ILDA Career Achievement Award recipients

The name "Laserium®”" is synonymous with laser shows. Ivan Dryer is the man behind Laserium -- the man who brought laser shows to mass audiences.

Dryer was a filmmaker in the early 1970s. On one project, he worked with Dr. Elsa Garmire, a Cal Tech physicist interested in laser light art. (She had previously worked with other artists on special event laser shows.) The resulting film, Laser Image, did not have the pure colors and shimmer of laser light.

So Dryer had the idea of bringing the Cal Tech laser to Los Angeles' Griffith Observatory. He, Garmire and Dale Pelton formed Laser Images, Inc. to create planetarium laser shows.

The rest is history. The first Laserium show opened to the public on November 19, 1973. It was the first ongoing laser show (not part of a special or one-time event), and it spawned an industry. Dryer's Laserium shows went on to be played in 46 cities worldwide, and were viewed by over 20 million people. Other companies sprang up to do planetarium shows, and laser imagery then spread to other venues such as concerts and corporate shows.

Laserium was the longest running theatrical attraction in the history of Los Angeles. It continued until the Griffith closed for remodeling on January 5, 2002 -- a remarkable 28-year run.

Dryer is universally recognized as the father of the laser show industry. His selection by ILDA as recipient of the first Career Achievement Award underscores his unique place in the history of laser displays.

More on Ivan Dryer's career is at an ILDA webpage published after he passed away on July 27, 2017.

Seiji Inatsugu, one of the founders of Laser Media, Inc., is the recipient of ILDA's second annual Career Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the industry. Inatsugu, who received the award at the 1990 General Meeting in Bradenton, Fla., was hailed for a long list of technical contributions to the laser industry, "a veritable encyclopedia of fundamental innovations," said Ivan Dryer, head of Laser Images and ILDA's current president.

Inatsugu, who holds a doctorate in physics, began his fascination with lasers in the late 1960s when he made his own lasers and blew the glass for the tubes. His technical accomplishments at Laser Media include the following: the development of galvo-based beam switching, now a fundamental laser show technique; the development of stable scanner amplifiers that paved the way for complex galvo-scanned images; and the conceptualization of Digital Graphic Image Generation, leading to the development of the IMAGEN computer and ZAP software.

In accepting the award, Inatsugu urged the industry to prepare for a nev era that focuses on small but steady improvements in quality. "The book of our industry is not finished. Perhaps Chapter One of the book has been written. It is about the formative years of the industry. We are going to write Chapter Two together. That will be about the growth and maturity of the industry."

Other noteworthy "Sayings of Seiji" include the following:

     • "To engineers and technicians: it is no longer possible to make leaps and bounds in technical progress as was done in my days. Do not let it discourage you because the industry still needs to solidify its technical basis.

     • "To those who are in management... although short term profit may be realizable by cutting costs in the areas of research and development, I envision that quality in products and services you provide will make your organization successful. Without technical innovation accompanied by creative vision, the prospects for such an organization will be dim.

     • "Technological progress depends on the technologies and components made available to us by suppliers, such as lasers and galvos. Without their improvement, there is a limit in this industry's technological progress."

Floyd Rollefstad, president of Laser Fantasy International, received ILDA's 1991 Career Achievement Award honoring a lifetime of technical and artistic achievements.

Rollefstad was honored for a series of almost single-handed technical achievements that have significantly advanced the laser display industry, including: 3-D laser graphic projection techniques, acousto-optic RGB technology for full-color graphics projection, and several unique fiber optic effects.

"Floyd Rollefstad has a persistent desire to be successful, to make fantasy come true," said Seiji Inatsugu of Laser Media, Inc., last year's winner of the Career Achievement Award. Inatsugu presented the 1991 award to Rollefstad at ILDA's annual meeting in Los Angeles. "He certainly has moved and shaken the industry," added Ivan Dryer, president of Laser Images, Inc. and recipient of the first Career Achievement Award. "We have been inspired by his work," said Dryer

In accepting the award, Rollefstad said he counted himself to be fortunate, because "not too many people get to participate in the birth of an industry. Artistically, we have incredible opportunities. We are the first people to ever use the amazing power of the laser to do artistic things."

In addition to his pioneering technical work, Rollefstad was also honored for bringing educational laser display programs to more than 1,500 high schools across North America.

"We're very proud of our education shows," said Rollefstad, whose company was among the first to produce full-length educational programs using laser displays. Educational shows include "American Dream," an historical program, "Learning to Fly," about aviation, and "Listen to the Whales," which covers ecology.

Rollefstad began creating laser shows soon after obtaining his masters degree from the University of North Dakota in 1977, the same year he cofounded Laser Fantasy. After producing shows in Chicago and Minneapolis, his company came to the West Coast in 1980 to perform in Seattle at the Pacific Science Center, where it still performs today. The company is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash.

One of Laser Fantasy's best known works is at Washington state's Grand Coulee Dam, where laser images thousands of feet across tell a nightly story of the area's natural history. The show premiered in March, 1989 and runs during summer months. It uses 70 watts of laser power and sophisticated graphics projectors that produce full-color displays.

Laser artist Jennifer Morris was honored with ILDA's fourth annual Career Achievement Award in recognition of over 15 years of ground-breaking work in the laser display field.

Morris, a founder and former president of Image Engineering Corp. (IEC), made laser history in 1977 when she pioneered the first use of representational laser graphics in "Lovelight." The show, which premiered at the Boston Museum of Science's Hayden Planetarium, also broke new ground with its use of a highly-automated control system. More information about Lovelight is on this page (scroll down to the Lovelight section).

