Draper marketing manager Penny Sitler, CDT, LEED®AP, has been named to Systems Contractor News magazine’s AV Hall of Fame.

The AV publication annually selects a small group of audiovisual business leaders who have, according to the magazine’s website, “contributed significantly to the AV community via innovation, thought leadership, and volunteerism.”

This year’s hall of fame class—the seventh—is made up of 10 members of the AV industry.

“SCN’s seventh annual Hall of Fame consists of industry influencers who are committed to driving the industry forward,” said Megan A. Dutta, editor of Systems Contractor News (SCN). “Penny’s passion for the AV industry, and commitment to growing women’s roles within it, is one of the many amazing qualities that make her an exceptional industry professional, and one who deserves to be recognized.”

Penny is chair of the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) Women’s Council. AVIXA, formerly known as InfoComm, is the international trade association representing the AV industry. In 2013, Penny received a Women in InfoComm Award, an annual award that acknowledges the contributions of current women AVIXA members who have taken marked initiative and exhibited strong leadership in the AV industry.

“I have enjoyed working in the AV industry for most of my life—I have almost literally grown up at Draper, and I take special pleasure in my volunteer roles with AVIXA,” Penny said. “I hope to see many more women rise to leadership in the industry, and I’m here to help them on the way. I am deeply honored by this recognition, and humbled to be part of this amazing group of industry leaders. Many thanks to Megan Dutta and her team at SCN for including me!”

Penny first came to Draper Shade & Screen Co., Inc., in 1978 as a summer intern, and returned in 1982 as Draper’s first salaried female employee.

Over the years, Penny has built the marketing program and in-house marketing team, launching web and social media initiatives, and introducing many new products. This past year she has overseen a complete company rebrand, including a new logo and website.

Penny has also mentored, trained, and supported other women—both at Draper and other businesses—in professional and management roles, has hired and mentored many female student interns, and has presented in-house leadership classes for women at Draper. In 2007, Penny was one of the first women in the AV industry to become a LEED AP. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is a green building rating system administered by the U.S. Green Building Association. A LEED-Accredited Professional is knowledgeable about sustainable design, construction, and building operation.

“Penny’s nomination to the SCN 2018 Hall of Fame is appropriate recognition of her contributions to Draper and to the AV industry,” Draper president John Pidgeon said.

This year’s other inductees are

• Jeff Day, CEO, BlueWater Technologies
• Chuck Espinoza, CTS-D, CTS-I, Staff Instructor, AVIXA
• Barry Goldin, CTS, president, Unified AV Systems
• Clint Hoffman, chief operating and chief growth officer, Kramer Electronics U.S.
• Alexis La Broi, CTS, CMP, systems consultant, Avitecture
• David B. Schwartz, president, Essential Communications
• Leonard Suskin, CTS-D, systems designer, Whitlock
• Gisela Torino, CTS-I, systems engineer, Audio Visual Resources
• Rich Ventura, DSCE, vice president of strategy, NEC Display Solutions of America

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