"The TEA presidency demands vision, leadership and commitment, and Steve Thorburn has all three. I have full confidence in Steve's ability to help guide TEA toward a brilliant future," says TEA sitting president Nick Farmer of Farmer Attraction Development.

As confirmed  by the International Board of TEA (Themed Entertainment Association), the new president-elect of TEA is Steven J. Thorburn PE, CTS-D, CTS-I, principal of Thorburn Associates. Sitting president Nick Farmer will formally pass the president's gavel to Thorburn this November in Orlando, during the TEA members' meeting held annually at IAAPA, a major amusement industry trade show.

Steve Thorburn, 46, is an active and visible participant within his industry. Altogether he has served as project manager and engineer on over 2,000 projects, including the lead engineer role on four projects that received Thea Awards, and, as a lecturer in the field, logged more than 40,000 student hours. He has been a TEA member for 15 years, and has served on the TEA International Board as Treasurer for the past four years.

Thorburn's other association ties include the Large Format Cinema Association (five years on the Executive Committee) and ICIA/InfoComm (1996 Educator of the Year). He has had some 50 articles published in the trade media and writes a regular column for Systems Contractor News. Within his own company, Thorburn Associates (founded in 1992 with his wife, Lisa) Steve Thorburn has fostered a service- and education-oriented culture and encourages his staff to continually advance in their professional development and training.

"It's an honor to have this vote of confidence from my colleagues at TEA," says Steven Thorburn. "and I will justify that confidence through my actions as president. I believe I can make substantial contributions in several areas, especially in TEA's current efforts to grow the association and diversify its membership. And with four years' experience as TEA treasurer, I will also help keep us fiscally responsible."

About Thorburn Associates Inc.
Thorburn Associates Inc. (TA) is a professional service firm providing acoustical consulting and technology system engineering and design for the commercial, corporate, leisure, residential and retail industries, and for houses of worship. TA works in both new construction and renovations. TA is an independent consulting firm offering unbiased designs to improve communication and fully realize the functionality of all projects. Headquartered in Castro Valley, CA, with regional offices in Los Angeles and Raleigh-Durham, NC, Thorburn Associates has been recognized as one of the leading firms in the acoustical and audiovisual system design industry. In the course of 16 years in business, TA projects have received multiple awards, from the International Communications Industry Association (ICIA-InfoComm), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Visit www.ta-inc.com.