Much of the success of the 2014 Annual Meeting can be attributed to the five dynamic speakers who presented innovative, educational, and enlightening information during their presentations.
Keynote Speaker Cheng Wu of Azuki Systems fascinated the audience with his vision of "Surviving the Cloud TV Tsunami". Andres Capdevila of Harmonic Inc. presented an abstract on "Ultra High Definition TV". Daniel Howard of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers discussed "HFC Network Readiness for DOCSIS 3.1".
Noted author and speaker Barry Mahergave invaluable advice on "Slicing through the Noise: Powerful Communication for Leadership and Professional Success", and Aaron Wesley Means of Activate Business Solutions led a lively session on "Growing Your Business with Engagement Marketing".
We are very grateful for each individual's contribution to the 2014 Annual Meeting.
A very big THANK YOU to the companies that sponsored events or provided items for the 2014 Annual Meeting. These generous corporate friends are:
GOLD SPONSORS
• BBC Worldwide
• HBO Latin America Group
• MAXXIAN
• Caribbean Cable Cooperative Ltd.
SILVER SPONSORS
• A+E Networks
• HBO
• Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
• Lorac Communications
• Cycle30
• GulfCom
• Turner Network Sales
• TVC Communications
• Choice Cable TV
• Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico
• Fox Networks
BRONZE SPONSORS
• Cable Technologies International
• Scripps Networks Interactive
• Univision Communications
• Crown Media Family Networks
• Digicomm International
• Incospec Communications
• Spectrum Engineering Corporation
• CommScope
• Toner Cable Equipment, Inc.
Thanks to Sandi Kruger of GLS and Aaron Wesley Means of Activate Business Solutions for the use of their photographs from the 2014 Meeting in this issue.
What a way to end January! If you were lucky enough to attend the CCTA's 2014 Annual Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, AND avoid the record-setting U.S. blizzard, then you can be considered a strategic and planning genius! You were one of the 381 wise individuals who traveled to the Caribbean from January 27 to 29 to participate in the CCTA's 31st Annual Meeting, which was the second largest in the organization's history. Way to go!
From beginning to end, the "Caribbean Show" was crammed with top-notch speakers, exhibitions, and social events designed for networking. There were 183 companies or organizations in attendance, representing 28 distinct nations or jurisdictions in North America, South America, Europe and the Caribbean. The vibe was upbeat and non-stop, just like the lively Puerto Rican salsa that played throughout the meeting.
The only sad moment came during the Annual Membership Meeting, when it was announced that Bill Ewing, Managing Director of The Cable St. Kitts, was retiring from the CCTA Board of Directors. After Bill's farewell comments, Alan Smith of Bermuda CableVision said, "There isn't a dry eye in the house", and that was exactly right.
Bill has been active in the CCTA for more than 20 years and has served as Chair four times. He has been dedicated to the association, and the cable industry in the Caribbean. He will definitely be missed by everyone associated with the CCTA. In tribute to Bill, Mike Carrosquilla of Choice Cable TV sang "My Way" at the Farewell Cocktail Party.
Congratulations to members of the new Board of Directors, who were elected during the meeting: Chair David Burrows of Cable Bahamas; Vice Chair and Chair Elect Terry Roberson of Bermuda CableVision; Past Chair Beulah Jonis of St. Maarten Cable TV; Director and Treasurer Mike Carrosquilla of Choice Cable TV (Puerto Rico); Director Andrew Greene of Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (Barbados); Director Gaby Palerm of Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico; Director Raul Ponson of SETAR N.V. (Aruba); Associate Director Patrick Harrell of Align Broadcasting; and Associate Director John T. Kurpinski, Sr. of Tarpon Communications.
Of course, the big question is “Where will the 2015 Annual Meeting be held?” And the answer is, we still don't know. We're soliciting proposals from hotels throughout the region and will make an announcement on the 2015 site as soon as we can. Keep posted, monitor our website at www.cctanet.com, and continue to read the CCTA Wavelengths newsletters for the latest about the association and its activities. Oh, and for those of you who don't happen to live in the Caribbean, keep warm!
Looking for the latest CCTA "Who's Who"?
A spreadsheet of 2014 Annual Meeting attendees is available to any representative of a CCTA member company, and to non-members who attended the 2014 Annual Meeting. To obtain a copy, please send an e-mailto Executive Director Andrea L. Martin.
