CEDIA 2010/2012 BOARD ELECTION BALLOTS
Deadline to cast your vote is Friday, July 23, 2010
Only full CEDIA ESC members may vote for the Board of Directors. There are 5 open positions. Max vote is 5.
As a CEDIA member, it is your right and responsibility to vote for your Board of Directors. Please take a moment to consider the future of this industry by voting for those leaders who represent the industry best, brightest, and most forward-thinking. A list of all nominees is below along with their biographies and contact information. Please review the list of potential board candidates and cast your vote by July 23. You may be prompted for your CEDIA member username and password. If you do not know your username and/or password, please contact CEDIA Headquarters at 317-328-4336 or email member@cedia.org.
En Espanol: CEDIA 2010/2012 Elección para junta directiva
Federico Bausone Robert Cairns Dennis Erskine James Heckendorf Russ Pritchard
Peter Shipp Bill Skaer Randy Vaughan Sean Weiner
Click the Vote Now button above or here to cast your vote!
Multisistemas BVC, S,A, de C.V.
Ave. Vasconcelos 131 Ote.
Col. Del Valle
San Pedro Garza Garcïa, NL 66220 Mexico
Phone: 52 81 8221-2122
Email: fbausone@multimedia.com.mx
Federico is the Founder and President of Multimedia, custom installation firm and the very first of its kind in Mexico. Federico has built five business related to the custom electronics industry in Mexico. The five businesses provide different products and services: custom installation, distribution, Crestron, retail stores for the mass market and a high end retail store. Federico has a diverse educational background. Federico attended elementary school in the United States, Brazil and Mexico. He attended high school in Mexico and Germany, then returned to Mexico for college, finishing with a degree in Marketing. From 2005-2008 Federico successfully completed the highly exclusive Owner/President Management Program offered by the Harvard Business School, after graduation he has continued learning completing in 2010 the Strategic Marketing Management program at the same Campus.
Federico is an avid supporter of growth within the custom electronics industry. CEDIA has held events in Mexico for the last five years, and his companies have sponsored every CEDIA event in Latin America. In 1991, he became CEDIA first member from the Latin America Region. Federico has expanded his involvement in recent years as well. Federico hosts the annual Tecsoluciones allowing CEDIA to deliver education to electronic systems technicians in Latin America. At the event Federico provides professional guidance to help companies in attendance work toward CEDIA membership. Bausone has been on the Mexico Action team for four years and is currently serving as chair on the Latin American Action Team working to expand services to more countries within the Latin American Region.
Federico is an extremely honest person when it comes to business displaying a true passion for teamwork to accomplish goals. He is fully devoted to continuing education for his staff and other CEDIA member companies in the electronic systems industry. Federico is able to work with other cultures due to diversity. He is fluent in Spanish, English, Italian, German, Portuguese and French. Federico would be a valuable addition to the Board of Directors because of his international knowledge and strong ties with industry pros which he has held for years.
Goals: As a member of the Board of Directors, Federico would focus on several objectives: 1. Further developing and enhance CEDIA education programs within the United States , Latin America and Spain; 2. Developing programs for CEDIA to expand even further worldwide; 3. Enhancing relationships with architects, home builders and interior designers worldwide. Federico Bausone is very committed to further developing the custom electronics industry worldwide. Federico has displayed his true passion for this industry by investing his professional time and resources to offer programs in his native country.
Cairn Control Systems
10 Kerr Street
Mississauga, Ontario L5M 1T8 Canada
Phone: (905) 820-4332
Email: rob@ccssecurity.ca
Born in New Brunswick in 1956, Rob was relocated many times as his father was a Mechanical Engineer in the Pulp and Paper Industry and specialized in refurbishing and starting up Paper Mills. Rob became very proficient in French. Provinces lived in include Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario. His parents have lived in Newfoundland, Iran, Romania and Thailand. Engineering was studied in Nova Scotia and Instrumentation (Process Control) in Ontario. Rob worked as a sales agent for Foxboro, United Electric Controls and Brian Engineering before starting his own company, Cairn Control Systems in 1982. The company started to grow and was incorporated as Cairn Control Systems Inc. in 1987. Rob met his wife Carol at United Electric Controls (Canada) Inc. where she held the position of General Manager and Vice President. They have twin daughters who have just turned 18 and are entering University. Carol is on the Board of directors of CANASA, the local BIA Board and has been a Girl Guide Leader for more than 15 years. Rob has continued to further his education and takes courses on a regular base. The latest CEDIA course taken was in New York City for the Home Theater Package. He has completed CEDIA Level 1 technician, CANASA (Canadian Security Association) Level 1 and 2 Technician, CFAA (Canadian Fire Alarm Association) Certified, TAOL (The Association of Ontario Locksmiths) Certified and is presently taking C# Programming. Rob’s first ten years on his own focused on security systems (burglar, fire, access control and CCTV) with some telephone, intercom, and commercial audio. Now Rob’s company installs Home Automation (mainly Control 4) and has become very IP based. Major corporations like Avis Budget Group rely on his company to do LPR (License Plate Recognition) and to install and maintain IP Cameras and IP Access Control in many locations across Ontario.
