Atlanta – Digital Signage Expo® (DSE), the world’s largest and longest running International Conference and Tradeshow dedicated exclusively to digital signage, interactive technology and digital out-of-home networks (DOOH), today announced the independently judged winners of its Apex & Content Awards for 2013 at its 4th Annual Awards Dinner Sponsored this year by the Digital Signage Federation.

This year Gold, Silver and Bronze Apex Awards were presented to winners in 10 categories from a field of 90 entrants:

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
GOLD: Westfield San Francisco Centre, Nominated by Obscura Digital
SILVER: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Nominated by Intermedia Touch Inc.
BRONZE: Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, Nominated by DRM
Productions Inc.

Business, Industry & Government
GOLD: San Francisco Public Utility Commission, Nominated by Obscura Digital
SILVER: Christie West Wing, Nominated by Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.
BRONZE: Arsenal Media Fountain of Content, Nominated by Arsenal Media

Education & Healthcare
GOLD: University of Waterloo Stratford Campus, Nominated by Westbury
National Show Systems Ltd.
SILVER: Florida Hospital – Wesley Chapel, Nominated by Sound Stage Inc.
BRONZE:Saint Louis University, Nominated by NEC Display Solutions

Event Venues
GOLD: Antron Showroom, Nominated by Float4 Interactive
SILVER: Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Nominated by Gefen
BRONZE: University of Oregon, Nominated by Haivision

Food & Beverage
GOLD: Dee Daa Restaurants, Nominated by Arsenal Media
SILVER: Top of Waikiki Restaurant, Nominated by Pacific Digital Signs
BRONZE: Starbucks Coffee Co., Nominated by Starbucks Coffee Co.

Hospitality
GOLD: Swan & Dolphin Resort, Nominated by Xpodigital
SILVER: Tourisme Montérégie, Nominated by Arsenal Media
BRONZE: Wynn in Las Vegas, Nominated by JANUS Displays by Morrow
Technologies

Interactive Self-Service
GOLD: Pepsi, Nominated by Intel
SILVER: Telenet Mobile – SmartSpot – DOBIT, Nominated by Scala Inc.
BRONZE: Buffalo Wild Wings, Nominated by Wireless Ronin Technologies

Public Spaces
GOLD: Westfield Shopping Center, Nominated by Scala Inc.
SILVER: Samsung Galaxy S3 Turkey Launch Projection Mapping, Nominated by Dreambox Visual Communications
BRONZE: Clear Channel Spectacolor – Times Square, Nominated by Clear Channel
Spectacolor

Retail
GOLD: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Nominated by Build-A-Bear Workshop®
SILVER: Connections, Nominated by YCD Multimedia
BRONZE: Holt Renfrew Ltd., Nominated by Rose and Thistle Media

Transportation
GOLD: CBS Outdoor, Nominated by MRI (Manufacturing Resources
International)
SILVER: McCarran International Airport, Nominated by Four Winds Interactive
BRONZE: IGITerminal – 3 & 1 Airport,Delhi, Nominated by Times Innovative Media Ltd. (Times OOH)

The DSE 2013 Apex Award of the Year winner is:

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Nominated by Build-A-Bear Workshop®

This year Gold, Silver and Bronze Content Awards were presented to winners in 10 different categories from a field of 70 entrants:

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
GOLD: Second Story Interactive Studios, for content created for Vault of the
Secret Formula: Bubble-izer
SILVER: Intermedia Touch Inc., for content created for Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
BRONZE: Arsenal Media, for content created for Christie, The Discovery Wall

Business, Industry & Government
GOLD: Arsenal Media, for content created for The Fountain of Content
SILVER: Obscura Digital, for content created for Digital Arts Wall, San Francisco
Public Utilities Commission
BRONZE: Arsenal Media, for content created for Christie, Kitchener West Wing Lobby

Education & Healthcare
GOLD: Intermedia Touch Inc., for content created for Miami Children’s Hospital
SILVER: Arsenal Media, for content created for Wilfrid Laurier University, 100th Anniversary
BRONZE: Visix Inc., for content created for University of Iowa Interactive Wayfinding

Event Venues
GOLD: Oklahoma City Thunder, for content created for Chesapeake Arena
SILVER: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, for content created for MLSE Live
BRONZE: Insteo, for content created for Vitec Group

