Remarks by Mitchell K. Hefter
Senior Project Manager, Entertainment Technology

Like many of us, our next Fellow has worked behind the scenes for many years in our industry. He has been active in the Institute since 1965, He he has been employed by leading lighting manufacturers since earning his degrees and also acts as a private lighting consultant.

His contributions have not gone unnoticed, most notably in the area of technical standards and education. In fact, many of the lighting products we all have come in contact with likely have had this Fellow's involvement.

Ken Vannice started in theatre at an early age. He was active in high school theatre in his hometown of Bozeman, Montana, running the technical department and stage managing. As a student at Montana State University, Ken held the position of Lecturer and taught lighting and play production classes while still an undergraduate. He also co-founded a summer theatre before graduating with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Theatre Arts.

Ken applied to the Yale Drama School Theatre Engineering Program, but was sidetracked by a job offer from George Howard of Kliegl West in Los Angeles. He worked in sales and engineering and eventually ran the entire Kliegl engineering program until the closure of Kliegl West in 1975 when he moved to Colortran as Product and Test Engineering Manager.

In 1979 Ken earned his Professional Engineers license, soon to be followed by one of his most visible contributions to the industry and USITT – work on the National Electrical Code®.

Ken and I first met in 1984 at the initial meeting of the USITT 1987 NEC Committee in southern California. I'm sure it's a day Ken hasn't forgotten - his car was stolen from the parking lot during the meeting. That didn't deter him from returning (although he hosted the next couple of meetings at his office).

Later that year, Ken assisted with the resolution of the CamLok/Welding Cable fiasco surrounding the 1984 Olympics. One of the results of that event was the setting of a deadline for Hollywood to get rid of its illegal welding cable and convert to cable now accepted by the Code. When the deadline came and went without compliance by many of the studios, Ken was there to help sort it out.

In the late 1980s, Ken conducted a tour of several San Francisco area theatres and similar facilities to educate Underwriters Laboratories about our industry's unique products and how they are used.

In 1988, Ken was appointed to NEC Code Making Panel 15 representing USITT. He has chaired several important Ad Hoc Committees for the Panel since then. He also developed a strategy to successfully quiet one of the rabble rousers on the Panel; why Ken's wearing of a red sweater would settle this person down, we may never know. One of Ken's favorite activities at these meetings is to take us on a search of the alligators that reside in the area of one of the meeting sites. Several years ago, we almost got the police called on us while inspecting some questionable wiring near the NEC meeting site.

Here's a quick rundown of the activities Ken is involved with in addition to the NEC:

• ESTA's Technical Standards Program
• Member of the Technical Standards Committee
• Co-Chair of the Electrical Power Working Group
• Member of the Control Protocols and Photometrics Working Groups
• ESTA's representative to the U.S. National Committee that feeds into the European standards process
• ESTA's Entertainment Technician Certification Program
• Member of the Certification Council
• Chair of the Electrical Skills Working Group
• CANENA, which works for harmonization of electro-technical product standards and related issues between all democracies of the Western Hemisphere
• Underwriters Laboratories: Industry Advisory Group on Portable Power Distribution Systems
• Advisor on UL 1573 Standard for Stage and Studio Lighting Units
• UL Technical Standards Panel 334 for Dimming Switchboards
• Canadian Standards Association
• Sub-Committee for C22.2 No. 166, Stage and Studio Luminaires
• Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE),
• Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
• International Association of Electrical Inspectors

Ken is also a co-recipient of the USITT Founders Award 1993.

He always strives to provide USITT visibility when working with other organizations on entertainment industry issues. Much of his contributions to the Theatre/Performing Arts noted above have had a direct and very positive impact on the Institute and its membership, and through his efforts, the Institute and ESTA have become major forces in codes and standards for our industry.

Ken also works directly within USITT. He chairs USITT's NEC Committee, serves on the USITT Standards Committee, has served as a Vice-Commissioner for Engineering since the mid 1980s, and has served on the USITT Board of Directors. Ken is also smart enough to turn me down every time I suggested he should take on the role of Engineering Commissioner.

Ken has also served as Director, Treasurer, and Vice Chair for the Southern California Regional Section of the Institute. He was a member of the 1988 Anaheim conference committee in Anaheim, serving as the Chair of the non-commercial exhibits. He created the first AIDS Awareness Exhibit.

Ken has also conducted many programs for the USITT Annual Conference, including education sessions on electricity and qualified stage electricians, and being a key contributor to full day workshops on Electrical Safety.

And with all that activity, Ken still finds time to hike, camp, and photograph his travels. He has also been an active square dancer, something he did as a child in Montana when his father would travel to dude ranches as a caller.

Much of my development and success in the Institute has been due to Ken's support and tutelage. Ken and I have worked closely together over the past 20 years on USITT, NEC, UL, and Electrical Safety issues.

Many of Ken's contributions to the Theatre & Performing Arts and USITT happen a little more behind the scenes than the typical USITT member. But they have been very significant - we all have benefited. Ken Vannice is most deserving of this great, and long overdue honor.

Follow these links to stories about the other new USITT Fellows:

• Fred Foster, remarks by Sonny Sonnenfeld
• Forrest Newlin, remarks by Bruce Brockman
• Paul Vincent, remarks by Richard Arnold

To Top