Some of his hobbies include Woodworking, Skiing, Swimming, Fishing and Sailing. He also has his Offshore Certification for Sailing and Celestial Navigation and likes to sail around the Caribbean. His latest wood working project was a Mahogany Library/Office with the TV rising up through the floor.
Rob is a progressive thinker with a vision of the Future. All his staff are required to continue their education at the Companies expense as certification means everything to him.
Rob would be a great asset to CEDIA because of his extensive knowledge of the security side and how it integrates easily into the CEDIA platform. He also brings with him the Laws and Regulations of Canada which will help CEDIA better understand and serve the Canadian Market.
Epic Home Cinema
1300 Williams Drive, Suite E
Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: (678) 797-1707
Email: denniswerskine@gmail.com
Dennis Erskine is a founder and partner of EPIC Home Cinema, an organization specializing in Architectural Acoustics, room construction and installation. The organization currently produces the design, blueprints and specifications for home theaters throughout the world with a focus on ergonomics, environment and acoustics.
Known for their quality, the company is a licensed General Contractor and provides design, construction, acoustics, and installation of home cinemas and home automation systems through out the country. Mr. Erskine, is an instructor for the Home Acoustics Alliance and a CEDIA SME in Home Theater Design, has participated in the joint CEDIA/CEA “best practices” efforts, and the development of the Home Theater Certification development. Prior to founding his original CE company, he was Vice President – Operations for a Bell Canada Enterprises subsidiary and Vice President for Systems Development at Holiday Inns Worldwide. He is a licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor.
Cybermation Inc
415 3rd St. N., Suite 100
Waite Park, MN 56387
Phone: (320) 255-7027
Email: jim@cybermationinc.com
I am asking for your vote in the upcoming CEDIA election. My desire to create and build began in 2000 when I founded a web company with a few buddies while a sophomore in college. We expanded through acquisition, purchasing an advertising agency in 2002. My firm grew into one of the largest, most recognized interactive / new-media companies in Central Minnesota. I sold my share in this firm in 2003, and subsequently joined Cybermation, a boutique custom integration firm founded in 1996, which was looking for an executive to solidify its brand and drive sales. The firm expanded its offerings from fundamental low voltage/home automation to mid- and high-end residential installations ($25k-500k) with a focus on distributed audio/video.
I’d appreciate the opportunity to bring my brand building skills, developed over the last decade, to CEDIA. As branding is one of CEDIA’s primary goals today, my broad skill set, coupled with my experience in the audio/video industry can bring a precious commodity to a professional organization requiring these talents. Targeted marketing efforts using new-media and viral marketing techniques can bring brand awareness of CEDIA, educated the masses to what CEDIA is all about, and in turn, drive business to CEDIA members.
Since joining Cybermation I have made every effort to be a good steward to the industry and volunteer both locally and nationally in an effort to help the Custom Electronic Industry. Locally, I serve on the Central Minnesota Builders Association (CMBA) golf committee and have done countless seminars to bring awareness to our industry at tradeshows like the Central Minnesota Homeshow, and directly to builders and remodelers at Crow River Builders Association Builders Education Seminars. Nationally, I have served as a judge for the [CEA] Mark of Excellence Awards for several years in several categories each year.
I know that my diverse background combine with my passion for our industry would make me an asset to the CEDIA Board of Directors. I also feel strongly that that a smaller integrator should have a place on the Board of Directors because it is the smaller integrators that make up the majority of the CEDIA membership.