Food & Beverage
GOLD: Groupe Viva, for content created for Le 2 Pierrots
SILVER: Allure Global Solutions, for content created for Moe’s Southwest Grill – Digital Menu Boards
BRONZE: Arsenal Media & Jaime Burns, for content created for Dee Daa Restaurants

Hospitality
GOLD: Arsenal Media, for content created for The Tourisme Montérégie
Experiential Tower
SILVER: X20 Media, for content created for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
BRONZE: Swan & Dolphin Resort, for content created for “ELLA” RFID Reader Project

Multi-Platform
GOLD: Arsenal Media and Converse Marketing, for content created for
Caterpillar Global Mining,Touchpoint Digital Program
SILVER: Elevate Digital, for content created for Groupon
BRONZE: Intelligent Multimedia Ltd., for content created for IML Challenges

Public Spaces
GOLD: Pearl Media, for content created for Chevy Interactive 3D Projection
SILVER: Vanten K.K., for content created for Ganbatte 365
BRONZE: Monster Grupo Creativo S.A. de C.V., for content created for
Banamex S.A.

Retail
GOLD: Rose and Thistle Media, for content created for Holt Renfrew Ltd.
SILVER: All Things Media LLC, for content created for Mercedes-Benz USA, AMG
Digital Signage
BRONZE: AKQA, for content created for RBS Group

Transportation
GOLD: Inwindow Outdoor, for content created for Beneful Virtual Dog
Park/Columbus Circle Interactive Wall

“The DSE 2013 Content Award of the Year winner is:

Inwindow Outdoor, for content created for Beneful Virtual Dog
Park/Columbus Circle Interactive
Chris Gibbs, President of Exponation, LLC, which produces Digital Signage Expo said, “Because innovation and creativity are essential to driving growth in our industry, it is our unique pleasure and privilege to be able to provide a forum that not only nurtures and recognizes these amazing leaps forward, but also one in which all of us can come together and truly appreciate the work that is being produced in our field worldwide. That is why we are pleased to present the 2013 winners who have distinguished themselves in this way.�

Mark your calendar now: Digital Signage Expo® 2014, co-located with the Interactive Technology Expo and Digital Content Show, is scheduled for February 11-13, 2014, with access to the Exhibit Hall February 12 & 13 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space contact Jeanne Phillips, (770) 817-5903. Or, for more information, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net. You can follow DSE on Twitter at DSExpo, or for all DSE 2014 updates, use #dse2014. For year-round news and information on digital signage, visit DSE’s new Digital Signage Connection web portal at www.digitalsignageconnection.com.

About the Independent Panel of Apex Award Judges
DSE’s Apex Awards were individually assessed and juried on the basis of originality and innovation by an independent panel of six industry journalists, all of whom have long reported on the digital signage sector, have published on the many facets of the industry, and are recognized as versant in current industry trends. Judges included:
• Ben Skidmore, Publisher, Digital Signage Solutions
• Lionel Tepper, Managing Director, ScreenMedia Daily
• Tom Leblanc, Editor-in-Chief, Commercial Integrator
• Mike Cearley, Senior Vice President & Partner, Global Social Strategy & Consumer Engagement, Fleishman-Hillard; Author & Publisher, 11th Screen
• Jeff Wooten, Editor, Sign Builder Illustrated
• Richard Lebovitz, Editorial Director, Digital Signage Expo

About the Independent Panel of Content Award Judges
DSE’s Content Awards were individually assessed and juried on the basis of originality in content applications developed specifically for digital signage by an independent panel of six industry professionals, all of whom have long worked in the digital signage sector and have developed hands-on expertise in many facets of the industry, Judges included:
• Nancy Hoffman, Client Relationship Lead, [ADi] Animation Dynamics Inc.
• Craig Huff, Graphic Design Manager, Bell Canada at Vancouver Convention Centre
• Maria Kozlova, Art Director, mkgrafix.com
• Anne White, Principal, Hypehouse
• Daniel Wilkins, SVP/Digital Out-of-Home, Wilkins Media Company
• Florian Vollmer, SVP Design, Design Principal, InReality, an Info Retail Company.

