Prestigious Award Presented to Long-Time Member and Volunteer at BICSI Canadian Conference

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD PRESENTED TO LONG-TIME MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER AT BICSI CANADIAN CONFERENCE

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 5, 2014—BICSI, the association advancing the information and communications technology (ICT) community, was pleased to award the Ross G. H. Cotton Award to one of BICSI’s Past Presidents, John Bakowski, RCDD, NTS, OSP, WD, of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

Named after a Canadian telecom pioneer that has served the ICT industry for many years, the Ross Cotton Award recognizes an individual in the BICSI Canadian Region who has made significant contributions to the advancement of BICSI, its goals and objectives. Bakowski was acknowledged for his commitment to the industry and to BICSI, including his volunteer work for BICSI in several capacities, such as sitting on multiple committees and spending more than a decade serving on the Board of Directors. He continues to promote BICSI at trade shows and through various speaking opportunities throughout Canada.

“John [Bakowski] has made such a huge impact on our industry over the years that he was a natural choice to receive this year’s Ross Cotton Award,” said BICSI President Michael Collins, RCDD, RTPM, CCDA, NCE. “His lifetime of contributions to the ICT community and to BICSI have helped to lead our organization in the right direction, and we are grateful for his continued dedication.”

The award was presented by Canadian Region Director Peter Levoy, RCDD, during the Closing General Session of the 2014 BICSI Canadian Conference & Exhibition on Wednesday, April 30. Attendees from all over the world gathered at the conference to gain industry knowledge, take in the latest ICT products and services and network with colleagues.

Wednesday’s activities included two technical presentations. Jose Mozota of Legrand Canada in Concord, Ontario, Canada, spoke about “Healthcare Infrastructure Planning and Designing,” followed by Doug Coleman of Corning Cable Systems in Hickory, North Carolina, USA, who delivered the presentation, “Optical Trends in the Data Centre.”

The Closing Session continued with the BICSI Cares presentation, where donations collected from attendees during the conference were donated to the British Columbia Childhood Cancer Parents Association (BCCCPA), an organization that helps children and their families fight the battle against cancer.

Finally, those in attendance were able to hear from Closing Keynote Speaker Steve Donahue. A worldwide expert on motivational narratives, Donahue is a bestselling author, international speaker and story coach/consultant who helps leaders and organizations transform their deep narrative to drive change, build brands and keep customers.

During President Collins’ closing remarks, he announced that registration was available for the 2014 BICSI Fall Conference & Exhibition, which will be held September 28-October 2 in Anaheim, California, USA.

The 2015 BICSI Canadian Conference & Exhibition will be held April 26-29, 2015, at the Ottawa Convention Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

About BICSI

BICSI is a professional association advancing the information and communications technology (ICT) community. ICT covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, project management and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, optical fiber- and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among communications and information gathering devices.

BICSI provides information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies in the ITS industry. We serve more than 23,000 ICT professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ICT professionals in delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for continual improvement and enhanced professional stature.

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, BICSI membership spans nearly 100 countries.