Matt is the visionary CEO of Platformatics, a smart building company. Previously, Matt was the creator of Cisco’s Digital Ceiling program and EnergyWise. In 2003, Matt named and launched Cisco’s first PoE switch. As a creative entrepreneur, Matt has been instrumental in creating multiple new product categories and IP in smart buildings, energy and PoE. Platformatics was acquired by H.E. Williams in May 2019.

Mike is the CTO and founder of Platformatics. Prior to starting Platformatics, Mike was a Consulting Engineer at Cisco Systems for over 20 years. While working in Cisco's Office of the CTO, Mike created the system architecture for PoE lighting and promoted the design to the industry.

Rick has over 35 years’ experience across the ICT industry in distribution, contracting, design and commissioning. He is a licensed low voltage contractor and instructor at the Connecticut technical colleges. He has participated on various industry committees and boards including BICSI, NFPA and the State of Connecticut. Currently Rick is a senior designer at SDA and Director of Technical Commissioning for Air Lock Solutions.

Rodney is a Principal Engineer, for CommScope’s Enterprise division where he provides infrastructure design, engineering and technical support. Rodney is also serving his thirteenth term as Chair of the TIA Fiber Optics Technology Consortium. He works closely with the TIA staff and other manufacturers within the industry to develop tools and resources to assist with deployment of fiber optic networks. 

Rodney is a 22-year BICSI member and holds the designations of Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD), Network Transport Specialist (NTS), Outside Plant Specialist (OSP), Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC) and CBRS-CPI.

Cindy Montstream is the Director of Technology Support & Training at Data Infrastructure, DPC Division of Legrand. Cindy has a BS EE degree, a Masters’ degree in Technical Education and 30+ years of teaching technical subjects and working in the industry. Cindy has her RCDD/NTS certification. She is the Chair of TIA-TR-42.3, Vice Chair of TIA-TR-42.1, and is the Standards Chair for TIA FOTC. Cindy has her CPLP (Certified Professional in Learning and Performance). She is a frequent presenter and author for industry related events and publications.

Manja Thessin, RCDD, RTPM serves as Enterprise Market Manager for AFL, leading strategic planning, and market analysis initiatives. Manja has 21 years of ICT experience in the field, design & engineering, and project management. She has managed complex initiatives in Data Center, Education, Industrial/Manufacturing and Healthcare. Manja earned a master’s certificate from Michigan State University in Strategic Leadership and holds RCDD and RTPM certifications with BICSI.

David Hessong is the manager of global data center market development for Corning. During his career with Corning, he has held positions in Engineering Services, Product Line Management, and Market Development.

Dave has published numerous industry articles and has contributed to several technical conference proceedings. He has taught classes and seminars on data centers and system design across North America.

Dave received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business.

Tony Irujo is a Sales Engineer and Account Manager with OFS. With more than 25 years’ experience in fiberoptics, Tony provides technical, sales, and marketing support for OFS and the user community. He is involved in various industry groups, including the Fiber Optics Tech Consortium (FOTC) of the TIA, and has volunteered on BICSI committees. Tony is a frequent speaker at industry events and has authored several papers on fiber technology and applications.

Mr. Reid is a Strategy Manager for Panduit’s DC Group in Tinley Park, Illinois. He defines product development direction for Panduit’s fiber optic structured cabling product line. He has been active in the fiber optics industry for almost 40 years, in the development of optical components, and specialty optics.

Corey has worked in the Information Transportation industry for 30 years. During that time, he has worked in many different positions as an installation contractor, designer, and Training Manager and Field Sales Engineer for Legrand. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology as well as RCDD and BICSI Installation Technician.

Jason has been with Legrand for 10 years, currently serving as Product Manager of Copper Solutions for Legrand's Data Infrastructure Division. He has spoken at numerous industry events on topics including Power Over Ethernet, smart building innovation, and sustainability.

Jay has worked in the telecommunications industry for 30 years. During that time, he has worked as an installation contractor, a designer of infrastructure and telecommunication spaces, a Training Manager, and a Field Sales Engineer.  He holds his CT T1 contractor’s license as well as his CDCD credential.

Jay has worked with Legrand for 21 years and has held many positions. He is currently with the Field Sales Engineering team.

Kevin has been working in ICT and been a BICSI member for the past 25 years. In that time, he has been a Technician and BICSI Certified Trainer. He currently has the role of Director of Field Sales Engineering for the Data Communications Division of Legrand. In this role, Kevin and his team collaborate with contractors, consultants, and end users assisting with the design of copper, fiber, and physical support infrastructure solutions.

