Who will Earn the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award?

When we posed this question on our beta site recently, we got 72 responses (below). Hmmm….how many were planted? No login was required on the beta site.

Anonymous said…

  Joel Silver, George Feldstein
  June 2, 2007 7:18 AM  
Shaun D’Sylva said…

  George Feldstein has done more for this industry than many of the previous winners. He is most deserving of this award as evidenced by the large percentage of the top dealers in this industry using Crestron products.
  June 6, 2007 9:12 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein
  June 6, 2007 9:13 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein.
  June 6, 2007 9:13 AM  
Sandy Sousa said…

  Mr. Feldstein is very deserving of this award. His knowledge and how he has challenged this industry are proof of that. After 35 years he continues to do so, it’s amazing. He’s amazing!
  June 6, 2007 9:20 AM  
kevin said…

  George Feldstein is a great asset to the industry. After 35 years, Crestron is still brining great products to the table under his leadership.
  June 6, 2007 9:31 AM  
Terry Rafferty said…

  George Feldstein. Without his vision and drive, the Audio Visual Industry would have become stagnet over a decade ago, eventually becoming extinct because of the PC.

  Thank you Mr. Feldstein.
  June 6, 2007 9:34 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Give it to George Feldstein. His ability to continually drive and improve the industry by creating incredibly powerful software and hardware that enables others to succeed is phenomenal!
  June 6, 2007 9:54 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein
  June 6, 2007 10:07 AM  
Danish Khan said…

  George Feldstein is the most deserving of this Lifetime Achievement Award. His contributions are unparalleled to the AV Industry.
  June 6, 2007 10:14 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein!!
  June 6, 2007 10:45 AM  
John Channon said…

  George Feldstein is the Einstein of the AV industry. Come up with a problem - he will find a solution , if he hasn’t already done so before the problem was even apparent. For more than two decades, he has devised innovative AV system solutions- always ahead of the game. He truly is the visionary mind of this industry.
  June 6, 2007 10:56 AM  
Rob Lindsay said…

  George Feldstein truly loves AV. He makes the stuff he does because its cool and interests him, not to make money or just make something for the sake of it. Thats why his stuff is good. When you love your job you are more succesfull than someone who doesnt—thats why he is relentless at coming up with new ideas—-year in, year out..
  June 6, 2007 11:45 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George is one of the last truly engineering-driven innovators left in our industry today.
  June 6, 2007 12:02 PM  
David said…

  George would make an excellent choice.
  June 6, 2007 12:08 PM  
David said…
  This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
  June 6, 2007 12:10 PM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein
  June 6, 2007 12:21 PM  
Richard said…

  George Feldstein is most deserving of this award, he is a visionary who almost single handedly created the home automation industry.
  Richard Falter
  June 6, 2007 12:46 PM  
T6 said…

  George Feldstein is by far and away the best choice. All of the nominees are respectable but none have continually created paradigm shifts in the industry as Mr.Feldstein and Crestron have.
  June 6, 2007 12:54 PM  
Julie Jacobson said…

  Yeah, OK, Crestron folks. We get the point…
  June 6, 2007 2:05 PM  
Anonymous said…

  I think it should be feldstien too. He’s a bit abrasive; but truly a vererable guy. Btw, I do not work for crestron.
  June 6, 2007 2:47 PM  
Scott Miller said…

  George Feldstein
  June 6, 2007 3:40 PM  
Brian Cantarini said…

  George Feldstein is clearly overdue for this honor. Beyond his huge and growing employee base, many of us in the industry make our living precisely because George gets up every morning and does what he’s done for decades. The markets and profitability created by Crestron and enjoyed by so many of us should make this vote a slam dunk.
  June 6, 2007 3:57 PM  
Betsy said…

  George Feldstein. He has always said that Crestron won’t do “me, too” products. They always have to have some special twist that others haven’t thought of. He has led the way in inventing methods to assemble custom systems with modular pieces that allow prices and development times to be low enough to keep this industry in business, and to prosper, and to open up ever larger markets.
  June 6, 2007 4:32 PM  
AV said…

  Floyd Toole
  June 6, 2007 5:02 PM  
Pete Baca said…

  Mr. Feldstein is an innovator among the AV industry and will continue to put technology in the front lines of both the corporate world as well as our men and women in uniform. His excellence in collaborating with the AV sector will ultimately make “every room connected.”
  June 6, 2007 5:25 PM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein. Without a doubt.
  June 6, 2007 6:21 PM  
Lainie said…

  George Feldstein should earn this award. He continues to push the envelope when it comes to Home Automation and Control and continues to challenge other manufacturers to do the same.
  June 6, 2007 6:30 PM  
Alan P said…

  If anyone deserves a Lifetime Achievement award its George Feldstein.
  I have been in business since 1984 and without a doubt George and Crestron have made a huge impact.
  I’m proud of our projects and I know many of them wouldn’t be possible without Crestron.
  Keep up the good work.

