Horace Hunter is the Executive Director of the Georgia Biomedical Instrumentation Society (GBIS). He has been in clinical/biomedical engineering for more than 39 years. He start out in the military with tours in Denver, CO, Ft. Riley, KS, Ft. Benning, GA, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, Germany, Homestead AFB, FL and Ft. Stewart, GA. He joined Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, GA. where he is Assistant Director of Engineering with primary duties directing clinical engineering services for the past 35 years.

HCBN: What are your goals for the GBIS Annual Conference is 2014?
HH: My objective is to fully implement the program that the board of directors have outlined, which is designed to help the members and potential members of GBIS grow professionally. This includes providing programs for learning, networking, giving to charities, and providing opportunities for individuals to become better HTM professionals. In addition, there are opportunities to instruct classes, and for vendors to display the latest technology. We also intend to recognize individuals for outstanding achievements in HTM.

HCBN: Is there a theme for the Conference?
HH: Yes, the theme is "Same Great Team - Brand New Players" - which means we are still the same GBIS that is willing to help members develop into the new Healthcare Technology Management career group by providing educational programs that will enhance technical, regulatory and management knowledge. We are offering two certificate courses which include Covidien Triad ESU service training and BC Technical Radiation Safety course. We have more than 13 classes and instructors with many years of hands-on experience in HTM.

HCBN: We've heard you have a uniquely qualified Keynote Speaker
HH: Indeed, our motivational guest speaker is Dr. Maysam Ghovanloo of Georgia Tech. He is a faculty member of Electrical Engineering, Director GT-Bionics Lab, Assoc professor of school of electrical and computer engineering, Assoc. editor IEEE Trans. Biomed Engineering, Assoc editor IEEE Trans. Biomed Circuits & Systems, Adjunct Professor, Wallace H. Coulter school of Biomedical Engineering, Program Faculty, Multidisciplinary Bioengineering Graduate Program, Faulty Member, Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC), Faculty Member, Graphics, Visualization, and Usability(GVU) Center.

HCBN: What do companies that want to exhibit need to know?
HH: We have space for some 30 vendors and we're half way sold-out, and have several committed vendors who have not registered yet. We are expecting to have all booths sold by July 1st, so we need vendors to register now to reserve their space, because space is limited. Booths are only $625 for members and $775.00 non-members that include a 1yr annual membership.

HCBN: What sort of turn-out are you anticipating?
HH: We are expecting to have 200 to 300 participating this year since we are including an equipment workshop for SRMC hospital staff. Hospital employees can attend for free and other participants can attend for $10.00. This includes lunch, coffee, soda and snacks along with door prizes.

Other highlights of this event include Friday even Vendor/ Life Time Member Appreciation hours to meet and greet other participants, and hopefully talk with some present and former professional sport players. Vendors will have an opportunity to get to know some of the attendees and attendees will have a chance to get to know vendors personally. This is an event to help GBIS raise funds for charities, scholarships and operating expenses to grow.

For more information on attending or exhibiting at the 2014 GBIS Technical Conference, please go to www.gbisonline.org

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