Randal “Randy” A. Lemke, the Executive Director and CEO of InfoComm International since 2000, has announced his planned retirement at the end of 2012, capping off 16 years of service to the commercial audiovisual association.
“It has been an honor to serve the needs of such an exciting and innovative industry these past years,” he said, “and it’s with mixed feelings that I leave the wonderful team of professionals and close friends I have made here at InfoComm.”
Dr. Lemke holds board positions, and has been the chairman of, Integrated Systems Events and InfoComm Asia. He is the founding and current chairman of the STEP Foundation, a jointly supported foundation to bring sustainability to the process of planning, designing, integrating and operating technology systems and reduce long-term environmental impact from technology deployment. He has also served as chief executive of ICIF, InfoComm’s charitable foundation.
The InfoComm International Board of Directors has announced that an extensive search for Dr. Lemke’s successor will be undertaken, with the selection anticipated by the fourth quarter of this year.
“We are proud of Randy’s extraordinary service to InfoComm International,” said Jim Ford, Chairman of the Leadership Development Committee and Past President of the Board. “During an economy when many associations are struggling to survive, InfoComm International has enjoyed tremendous growth under Randy’s leadership, quadrupling revenue and expanding our tradeshow presence to 10 shows worldwide. His leadership has taken us from being primarily a dealer trade association, to a global industry association for the entire AV value chain. His dedication to the industry has inspired all of us.”
“Randy is leaving the Association healthy and well-positioned for continued success,” said current Board President Greg Jeffreys. “Although we are sorry to see him go, we’re pleased he will continue to lead the organization throughout 2012, and we anticipate that even more innovations and exciting opportunities will come to fruition with his successor.”
Dr. Lemke joined InfoComm International in 1996 as Vice President of Education, at which time he supervised the development and delivery of the association’s seminars, workshops, advanced schools, international education and certification programs. In 1997, he pioneered InfoComm Academy Online, an Internet-based training system for the AV industry, which currently has 3,000 students enrolled daily.