Morris and Walter Gundy founded IEC in 1979, often working with industrial clients such as Cadillac and Wendy's. Morris is currently IEC's creative director, responsible for the design of such laser productions as:

• "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" laser animation at Walt Disney World;
• "The Laser Zone" series of shows for Kmgs Entertainment Parks;
• "A Haven for life" presentation at the St. Louis Science Center, and
• "IIlumagenesis," laser effects for six dancers, featured in "Enter the Night," a revue currently running at the Stardust Theatre in Las Vegas.

Morris has also directed the development of software tools at IEC and maintained decade-long relationships with such clients as IBM and the Meadowbrook Music Festival. When it comes to laser design, Morris says she prefers non-representational imagery. "I think it makes the best use of laser light A laser isn't film or video. A laser is its own kind of creature."

Before launching IEC, Morris directed laser programs for the Aspen Design Conference, Chrysler and General Motors. She was also involved in electronic music and video graphics. Her independent work has been shown in London, Copenhagen, Geneva, Montreal and Boston. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kirkland College, NY, where she concentrated in multimedia design.

Robert Mueller, executive vice president and art director of Lightspeed Design, received ILDA's fifth Career Achievement Award in recognition of his thirteen years of contributions to the industry.

Mueller literally worked his way up from the bottom of the laser display field, starting as a ticket-taker for a laser show in St. Paul, Minn., in 1980. Under the employ of Floyd Rollefstad, the founder of Laser Fantasy International and the 1991 recipient of ILDA's Career Achievement Award, Mueller switched paths from studying architecture at the University of Minnesota to become a top artist, programmer and art director.

In addition to his artistic achievements, Mueller helped define display software developed by Aura Technologies and Laser Fantasy. He also pursued techniques needed to create digital and analog polarized 3D stereoscopic projections. After working at Laser Fantasy since 1980, Mueller became one of the founding members of Lightspeed Design in 1992.

Under Mueller's direction, Lightspeed's artistic team recently won a string of awards in the 1993 competition for Outstanding Laser Displays. A winning trade show installation for Nintendo (hardware by Laser Fantasy) included seven scanner pairs that provided 360-degree coverage of a 50-foot dome. Another Nintendo production included 3D laser graphics visible with polarized glasses and laser-projected video imagery. Mueller's "Juggling Clown" was also honored with first-place in the Graphic Animation category. The piece featured precomputed morphing animations on spline-interpolated real-time paths.

"I was spellbound and mesmerized the first time I saw a laser," said Mueller, recalling when he saw a laser at the age of 13 in a science museum. "I believe there is something in all of us that is attracted to light. Perhaps there is an exponentially greater attraction to laser light."

In regard to his work, Mueller says he is never satisfied with a business-as-usual attitude. "I have an innate desire to take things to the next level. If I have an idea and I don't implement it, I don't feel I've accomplished what I've wanted to do." In addition to enthusiasm and dedication, Mueller believes the next essential ingredient for a laser show producer is the ability to surprise the public. "Audiences need to see something new, something that takes them by surprise. That's our goal; to create something so intrinsically interesting it gets people's attention."

Patrick Murphy, as founder and 15-year president of Pangolin Laser Systems, played a key role in making it possible for just about anyone to create affordable, professional-quality laser shows.

Laser computer graphics pioneer

Murphy was a pioneer in laser computer graphics. His first computerized laser graphics were done in 1979, using a mainframe computer at Oberlin College. In 1981 he earned a B.A. degree in Laser Art and Technology. For the next five years, he continued to improve his software. In 1986, Murphy founded Pangolin Laser Software to sell his Amiga-based Laser Show Designer program, the first laser software that worked like standard computer graphics paint programs.

In 1988, he and William Benner began their close collaboration on continually-improved Lasershow Designer versions. Murphy primarily handled Pangolin business functions and LD user interface programming, while Benner worked on advanced LD software programming and on the QuadMod hardware boards. Lasershow Designer was both a technological and artistic success. It won more awards for Pangolin and its clients than any other laser software and became a worldwide market leader.

Assisting ILDA and the laser industry

Murphy was a strong supporter of ILDA, working to create standardized equipment and shows. The widespread use of ILDA-compatible projectors and interchangeable shows demonstrates the degree to which this vision was realized. He was on the ILDA Board of Directors from 1994-1996, was elected ILDA President in 1995, and served as ILDA Airspace Issues Coordinator from 1996-1999.

In November 1995, one month after Murphy was elected ILDA President, the FDA shut down all outdoor laser shows in Las Vegas. For the next three years, Murphy and other key ILDA members worked with regulators to protect the right of laserists to do outdoor shows. This effort was eventually successful — Murphy even wrote some of the regulations and forms used by the government. For his work, Murphy was awarded an ILDA Certificate of Commendation, and received an Award of Recognition from the “SAE G-10” aviation safety committee.

Technical and artistic achievements

Murphy was one of the three inventors of an entirely new style of laser display, raster graphic frames. He and Benner were co-winners of three ILDA Technology Awards and two Brewster Awards. Murphy also won an ILDA Technology Award for his renumbering algorithm, and two ILDA Artistic Awards for his own laser art creations.

Michael Roberts has led a distinguished dual career in the industry: one in laser shows and artwork, and the other in assisting ILDA and the laser industry.

Laser shows and artwork

Michael is a pioneer in Canadian laser shows. Inspired by a Laserium show in Toronto, in 1976 he built his own laser system and began offering his services. Later that year, he presented the first-ever Laser Dance Party, making him the father of laser raves.

