PESA Announces Retirement of Co-Founder Frank Zimmerman

PESA, a leading designer and manufacturer of streaming solutions as well as professional audio and video distribution products, today announced the retirement of Frank Zimmerman, one of the company's co-founders, effective today. With the late Dick Swan, Zimmerman established Communication Technology, Inc. (ComTec), the company that would eventually become PESA, in 1973. Zimmerman has remained with the company throughout its 43-year history.

ComTec focused primarily on small routing switchers, finding early success with a 40x20 router that required about 18 RU. ComTec was purchased by 3M in 1978 after designing a small OEM production switcher, but 3M later decided to focus on routing and control systems. Zimmerman and his team developed the first microprocessor control system in the industry, and won a 3M Golden Step Award for technical and market sales achievement.

Prior to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, Zimmerman designed a semi-custom 4x1 video crosspoint, placing eight of the crosspoints on a ceramic hybrid substrate to create a 16x2 video crosspoint. He designed seven hybrid circuits that became the basis for the 128x32 Series H hybrid switcher. While routing switchers were a very small part of 3M, Zimmerman was awarded the 3M Circle of Technical Excellence at the corporate scientist level for the Series H hybrid technology. A few years later, after 3M had sold its video manufacturing business and PESA had been established as a separate company, Zimmerman expanded the design to a 256x32 for network coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympics.

When the industry transitioned to analog HD, Zimmerman developed the System 5 100MHz analog video switcher, which started a bandwidth war in the industry that continues to this day. Customers did not need 100MHz bandwidth, but it allowed them to future proof their distribution chain at a time of great uncertainty in the market about HD technologies. Later, he designed PESA's very successful Cheetah line of digital video routers, implementing innovative ideas to reduce rack size and lower system costs.

Frank is leaving behind quite a legacy at PESA, but I'd say his most important contribution has been his continued willingness to share his knowledge and help others understand our technologies, said Christopher Thomas, PESA president. We all want to thank him for so many great years and great memories. Frank has remained an active part of the PESA family and we will miss him.

About PESA

As a leading provider of audio/video (A/V) Baseband and IP connectivity products, PESA offers a wide selection of multi-path streaming products, routing switchers, matrix switchers, extenders, converters, media extenders, and signal processing gear to support government, military, industrial, commercial, medical, broadcast, and mobile truck applications. From large to small-scale A/V routing and extender products to multiple IP streaming appliances, PESA offers a diverse suite of AV products, all of which are supported by 24/7 technical support. PESA is located in Huntsville, Ala., with regional sales offices throughout North America and China. Our cost effective solutions are available around the world through our industry leading team of Channel Partners offering local support and installation. All products mentioned herein are trademarked property. Learn more about us at www.pesa.com. Follow us on Twitter: @PESA_ONLINE and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pesa.

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