Election results puts three new women on BOD for CEDIA

FISHERS, Ind. — CEDIA has announced four new elected directors to serve on the CEDIA Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 term. Following a 41-day voting period for CEDIA members, Melanie Malcolm was elected to fill the open EMEA position and Jamie Briesemeister, Bill Skaer, and Amanda Wildman were elected to fill the open positions for the rest of the world. Additionally, CEDIA members voted to approve the move of domestication of CEDIA from Illinois to Indiana.

“The collection of skills and experiences our board leadership brings to bear is exceptional and the four elected directors will answer the call,” said CEDIA Global President and CEO Tabatha O’Connor. “As the industry, organization, and needs of membership continue to evolve, we’re excited to have a board of directors that can respond and take action that moves us to the next level.”

Melanie Malcolm is co-founder and co-owner of Leeds, Yorkshire, UK-based Bespoke Home Cinemas. She will finish out her current, appointed term on the CEDIA Board of Directors through the end of the year before beginning her elected director term. In 2016, Malcolm was elected to the CEDIA EMEA Board and she helped with CEDIA’s global alignment process. An active volunteer, she has served in roles including Strategy Advisory Council (SAC) chair for global accessibility, chair of the Smart Home Apprenticeship Trailblazer Committee in the UK, and CEDIA Awards judge for the EMEA region. Outside the industry, Malcolm directs two event management companies: Yorkshire Ladies Links and the Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Jamie Briesemeister is chief executive officer and co-founder of Integration Controls in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. An avid speaker at conferences and seminars, Briesemeister often participates in panel discussions, presenting informative sessions, or offering Continuing Education Units to architects and designers. She serves as an advocate for technology considerations and collaboration in the design/build process and has written for Connected Design and Residential Tech Today. Briesemeister is a CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI), avid volunteer, member of the Industry Relations Advisory Council, and chair of the Professional Development Advisory Council.

Bill Skaer is senior managing partner of Bill Skaer and Associates LLC in Mesquite, Texas, USA. The former U.S. Air Force management analyst has served as a CEDIA volunteer and a seven-term previous board member. In 2006, he received the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award. Skaer has also been named CEDIA Volunteer of the Year, CEDIA Fellow, and spent nearly two decades as CEDIA Ethics Committee chairman. He co-founded Eric Grundelman’s Cool AV, an electronic systems contracting company and CEDIA Founding Member. In 2014, Skaer sold his interest in the company, pursuing a career in consulting and manufacturing, and founding his own technology integration company.

Amanda Wildman is an owner of TruMedia in Ada, Michigan, USA. The current chair of the CEDIA Professional Development Advisory Council, she is also a member of the CEDIA Workforce Development Working Group. She has served as a member of the Business Working Group and has assessed, assisted, and taught courses at CEDIA Expo. Wildman earned her CEDIA Outreach Instructor certification (COI) in 2014. She is on the board of the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids and has been secretary and associate member vice president. The Calvin College graduate founded a Finished Trades Group in her city that develops relationships among local trade contractors and builders, designers, and architects.

The two-year terms of the newly-elected directors will begin January 1, 2020.

Candidates nominated for appointed positions are currently being reviewed by CEDIA’s Governance Committee. Appointed directors are selected from among all member types (manufacturers, service providers, home technology professionals, etc.). Three appointed positions are open for the 2020-2021 term: one will be filled from the EMEA region and two will be filled from the rest of the global membership. The CEDIA Governance Committee will make recommendations to the newly-seated board, who will vote on appointments at the January 2020 board meeting.

Board members continuing their service in 2020 include:

Rob Sutherland
Chairman-Elect
Inspired Dwellings, Ltd.
London, UK

Dave Humphries
Immediate Past Chairman
Atlantic Integrated
Rockleigh, NJ, USA

Peter Aylett
Director
Archimedia
West Sussex, UK

Michael Cogbill
Director
ETC
West Palm Beach, FL, USA

Albert Mizrahi
Director
Smartlab
Mexico City, Mexico

Joe Whitaker
Director
Thoughtful Integrations
Clayton, MO, USA

Connect to more about the CEDIA board election and appointment process by clicking here.