He has also toured with Canadian rock groups such as Saga and Triumph, performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II, and produced lasers at the Canada Pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver. In 1993, Michael became one of the first creators of “laser clip art”. Also in 1993, he won two ILDA artistic awards for his laser artwork.

Assisting ILDA and the laser industry

While his laser work has been pioneering and distinguished, what most impressed ILDA’s judges was Michael’s extensive efforts to help ILDA and the laser industry.

Within ILDA, Michael worked in many areas. In 1990, he helped create the first Lase-Off. He was a very active contributor to the Awards and the Terminology Standardization committees. He pushed to make ILDA’s membership more open and international, and personally recruited many new Members. In November 1996 he led “Team Canada” in hosting the first ILDA Conference held outside the U.S. This was also the first ILDA Conference to feature audience scanning.

Outside of ILDA, Michael was tireless in disseminating laser show related knowledge. In 1993, he produced and distributed the first non-ILDA newsletter for the laser industry. That same year, he began publishing a widely-used laser resource directory, pulling together information that was hard to find in the pre-Internet age.

From 1996 to 2000, he ran the Laser F/X conference in Toronto. At its peak, it drew 120 attendees. At his conference, Michael introduced the “Brewster Awards”, the first to be judged solely in laser light, by laserists.

In 1996, he published the first and only book detailing how to do laser light shows. The 400-page “Laser F/X: The Light Show Handbook” inspired many laserists (including ILDA’s Kelly Sticksel) and is in libraries at NASA, Dolby Labs, and colleges and universities.

His publications moved from print to the Internet in 1996, to his website at LaserFX.com. The site has grown to almost 1000 webpages, and is one of the Internet’s major resources teaching about laser shows. Also on the Internet, he is a regular contributor to the alt.lasers newsgroup, and for six years he ran a weekly IRC chat for laserists from around the world.

Conclusion

The laser display industry would be very different if it were not for the work of Michael Roberts. For his persevering work and many influences within the industry, ILDA recognizes him with the industry’s highest honor: the Career Achievement Award.

Comments from the three 2005 Career Achievement Award judges:

• Jay Heck: "The deciding factor in my mind is the effort Michael put into the laser entertainment industry in general, above and beyond his own company.... Michael went out of his way to gather and share knowledge about laser shows, in order to help foster a more exciting and diverse industry."

• Alex Hennig: "He shared his knowledge with others by means of his manifold publications and his website. I am sure that his work attracted many new talents to the industry and helped them to overcome problems anyone experiences when trying to do something with lasers. For some people he has perhaps been even something like a father. In my personal opinion his outstanding achievements in neutrally promoting the laser display industry and certainly also his (sometimes controversial but always constructive) contributions to ILDA are deciding factors to give the Award to him."

• Patrick Murphy: "As one of Canada's first laserists, Michael has had a very active career doing laser displays. But it is his industry-related work that truly makes Michael unique. Within ILDA, he was very active; for example, he helped host the first non-U.S. ILDA Conference. Outside of ILDA, he virtually had his own laser industry support organization. He ran conferences, created the first awards to be judged in laser, and published books, newsletters, resource guides and a widely-used website. His tremendous energy, dedication and service to the laser industry make him very deserving of the ILDA Career Achievement Award."

Inspired by the music of The Beatles, Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”, Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: Space Odyssey”, and a host of cultural events of the 1960s, Doug McCullough began creating psychedelic light shows for rock concerts in 1968.

His first use of coherent light was in 1970 when he created lumia effects with a Helium-Neon laser in a multi-media performance with avant-garde electronic musician Morton Subotnick. In the mid-1970s, he formed Audio Visual Imagineering (AVI) as a sole proprietorship. In 1978 he first used high-power Krypton/Argon laser effects for multi-media presentations. In 1979, he fulfilled a lifelong ambition of performing light shows in a planetarium theater with the opening of “Laserdrive” at the Miami Space Transit Planetarium.

Doug concentrated in the 1980s on developing the potential of laser light shows. One of the first uses of computer laser graphics was in 1982, when he introduced sequential laser animation in a planetarium light show titled “Visual Music”. He also pioneered thematically mixing abstract and graphic imagery in laser show choreography. Doug's shows at New York City's Hayden Planetarium (which included "Laser Floyd", "Laser Zeppelin", and "Laser Beatles") were legendary.

In addition to planetarium shows, Doug worked on corporate meetings and special events, producing laser presentations for numerous high profile clients. For the corporate market, he developed generic laser “modules” for meeting openings, closings, speaker introductions, coffee breaks, product reveals, etc.

At AVI, Doug innovated the extensive use of scanned mid-air beam effects with no “bounce” mirrors. This “look” of two lasers creating crisscrossing scanned mid-air beam effects has since become an industry standard.

In 1987 Doug helped closely with the founding of ILDA; he served on the original Ethics Committee. Over the next 17 years, he and his team at AVI received numerous ILDA Awards for “hands-on” work in creative show production. In fact, in total number of ILDA Awards received, AVI has won more than any other company save one.

In the early 1990s, Doug co-invented a 360-degree laser projection system for planetariums known as Omniscan. He also was the first to develop 3-D laser shows using the ChromaDepth technique. In 2000, Doug created the first all-raster laser show done with standard laser scanners. His ILDA Award-winning “Linea” was produced for Pangolin to demonstrate the then-new technique of TV-like raster scanned laser images.

Even now his commitment to laser art remains strong. Doug continues to work in lasers with his new company, Laser Show Design, Inc., which specializes in high-end laser presentations for theme parks, corporate meetings, and special events. In 2006, Doug wrote: “If I look at visual music and light art over the broad historical sweep of the last few hundred years where many have struggled for acceptance, I have a profound appreciation of living at a time when both the technology and the marketplace allow me to pursue my passion.”

