HiddenWires’ US correspondent, Michael Heiss has been announced as CEDIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for 2020.
Heiss was honoured at last night’s awards ceremony, which took place virtually across the EMEA, Americas and APAC regions.
The annual award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding, creative, innovative, and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the residential technology industry.
Nominations are submitted by industry professionals and evaluated on the basis of achievement and service within the industry.
Well-recognised everywhere he goes with his iconic jacket, Heiss has had a long career in the technology world. He attended the very first CEDIA Expo on behalf of founding member Harman Video, and spent the following 30+ years working and volunteering his time to make a better industry.
In this time, he has become well-known for guiding the development, sourcing, production, implementation, and marketing of technology products and services. Well versed in both professional and consumer electronics, with a focus on the home technology professional market segment, Heiss has held management, marketing and technology development positions for leading hardware and software firms such as Harman International, Rank Video, NBC Television, as well as Spectradyne, the originator of pay-per-view hotel movie services, and Home Video Corp., the first nationwide direct-to-home video software rental service.
Heiss is the US correspondent for HiddenWires as well as a contributing editor and feature writer for Residential Tech Today. He has also had many CEDIA volunteer roles including, the CEDIA Board of Directors, The Technology Advisory Council, as well as being a consistent instructor at industry tradeshows including CEDIA Expo and ISE. He was also named to the inaugural class of CEDIA Fellows.
“The man, the myth, the jacket – it says it all,” said Walte Zerbe, CEDIA’s senior director of Technology and Standards. “But in all seriousness, the sheer number of contributions Michael has made to CEDIA and the industry over the years has been prolific to put it lightly.
“From his legendary ‘New Technology Update’ class which is a consistent favourite at CEDIA Expo, to his current involvement with CEDIA podcasts and as a video subject matter expert – Michael has put his heart into every project he has undertaken and the industry is better for it.”
Eric Bodley, the 2017 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient added: “Early on, CEDIA desperately needed smart people to step up and train this new industry that we had created. Michael stepped forward from the very beginning. From teaching, to creating certification programmes and exams, he has touched thousands and made our world a better place.
“His huge heart and never-ending energy, and a willingness to volunteer on CEDIA’s behalf around the world makes him incredibly deserving of this award.”
Outside of his involvement with CEDIA, Heiss is a member of numerous engineering, technical and communications societies, including SMPTE, SBE, IEEE, SID, and ATAS. He is also a member of the Iron Test Pattern with the Dignity of General. As a member of the TV Academy, he has been an Emmy judge since 1988.
You can read some of Heiss' fantastic work in HiddenWires magazine and on
HiddenWires.co.uk.