InfoComms Randal A Lemke announces retirement
Published: MEA
WORLD: Executive director and CEO of InfoComm International Randal A. Lemke has announced his planned retirement at the end of 2012, capping off 16 years of service to the commercial audiovisual association. ‘It has been an honour to serve the needs of such an exciting and innovative industry these past years, and it’s with mixed feelings that I leave the wonderful team of professionals and close friends I have made here at InfoComm,’ stated Dr Lemke.
Dr Lemke joined InfoComm International in 1996 as vice president of education, at which time he supervised the development and delivery of the association’s seminars, workshops, advanced schools, international education and certification programmes. In 1997, he pioneered InfoComm Academy Online, an internet-based training system for the A/V industry, which currently has 3,000 students enrolled daily.
In addition to initiating online education at InfoComm International, other highlights of Dr Lemke’s legacy with InfoComm International include an extensive international expansion, launching audiovisual exhibitions, events and education around the world, including Europe, Asia, Middle East, Oceania and Latin America, establishment of the CTS certifications, and advancing the creation of the Step Foundation, focused on encouraging sustainability to the process of planning, designing, integrating and operating technology systems, as well as reducing long-term environmental impact from technology deployment.
On behalf of the board, the chairman of the leadership development committee and past president of the board, Jim Ford, said: ‘We are proud of Randy’s extraordinary service to InfoComm International. During an economy when many associations are struggling to survive, InfoComm International has enjoyed tremendous growth under Randy’s leadership, quadrupling revenue and expanding our tradeshow presence to 10 shows worldwide. His leadership has taken us from being primarily a dealer trade association, to a global industry association for the entire A/V value chain. His dedication to the industry has inspired all of us.’
Looking towards the future, current board president Greg Jeffreys, added: ‘Randy is leaving the association healthy and well-positioned for continued success. Although we are sorry to see him go, we’re pleased he will continue to lead the organisation throughout 2012, and we anticipate that even more innovations and exciting opportunities will come to fruition with his successor.’
The search committee for the new executive director will be headed by Tony Warner, board president-elect. ‘Our search will focus on a visionary leader who will maintain the strength and culture of the association, while furthering our international presence and continuing to raise the profile of our industry,’ he stated. ‘We will retain an executive search firm by the end of the first quarter of 2012 to conduct an extensive search, and we are confident we will be able to identify the best candidates to meet these requirements. At a later time an announcement will be made calling for any potential candidates to submit their materials to the search firm.’
The InfoComm International board of directors has announced that an extensive search for Dr Lemke’s successor will be undertaken, with the selection anticipated by the fourth quarter of this year. Candidate requirements will be announced in the second quarter of 2012.