Bill Benner has revolutionized the laser show industry by creating technology that has made very advanced programming technology available to a mass, worldwide market at an affordable price.

Bill's Pangolin technology has become the standard of the industry -- a yardstick by which all other programming systems are judged. Not resting on his laurels, he has continuously introduced new innovations into his programming capabilities -- which have in turn given users more powerful tools to produce more sophisticated presentations and increase the viability of laser shows in the global marketplace.

Bill has also been one of ILDA's staunchest supporters -- contributing much in time and money. Bill's groundbreaking work as chairperson of the ILDA Technical Committee has been especially noteworthy in forwarding the use of new technology and establishing standards.

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!).

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Lothar Bopp founded and leads one of the major players in the laser show industry. It is a company which is active in more than 65 countries and which is called by independent market analysts, like the economic scientist Prof. Dr. Hermann Simon, the market leader in its industry. With over 100 ILDA Awards his company leads the all-time ranking list of the industry’s most important award. No other company ever received more ILDA Awards than his team.

With the first two letters of his first name and his last name, he formed the name of the company: LOBO. With his name he stands worldwide for excellence in both, high-end laser show equipment and show production services, be it for permanent installations or for shows on a rental basis. LOBO is one of the industry’s driving forces, an innovation motor, a creative think tank as well as origin and model for many other companies which entered the market much later. Lothar Bopp opened many new markets for the whole industry and lifted the appeal of lasers among entertainment professionals on a new level.

LOBO has an astonishing fan base, not just among laser freaks but also among competitors. Even one of Lothar Bopp’s toughest competitors, Rüdiger Müller, founder of tarm had nothing but praise for LOBO company: "I know the market unlike hardly any other. In my opinion, no other company is fit to hold a candle to LOBO in the area of show laser technology." No doubt; without Lothar Bopp’s uncompromising commitment to technical perfection and unconventional approaches, the laser industry would be different today.

Steve Heminover has been working since the early 1970's with laser display, to make it a formidable alternative to conventional media. In 1975 he created LGRASS, an interactive computer language specifically designed to control laser displays. As the first high-end laser graphics workstation, LGRASS pioneered true 3D (1984), stereoscopy (1985), and full-color RGB control (1988). He was the first to introduce the concept of RGB laser projection systems in Europe, along with industry standards to support them. The company he founded and runs, Aura Technologies, has been a pioneer in providing laser "clip art", in addition to producing shows and installations.

He is a founding member of ILDA, where he has been very active. As chair of the Technical Committee for its first six years, he helped develop and evangelize the first worldwide industry standards. He created the Advanced Technology Workshop. He served on the Awards Committee since its inception in 1988, helping create its rules and standards for excellence, and presenting as Master of Ceremonies for ten years. He served on the ILDA Board of Directors for eight years, and was elected ILDA President a record four times.

Introductory remarks

At the 2011 Awards Banquet, Heminover was introduced by the 2010 Career Achievement Award winner, Lothar Bopp:

First of all, I want to tell you how glad I am to be with you today. Due to health reasons it has not been possible to attend last year's conference. And you can imagine, it was a terrible situation for me, receiving ILDA's highest honor last year and not being able to accept it in person.

So, I am really happy to be asked to honor today Steve Heminover, who really deserved receiving the Career Achievement Award this year.

The very first time I met Steve was 24 years ago at the SIB trade show in Rimini in 1988. He is someone, whose passion for lasers and whose in depth technical background, but also whose special sense of humor is really captivating.

But already years ago in the early 1970's, he started working with laser display, to make it an alternative to conventional media. In 1975 he created an interactive computer language specifically designed to control laser displays. He built the first high-end laser graphics workstation, pioneering in true 3D, stereoscopy and full-color RGB control. His company Aura Technologies has been a pioneer in providing laser "clip art", in addition to producing shows and installations.

Also ILDA would not be that what it is today without him. Steve is a founding member and he was extraordinarily active. Not only serving as a chair of the Technical Committee, but he was also elected ILDA President four times. I also remember him as entertaining master of the Awards Ceremonies over many years. And: ....he speaks almost perfect German!

Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm applause to Mr. Steve Heminover, receiving the ILDA Career Achievement Award in 2011.

Laser Production Network was founded in 1968; Tom Harman has been president for 36 years. In that time, LaserNet has produced innumerable shows. He is famous for beam and aerial shows. LaserNet has repeat clients who demand his presence as no one can do a beam treatment as well as Tom. He won one of the early ILDA Awards in 1988 for one of his beam shows, and the 1998 LDI "Laser Display of the Year" award.

In 2010, LaserNet became one of only four companies to complete the demanding "ILDA Professional" accreditation process, proving LaserNet's experience, laser safety training, and industry activities.

Tom has a very strong history of support for ILDA. He was one of the original founders of ILDA and one of its charter members. He has maintained LaserNet membership in ILDA every single year without fail (one of only three members to do so over these 25 years). LaserNet hosted the ILDA Conference three different times: 1995, 2008 and 2010. In addition, the 2004 Conference at LDI in Las Vegas was co-managed by LaserNet's Christine Jenkin. So that is four Conferences that LaserNet has hosted and run.

The brief space on this page does not permit a full listing of Tom's qualifications for CAA. Please visit a special webpage at www.lasernet.com/caa.htm to read more about Tom, including four letters of recommendation from industry leaders including last year's CAA recipient Steve Heminover.

For Tom Harman’s CAA acceptance speech, see the 2012 winners page, and scroll down to the “2012 Career Achievement Award” section at the bottom.