  Thank you George
  Alan Poltrack
  Video Installations Plus, Inc.
  June 6, 2007 6:49 PM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein is probably about 10 years overdue!
  June 6, 2007 6:49 PM  
Anonymous said…

  Without a doubt, George Feldstein - can’t understand why it hasn’t happened sooner.
  June 6, 2007 7:17 PM  
terry morton said…

  George more than deserves this and he will likely wear shoes on-stage!...
  June 6, 2007 8:16 PM  
Anonymous said…

  George should have been chosen long ago, without at doubt.
  June 6, 2007 11:15 PM  
Mark A. said…

  Ken Moyes, without a doubt
  June 7, 2007 2:18 AM  
Toby Daschbach said…

  Around the world there are hundreds of thousands of people that owe there careers to Mr Feldstein! If he doesn’t receive the lifetime achievment award, it would be a crime.
  June 7, 2007 4:37 AM  
Brett Maul said…

  George Feldstein. I am so impressed with Crestron, it’s facilities, and it’s people. It is obvious to me that his innovations has made the industry what it is today.
  June 7, 2007 5:27 AM  
First said…
  This post has been removed by the author.
  June 7, 2007 6:17 AM  
Matt said…

  George Feldstein without a doubt should win. Not only is Mr. Fieldstein the father of Crestron he is truly a great man. I have been to the NJ Crestron facility numerous times for trainings and to pick up gear. I have noticed that any time Mr. Fieldstein sees people checking out equipment in the demo facility, he always approaches people and asks, “can I answer any questions for you.
  June 7, 2007 6:28 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver of Sunfire gets my vote!
  June 7, 2007 6:51 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver…
  June 7, 2007 6:51 AM  
Shelley White said…

  Mr. Bob Carver
  June 7, 2007 6:53 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver
  June 7, 2007 6:56 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver, Gets my vote. His innovations in the industry have and still, change the quality of sound products.
  June 7, 2007 7:01 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein, Without him, This industry would not be where it is! He is without a doubt the most deserving.
  June 7, 2007 7:04 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver “The Man”
  June 7, 2007 7:07 AM  
Sherlock said…

  Bob Carver is deserving of the award. He has years behind him in this industry of thinking outside the box and improving the quality of the audio industry for decades.
  June 7, 2007 7:13 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver gets my vote…he is an innovator, mover and shaker in this industy and very deserving of this award! Unsurpassed excellence!
  June 7, 2007 7:41 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Mr. George Feldstein, of course!
  June 7, 2007 8:01 AM  
Anonymous said…

  While some don’t immediately think of Bob Carver when it comes to custom install - who can imagine a home theater without a small box subwoofer? Without Bob that’s all you could do is imagine…
  June 7, 2007 8:14 AM  
Steven S said…

  Without a doubt Bob Carver!
  June 7, 2007 8:34 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver, without a doubt!
  June 7, 2007 8:46 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob carver! Even in my teen years before I had a clue, I knew about “Carver Sonic Holography”. He’s definitely deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award!
  June 7, 2007 8:52 AM  
Paul said…

  George Feldstein - without question. He could have taken his company public years ago, but no. The keen engineering focus would have been replaced with a monetary focus and you can guess what would have happened… Hat’s off to George!!
  June 7, 2007 10:14 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver gets my vote, after decades of inovative idea’s with Phase Linear, Carver Corp, and Sunfire, Bob has proven to be a leader in the industry time and time again.
  June 7, 2007 10:28 AM  
Anonymous said…

  George Feldstein of Crestron has created a product solution that allows for dealers to continue to be profitable in an industry that is constantly cutting margin. He should be recognized for his positive impact on our industries future.
  June 7, 2007 11:07 AM  
CW said…

  George Feldstein. His immense knowledge coupled with his sincere and genuine love of the industry make him a true innovator.

  Christine Wanner
  June 7, 2007 1:44 PM  
Mitch said…

  I think that it’s a shame that George Feldstein has not received this award already. Certianly the title of “Lifetime Achievement” emboides George’s life work thus far.