Kevin currently holds the BICSI RCDD, DCDC, and NTS credentials.

Amir Sekhavat is Global Director of Product Management and Enterprise Market Development at Superior Essex. Amir has twenty years of experience in the telecommunications industry, specializing in communications cable products. Amir has published numerous articles and owns several patents related to data cable performance and connectivity. Amir is currently chairman of CCCA datacenter subcommittee.

Nathan Van Ness is a Product Marketing Manager at Biamp, responsible for the company’s building infrastructure portfolio, which includes sound masking and voice communications solutions. He has been a high-tech marketer for more than 15 years, and previously worked as a systems installer and regional sales manager for a large, West Coast AV systems integrator.

Gautier Humbert, RCDD, has been in the industry for 20 years, with experience as technical and training manager in the Middle East, and business developer in East and Central Europe for Legrand structured cabling and datacenter solutions.

He is currently the standards coordinator for digital infrastructures and is on multiple international committees such as ISO/IEC JTC1/SC25, IEC TC48, IEC TC46, CLC/TC 215, CLC/TC 46X, CLC/TC86BXA

He has also participated in the development of the ANSI/BICSI 007 intelligent buildings standard and the ANSI/BICSI 002 Datacenter Design and Implementation Best Practices standard.

He received the BICSI European Member of the Year Award in 2012 and the BICSI Global member of the year in 2020. He has just been elected BICSI EMEA Regional Director.

Harley McAllister has almost twenty years of experience in high technology industries as an application engineer, project, and product manager. The majority of this time was spent in the Telecom and Data Center markets, designing and managing fiber optic components and systems at the physical infrastructure level. Harley is currently a Senior Product Manager at Amphenol Network Solutions.

Craig Ray has 30+ years of Telecom experience and has worked in all phases of product development and customer support. His work has translated into products that are likely just down the street from where you live and where your fiber signal comes from. He takes pride in providing product solutions that people want to buy and love to use. Craig is currently a Sales Engineer at Amphenol Network Solutions.

Don Gross has 30+ years of experience in the fiber optic industry with must of that time spend in the Telecom and MSO markets. He has worked as an application engineer and project leader to develop fiber optic products for the physical layer. Much of his experience today is centered around wavelength management and network troubleshooting. Don is currently a Senior Optical Engineer for Amphenol Network Solutions.

Adnan is leading the Technology Advisory and Solutions Group at R&M USA in Milpitas California. He is consulting and training R&M business partners in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He represents R&M in TIA TR42 Standard Subcommittees as well as in TIA Single-Pair Ethernet Consortium. Adnan is a BICSI certified RCDD, DCDC and RTPM having over 20 years of experience in designing and maintaining information and communications technology (ICT) systems, telecom spaces and cabling infrastructures in data centers, healthcare facilities, airports, industrial sites, commercial and education projects.

A 23-year leader in the Telecommunications industry Gayla is the Market Development Director for In-Building Networks. She is an advocate for in-building wireless and fiber deep networks. She is on the Board of Directors and Marketing Committee of APOLAN and represents Corning on the TIA Smart Building working group.

Alan is the President and one of the founders of Qypsys, a leading integrator of access networks. Alan has served three terms on the Board of Directors for APOLAN as well as serving on the Marketing Committee and serving as Chair for the membership committee.

Paul has over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. Having founded his own system integration company in the UK, he has recently worked in sales and marketing roles in the USA for Anixter, 3M Communications Division and Excel Networking Solutions (A Sonepar Company). He is currently working for DIRTT in a sales leadership role for its PNF solutions, helping deliver modular power and fiber deep network infrastructures.

Paul is a former board member and chair of APOLAN. He embraces smart technologies and represents DIRTT on the TIA Smart Building working group

Nathan Benton has worked in the Fiber Optic Cabling Design Industry for 20+ years. He began his career as a telephone installer and has established himself as a thought leader in the Data Center and the ICT community. Nathan's worked as a Field Application Engineer, WAN Engineer, Global Technical Sales Leader, and Global Sales Leader for Strategic Cloud Accounts. BICSI Member since 1998, he's served on the RCSC Committee for 15 years and holds the RCDD, DCDC, NTS, ESS, and WD credentials. Nathan is currently the VP of Sales at viaPhoton.

James currently serves as the Director of CommScope’s Enterprise Data Center division, overseeing strategy and providing leadership to product and field teams globally. Formerly James has been involved in a variety of roles including sales, marketing and operations for communication solutions working with Tyco Electronics/ AMP, Anixter, Canadian Pacific and TTS in Canada.

