This year’s annual American National Standards Institute (ANSI) conference will focus on preparing the next generation of standardizers. Entitled, “Zero to Hero: Standards Know-How Isn’t Just for Nerds,” the free conference is designed to bring together companies, educators, and emerging professionals to discuss how a standards-savvy workforce can be ensured in the United States.
The conference will take place on October 25 at the FHI 360 Conference Center in Washington, D.C., and is part of the World Standards Week series of meetings and celebrations hosted annually by ANSI.
The keynote address will be given by Kenneth Hyatt, acting under secretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration. Hyatt will discuss the critical role of standards in spurring innovation and boosting the transatlantic digital economy. In particular, an emerging workforce that is engaged with standards–and understands the technical and geopolitical ramifications of standardization–will be an asset to the United States looking ahead, not just to trade agreements, but also the future competitiveness of U.S. industry and interests.
Speakers include representatives from Microsoft, John Deere, Accenture, UTC Climate, Controls & Security, Oracle, and the Electronic Components Industry Association. Educators will include representatives from Purdue University, the University of Maryland, City College of New York, the Project Management Institute, and San Jose State University.
The emerging professional perspective will be provided by panelists from Intertek, Salus Analytics, the Medical Imaging & Technology Association, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The goal of the session is to have each group to share its perspective, understand the challenges that other groups face, and come away with some clear steps for ANSI and the broader U.S. standardization community to take.
“Our purpose in hosting this event is to make sure that the standardization community is thinking strategically about these issues, not only for our own sake, but also for the future competitiveness of U.S. industry and interests,” ANSI President and CEO Joe Bhatia said.
ANSI members and interested stakeholders including those from government, industry, business, consumer groups, and academia, are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives on these critical issues.
The conference is free to attend, however advance registration is required. Click here to visit the registration page.