Pavol Kubosek studied physics at Comenius University in the Slovak Republic. He received a Master's degree in optics and quantum mechanics, and a PhD. in 1993 with a thesis in speckle interferometry. He was a researcher in the Slovak Academy of Sciences, where he published many papers in international scientific journals.

Pavol's career in laser display began in 1995 with the establishment of Kvant. He has said that the beginning was difficult and it helped him learn a lot about business. With personal qualities of persistence, consistency and good leadership, Kvant helped bring high quality lasers with affordable prices to the market. Now production is oriented on many different laser projectors with a wide range of possible adjustments based on customers' wishes, as well as laser modules used in display and other industries.

Kvant has been innovative by introducing such features as DMX projector control, control over USB connections, introducing DPSS lasers (in 2004), controlling large numbers of projectors easily via software, first diode-only full-color laser system, plug-and-play lasers for smaller clubs, and compact solid-state modules pumped by blue laser diodes (2011). Kvant products are distributed in 40 countries; the company employs 80 people and was a finalist in Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition in 2012.

Pavol holds many scientific and technical patents, and utility models. He never forgets that success comes only with a lot of effort. Kvant continues to upgrade quality, and search for new solutions in their Research & Development department.

Timothy Walsh graduated with a degree in Music Composition from the University of North Texas, and has always incorporated dance, film, and video into his compositions. While an undergraduate, he got his start in lasers in 1977, as a planetarium laserist for Laser Creations, Inc. in Texas. He also co-founded Brave Combo, a Grammy-winning band still going today. In 1985, Tim formed Laser Spectacles, Inc.. Since then he has performed and installed laser shows world-wide, from churches to raves, corporate meetings to outdoor festivals.

Tim approaches laser shows as an artist, passionate about getting the right look and achieving his unique vision. To reach his goals, he began designing and building his own laser projection equipment. He envisions the ideal show as "Laser Synaesthesia" -- seeing exactly what one is hearing; to accomplish this, he uses the same audio signal to control both the loudspeakers and the laser scanners. Tim is a professional musician and composes "Laser Synaesthesia" pieces to accompany his performances on saxophone, clarinet, Irish pipes and accordion.

Tim and Laser Spectacles have won over 28 awards, beginning with the first ILDA Awards in 1988 and continuing with First Place Awards in both 2011 and 2012 -- the only 1988 recipient still winning today. Other notable honors include "Best Laser Show" at LDI and a First Place International Festivals and Events Association award for "Best New Event.” Laser Spectacles was one of the first two companies to receive the designation "ILDA Accredited Professional Lasershow Company" in 2010.

Tim is a Founding Member of ILDA, and has been one of the most active Members through the decades. He documented ILDA’s first meeting at Lake Tahoe in 1986 with a diary and audio recording -- still available online at ILDA’s website -- and served on the first Publicity Committee. He has written many articles for "The Laserist" magazine. Tim was Chair of the Awards Committee from 1993-2000 and from 2006 to the present. He was instrumental in presenting live laser shows at the annual ILDA Awards Banquet; prior to his tenure, only videos were shown. As Awards Committee Chair, Tim oversees the Awards Categories, plans the lasers at the Banquet and organizes the judging of both the Artistic and Technical Awards. [Note: Tim stepped down from the Awards Committee chair in 2017.]

Tim joined the ILDA Board in 2006, and served as ILDA President from 2006-2011. Tim and his wife Helen hosted the very successful 2012 ILDA Conference in San Antonio, Texas, and he did this as one of the few sole-proprietor companies to have run an ILDA Conference. In 2013, Tim received the ILDA Outstanding Service Recognition Award, for his long and distinguished service to the association.

About ILDA, Tim says: "I am thankful to have been a part of ILDA from the start; ILDA's network of support and inspiration aids me in accomplishing my goals. I feel part of a world-wide family of laserists."

For Tim Walsh’s CAA acceptance speech, see the 2014 winners page, and scroll down to the “2014 Career Achievement Award” section at the bottom.

German laserist Dirk Baur started his career in 1989. From the beginning, he was into development of laser peripherals, drivers and power supplies. Very soon, the first galvo scanning systems came out of the workshop of his small company, which soon led to the legendary CATWEAZLE scanners. In 1996, Dirk became an ILDA Member with his former company, es-Lasersystems. In 1997 he founded MediaLas GmbH, and went further in developing hardware and software for laser entertainment purposes, such as LaserPainter software, super-fast MicroAmp CTi drivers, and many more. MediaLas received several technical and artistic awards for innovations such as the automated RGB color alignment tool of the Infinity show laser projector systems. Dirk owns several patents and trademarks, and has expanded his company to the industrial laser sector. Dirk was an ILDA board member from 1998 to 2000, and from 2005 to 2009. Between 2005 and 2007, he also served as ILDA President. In the year 2000, MediaLas joined forces with LOBO, to jointly host the 2000 ILDA Conference in Stuttgart.

In 1980 Alexander Timofeyev graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering high school majoring in Optoelectronics & Lasers where he was engaged in scientific work. He subsequently published over 50 laser-related research works and has 12 USSR Certificates of Invention (patents), as well as international patents.

In 1995 he began work in laser display, helping develop outdoor laser advertising using acousto-optics to create bitmap images. He received the highest award at the Brussels Salon of Innovations: Eureka 1996.

Shortly after that, Alexander became the со-founder and Chief Manager of Laser Show Systems Company (Moscow), which had become the largest company in the field of laser show systems at that time. It was the first company in Russia to integrate latest technologies and ILDA standards to the show technology represented on Russian Market. In 1998 he began participating in the ILDA Conferences.

