Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Aelred “Al” Kurtenbach, co-founder of Daktronics (NASDAQ-DAKT) of Brookings, South Dakota, will be honored by the Information Display & Entertainment Association (IDEA) at the 2019 IDEA Conference in San Diego, California.
Dr. Kurtenbach, along with Diane Gonzalez-Ferranti of Palace Sports & Entertainment, are two long-time industry influencers that will be inducted into the IDEA Hall of Fame on July 10 at a formal ceremony during the conference.
John Franzone, IDEA Hall of Fame chair and vice president of game presentation and production with the Tampa Bay Lightning told us “The fine individuals elected this year have certainly made their mark on our game presentation industry – one as an innovator who gave rise to a company that has become the cornerstone of large-screen displays in sports; and, the other as a producer of exceptional in-arena and broadcast content. While they’ve individually made their mark in different roles, Diane and Al share an incredible tenure of service with their respective organizations. Each has created a legacy of world-class work, mentorship and inspiration for future generations. Frankly, that’s what being a Hall of Famer is all about.”
Daktronics co-founder, Dr. Aelred “Al” Kurtenbach is responsible for dynamic audio and visual systems used to entertain fans worldwide. Beginning in a rented garage in 1968, Daktronics is now one of the largest suppliers of electronic scoreboards and visual display systems. Kurtenbach put Daktronics on the map with the design and manufacture of a wrestling scoreboard, revolutionizing the sport with essential timing and scoring information at mat side. This product, along with many other innovative improvements through the years, launched Daktronics on its way to international success, ultimately going public in 1994 and trading on the NASDAQ National Market System.
Daktronics’ growth and strength lies in Al’s leadership, anchored by home-bound philosophies. South Dakota and the potential of its young people have always been his passion. He is renowned as a great role model, combining strong work ethics and the shared mission of accomplishing goals to position Daktronics as an industry force.
Dr. Kurtenbach demonstrates a passion and commitment to customers. “We want to help our customers. We learned early the importance of listening and through the years we’ve worked closely with each customer to arrive at a solution. We want to help our customers produce memorable events and entertain their fans,” Al once stated.
Created in 2008, The IDEA Hall of Fame recognizes IDEA members, past and present, who have made a significant impact on the organization or industry. Its core values are: Honoring Excellence, Preserving History, and Inspiring Future Generations.
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