In conclusion, I am asking for your Vote; in return, I promise to serve the custom installation community represented by CEDIA to the best of my abilities.
If you would like to find out more please don’t hesitate to call or email me.
Audio Warehouse
1941 Savage Rd., Suite 100-A
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 571-0535
Email: russ@theaudiowarehouse.com
President of Audio Warehouse Inc. Founded in 1984
CEO of Certified Cyber Solutions Inc. Founded in 2009
Founding Member of CEDIA with 30 years of professional experience in the electronics and systems integration industry.
South Carolina native born in 1961.
Passion for the industry: Looking back 30 years to where it all started, I was always that guy in high school who had to have the coolest car stereo and always fiddling with it to make it better. I feel very fortunate to have been able to turn this passion into a career. I feel equally fortunate to call Charleston, SC home; a community that has been very good to me personally and professionally and I find it very rewarding to use my career to give back to the community.
Audio Warehouse is Charleston’s first true Custom Installation Company and remains one of the top Integrators in the market today. It serves clients along the east coast and the southern islands. Many of our projects have been recognized by CEDIA, winning Lifestyle Awards of the Year, further demonstrating our commitment to our clients and the industry.
Certified Cyber Solutions is considered the first company to address residential network security, a fast growing issue based on the constant expansion of IP addressable devices in homes and remote access into these networks.
Vision: Our industry is changing rapidly, in more ways than ever before. ESC’s will have to adopt new processes for efficiency, become more effective in an IT-centric society and adapt to the market changes resulting from recent economical influences. As a voice on the CEDIA Board, if elected I will consider it my responsibility to bring focus to these changing needs with the goal of providing its members the education and support to meet these challenges.
Notable Accomplishments include:
• Three Elf Projects, one of which was recognized by CEDIA as the Best Special Project of the Year and remains the largest Room of Magic project for a children’s Hospital to date.
• Launch of the national Chemo Duck program furnishing Child Oncology Centers around the country with free Chemo Ducks, a educational and comforting companion for children diagnosed with Cancer
• Launch of Champ the Cancer Companion, a educational book and stuffed companion targeted for the Charleston County school systems. Additionally the educational book hits 4000 eBook learning centers nation wide this summer in English and Spanish.
• Recently recognized as one of “Charleston’s Most Influential People in the Design and Residential Industry” for his educational role within the community for trends in technology.
• Elf Foundation 2004 Volunteer of the Year
• Recognized by Medical University of South Carolina for Outstanding Community Service
Extracurricular Activities & Organizations:
• Chair and Founding Board member of the ASCEND Foundation. Currently serving as Board Chair of the ASCEND Foundation, focusing on education and prevention of Cancer, helping Children “Imagine A World Without Cancer”.
• Member of several Industry Trade Organizations including CEA, CEDIA and the Custom Retailers National Advisory Council.
• Enjoy Boating, Camping, Panther Football, Golf, Harley Rides and Exercise
Architectural Electronics
2273 Lee Road, Suite 100
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: (:407)-539-2949
Email: ps@aecustom.com
Friends have all asked my why I’m running for a position on the Board of Directors of CEDIA. It’s been an interesting and unique path to get to where I am today and I want to share my story with the CEDIA membership.
As a CEDIA volunteer I often wondered what exactly the board of directors does. You hear many rumors, sometimes negative, so I decided to attend a few meetings, in fact 3 of the last 5 meetings, just to see what my association was up to.
The first time I attended I can honestly say I was nervous. My attendance at each of these meetings was met with mixed reaction; some felt I should sign a non-disclosure agreement while others wished more members would show up. I think members may have felt unwelcome, partially because meeting dates and agenda’s are not made public.
“Good enough…isn’t” sums it up. I recently attended several board meetings for a related association that is older than and once as large as CEDIA. As a result, I can say confidently we belong to a well-run organization. However, my concern is that it won’t stay that way by being just good enough.
Between my experience volunteering for 4 years and spending time with the board, I believe I have a unique perspective on what needs to be done and how I can be the catalyst to not only retain what is good but to move toward improving and making CEDIA a better organization.
CEDIA is the recognized voice of our industry thanks to the grass-roots efforts of its early members. However I have heard from many of you, and many more who are not CEDIA members who may have lost interest in the organization. You have shared with me excellent ideas and thoughts on how to reengage with much of the industry so that CEDIA only becomes stronger.