In 2003 Alexander became co-owner and general producer of Orion-Art Production International. In 2009 he became owner and CEO of Orion-Art Multimedia. The company is now one of the leading Russian companies in the field of laser and multimedia shows.

From the very beginning of his work in the laser display industry, he has been striving to improve the quality of laser graphics and animation. Orion-Art began submitting their works for the ILDA Awards in 2004. Since then they have won 47 ILDA awards: 28 of them are the first and/or second prizes in the Laser Graphics, Beams & Screens, Lasershows, and Multimedia Show categories.

In 2008 he was elected as a board member of the International Laser Association (LAS-Russia). Until 2011 he was heading the LAS' Department of Applied Laser Technologies in display systems, advertising and show-business. He was the first in Russia to introduce mandatory laser safety training and certification of technical staff working with lasers at laser displays.

The 2011 ILDA Conference in Moscow, hosted by Orion-Art, was acknowledged as one of the most interesting and successful in the history of ILDA, and gained a few new ILDA members from Russia.

Alexander Timofeyev believes that one of the key areas of his work is introducing new products and ILDA standards to the Russian market, maintaining the principles of ILDA ethics in working with partners, and compliance with ILDA safety standards.

For Dr. Timofeyev’s CAA acceptance speech, see the 2016 winners page, and scroll down to the “2016 Career Achievement Award” section towards the bottom.

Alexander Hennig is well-known within the laser industry for helping build LOBO to a preeminent leader in laser and multimedia, and for his record-breaking number of awards. And he is well-known within ILDA for his long and influential service to help improve the association.

Alex began by studying computer- related animation and media. In 1992 he began his long association with LOBO, as an intern. Alex said “I was fascinated by this magical light from day one. At the same time it is something immaterial but looks like being a physical object you can touch.“

In 1994 as a LOBO freelance artist he created a multimedia show for the 1250th anniversary of the city of Fulda, Germany. This won LOBO their first ILDA Award. And winning the award was one reason he was asked to become LOBO’s creative director — a position he held for 23 years.

Under Alex’s leadership, LOBO received a record-breaking 162 ILDA Awards. No other company has come close to this, making Alex one of the most influential laser artists in our industry.

One reason for this success is that Alex was careful to have a varied style both in his own works and in those of others that he supervised. This meant there was not a typical or repetitive “LOBO look” — their work was always fresh.

Alex has represented LOBO at trade shows, and within ILDA where he has been very active.

Alex attended 16 ILDA Conferences since 1997. He worked on the Awards Committee, and served on the ILDA Board of Directors from September 2010 until November 2016. During his three terms he especially championed international members, smaller companies, direct voting for awards and Board members, and the ILDA New Talent award.

Alex and LOBO significantly supported ILDA by co-hosting the 2000 ILDA Conference in Stuttgart, and again in 2013 by hosting both the ILDA and the Laserfreak conferences in Aalen. The 2013 event is thus far the most heavily-attended ILDA Conference ever.

In 2016 he left LOBO after a quarter-century to work as creative director for a non-laser company, Zweiplan, in Munich.

This is an appropriate time therefore to honor Alexander Hennig for his laser career achievements as the all-time ILDA Award winner, and as a strong supporter of the International Laser Display Association.

For Alex Hennig’s CAA acceptance speech, see the 2017 winners page, and scroll down to the “2017 Career Achievement Award” section towards the bottom.

Laser shows were first popularized by Laser Images Inc. through their “Laserium®” shows in planetariums.

Laser Images’ Glenn Thomas pioneered the art of live performances of abstract laser imagery with music. During his 27(!)-year career as the senior laserist for Laserium® at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles from 1975 to 2002, Glenn performed approximately 12,500 live shows that both inspired and influenced those of us who followed in his footsteps.

Laser shows were presented very differently during Glenn’s career. They were performed in the totally darkened environment of a planetarium theater with a single ion laser powering the innovative Laserium® projector. It had four X-Y scanner pairs and an extensive array of optical effects that even today have never been equaled. The original Laserium® shows consisted entirely of abstract laser imagery that was performed live. The laserist controlled all aspects of the image composition (such as harmonic frequencies, size, position, movement, color, optical effects, etc.) from a sophisticated console which was similar to an electronic music synthesizer — with a multitude of potentiometers, switches, and even joysticks.

Glenn played the console just like a musical instrument and elevated Laserium® shows to become synonymous with visual music.

In a very real sense, the laserist was the star of the show. A talented laserist was a lot like a rockstar guitarist who would drive audiences wild with their virtuosity. Similarly, audiences at live planetarium laser shows would erupt into applause after an especially exciting performance by the laserist.

And Glenn was one of the most renowned and accomplished laserists of this bygone era of live laser shows. He was a master of his instrument – like Yo-Yo Ma is to a cello.

Laserium® founder Ivan Dryer, honored as the first recipient of the ILDA Career Achievement Award, remarked after one of Glenn’s performances that it wasn’t just entertaining but that it was a transformative experience. Pretty high praise!

It should also be noted that Glenn was sent to Laserium planetarium installations worldwide to teach other laserists how to perform. Consequently, his influence was experienced by literally millions of audience members.

Considering Glenn Thomas’s lengthy career and unique artistic accomplishments, he is most deserving of ILDA’s highest recognition.

ILDA has published online Glenn Thomas' book “Laserium® Laserist: The Greatest Job on Earth.

A video of Glenn Thomas' CAA acceptance speech, and the text of the speech, is on the 2018 ILDA Awards page (scroll down to the Career Achievement Award section).

