United States. KNX USA National Group announced a strategic restructuring to strengthen its positioning and accelerate the adoption of the KNX standard in the United States and Canada.
As part of the process, the organization elected a new three-member Board of Directors and appointed Latin Press, Inc., a Miami-based media and events firm, as its official management company.
The move aims to provide the association with greater operational stability and professional scope. "This new board and management structure gives us the stability and professional scope that we have been building," said David Thurow, Secretary/Treasurer of KNX USA.
"With Latin Press in charge of operations, the Board can focus on what matters most: demonstrating KNX's technical superiority over proprietary protocols and supporting our partners with world-class training and resources."
The agreement expands the role that Latin Press already plays in Latin America, unifying the administrative and marketing strategy of the KNX standard throughout the Americas. For Max Jaramillo, CEO of Latin Press, this expansion responds to the potential of the US market: "We are honoured to extend our alliance with the KNX Association to the United States. The U.S. market represents a huge opportunity for automation with open protocols. By aligning KNX USA's management with our successful operations in Latin America, we can ensure a consistent, high-impact presence that generates real value for both manufacturers and integrators."
New Executive Board
The new Board of Directors was made up of representatives of manufacturers and integrators with a background in automation and energy management:
- Nigel Simms, Technical Supervisor Building Automation Solutions at Siemens, takes over the Chairmanship. With a background in control and automation systems, he brings an operational vision focused on scalable and efficient solutions.
- Sami Shaikh, Global Strategy and Product Leader for KNX at Schneider Electric, takes over as Vice President. With more than 18 years of experience, he leads the global strategy and KNX portfolio at one of the leading energy management companies, which will allow the local roadmap to be aligned with international trends in smart buildings.
- David Thurow, Founder of Austin Lighting Group and KNX distributor and installer, takes over as Secretary/Treasurer. A specialist in high-end lighting control and automation, he has been a promoter of open standards in the United States and Canada, bringing the perspective of the specialized channel to the board.
Education, positioning and presence in the industry
Under the new management, KNX USA will execute a revamped operational plan focused on technical education, digital positioning and increased visibility in the industry. Key initiatives include the development of a Digital Hub – with an up-to-date website and a comprehensive directory of KNX manufacturers – a content strategy with weekly newsletters and technical posts on social media, as well as a constant calendar of webinars and promotion of local certification courses.
The organization also confirmed its booth-coordinated presence at key industry events such as CEDIA Expo and IoT Tech Expo, in line with its goal of expanding the base of integrators, engineers, and manufacturers adopting the standard in North America.
