History


Pat Miller shares the history and beginnings of CSIA

Explaining the diverse nature of the system integration industry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            WATCH MORE >


How It All Began


When computers first arrived on the factory floor and in control houses, people who understood both industrial processes and information technology were needed to design, engineer and implement electronic control systems. The Control System Integrators Association was established by a group of independent control system integrators brought together by Charlie Bergman. Bergman published a newsletter for promoting and supporting the independent control system integrator.

In 1993, Bergman hosted a meeting for about 25 subscribers. The following year, the Control System Integrators Association was established as an affiliate of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association at a meeting held in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
From the outset, the common thread throughout CSIA's activities has been to "raise the bar."

  • Improve the business skills of our members
  • Help integration firms of all sizes, engineering specialties, product experience and industry knowledge share their collective business wisdom to help control their individual destinies
  • Provide a forum for members to discuss common business issues
  • Enhance the professionalism of independent control and information system integrators
  • Communicate the resulting benefits to the broad business community

1994_CSIA_Conference_Shell_Island.png
TOP ROW - Left to Right
Chung Park, PhD, Pres. Metra Instruments, Inc.
Frank J. Lid, Dir. Manufacturing Resources, Inc.
Alan Maciejewski, V.P. Sis & Mktg Y-E-P Industries, Inc.
Don Eckert, Pres. Y-E-P Industries, Inc.
Calvin Ferguson, Mgr. CIM Systems Babcock & Wilcox, Inc.
Pat Miller, Pres. Engineered Energy Systems
Charlie Bergman, Pres. Technical Marketing
Michael J. Beringer, V.P. Sales Metra Instruments, Inc.
Chip Rennie, Pres. Automation Application, Inc.
Glenn Buck, Mktg. Mgr. Applied Control Systems, Inc.
MIDDLE ROW - Left to Right
Robert Zeigenfuse, Pres. Advanced Automation Associates, Inc.
Robert Visner, V.P. RoviSys Company
Thomas W. Barton, Pres. Trola Industries, Inc.
John Pittman, Pres. Computer Products, Inc.
Donald Steberl, V.P., Sales Automation Controls, Inc.
Richard Lamb, Pres. Control Concepts, Inc.
George Winstead Siemens Industrial Automation, Inc.
Jack Grenard, Editor Carefree Communications
Jan Bergman, Mktg. Mgr. Controls Unlimited, Inc.
Ray McKinney Allen-Bradley
BOTTOM ROW - Left to Right
Thomas L. Wilson, Pres. Programmable Control Services, Inc.
Larry MacDonald, Batch Pgm Mgr GE-Fanuc Automation, N.A. Inc.
Dale Caster Square D
Tony Leszczynski, Mgr.PLC Strategis Partnership Square D
Stan New, Pres. New Technology, Inc.
John W. Robertson, Pres. RoviSys Company
Larry Ethridge, Pres. TOPRO, Inc.
Jaime D. Jordan, Pres. Applied Industrial Automation Inc.

Reaching the Next Peak

During the 2019 Executive Conference in Asheville, two of CSIA's founding members, Bob Zeigenfuse and Pat Miller, bookended the conference with tributes to the history of CSIA. Bob kicked off the Tuesday Welcome Reception with a touching speech about the impact CSIA has made in his life - and the lives of others within the industry - since its creation 25 years ago. And during the Awards Dinner on Thursday, Pat Miller honored past CSIA members and encouraged new participants to join our unique organization during his speech. Do you want to climb to even greater heights in your business? Join us today!


Timeline

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Charlie Bergman

The story of the founder
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