Alberto Kellner-Ongaro has been active in the entertainment industry since 1985. He first worked in PR and event organizing for a show agency in Milan. Since 1987, he has worked with lasers. In May 1988 he founded Laser Entertainment srl.

The focus of the company was to use and promote lasershow among the entertainment industry and related markets in Italy and in southern Europe, since spreading to the Middle East. Also, from the beginning Alberto has been fascinated by the use of lasers together with other media techniques (video, lights, special effects) to create a real "multimedia show".

Since the first large scale waterscreen installed in Gardaland in 1995 (ILDA Award first place, Multimedia, in 1996), Laser Entertainment has received more than 30 international awards and recognitions between ILDA and other first place prizes from groups such as the European Lasershow Festival, BEA, and the Pepsi Award.

Alberto and his creative team have been pioneers in graphic lasershow creation using different software platforms (Laser System Magnum, LOBO Lacon 3, Pangolin), bringing and sharing high quality "state of the art" lasershows to the industry. Furthermore he has developed and assembled innovative laser products, including:

— The first 2 watt RGB DPSS solid state projector presented at ILDA in Las Vegas 2004 and winner of the ILDA Award for DPSS laser of the year called "Flash 2 watt RGB"

— The first laser projector with both integrated wireless DMX and Pangolin Flashback to allow show recall and play via wireless DMX, finished in 2007 and presented at the ShowWay 2008 exhibition in Bergamo, Italy.

Since 2010 Alberto and his team have pushed forward the integrated use of laser, lights and video mapping 3D to allow a unique multimedia experience

Laser Entertainment was the first Italian company to join ILDA, in 1993. Since then Alberto has been an active member promoting the safe use of laser in Italy, southern Europe and the Middle East. Alberto served on the ILDA Mascom committee in 2002 and 2003, then as Board member in 2004, and served as ILDA President from November 2004 to March 2006.

In April 1989 I moved to Miami. At this time, I had many years in theater and lighting, so when I was looking for work, I answered an ad for an administrative assistant at a laser company. That is how I came to work for Tom Harman’s company, then called Laser Productions. After a 1993 merger it became Laser Production Network – “LaserNet” for short.

LaserNet is a founding/charter member of ILDA. In 1995, LaserNet hosted its first ILDA conference, in Miami. I was very involved in producing this conference. In many ways this was my introduction to many members of ILDA.

In 1996, I was made Vice President of the company.

In 2003 I decided to become more involved with ILDA. I joined the Conference Committee. In 2004 I worked to achieve ILDA’s first self-hosted conference, in conjunction with the LDI show in Las Vegas.

Due to this success, LDI worked with us again in 2007, assisting us with a large demo room. LDI in Orlando had its own Laser Theater! I recall it was here that most of us saw real 60k scanning for the first time!

I continued to work as Conference Committee chair. Every year, planning the conference, getting the hotel, food and beverage, working with the Awards Committee so they had what they needed, etc.

During this time, LaserNet continued its support by hosting additional conferences: In 2008 we hosted that year's Conference on board the Carnival Imagination; 2010 we hosted again on the Carnival Destiny; 2014 again in Las Vegas; and assisted again on 2019 in Orlando.

In 2008 I was first elected to the ILDA Board of Directors. In 2011 I was elected President and kept that position until 2016. During my term as President, I incorporated many changes to ILDA. Education and branding were very important to me. Giving the members value for their membership fee was also important to me.

Being a long time Girl Scout troop leader, my personal goal for anything I do is to "leave it better than you found it". I feel that is what I have done with ILDA. As ILDA's president from 2011-2016, I feel I left ILDA in a much better place than I found it. (And of course I continue to work for ILDA as Conference Committee chair.)

Steve Heminover, Aura Technologies, Former ILDA President, Board member, and 2011 CAA recipient had this to say:

"Here are a few things that make Christine Jenkin an outstanding candidate for the Career Achievement Award.

• Only the second woman elected president of ILDA in 2011.
• The only ILDA member to serve as president for 6 consecutive years!
• She led the team that created the first "No Host" ILDA meeting in Las Vegas in 2004, which many thought impossible.
• She was able to get LDI to join with ILDA for a combined conference in Las Vegas, also in 2004.
• She has been a shining resource to many people over many years for promoting Laser Safety.
• She is one of the pioneers that have helped to make this an industry that is known throughout the world."

In conclusion, I would like to say thank to the persons who nominated me and to those who decided to vote for me. I consider this a great honor to be included among so many fellow ILDA CAA recipients who I have long admired.

Frederick Fenning began his laser show career while still an MIT undergraduate, when he joined Laser Displays, Inc., a 1976 start-up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There he developed the PMR-8, a digital/analog imaging and animation control unit (one of the first to incorporate a data tablet for image input). He left in 1979 to form Image Engineering Corporation.

At Image Engineering, he developed many innovative laser systems, including: the first true RGB projection control system; custom high-speed closed-loop scanner amps; multi-channel FM encode/decode systems; a unique "XY-TV" display to emulate scanning on a CRT monitor; digital-video storage of multiple image sources with integrated hi-fi audio (in an era before digital recording devices such as ADAT); and "The Hard Machine", a console for analog control of digitally-stored graphics, which permitted real-time performance of intricate animations.

Fred died in a private plane crash, in August 1997. The ILDA Technical Award was renamed in his honor as the Fenning Award for Technical Achievement.

Casey Stack saw his first laser show in 1977, at "A Star Wars Concert" in Portland. The finale, where Spectra-Physics 171 argon-ion lasers scanned spirals onto rotating mirrored balls, changed his future. At the age of 14 he started a company to build laser light show projectors.

