AutomatedBuildings.com Interview

Ken Smyers, with DMS Controls Group, LLC, in Pittsburgh, has over 30 years of experience in the HVAC, Building Automation, and Controls Industry and is Co-Founder of the ControlTrends Awards, which was established to recognize the superstars and heroes of the HVAC and Building Automation Industries. Ken is also very much involved with Eric Stromquist and ControlTrends.org, a leading internet source for HVAC and Controls information.

ControlTrends Awards 2017 Chicago

It was another important event for the HVAC and Building Automation industry because it brought a great deal of positive attention to many of the unsung heroes and superstars who would otherwise go unrecognized for the accomplishments and successes they deliver every day and have delivered throughout their careers.

Sinclair: So, the 2017 ControlTrends Awards is in the books. Congratulations on another great success.

Smyers: Thank you, and thanks again for your support before the show -- and assisting us with the Young Gun Awards. Eric and I are extremely happy with the outcome of the 2017 ControlTrends Awards. Each year, and each venue -- poses its own set of unique challenges, and this year we had some audio issues, but we were able to work through them. The feedback we have received from the attendees and the sponsors has been nothing but positive. Everyone enjoyed the show.

It was a great evening. Chicago is a beautiful city --, and the weather cooperated nicely this year. The Chicago Hard Rock Café nightclub style of venue was well-suited for this year’s “Heart and Soul of Smart Buildings” theme. Marc Petock and Kim Brown did an amazing job as co-MC’s, and the Smiley Tillmon Band also did a great job of keeping the audience involved and entertained during the show.

It was another important event for the HVAC and Building Automation industry because it brought a great deal of positive attention to many of the unsung heroes and superstars who would otherwise go unrecognized for the accomplishments and successes they deliver every day and have delivered throughout their careers.

EasyIO hosted a VIP event prior to the start of the show that brought a lot of attendees to the event early. We got to experience firsthand that the ControlTrends Awards is truly an international event, welcoming attendees from Europe, Australia, and Asia – and, we had voter participation from 57 countries this year.

Sinclair: There were some new wrinkles in this year’s show. Tell us a little bit about them.

Smyers: Right, we added The Race to the Small Space Solution; HVAC, Building Automation, or IoT Trainer of the Year; IoT Smart Building Solution of the Year; and the Progressive Consulting Engineer of the Year categories. All of them were well received and well supported, and the winners very deserving.

Eric and I were especially excited about this year’s ControlTrends Hall of Fame inductees. Ron Zimmer was certainly a deserving inductee, as were the posthumous inductions of the legendary industry leaders Warren S. Johnson, and Mark C. Honeywell. Also, we recognized a true champion and pioneer of the two-step distribution channel, Don Cochrane Sr. We will have lots of photos, highlight posts, and video coverage of the event on ControlTrends as it becomes available.

Sinclair: The 2019 AHR Expo will be in Atlanta, GA next year. Is it safe to assume that there will be another exciting show to look forward to in Atlanta?

Smyers: It certainly is! We are already scouting the best venues for the 2018 ControlTrends Awards in Atlanta, GA and we will be getting the wheels rolling forward in the very near future.

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