David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, currently vice president of RTKL, will become the next executive director and chief executive officer of InfoComm International on January 1, 2013. Labuskes will success Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., who is retiring at the end of 2012.
Labuskes has been a VP at architectural-and-engineering firm RTKL for more than 13 years. He founded the company’s technology design practice, which provides services for audio-visual, voice, data, wireless, environmental-media, electronic-security and acoustic services.
A long-time volunteer for InfoComm as well as BICSI, the Telecommunications Industry Association and the National Systems Contractors Association, Labuskes has provided input and offered guidance on the creation of industry training, best-practice recommendations and credentialing.
Jim Ford, PE, chair of InfoComm’s leadership development committee, commented, “As an integrator, I think David Labuskes is the ideal choice to share his unique insights on the future of AV in the built environment, and advise the integration community on the IT skills that our businesses will need to acquire. I believe he will be able to use his experience as an industry instructor to share practical advice that will benefit InfoComm’s heritage members—AV dealers and integrators.
The transition will begin on November 26, when Labuskes will begin preliminary work at InfoComm before becoming executive director/CEO on January 1. He said, “I am looking forward to becoming the leader of InfoComm International, and getting to know more about the concerns and aspirations of all segments of this great industry. Whether you are an integrator, live-events professional, manufacturer, programmer, technology manager or design consultant, I am eager to work alongside you, with InfoComm’s professional staff, to make this great association even better.”
Praise for Labuskes from elsewhere within InfoComm included recognition of his corporate experience. Johanne Belanger, the association’s secretary-treasurer, said, “It was very important to me that the next executive director and CEO of InfoComm International have a solid corporate background. InfoComm is a $40-million association, and keeping the organization in solid financial condition is of paramount importance if the group is to continue serving the industry with training, certification, networking opportunities and more. I believe David Labuskes will be an excellent steward of the association’s funds. As an MBA and former CEO, he has the experience needed to keep InfoComm on solid financial ground.”
Labuskes earned his MBA from Loyola University of Maryland and also holds a B.A. in International Politics and Business from Penn State. Prior to joining RTKL, he was president and CEO of software- and systems-design consulting firm Premier Technology Services.