He was technical director at Laser Fantasy from 1986 to 1992, and a founding partner of Lightspeed Design Group, which won 40% of all ILDA artistic awards in their first year of business. At Laser Physics Inc. he developed a portable air-cooled mixed-gas laser (in the 1990s, well before diodes). Since 1998 he is president of Laser Compliance, which assists manufacturers in laser product safety and regulatory compliance.

Through his career in laser display, Stack has supported ILDA, created innovative laser art and technology, and helped with standards and regulations. Some of his achievements are listed below.

ILDA-related activities: Created and introduced what is now the ILDA Test Pattern. Served as chair of the ILDA Technical Committee from 1992 to 1996. Created and produced the ILDA Advanced Technology Workshop for several years. Served a term on the ILDA Board of Directors, 1996-1998.

Noteworthy laser displays: Producer and head engineer for the world's largest projected images (nearly a mile wide) on Grand Coulee Dam; a variation of this show still runs over 100 nights per year, 32 years later. Helped create a real-life rotating Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" laser prism that flies over the audience's heads, for the 2006-2007 Roger Waters tour. Worked on 3D laser shows. Worked on an ILDA Award-winning underwater laser show viewed from glass-bottom boats. Performed over 600 laser shows, in the days before automated computer playback.

New laser display markets: Assisted global manufacturers of Laser Illuminated video projectors to overcome regulatory barriers. LIPs projectors are now found globally in homes, business, cinemas, and concert tours. Similarly, helped with regulatory approval of Laser Illuminated Lighting Instruments starting with Clay Paky's Xtylos projectors.

New laser display technologies: Pioneered the use of the Alesis ADAT for standardized playback of laser shows. Also developed and/or assisted in the development of auto digitizing, analog geometric correction, an audience scanning safety meter, and ceramic tubes for entertainment ion lasers (replacing fragile glass tubes).

Laser safety, regulatory and standards: Developed early audience scanning variances and taught the first audience scanning training classes. Vice chair of the ANSI Z136.10 committee, where he was the primary author of the "Safe Use of Lasers in Entertainment, Displays and Exhibitions" standard (in draft as of 2022). Original author of IEC 60825-1, part 4.4 which allows laser-derived lighting sources to be safely used without excessive laser-like regulation. Initiated creation of the Laser Illuminated Projector Association, for video-type laser projectors. Helped develop guidance for FAA to use laser illuminated projectors in airspace, through SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice ARP5560.

Roberta McHatton has been providing laser safety consultation since 1995. As an active member of several safety standard organizations, Roberta McHatton is a leader in laser safety. Laser Safety Services LLC works within the laser industry to create laser safety guidelines/standards and increase laser safety awareness worldwide. LSS is particularly well known for its extensive work with entertainment lasers, an industry that can pose a high risk of potential exposure to the general public.

From 1995 to 2005 she was Director of Production/Technical Services and Laser Safety Officer for Laser Fantasy International (LFI), where she handled all aspects of laser entertainment applications for national and international installations and shows.

Since 2005 she is co-owner of Laser Safety Services LLC (LSS). She has provided outdoor laser safety training for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada as well as members of SAE G-10 committee. Roberta is often consulted by government agencies and other laser companies when laser safety issues are of concern.

Roberta’s company handles the laser safety needs for laser companies that provide lasers for live televised productions such as the iHeart Music Awards, America’s Got Talent and the Grammys. Roberta has overseen all aspects of laser safety for touring artists including Metallica, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Queen, Electric Daisy Carnival, Shambala, Shpongle, Burning Man, Pet Shop Boys and Muse, as well as corporate events such as SalesForce, Microsoft, Boeing. Roberta assists a wide variety of laser manufacturers of laser shows and/or laser entertainment projection systems.

Aside from participating in the creations of standards publications such as ANSI and SAE, Roberta has authored several articles on laser safety, such as Photonic Spectra and most recently for the Event Safety Alliance. Copies of these articles are available upon request. Roberta is co-author of a laser safety book with Ken Barat, PhD, CLSO, titled “Laser Safety for the Light Show & Projection Industry”. This book was published in 2018, as a useful manual for the entertainment/display industry.

She is a member of numerous American National Standards Institute (ANSI) laser safety-related committees, and works with the SAE G10-T Laser Safety Hazards committee on outdoor laser safety. She is a member of the Event Safety Alliance, having written the section on laser safety in ESA’s guide book.

Within ILDA, Roberta was elected to the Board of Directors in 2017 and reelected in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Roberta is an active member of the Laser Safety Committee, the Ethics Committee and the U.S. Regulatory Committee.

Walt Meador is a Founding Member of ILDA, having attended the first meeting in August 1986.

He ran a number of companies including Laser Rentals Inc. and Lightspace USA.

Walt is a Vietnam War veteran who saw his first laser show in 1974 while working as a liaison officer for the Imperial Iranian Air Force. The next year, he bought his first laser in 1975 for $15,000 ($85,500 in 2023 dollars).

A highlight of his career took place in October 1999 when Walt and his company Laser Rentals Inc. performed at the Sky Power & Beyond Lase Millennium Celebration in Houston. Two million people saw the show, which used a then-record 21 lasers with 780 combined watts. Lasers were were synchronized using SMPTE via telephone lines. For this show, Laser Rentals (in conjunction with Laser Media and Laser Fantasy International) won First Place, Outdoor Show, in the 2000 ILDA Awards held in Stuttgart, Germany.

Walter Austin Meador, Jr. passed away October 4, 2023 at his home in Joplin, Missouri, aged 77. He had received his ILDA Career Achievement Award trophy and medal a week prior to his passing.