  Crestron is “the” market leader and certianly the one company that sets the benchmark on quality, innovation and market direction for our industry. His vision has propelled integration in the commercial and residential markets to levels that were only a dream to many just 5 years ago.

  “The future belongs to those who see the possibilities before they become obvious” thats George…

  Mitch Arthur
  June 7, 2007 2:43 PM  
Anonymous said…

  Several good suggestions. Bob Carver is a very interesting choice. He has designed amazing products for more than 30 years. And is still at it!
  June 7, 2007 6:45 PM  
Jim said…

  George Feldstein without a doubt is one of the great innovators in this industry and has been the spark behind so much invention and creativity that it’s hard to believe he hasn’t already received this award. He truly deserves it!
  June 8, 2007 7:14 AM  
Walter Bell said…

  Bob Carver gets my vote…He’s innovative, proven, loves music, a super nice guy, thinks outside the box, and designs gear that does justice to our artists. Control is cool, but at the end of the day Music and Movies are what’s dearest to our hearts! The list of previous winners is very impressive and Bob Carver deserves the same recognition.
  June 8, 2007 11:14 AM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob “the Wizard” Carver!

  Mr. Coffee Can Amp.
  June 8, 2007 11:16 AM  
Shanie said…

  One more for George Feldstein!

  He is truly a visionary. I can honestly say I’m proud to work for this company.
  June 8, 2007 1:14 PM  
Anonymous said…

  Bob Carver is both the Wizard and the Man Behind the Curtain…he does it all, and still loves it!

  Finding someone with his energy and spirit after all his years in the industry is like finding a diamond in the parking lot—rare, unexpected and thrilling!
  June 8, 2007 2:51 PM  
tod hofman said…

  My Vote is BOB CARVER,

  Most of us take for granted what Bob Carver has done and will never be recognized for in our industry.
  Bob still loves the music and the people, he keeps it FUN and keeps the passion that attracted so many of us to this business.

  Thanks Bob
  June 8, 2007 4:10 PM  
Anonymous said…

  BOB CARVER…a legend!
  June 11, 2007 7:19 AM  
Anonymous said…

  We represent an Asia SI pay our tributes to George from Crestron!
  June 11, 2007 8:49 AM  
Cade Austin said…

  Having been in this industry for several years, and having installed just about everything on the market, it has become clear that Crestron is on a completely different playing field than any other product out there.

  There have been many imitators and products that claim that they are equal or superior to Crestron, but, as with most things, the true players are seperated from the phonies in short order once we start installing them out in the field.

  Being a Crestron programmer for 7 years now, I say without any reservation that Crestron is simply the best product on the market. My confidence level with Crestron is 100%... and when things do go wrong, their support is easily the best in the industry.

  Not only do I think that Mr. Feldstein should be this years winner of the lifetime achievement award, but I think there should be some explanation as to why he has not won the award previously.

  Simply put, if it were not for Crestron and their excellent products, I would choose to not work in this industry any longer.
  June 11, 2007 10:35 AM  
Ron C. said…

  George Feldstein.
  He is the mad scientist that is always designing, creating, and innovating our industry forward.
  Still waiting for the Crestron tiki torch…
  June 11, 2007 11:43 AM  
Richard Sasson said…

  George Feldstein, has helped to shape an industry. His vision of products, and solutions has changed the AV industry.
  June 13, 2007 5:18 AM  
Anonymous said…

  give it to George
  June 18, 2007 8:12 AM  
MM said…

  Mr. F . GF BFFGF With his dedication, curiosity, and sincere passion, Mr. Feldstein is respected as a wonderful teacher and serves as a tremendous inspiration to others. He’s a legend in our industry and is truly deserving of this honor.
  June 18, 2007 9:24 PM  
Michael Curtin said…

  George Feldstein, founder and chief visionary of Crestron Electronics, is the clear winner. George is a true genius and one of the founding fathers of the custom installation business. George should have received the very first award as his achievements are at the core of what we do as CEDIA members. Long live George and thanks for all you have accomplished.
  June 26, 2007 8:38 AM

I nominate Kathy Gornick.

She has done quite a lot for the industry. Kathy works tirelessly to promote high quality audio with great margins for installers and dealers.
Kathy volunteers for so many industry organizations and associates, runs Thiel Audio, and somehow finds time still to spend with installers on projects.

Kathy is truly deserving of this honor.