ICIA Funds Multi-Year “AVolution” Awareness Campaign for A/V Industry with $1.2 Million Education Grant

Fairfax, Va.-– The International Communications IndustriesAssociation, Inc. (ICIA) has announced the commitment of funds for athree-year, $1.2-million industry awareness campaign, branded“AVolution,” to promote the contributions of AudiovisualSolutions Providers (AVSPs) to the success of professionalcommunications and presentations. The awareness campaign will launch atInfoComm, May 31 to June 6, 2003, at the Orange County ConventionCenter, Orlando, Fla.

ICIA will conduct the AVolution campaign through its InternationalCommunications Industries Foundation (ICIF), a non-profit charitableand educational organization chartered to support the A/Vcommunications industry, and is actively engaging participation by ICIAmembers and others in this industry.

ICIA and ICIF representatives will reach out to broadcasters andvideo professionals among 14 other vertical market users to demonstratethe practical and creative uses of A/V technology. At InfoComm,they’ll find the A/V training and technology needed tosuccessfully achieve their goals, including displays and projectors inall sizes and technologies, cameras, in-station monitors, speakers andmicrophones, rental and staging equipment, networking andcommunications tools, teleconferencing and other multi-location meetingtools, multimedia integration, and more.

The AVolution campaign will showcase the A/V industry as“evolved” and integral to the success of any sophisticatedcommunications project. In this way, the campaign ties intoICIA’s funding of it’s multi-year AVolution AwarenessCampaign.

“The A/V communications industry is a worldwide, multi-billiondollar market because there are so many applications of its technologyin so many vertical markets,” said Harald Thiel, president,Canadian division, AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, and president ofICIA. “This campaign will inform those vertical markets about theproducts, services and value of the A/V industry as well as direct themto the communications solutions they need to be successful.”

“ICIA is active in 60 countries, and everywhere we go we seenew and exciting applications of A/V. Although the A/V industry isubiquitous, it’s often misunderstood and taken forgranted,” added Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., ICIA's executivedirector. “Through this campaign we want to open thecustomers’ eyes and ears to the importance and necessity of A/Vtechnology to modern communications and to recognize the professionalswho design and integrate permanent installations as well as eventsystems that support meetings and conferences.

“Since we represent the entire distribution chain for thepro-AV industry, we’re in a unique position to take a leadershiprole in creating an understanding of the industry in the minds ofpotential customers and technology users to help our members achieveeven greater successes,” said Lemke. “We’ll focus onengaging the attention of professional service partners who are soimportant to our industry, including presentation professionals,architects, contractors and facility managers.”

The International Communications Industries Association, Inc. (ICIA)is the premier trade association for the professional audiovisualcommunications industry. ICIA is the founder of InfoComm, theconference and trade exposition for audiovisual communicationsprofessionals who learn about the latest technologies and availableservices as well as new and alternative applications. ICIA serves itsworldwide membership as the pre-eminent provider of education, trainingand certification.