And the AV News AV Support Professional of the Year goes to…

On 9 February I was lucky enough to be named the ‘AV Support Professional of the Year’ at the annual AV News Awards at ISE in Amsterdam. Truthfully, the news is still sinking in. For a start, I didn’t think I would make the awards ceremony, having spent the previous twenty-four hours travelling across three time zones after supporting the World Government Summit in Dubai.

I have been in the AV industry for the best part of 14 years now, or 19 if you include my early years in telecommunications with the now-defunct Marconi plc. In that time I’ve developed a strong ability to lead and motivate a team through partnership rather than delegation, ensuring we secure the results the client needs time and time again. The success of the team comes down to a commitment to always add more value than anyone else. That, together with the aim of delivering a world-class level of service and keeping communication with our customers paramount, has led to satisfied clients around the world.

On an individual level, the role of an AV technician means working unsupervised for many hours, often under pressure to meet strict deadlines, while keeping the ability to think on your feet from task to task. A key attribute is a thorough understanding of the client’s hardware and software, and being able to adapt fast when faced with unforeseeable and adverse situations.

So to be named AV Support Professional of the Year is a testament to the many other AV professionals in the industry: if you are willing to put in the work, week in, week out, it really doesn’t go unnoticed. In an industry full to the brim with professionals, going the extra mile can make the biggest difference.

Supporting Promethean

My award focused in particular on the work I have been doing with Promethean as its lead AV support partner for well over a decade. I have worked closely with Promethean since 2003, and for the past year alone I have been working alongside the UK channel team, providing UK and, on occasion, international AV support. One area that has seen a huge spike in demand for AV support over the past twelve months is the UK corporate sector. During this time I have been working with Paul Dean, Head of Corporate and Government Business, who has very kindly put some words together about the service he receives on an ongoing basis.

“There’s a big difference between an interactive panel just being installed and the support service which Lee Wilson provides. His attention to detail and customer care mean we trust him implicitly to act on our behalf on-site with any customer – and he has had to hold his own with some pretty prestigious names.”

— Paul Dean, Head of Corporate and Government Business, Promethean

I’d like to thank Paul and everyone else I have had the pleasure of supporting over the years, not to mention their continued support in helping AV2events become a recognised partner in the AV support industry. With confidence, I wish you all every success for 2016 and beyond.