About Digital Signage Expo
Digital Signage Expo 2014, to be held February 11-13, 2014, with access to the Exhibit Hall February 12 & 13 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas USA, is the world’s largest and longest running conference and trade show exclusively dedicated to the digital signage, interactive technology and digital-out-of-home (DOOH) industries. Launched in 2004, DSE was the first event dedicated to the digital signage market and has been a significant contributor to the growth of this fast-paced industry. Professional end user attendance represents decision-makers from key industry categories such as retail, restaurant, healthcare, education, hospitality and transportation, as well as other key stakeholders, including advertising executives, brand marketers and systems integrators.

Over 200 exhibitors feature technology and services including hardware, software, network, delivery and content from around the globe. DSE also offers the largest and most diversified digital signage and digital out-of-home educational program anywhere in the world, with more than 150 educators and the largest variety of educational opportunities, including a live installation tour and structured curriculum leading to professional re-certification in eight educational tracks. The 2014 program will be comprised of 14 pre- and post-show educational events, 32 seminars, 40 targeted Industry Vertical Discussion Groups and 42 free workshops staged in three on-floor theaters.

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For more information, contact Communications Representative
Geri D. Wolff, Market Works International, Inc. (386) 447-0018

LOCATION – Oct 5, 2012 – Barron Systems has qualified as an InfoComm International Emerald Certified AudioVisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP). This designation recognizes that at least 35 percent of all technical, sales and customer service staff must have and maintain general or advanced CTS certification. more

Grass Valley, California, 13 June, 2012 – Ensemble Designs will debut two new features to its BrightEye Mitto family of high-end scan converters at the infoComm Show in Las Vegas June 13-16, 2012 on booth C4820. more

LAS VEGAS—Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. will launch the new AFC3 hardware for its Active Field Control systems. The new product will be on display at InfoComm 2012, booth #10340. more

LAS VEGAS—Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. will launch the new CIS Series at InfoComm 2012. The Yamaha CIS (Commercial Installation Solutions) product offerings have been created specifically for installed sound market applications where there may not be an experienced audio operator running the system; for example, restaurants, retail outlets, public address systems within the transportation industry, convention centers, hotel ballrooms. more

Sunbrite introduces ground-breaking new TV Marquee Series, true outdoor all-weather displays that perform in direct sunlight enable systems integrators to address new business opportunities.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, June 13, 2012 — With an introduction that provides systems integrators and their clients with direct sunlight-readable digital signage displays that are completely weatherized and optimized for outdoor use to enable a broader base of businesses to deploy, SunBriteTV today debuted the new Marquee Series All Weather Digital Signage Displays at InfoComm 2012. more

The industry leader in high performance cabling and connectivity solutions rebrands as C2G.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (InfoComm 2012, Booth C9144) — June 13, 2012 — Cables To Go (http://www.c2g.com/), the preferred provider of high performance cabling and connectivity solutions, announced today that it has rebranded the company. The new brand, C2G, communicates the strategic direction and vision of the company by offering a more broad and diverse portfolio of exceptional connectivity solutions, investments in the development of advanced tools, and geographic expansion across Europe. more

The new amplifier provides important differences in both sound quality and flexible capability for commercial and residential integrators.

LEXINGTON, KY – Audio Authority®, manufacturer of audio/video distribution, extension and signal conversion solutions, announced an incentive for new dealers to sign up at InfoComm Conference 2012. more

Almo Professional A/V, the nation’s fastest growing audiovisual distributor, in partnership with InfoComm International, today announced additions to its next E4 AV training and networking event, which will take place in Washington, D.C., on May 18. Additions include the involvement of Women in AV (WAVE) as a new presenter; new courses from Planar, Cables To Go, Samsung and Brawn Consulting; and product debuts from NanoLumens and Chief. During this event, Almo will also present the first E4 Education Ambassador award to Dr. Randy Lemke, executive director and CEO of InfoComm.

An overview of the Almo Pro A/V E4 tour can be viewed here.

