PLASA's Technical Standards Program Volunteers Recognized for Service

PLASA's Technical Standards Council announces the recipients of the first annual Above & Beyond Awards designed to recognize outstanding Technical Standards Program (TSP) volunteers. The awards celebrate those volunteers that have made a significant contribution or effort that advances the Technical Standards Program. The TSP exists because hundreds of individuals from across the industry volunteer their expertise and significant amounts of time throughout the year to write standards that increase safety, solve problems, and make life easier.

Mike Wood, TSC co-chair, noted that "each year there are always a few individuals who stand out because of the extra effort they have put in, and the TSC wanted to recognize and thank those individuals. These awards are particularly meaningful to the recipients because the nominations are made by their peers within the TSP working groups."

The 2013 Above & Beyond Awards were presented to:

Bill Ellis of Candela Controls (control protocols working group) who has, over the last several years, put in an extraordinary amount of work in the preparation, setup, programming, and presentation of the protocols section of the PLASA booth at LDI culminating this year in the new "standards on the stage" area.

Simon Newton (control protocols working group) who was recognized for his tireless commitment to furthering the progress of control protocols. He has made major contributions to numerous standards, authored articles, participated on panels, assisted with marketing activities, and developed the open source RDM test suite software dedicated to furthering protocol compliance.

Steve Terry of Electronic Theatre Controls (electrical power working group) who worked closely with Underwriters Laboratories for more than three years to get the ANSI/PLASA E1.24 Pin Connector standard to be the first PLASA standard to be adopted by UL (as an integral part of the UL498 standard) a major milestone in the history of the TSP. Additionally, Terry's heroic efforts on UL1691 succeeded in getting the bi-national CANENA committee to change the standard to accept current industry-standard single-pole connectors.

Dan Culhane of SECOA (rigging working group) who was recognized for his exemplary dedication and commitment to creating quality standards. His nomination speaks volumes as it was made by a direct competitor who wanted to acknowledge the value of Culhane's contributions and participation on the working group.

Christine Kaiser of Syracuse Scenery and Stage Lighting Co. (rigging working group) who has approached every project she's worked on with determination and tenacity and was instrumental in moving the E1.6 series of standards forward as well as E1.4. She's now pushing through with the theatre inspections document. Kaiser was particularly cited for her level of preparation for meetings, which allows her to make significant contributions to all discussions.

The awards for service in 2013 were presented during PLASA's winter meeting in January in Westlake, Texas. These individuals deserve the thanks, not only of their colleagues in the Technical Standards Program, but of every individual whose workplace is safer or job is easier because of the work they are doing.