Record-breaking attendance reported by CSIA
May 1, 2014, MADISON, Wis. – A record-breaking 538 people attended the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Executive Conference in San Diego, Cal., U.S., last week.
In attendance were more than 80 system integrators, partners and guests from outside the United States, who were welcomed at a special reception for international guests.
Economist Alan Beaulieu, president of ITR Economics, opened the conference by sharing his optimism for the future of manufacturing and how system integrators can prepare for expansion beginning in 2015. A panel presentation, Lessons from Touching a Hot Stove, moderated by long-time member Bob Zeigenfuse, president, Avanceon, received positive reviews from conference attendees. The panel presentation was one of 20 breakout sessions offered during the three-day event.
Three members were recognized with association awards during a dinner held in their honor. Steve Goldberg, director of information technology, Matrix Technologies Inc., Maumee, Ohio, Pa., U.S. received the Charlie Bergman Award. Keith Mandachit, IT manager and senior engineer, Huffman Engineering Inc., Lincoln, Neb., U.S. was named CSIA Rising Star. Phoenix Contact, Middletown, Pa., U.S., represented by Steve Newcomer, distribution channel specialist, received the Partner of the Year Award.
The talk of the conference was the new Industrial Automation Exchange, www.csiaexchange.com, a new online community for integrators, partners and prospective clients. Members were invited to create personal and company profiles on the Exchange, which replaces the association’s popular Find an Integrator directory with a social community for integrators, partners and prospective clients.
The 2015 Executive Conference will be April 30 – May 2 in Washington, D.C.