The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Board of Directors reported a unanimous vote to cancel the 2020 CSIA Executive Conference, originally scheduled for May 18-22, in New Orleans. The event is rescheduled for April 26-30, 2021, at the same location, according to an email to registrants from Jose Rivera, CSIA CEO, and Luigi de Bernardini, CSIA board chair.
"From the beginning, our decision to hold our flagship conference was based on advice from local and national health officials (including the CDC) and whether we could provide a truly safe environment in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) recently being deemed a global pandemic. On March 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their event guidance directed organizations to cancel events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. This makes it impossible for us to hold our conference in 2020," the email statement says.
In an effort to continue serving its members, CSIA is working to develop an online forum for system integrators to share coping strategies throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, several other events will be moved to a virtual format, the email statement reports.
"Members have found the knowledge and advice shared at our conference to be very valuable for their businesses. We will work to increase the value we provide to our members through our online presence," the statement says. "We also plan to hold our 2020 Annual Business Meeting and our 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony in a virtual format during the week of the original conference schedule. It will not be the same and we plan to bring this year’s award recipients to the stage in 2021. This is our way to cope with our new reality and manage as best we can."
For those who were registered to attend the 2020 CSIA Executive Conference, the CSIA reports that it will provide refunds and waive penalties to those who inquire. However, these payments can be applied to the 2021 conference as well. Additionally, any hotel reservations at the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans will be automatically cancelled. However, those who made reservations elsewhere will have to cancel on their own.
More information about registration, sponsorship and exhibit cancellation is available on the CSIA 2020 Executive Conference FAQs page.
