2007 ILDA Career Achievement Award recipient: William R. Benner, Jr.

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Laser Projector Sponsor		MediaLas Laserproducts Conference Host LaserNet
Platinum Sponsor		Neo-Neon Laser
Gold Sponsor		Pangolin Laser Systems
Silver Sponsor		LOBO electronic
Bronze Sponsor		AixiZ

2007 ILDA Career Achievement Award recipient:
William R. Benner, Jr.
Pangolin Laser Systems, Inc.

The ILDA Career Achievement Award honors "exceptional individuals with a distinguished history of achievement in the laser display industry."At the 2008 ILDA Conference on board the Carnival Imagination, the recipient of the 2007 CAA was announced: William R. Benner, Jr. of Pangolin Laser Systems, Inc. The nominating statement, describing his achievements, is here.

This page contains remarks prepared by Bill for the Awards Presentation. Owing to time constraints, he was not able to read the full text as presented below.

It is indeed an honor and a privilege to receive the Career Achievement Award - an award which is the highest accolade that ILDA bestows upon members of the laser display community.

During the course of ILDA's multi-decade history, there have only been eight other recipients of the Career Achievement Award, and I must admit that I was a little bit afraid of this award up until now. In the past, I jokingly referred to this award as the "kiss of death", because the first six recipients of this award left the laser display industry shortly after receiving it! As the latest recipient, I can tell you that I am not planning on leaving the laser display industry any time soon.

Of course, while individuals are able to accomplish great things, I believe the greatest accomplishments are always the result of close relationships and strong collaboration. I wouldn't be receiving such an award without the never-ending encouragement of my wife Karen, and the inspiration that my son William gives to me every day. Nor would I have gotten here without the tremendous support and notable accomplishments of all the people who make up the great team of Pangolin. And it never hurts to have great friends, and I have some of the greatest, including ILDA's safety committee chairman Greg Makhov, and Patrick Murphy and Doug McCullough, both of whom are not only my closest friends, but are also ILDA Career Achievement Award winners themselves.

Earlier in my career people often wondered aloud how long we would be able to sell laser software and hardware, since the potential for growth in this field seemed so limited. And yet, year after year the laser display industry somehow manages to grow. I can tell you that I am as excited as ever for the future - not only of the laser display industry as a whole, but also about my own role - which I see as continuing to push the envelope of laser software and hardware while expanding the number of laser show producers and audience members worldwide.

Thank you!

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