SWANK AUDIO VISUALS RANKS No. 1 IN CONSULTING AND BUSINESS SERVICES
SwankDraw, a Proprietary Rendering App, Earns Swank Recognition
MONARCH BEACH, California, September 14, 2012 - - Swank Audio Visuals, today announced that it ranked first on InformationWeek’s list of Consulting and Business Services and 22nd overall on the publication’s 500 — a list of the top technology innovators in the U.S. The annual list was revealed last night at a gala awards ceremony at the exclusive InformationWeek 500 Conference, which took place at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA.
Swank earned its position on the prestigious list by nominating SwankDraw, the Company’s proprietary rendering app conceived and developed in-house. SwankDraw utilizes iPad technology to create digital renderings of the AV equipment and aesthetic options available utilizing an image of the actual event location. By making modifications on-site with the portable iPad, the client can actively participate in the creation of the rendering, thereby optimizing customization for each event.
Billy “Skip” Hughes, Swank Audio Visual Concierge at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles and inventor of SwankDraw, said, "Words cannot explain how proud I am to be part of something so huge and to be a part of a company that is so receptive to new ideas from every team member. Swank truly embraces innovation and provides a great deal of inspiration to develop such values, and I believe that's what earned us our spot on the InformationWeek 500 list. To represent Swank and accept the award with Mark White was just unreal, and I owe it all to Swank, as an entire Company and family, for the privilege."
Mark White, Swank CIO, accepted the award with Hughes, and said, “This is a very special award for me, personally and professionally. I’ve been working within the IT discipline for more than 26 years and have witnessed an enormous amount of change. The development of SwankDraw within this macro environment was truly rewarding. The concept and prototype came from the field and was embraced by senior management. A few short months later, we rolled out a powerful sales tool that helped increase revenue and drive growth. I’m really proud of the way our IT Team collaborated with our other departments to create a superb application.”
InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston said, “The InformationWeek 500 has recognized the most innovative users of business technology for 24 years, and this year’s innovations were particularly impressive. What the editors looked for are unconventional approaches — new technologies, new models, new ways of grabbing business opportunities and solving complex business problems with IT.”
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America’s best-known companies. Past overall winners include PACCAR Inc., The Vanguard Group, CME Group, National Semiconductor, Con-Way, and Principal Financial Group. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/.
Press Contact for Swank Audio Visuals:
Nisa Schmitz
Communications Manager
618-304-7626
nschmitz@swankav.com
Press Contact for InformationWeek:
Winnie Ng Schuchman
Vice President, Marketing
631-406-6507
wng@techweb.com
About Swank Audio Visuals (http://www.swankav.com/)
Founded in 1937, Swank Audio Visuals is celebrating its 75thanniversary in 2012. The Company has a rich legacy of providing technical expertise and resources, creative set designs and advanced equipment for the event industry. Provided with a hospitality approach, services include audio, video, lighting, stage design, production, webcasting/webarchiving, 3D renderings and Mobile Meeting Manager (M3), a customizable web-based app providing event information on attendees’ smartphones and tablets. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, Swank employs more than 1,800 talented professionals in approximately 375 destination resorts and hotels in 70 major markets, representing more than 165 cities in the U.S., Canada and UAE.
About InformationWeek Business Technology Network (http://www.informationweek.com)
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