2019 BICSI Fall show counts 35 technical sessions, 123 exhibitors, innovative keynotes

Last week, BICSI, the professional association for advancing information and communications technology (ICT) education, certification and standards, held its annual Fall Conference & Exhibition (Sept. 3 - Oct. 4) in Las Vegas, Nevada. ICT professionals from all over the world traveled to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for this premier, annual ICT infrastructure and technology event.

BICSI President Jeff Beavers, RCDD, OSP, officially opened the conference Tuesday morning. In his opening remarks, Beavers highlighted conference activities and noted some of BICSI's latest product releases, as well as milestone accomplishments achieved in 2019. Such highlights included:

• A complete update to the BICSI Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC) Program, consisting of a new course, two standards, a specialty manual and an exam
• A new pocket-sized field guide for copper cabling
• The creation of the BICSI Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region
• The launch of a new BICSI Global Mentorship Program
• The completion of BICSI Project Refresh, involving the modernization of the BICSI World Headquarters and the expansion of the BICSI Learning Academy in Tampa, Florida 

Following Beaver’s opening remarks was the event's enlightening opening keynote panel, moderated by physical and cyber security solution expert, Steve Surfaro, who is the chairman of the Security Industry Association’s Public Safety Working Group and co-chair of ASIS International’s Security Applied Sciences Council.

The panel focused on how to lead in the smart/safe/connected city revolution, and consisted of diverse executive professionals with experience deploying advanced technologies in ICT smart city categories such as public safety, transportation, education and artificial intelligence. Panelists included Lisa Falzone, CEO and Co-Founder of Athena Security; Anson Fong, Chief Information Security Officer for Los Angeles World Airports; and Mark Jules, Global Vice President at Hitachi Vantara Corporation. The panelists discussed a range of topics from insights and abilities to choices and challenges on technology, infrastructure, connected devices and sensors, artificial intelligence, automation and more.

Conference General Sessions that followed included presentations on optimizing intelligent building infrastructure, wired and wireless AV collaboration, how to deploy PoE "anywhere and everywhere," 5G and next-gen wireless networks, edge data centers, smart healthcare facility infrastructure, digital building strategies and applications for hospitality, digital lighting design and PoE, building the Single-Pair Ethernet ecosystem, tracking life safety from design to implementation, and much more.

Attendee feedback included Philip Janeway, RCDD, JDH Contracting, Indianapolis, IN, who said, “I was impressed with the Opening Session. There was an excellent keynote panel presentation that gave us detailed information about artificial intelligence using the latest technology infrastructures. It was really informative, providing insights on how today’s security providers use cutting-edge technology.”

The conference exhibit hall was full of activity, as 123 exhibitors added excellent value to the conference by showcasing technical products, services and solutions, and afforded attendees the opportunity to experience first-hand the new developments and technology trends in the ICT industry. The association's popular What’s New, What’s It Do? presentations were a crowd favorite, as attendees stopped by the BICSI Theater on the exhibit floor to watch participating exhibitors give five-minute segments on their newest products and services. Networking opportunities spanned the entire event and included a Women in BICSI Fall Networking Breakfast.

The conference and exhibition continued Wednesday with concurrent sessions, and concluded Thursday with more technical presentations. BICSI Cares, the charitable arm of BICSI that supports children’s charities, donated to Jeremy’s Thoughtful Thermal Foundation, whose goal is to make a child smile while getting treatments for childhood diseases by giving them a thermal lunch box stuffed with snacks and goodies. BICSI Cares collected donations from attendees throughout the conference, and 100 percent of the funds were given to the charity.

The conference closing keynote address was delivered by Phill Nosworthy, founder of Switch L+D. In his address, Nosworthy shared techniques technical leaders can use to unlock dormant potential in themselves and others, while creating impactful experiences to transform team performance and achieve outstanding results. Nosworthy works with Fortune 500 companies and is known for taking already high performing teams to exceptional levels of growth, performance and fulfillment.

BICSI President Jeff Beavers adjourned the conference, thanking everyone for attending and encouraging them to attend upcoming BICSI conferences, including the BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition being held February 9-13, 2020 in Tampa, FL, and the BICSI Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Conference & Exhibition being held April 13-15, 2020 in Dubai, UAE.

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