It’s time for fresh and young leadership. Every organization needs succession planning. There is much to learn from the history of the organization. Together with new ideas and perspective, we can help to maintain and expand CEDIA as the unified voice of our industry.
I have outlined a few culture-changing yet simple board member ideals I think will help the leadership keep CEDIA relevant, strong and a better resource to members of all sizes to learn, grow and prosper.
- Each board member shall lead, not manage
- Each board member shall be motivated to serve for the greater good of the association and not for personal gain
- Each board member shall promote an atmosphere of open communication with the membership to allow them to stay informed on key initiatives that affect the association
If you agree, I ask for your vote and ask that you only vote for other candidates that you feel support these ideals.
As for me, I’ve been in the business for over 10 years; below are some highlights of myself and my company.
- Founded Architectural Electronics, Inc. in 2000 with offices in Orlando, Florida
- CEDIA Member since 2003
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, 2004
- Current Chair of the Business Content Action Team
- Current Member of the Management Conference Action Team,
- Past Member of the Chart of Accounts Action Team
- Winner of 3 Electronic Lifestyles® Awards in the past 4 years
- Registered Outreach Instructor
- Holder of 3 CEDIA certifications including Designer
- Licensed electrical contractor in the state of Florida and Georgia
- Recently recognized in Dealerscope’s 40 under 40 profile
Eric Grundelman, Inc
313 Clary Drive
Mesquite, TX 75149
Phone: (972) 288-8978
Email: bill@coolav.com
I spent 8 years serving as a CEDIA Board member from 1999 to 2005 and 2008-2010. I am running for re-election and I would like to ask for your vote for the CEDIA Board of Directors this year. I am the President of Eric Grundelman a custom design and installation company in the Dallas area that has been in the purely custom Audio Video and home electronics business for over 30 years. We are founding members of the association and I have been heavily involved in CEDIA from the beginning.
It was my privilege to have brought you the four “World Famous Texas BBQs” when the CEDIA EXPOs were held in Dallas in the early 1990s. They truly kick started the association.
I was the only Task Force Chairman of the Home of the Electronic Lifestyles project. The mission of the project was to raise the awareness of CEDIA and its members to the Building, Architectural and Design community. We had an incredible 5 years delivering our message. We had the opportunity to share the CEDIA story with thousands of these industry partners from around the country. In 1999 I was given the Volunteer of the Year award for my work with the Home of the Electronic Lifestyles.
I have served on many committees and action teams for CEDIA including the Instructor Pool Action Team, the Government Affairs Action Team and I served as the Electronic Lifestyles Awards Action Team Chair for three years. I am a CEDIA Certified Instructor, a CEDIA Registered Outreach Instructor and I have been a Management Conference Faciliator. It was my pleasure to have served as Chairman of the CEDIA EXPO in 2004. In 2006, for all of my many years of service to the industry, I received the highest honor CEDIA has to offer, the Lifetime Acheivement Award.
I also serve as Chairman of the Eastfield College Electronics Department’s Advisory Board where we are working to educate Electronic Systems Technicians to bring new, educated employees into our industy.
I have had the great honor of serving as your CEDIA Ethics Committee Chairman under 5 CEDIA Presidents and I will continue to be your Ethics Committee Chair as long as I am asked to do so.
I have done many different volunteer activities with CEDIA over the past nearly 21 years and I would like to continue this work. This has been a tough few years and the next two will be critical for our industry, we need proven leadership on CEDIA’s board. I need your vote to return. Please vote early each and every vote does count.
Thank you for your support!
AE Systems Home Automation & Entertainment
3217 High Point Drive
Portsmouth, VA 23703
Phone: (757) 617-7600
Email: randy.vaughan@ae-systems.com
I am the founder of and a Systems Specialist for Ambassador Enterprises, Inc. (AE Systems), a systems integration firm with offices in Portsmouth and Montvale, Virginia. For nearly 40 years, AE Systems has been a leading Systems Integration firm providing innovative solutions for commercial markets. In 2008 I sold AE Systems to Rick Arthur, our Montvale Branch Manager.