James has gained extensive experience in the sale of OEM products, network solutions and value-added services through direct and indirect channel sales environments. His sales experience includes electronic transmission components, telephony systems,

network systems, LAN infrastructure products and fibre transmission system products. James has garnered substantial experience in OEM and channel marketing, as well as

network operations as assistant director of CP’s computers and communications group.

James graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Ontario. He is a registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) and certified Data Center Design Professional (CDCP).

Known as “The Wireless Janitor”, Jussi is a veteran in wireless networking, with over 20 years of experience of building tools for engineers who are turning bad wireless networks into great ones.

Today, Jussi is the Founder and CEO of Hamina Wireless, a disruptive and quirky maker of wireless tools, packed with the world’s leading wireless talent.

Bob Allan, MBA and LEED Green Associate, is the Global Intelligent Building Solutions Specialist for The Siemon Company, headquartered in Watertown, CT. Bob supports the Global sales team to educate its current and potential customers on the economic and technology benefits of Intelligent Building construction compared to traditional siloed construction models. Leading with a ConvergeIT Unified Intelligent Building infrastructure solution Bob helps end-users save millions in construction costs and lower their operational costs by integrating the building systems on an IP platform. Bob has over 15 years in the IT industry and previously worked at Honeywell Building Solutions helping customers optimize and integrate their buildings. Recently, Bob was appointed as the Vice-Chair of Continental Automated Building Association’s (CABA) Intelligent Building Council and holds an MBA from University of Hartford.

Andy has 20 years’ experience in facilities management and technology, ranging from large industrial to commercial office where he has held engineering, project management, advisory and hands on implementation role for organizations including Earth Rangers, Cisco Systems and the Canada Green Building Council (where he was Past Chair of the Toronto Chapter). Andy is a LEED AP, Certified Energy Manager and holds a Professional Engineering designation in the Province of Ontario, and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. He is currently Vice President of Client Services at Intelligent Buildings helping clients with advisory, site assessments and managed services.

Betsy Conroy is an independent freelance writer and consultant with decades of ICT industry knowledge. She frequently covers the topic of smart buildings and is a contributing writer to Smart Buildings Technology Magazine. Betsy is also an active BICSI member and volunteer, serving as the Chair of BICSI's Professional Development Subcommittee.

Matt Odell, RCDD is Senior Director of Technologies and leads the consulting team at S2N Technology Group, Bethesda, MD. Previously, Matt was an I.T. Project Manager for new construction and special projects at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.

As a volunteer for BICSI, Matt has served on the Standards committee, Healthcare, Wireless, and Smart Building subcommittees, Board member (NE Region Director 2015-2019), and led the Emerging Professionals Task Group resulting in annual award. He currently is a member of the Education Selection subcommittee and recently appointed Vice Chair of the PCC Committee.

Mr. Reid is a Strategy Manager for Panduit’s DC Group in Tinley Park, Illinois. He defines product development direction for Panduit’s fiber optic structured cabling product line. He has been active in the fiber optics industry for almost 40 years, in the development of optical components, and specialty optics.

As Manager, A&E Program for Axis Communications, Geoffrey Bauer is responsible for managing the A&E business strategy for North America and leading a dedicated Business Development team that supports designers of ESS systems.  Additionally, he serves as a technical liaison and development influence for Axis products and design tools.

Mr. Bauer earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology and has earned his ESS from BICSI, PSP from ASIS and SICC from SIA.  He has 32 years of experience in the Security industry with 16 years dedicated to managing A&E programs.

Blake Urmos, founder and host of the popular “Low Voltage Nation” podcast. Blake is a fresh and dynamic voice in bringing together the Low Voltage community and believes in “community over competition.” Get familiar with “Low Voltage Nation” by listening on Instagram®, LinkedIn®, and Facebook®

As a technical instructor, Lee Renfroe has instructed multiple students who have won nationally recognized awards and industry competitions.  As a SkillsUSA advisor he coached 4 Gold Medalists in Telecommunications Cabling as well as several Silver and Bronze Medalists.  He also had a previous student compete and win the 2014 BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge.  Lee is now Co-Chair of the BICSI Cabling Skills Challenge and is part of the BICSI Nominating and Ethics Committee.

Betsy Conroy is an independent freelance writer and consultant with decades of ICT industry knowledge. She frequently covers the topic of smart buildings and is a contributing writer to Smart Buildings Technology Magazine. Betsy is also an active BICSI member and volunteer, serving as the Chair of BICSI's Professional Development Subcommittee.