ESTA is proud to announce that Richard Nix is the new technical standards manager for the Technical Standards Program (TSP). His predecessor, Karl Ruling, will stay on in a supporting role.
Nix’s involvement in the development of standards spans decades. In early 1994 he was already actively involved in the USITT Rigging Standards project when discussions began about the TSP and its mission. He immediately came on board as a volunteer and has been, as he puts it, “a rather hyperactive standards evangelist ever since,” having led multiple tasks groups over the years before joining ESTA as Assistant Technical Standards Manager in May 2019.
Former technical standards manager ruling will now be senior technical standards manager. “I am stepping back so that Richard can step forward, and I am sure he will excel. Richard has been involved in the TSP for as long as I have, and with other standards organizations even longer.” Ruling will continue to write the TSP newsletter, Standards Watch, and will still be the technical editor for Protocol, ESTA’s quarterly technical journal.
Of his dedication to the program, Nix said, “My ongoing gratification comes from experiencing firsthand how our standards evolve in step with new technologies, or with changes in mature technologies. There are several cases where our standards have influenced those changes, too. But even that doesn’t outshine being an integral part of a group of a few hundred dedicated volunteers who have literally changed the face of our industry, for the better, over the last 28 years. I am looking forward to continuing that process.”
The TSP is a program by the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA). It comprises over 350 volunteer experts who devote time and knowledge to drafting American National Standards for the benefit of the whole entertainment technology industry. The TSP is always interested in any new member who wishes to join the group. Information on joining the TSP, requesting new standards, or becoming an Investor in Innovation is available at tsp.esta.org/getinvolved. For more information on the TSP, visit tsp.esta.org.