I received my B.S.I.E. from The University of Miami in 1969 and attended the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. In 1970 I founded AE Systems and began studying audio engineering, and have continued to stay on the cutting edge of communication technology, attending and teaching countless technical courses in the fields of acoustics, audio, video, lighting, control systems, and more. Today I am a frequent speaker and instructor at technical conferences, industry trade shows and seminars.
I was a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) for ten years, and served as NSCA’s National President from 2004 until 2006. I am a Founding Member of the NSCA Education Foundation, and for many years I served as the Chairman of the NSCA Education Committee, helping to establish it as a leading forum for training within the low voltage industry. In 2007 I was honored as NSCA’s Educator of the Year. I was privileged to serve with CEDIA members Ken Smith and Marilyn Sanford as subject matter experts for the two year project to draft the original curriculum with NCCER for the Electronics Systems Technician apprenticeship program. This program now titled ESPA is responsible for training young students to enter the workforce as Electronic Systems Technicians.
Though I have spent most of my professional career in commercial systems integration, I am deeply passionate about the concepts of improving a customer’s lifestyle through elegant residential systems integration, with emphasis on the term integration – creating a whole that is easier to use than the sum of its parts.
In January 2003 AE Systems entered the Custom Residential market, creating a new division – AE Systems Home Automation and Entertainment. This division brings our years of talent and expertise to residential customers. Our first project was to build a 2800 square foot Showcase Home on the second floor of our office in Olde Towne Portsmouth, complete with all the electronic lifestyle enhancements we could think of. This project was complete and operational before we even tried to solicit our first paying customer.
I became an active CEDIA member in 2003, with the start of AE System’s Residential Division. Within the first year of membership, I volunteered as the Chair of the Membership Council, an extremely important council within the CEDIA organization. The Membership Council oversees the operation of the Membership Requirements Action Team, Industry Best Practices Action Team, Government Affairs and Public Policy Action Team, and the Volunteer Development Action Team. I have also served on the CEDIA Board of Directors since 2006, as CEDIA’s Treasurer in 2007 and 2008 and as CEDIA’s Vice Chairman in 2009 and 2010.
AE Systems has had a strong commitment to CEDIA training and certification. Most of our technicians currently hold a CEDIA Certified Professional Installer I certification and several are studying for their level II certifications. I have been a CEDIA Certified Professional Designer since 2006. I am also a CEDIA Certified Instructor and a CEDIA Registered Outreach Instructor.
I believe that CEDIA is the pre-eminent trade association for custom residential systems integration professionals. CEDIA’s brand is widely recognized and respected by industry professionals, and we need to continue increasing recognition by our customers.
Starr Systems Design
1421 Clarkview Road, Suite 122
Baltimore, MD 21209
Phone: (410) 494-4310
Email: sean@starrsystems.net
Sean Weiner is currently the president of Starr Systems Design, an electronic systems and electrical contracting firm located in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1990 with a degree in Economics, spent two years as an installation technician at a Baltimore area audio/video and lighting systems contractor, another two years with a Washington DC area custom retailer, and ultimately founded Starr Systems Design in the summer of 1994. Since that time, Starr Systems Design has grown from a 3 employee audio and video systems contractor to a 35 employee firm specializing in electronic systems, electrical contracting, and security systems.
Starr Systems Design has been a member of CEDIA since its inception, is also an active member of the Maryland chapter of the AIA, and the Home Builders Association of Maryland. In addition, Starr Systems Design is a member of the Electric League of Maryland, and a participating contractor in the Harford County Electrical Contractors Association and Apprenticeship program. Mr. Weiner supports several local charities including Pathfinders for Autism, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and DreamBuilders, and currently serves on the fundraising committee of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. One of Starr Systems’ proudest achievements is its creation of an Elf Foundation Room of Magic for the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC.
Starr Systems Design has been the recipient of eleven CEDIA Designer’s Choice awards since 2001, and was named CEDIA’s Electronic Systems Contractor of the Year for 2008. Their work has also been awarded twice by Electronic House Magazine, and by Architech magazine, and their new Design Center was recognized by Lutron as Showroom of the Year in 2009. Mr. Weiner has written and participated in educational and promotional articles for numerous industry magazines, the National Homebuilders Association, and several local publications.
Questions regarding the CEDIA Board of Directors election? Please contact Andrea Watson at 800.669.5329 ext. 140 or awatson@cedia.org.
