Higgason has been working professionally with audio and electronics for more than 20 years. He has helped Encompass AV grow from an unfunded start-up to a multi-million-dollar operation. Higgason is determined to make human-centric technologies a common thing in the workplace and beyond.

This award highlights important contributions made by an individual to the professional development, education, and training of the AV industry. These contributions have impacted audiences worldwide. This award is presented annually for outstanding achievement in AV education for that particular year.

2020 Educator of the Year Award

Jonathan Brawn, CTS
Principal, Brawn Consulting

Brawn has extensive experience in the design and integration of AV and digital signage systems and the development of educational programs. He is an instructor for AVIXA and a member of the association’s various AV standard task forces, including the Project Image System Contrast Ratio standard. Brawn was also the recipient of AVIXA’s 2012 Young AV Professional Award.

2020 Emerging Talent Award

Edinys Guzman
Student, Lincoln Tech

Guzman is a student at Lincoln Tech with a 4.0 GPA in the Electrician and Electronics training program. She has a Foundations of Crestron Programming Certification and is currently working on her level 2 certification from Crestron and studying for her CTS.

2020 Event Design of the Year Award

Meredith Francsis
Senior Creative Producer with BlackOak Technical Productions

Francsis is a senior producer in the events space, developing custom lighting, audio, video, and staging designs. She has a bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology from Illinois State University.

2020 Fred Dixon Service in Education Award

Steve Thorburn, PE, LEED-AP, CTS-D, CTS-I
Principal, Thorburn Associates

Thorburn is a licensed engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the architectural application of acoustic, audiovisual technology, and lighting systems. His dual degrees from Michigan Technological University in electrical engineering and technical theatre enable him to coordinate technical requirements involved in the construction bid process with practical issues required by the end users. Thorburn is a senior instructor for AVIXA and the recipient of AVIXA’s 2011 Educator of the Year Award. In addition, he is currently writing a book titled Acoustics in Architecture.

This award's overall purpose is to call out an individual recognized by association members and the industry as worthy of a lifetime achievement award. Two major criteria are applied — the career accomplishments and the individual's contribution to the AV industry through AVIXA. The Mackey Barron Distinguished Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed on an industry member by the association. 

Read about how AVIXA renamed the Distinguished Achievement Award in memory of Mackey Barron.

2020 Mackey Baron Distinguished Achievement Award

Ben Adams
International Representative, IATSE

Adams began his career as a teaching assistant in film at his alma mater Michigan State University. But before continuing his career in film, he spent two years serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Following his service, Adams – who has a love for traveling — worked on a documentary series in conjunction with Michigan State University and National Iranian Radio Television (NIRT). Adams was a filmmaker for Ford Motor Company from 1975 to 1977 and continued his career as a freelance union cameraman from 1977 until he retired in 2002. Adams then became increasingly involved in labor activism, working for the American Federation of Teachers. In 2005, Adams settled into his second career as an IATSE International Representative — working to protect and serve entertainment industry workers just like him.

This award calls attention to individuals who contribute to the association’s mission. This award winner is determined by AVIXA staff.

2020 Volunteer of the Year Award

Lisa Perrine, Ed.D.
CEO, Cibola Systems

In addition to being CEO of Cibola Systems, Perrine is an avid writer and frequent presenter, delivering courses and workshops on design thinking and workplace experience design. Her courses have been approved for certification renewal units by AVIXA, The American Institute of Architects, and International Interior Design Association. Perrine serves on AVIXA’s Standards Steering Committee and is a member of the Standards Development Task Group creating a standard for human-centered AV design. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including the Orange County United Way; the Girl Scouts of Orange County; St. Joseph Hoag Health; and Mission Hospital. Perrine has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

This award recognizes women who are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.

2020 Women in AV Awards

Sarah Becher, CTS-D, CTS-I
Project Engineer with AV Calibrations, LLC

Becher has more than 30 years of engineering experience in audiovisual display and processing equipment. During her career, she has managed local and regional levels of operations, quality assurance, and employee and customer training. Becher is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Management of Technology at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Melissa Ross, PE, CTS
Senior Engineer, Special Projects Group, AVI-SPL
Owner, AV-PE

Melissa Ross is considered to be the most-certified person in AV. She is an HDBT Master Installer and holds certifications in Networked AV Design and Commissioning, Crestron DMCD-4K, AutoCAD 3D, Revit, and many more. She is also a member of the AVIXA standard’s subject matter expert group and holds a bachelor’s degree in structural engineering from North Carolina State University.

This award calls attention to the AV industry by recognizing that young people are achieving rewarding and successful careers in the audiovisual and information communications industries.

2020 Young AV Professionals Awards

Sean McChesney, CTS
Experience Technology Consultant, Electrosonic

McChesney has a strong academic background – a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Media in Art and Technology from the University of Tampa and a Master of Entertainment Technology degree from Carnegie Mellon University. As an Experience Technology Consultant for Electrosonic, he works with clients to understand their requirements and translate them into a technology solution, coordinating the right experts and working closely with all stakeholders. He leads some of Electrosonic’s most iconic, award-winning projects and pushes the boundaries of experiential technology.

Gregory Rushton, CTS-D
Vice President, Mulvey & Banani Audio Visual Inc.

Rushton graduated with honors from Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology (OIART). He joined Mulvey & Banani International in 2007, and in 2017 he became vice president of its professional audio visual design subsidiary Mulvey & Banani Audio Visual Inc. Rushton works on an array of project sectors, ranging from cultural and sport venues, education and healthcare facilities, to private commercial developments.