2009 ILDA Career Achievement
Award recipient:
Greg Makhov
At the 2009 ILDA Conference in Amsterdam, the 2009 ILDA Career Achievement Award was presented to Greg Makhov of Lighting Systems Design Inc. The CAA honors "exceptional individuals with a distinguished history of achievement in the laser display industry."
Greg Makhov has almost 30 years experience with visible lasers, building laser display equipment, and performing laser lightshows. He also worked in the Projection/Special Effects Dept at Epcot for five years, maintaining then rebuilding the laser gear used in the nightly laser show.
Greg is also strongly involved the area of laser safety. In this regard he has published several papers and he participates in the International Laser Safety Conference. He consults regularly for Rockwell Laser Industries (Cincinnati OH) as a Laser Entertainment Safety Instructor. He also consults for other laser display companies, teaching laser safety as well as basic laser principles.
Greg has been chair of the ILDA Safety Committee since its inception in 1987. He has provided invaluable service to ILDA in the area of safety, as well as in hosting and supporting conferences and other ILDA activities.
Nominating statement
Greg was the first CAA recipient to be voted on by ILDA Members. (In previous years, Members nominated candidates, and a three-person judging panel made the final CAA selection.) The information below is from the nominating statement submitted to ILDA Members prior to CAA voting:
Greg Makhov has made technologically sound, affordable laser equipment available to a many, many individuals and companies in this business -- giving many their start in a successful manner. He has been an educator -- literally teaching courses in laser safety.
He has been a tireless proponent of the safe use of lasers for display and has been instrumental in conferring with the FAA when issues (and misunderstandings) about the use of lasers have threatened our industry. Greg has been a long-time supporter of ILDA -- volunteering much time, effort, and money for ILDA conferences and activities.
Greg's company, Lighting Systems Design, Inc., has been presenting a wide variety of laser shows since the early 1980s -- growing to the point of producing major multi-media spectaculars such as the opening of Lincoln Financial Field for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football (to rave reviews!).
