Mitchell Klein has been chosen as this year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Klein will be honored at the CEDIA Expo Opening Keynote hosted at the Colorado Convention Center on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019.

The CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has exhibited outstanding, creative, innovative and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the residential technology industry. Nominations are submitted by industry professionals and evaluated on the basis of achievement and service within the industry.

"Mitch is part of an elite group, not only now as a CEDIA Lifetime Achievement recipient but as someone who has been actively engaged with CEDIA from the early stages and has continued to serve the community," said David Humphries, CEDIA chairman. "Anyone who knows Mitch likely has a story about his willingness to share his expertise and his passion to further the growth and success of the industry."

Walt Zerbe, CEDIA senior director of technology and standards, adds, "Mitch is a pillar of guidance and mentorship — whether that's mentoring a person, program or company — he is unfailingly selfless and always willing to help problem solve."

Klein is a 30+ year industry veteran who has dedicated his career to educating the industry, building, creating and implementing strategic businesses and programs and leading companies that helped bring smart home and custom installation into the mainstream. Klein is known for kicking off many key initiatives for CEDIA in almost every area including operational, educational, financial, legislative and marketing. Examples include initiating and implementing CEDIA's first strategic plan, the creation of an operating budget and reserve fund, introducing the CEDIA certification program and Management Conference, along with various policy and promotional projects. He continues his volunteerism on the Professional Development Action Committee today.

Above all, Klein is hailed as a leader in IoT, consumer electronics, home automation and the integrator market. In his current role as the executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance, a consortium of leading IoT brands and influencers, Klein has grown membership to more than 700 global companies and 3,000 certified products which represents over 60 percent growth during his tenure.

Prior to Z-Wave, Klein consulted for numerous consumer electronics brands, led business development for URC for several years and before that, he was in the home technology trenches, owning and running his own cutting-edge installation firm for over 14 years.

Klein is a CEDIA fellow, former two-term CEDIA president and ongoing volunteer and is a regular contributor to trade and technology publications. Klein has also been interviewed for numerous trade publications, mainstream media outlets and podcasts such as Cheddar TV, Convergent AV, AVNation and Tech Republic. He is a regular presenter and panelist at key industry events including CES, CEDIA, ISE, ISC West, InfoComm, NSCA, CEA, TecHomeX, CABA Forum, Parks CONNECTIONS Summits and the bi-annual Z-Wave Summit.

The CEDIA Expo Opening Keynote is free for all attendees. Registration is open at cediaexpo.com.