“With our E4 D.C. event taking place only a few weeks before InfoComm, many of our exhibiting manufacturers are taking advantage of this time to preview new products and topics that will be formally launched in June,� explained Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “Also, we welcome the WAVE group as our newest E4 presenter. Founder Jennifer Willard will lead a class about the new Women in AV mentoring program, which focuses on opportunities for the development and empowerment of women in AV.�

Taylor noted that the “E4 Education Ambassador� award recognizes an individual who has worked to help fulfill the E4 AV Tour’s mission of providing high-quality CTS-accredited education to the AV industry. The award will be presented to Lemke at 2:30 p.m. E.D.T. in the main E4 exhibit hall.

A complete list of sessions can be found here, with the newest ones listed below:

Displays on Display: An Integrator’s Guide to Specifying Displays for Digital Signage
First session to address Americans With Disabilities Act requirements
Chris Lookenott, Planar Systems

Introduction to Master Antenna TV and RF Distribution (1 CTS RU)
Joe Cornwall, Cables To Go

Interactive Display Tables with Natural Interfaces – The Future Is Here
Don Hickey, Samsung Electronics

Word to the Wise! Best Practices for Installing Large-Format Displays (1 CTS RU)
Alan Brawn, Brawn Consulting

Women in AV: Mentoring Techniques
Jennifer Willard, WAVE

E4 D.C. will also include a behind-the-scenes look at the new NanoLumens 114″ NanoSlim in a 5mm pixel pitch and an example of Chief’s program for custom, preloaded AV racks based on the newly renovated RackBuilder application.

Other new products include the ultra-slim and lightweight flexible and rigid LED displays from NanoLumens; Clarity Matrix ADA-compliant video wall systems from Planar Systems; the SUR40 Surface Table from Samsung; Christie MicroTiles large displays with JumpStart content management; the Aquos Board 70-inch LED interactive display with touch screen from Sharp; and a 47″ All-weather Digital Signage Display from SunBrite’s Marquee Series. For a full list of E4 exhibitors, click here.

The E4 D.C. event will take place on Friday, May 18 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is entirely free, including parking, to Almo Pro A/V’s reseller, integrator and consultant partners. To register, go to www.e4avtour.com.

The E4 AV program can be accessed on demand during and after each event for instructor videos, copies of the course presentations and live Twitter updates.

About Almo Professional A/V’s E4 AV Tour
Launched in December 2009, The E4 AV tour is a free, full-day program with an intense educational focus that allows partners to earn valuable InfoComm International CTS RUs while networking with the industry’s top manufacturers. Close to 4,300 attendees have experienced the benefits of the E4 events and, in the process, have earned nearly 3,000 InfoComm CTS RUs. For more information, go to www.e4avtour.com.

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About InfoComm International
InfoComm International® is the international trade association representing the professional audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, InfoComm has more than 5,000 members, including manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end-users and multimedia professionals from more than 80 countries. InfoComm International is the leading resource for AV standards, market research and news. Its training, certification and education programs set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. InfoComm International is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers worldwide. InfoComm also produces trade shows in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and China. Additional information is available at www.infocomm.org.

About Almo Professional A/V
Almo Professional A/V is the nation’s fastest growing distributor serving the needs of professional audiovisual integrators, dealers and consultants. With a highly skilled sales team, reseller education programs, 10 distribution centers across the U.S. and product lines for the Pro A/V channel, Almo Professional A/V provides customers with the full distribution experience on a local and a personal level.

The Almo Professional A/V sales team is InfoComm-trained and the majority is CTS-certified. Almo Professional A/V has aligned with InfoComm International to offer courses worth CTS renewal units that enable partners to stay ahead. At the same time, the division works with industry vendors to bring live and online product training opportunities directly to channel partners.

Almo Professional A/V is a division of Almo Corp., the nation’s leading independent distributor of consumer electronics and major appliances. For more information about Almo Professional A/V, please call 410-560-2890 or go to www.almoproav.com. Almo Professional A/V can also be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/almoproav and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/almoproav.

*All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

N & S Marketing, Creative Marketing, and Audio Video Marketing to represent network solution firm’s products in the Northwest, Southeast, and South Central USA.
McKINNEY, Texas | May 8, 2012 | One week after publicly announcing the formation of FiROBO corporation, a company that provides zero configuration, enterprise level managed network solutions for the residential and commercial A/V integrators, the company announced they have reached formal agreements with 3 manufacturer’s rep firms to represent FiROBO’s products and services. more