Commercial Integrator April 2021 - 4

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Integrated Systems Events Launching ISE 2021
Live & Online Series Across Europe

AVTWEEPS will have to wait until 2022 to get their first taste of
a four-day Integrated Systems
Europe event in Barcelona but
could get a taste of what's in
store through the new ISE Live
& Online series that will kick off
at the Fira on June 1, the date
ISE 2021 was supposed to mark
its ribbon-cutting.
Integrated Systems Events
and its co-owners AVIXA and
CEDIA have jointly announced

ISE Live & Online, a series of
local events in Barcelona, Munich, Amsterdam and London
which will be supported by a
comprehensive digital offering
powered by CISCO.
" With the uncertainty
surrounding the pandemic and
global travel restrictions, ISE
Live & Online will take the place
of the traditional in-person
large trade show format, " the
ISE announcement says.
" We have reached this
decision following extensive
discussions with our exhibitors over the last few months,

and more explicitly, these last
10 days, " said ISE managing
director Mike Blackman in the
group's announcement.
" All along there has been
a clear demand for a four-day
ISE show in Barcelona in June.
However, uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and international travel remains, which
means we are unable to run ISE
2021 in its traditional format, "
said Blackman.
" Our exhibitors have made it
clear that there is a desire to get
the industry together, but on a
local level. In response, we are

targeting Europe's key markets
across the AV sector and aim to
deliver a quality audience who
want to meet potential suppliers,
existing customers and network
with their peers, " he said.
More information will be
released on both the digital
and the local events in the
coming days.
ISE Live & Online Schedule:
› June 1-2: Fira Barcelona
› June 8-9: MAC Forum,
Munich
› June 15-16: RAI, Amsterdam
› June 23-24: Evolution,
Battersea, London

Tributes Pour in for Michael Shinn After His Death at Age 38
MICHAEL SHINN, who was
part of the initial 40 CI Influencers Under 40 list in 2014 and
worked tirelessly to advance
the cause of young and future
AV professionals, died March 6
at age 38.
Shinn, who was self-employed as Chief Shinnovator at
his own firm Shinnovate, LLC.,
since September, previously
held positions at South Central
AV, Verrex, and IMS Technology Services. He was an
instructor at InfoComm shows
and served on the NSCA
Education Foundation board
of directors.
Shinn was born April 1,
1982, but one thing that was
no joke to him was finding
the next generation of talent.
He also launched the service
department at IMS during his
tenure there.
" Mike is part of the reason
I am at USAV, " says Patrick
Whipkey, director of USAV
and Shinn's IMS colleague and

close friend.
" His laugh could fill a room
and I knew exactly how to get
him to belly-laugh. We played
well off of each other. He saw
my potential and I saw his, "
he says.
Lisa Hensle, senior global
managed services account
manager at Verrex, worked
with Shinn when he joined the
company after his time at IMS
in an effort to ramp up Verrex's
managed services offerings.
" I remember my first conversation with Michael (yes,
he preferred his given name of
Michael), " she says. " I called to
introduce myself and welcome
him to Verrex.
" Two-plus hours later, a
friendship already took root.
Michael became a mentor,
colleague, and most important,
a dear friend, " says Hensle.
Shinn was never afraid to be
the butt of a joke and was quick
to dish it out too.
" Mike was passionate about

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CM2104 pp04-06 News.indd 4

this industry and, as such a
young man, had so much potential, " said NSCA executive
director Chuck Wilson. " He will
be greatly missed. "
Tim Albright, chief marketing officer at Conference
Technologies Inc., had Shinn
on his AV Nation podcasts as
a regular guest and became a
close friend with him through
that avenue.
" His heart knew no limits,
and sometimes that got him
into trouble, " he says. " Mike
made everyone feel welcomed
and a part of the tribe.
" The industry had Mike's
mind and his heart. To me,
though, Mike was just a great
friend. His presence brought a
smile, his voice a lighter mood,
and his compassion a new
perspective, " says Albright.
Kelly Perkins worked closely
with Shinn on NSCA Education
Foundation initiatives including
the Ignite workforce development program.

" He was the best AV
bitching buddy, " she says.
" We were both so good at
it. I'm grateful we had many,
many (many) laughs and even
more grateful to have the good
memories. "
Shinn " was instrumental to
our growth and development
in the early years, " says IMS
Technology Services owner
John Renninger.
" He had a great, although
devilish sense of humor, an
infectious laugh and was very
intelligent, " he says. " He was
passionate about the industry
and will be remembered as
one of the people that got IMS
to where it is today. "

commercialintegrator.com

3/15/21 2:40 PM
http://www.commercialintegrator.com
Commercial Integrator April 2021

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