ICIA Presents Distinguished Achievement Award to Harald Thiel at InfoComm 05; Awards Banquet Celebrates Thiel's Leadership at ICIA and AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions.

LAS VEGAS -- The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.(R) (ICIA(R)) presented the Distinguished Achievement Award to Harald Thiel, CTS, at a sold-out Communications Excellence Awards Banquet held June 7 at InfoComm 05, the tradeshow for the professional audiovisual industry.

Thiel has twice served as President of ICIA, the only individual to do so. He served for eight years on ICIA's Executive Committee, presiding as President and Chairman of the Board of Governors during some of the most significant changes in the association and the industry.

In 1982 he co-founded TELAV Audio Visual Solutions and helped it grow from a single office in Montreal into a highly respected provider of audiovisual equipment and technical support with 20 offices in Canada and the U.S. by the time it joined with AVW Audio Visual, Inc. Following the merger, Thiel served as President of the Canadian division of AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, which offers a complete range of audiovisual and presentation technology services throughout North America.

ICIA Executive Director Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D. has described Thiel as "one of the most exceptional leaders in ICIA history, who has earned the respect of his Board peers for his business acumen and for his unflagging commitment to the association." He said, "On a personal note, I have always benefited from his counsel, direction and support."

Thiel retired from AVW-TELAV in 2004 to devote his energies to developing his Hidden Bench Vineyard & Winery in Toronto, Canada into a world-class establishment.

ICIA's Distinguished Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed on an industry member by the association. In selecting its recipient, ICIA's Board of Governors applies two main criteria - the career accomplishments of those under consideration, and their contributions to the AV industry.

The AV Communications Excellence Awards Banquet is a high-profile event at InfoComm that allows AV professionals to celebrate the success of leaders and pioneers in the industry. Held following the Manufacturer's Industry Forum and Opening Welcome Reception, the banquet also recognizes other outstanding individuals and products in the industry.

About ICIA

ICIA is the international trade association of the professional audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, ICIA's 3,300 members include manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end-users and multimedia professionals from more than 69 countries. ICIA is the leading resource for AV market intelligence and news. Its training and education programs, along with its Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Certified Audiovisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) credentials, set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. ICIA is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers worldwide. ICIA also co-sponsors the Integrated Systems Asia, Integrated Systems China and Integrated Systems Europe industry expositions. Additional information is available at www.infocomm.org.