CEDIA has announced that Chang K. Park, Founder, president and CEO of Universal Remote Control Inc. (URC) is this year's CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Park will be recognized at the CEDIA Opening Keynote on Wednesday, Sept., 14.
The CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has exhibited outstanding, creative, innovative and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the residential technology industry. Nominations are submitted by industry professionals and are evaluated on the basis of achievement and service within the industry.
Chang K. Park is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, social activist and a visionary. In the early days of the industry, Mr. Park foresaw the birth of the “home theater” in America and changed the course of control by expanding his company beyond producing remote controls for subscription broadcast providers and many of the world's most recognized brands to sophisticated RF remotes and control devices for the custom installation industry. Park has been developing and marketing advanced remote controls and home automation products for more than 25 years.
“Chang Park is always quick to lend his talent and resources to the channel. Not only does he create innovative, industry-recognized products, including two that are in CEDIA Product Hall of Fame, he is also a constant champion of training programs across the board,” says Vin Bruno, CEO, CEDIA. “His ongoing efforts have helped CEDIA members find growth and success, whether it's in a CEDIA boot camp or at a URC training session.”
In addition to his achievements within the industry, Park chairs the Chang K. Park Foundation, an organization that supports human rights, the elimination of poverty and hunger, the implementation of political reform and economic justice. He is also a member of the national governing board of Common Cause, a public interest organization in Washington D.C., the board at the Union Theological Seminary in New York and Bread for the World. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Michigan Tech. He was awarded an honorary doctor of philosophy degree from his alma mater, and recently was inducted into the Academy of Electrical Engineers. He also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“In addition to his vision, drive and dedication to the good of the CEDIA world and tech industry as a whole, Mr. Park is a soft-spoken, humble, 'behind the scenes' leader who likes to serve his customers, dealers, distributors and consumers,” adds Doug Cole, general manager and senior vice president, URC. “This is a truly unique quality that makes Mr. Park one-of-a-kind.”
The CEDIA Opening Keynote takes place on Wednesday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Forks Ballroom at the Convention Center. The keynote is open to all CEDIA 2016 attendees, but registration is encouraged. CEDIA 2016 will be hosted at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas September 13-17.
