ETC Steps Up to Visionary TSP Investor in Innovation

	Mike Garl, co-chair, Technical Standards Council; Steve Terry, VP of research and development, ETC; and Fred Foster, CEO, ETC.

ETC has been a major donor to, supporter of, and participant in ESTA's Technical Standards Program since its inception. Now the company has taken that support to an even higher level by becoming a Visionary Level Investor in Innovation with a pledge of $10,000 for each of the next five years.

Representatives of ETC were present at the very first meeting discussing the creation of the TSP and have always been active on TSP working groups. Steve Terry, ETC's vice president of research and development is also a long-time member and former chair of the Technical Standards Council and Maya Nigrosh, senior software engineer, is currently serving as co-chair of the Control Protocols working group.

Terry presented a check for the first installment of their pledge at the recent USITT show to Technical Standards Council co-chair Mike Garl commenting: "From ETC's point of view, the ESTA Technical Standards Program is an industry 'crown jewel.' There is no other industry forum that allows so many diverse interests to come together to solve equipment interoperability and safety standards issues in an ANSI-approved environment -- along with tangible commercial benefits for all of us. We are very proud to lend our support to this critical program, and we respectfully challenge other entertainment industry companies to join us in this effort with their checkbooks."

Garl responded, "ESTA and the Technical Standards Program are extremely grateful to ETC for this generous and long term commitment. ETC has always been one of the industry's leaders and this level of financial support demonstrates that leadership. This support will help the TSP continue to be successful and a valuable asset to the entertainment industry. I applaud Steve's challenge and look forward to welcoming additional Investors in Innovation."

ESTA's ANSI-accredited Technical Standards Program brings together hundreds of subject matter experts from around the world to create standards and recommended practices that increase safety and improve interoperability. The TSP has over 50 published standards, with more in development, that help solve problems and make life safer and easier for those working in the entertainment technology and related industries. Find out how you can become an "Investor in Innovation" by visiting the URL below.

www.esta.org

tsp.esta.org/invest