Digital Visual Interface-A Primer on Connecting a Video Source to a Display Device

For years, Video Graphics Array (VGA) has been the standard for connecting analog monitors to computers. 

Times are changing.  

Ever since the introduction of digital flat panel LCD monitors into the highly competitive video monitor marketplace, there was a push to develop a standard to effective carry component video out to the masses wanting to experience a better viewing experience of video or computer signals.  Several early standards were proposed including Digital Flat Panel or DFP which is an early digital-only interface that suffered from resolution limits. Eventually, Digital Visual Interface or DVI emerged as the new interface for Digital flat panel LCD monitors and video cards.

One of the most confusing aspects of DVI is that there are actually three different types of cables and connectors.

Digital Only Signal or DVI-D or Digital Only Signal is the most common type. Almost all of today's DVI capable devices on the market use a DVI-D interface.

Integrated Analog and Digital or DVI-I cables and connectors offer the best of both worlds: a single cable and connector that can transmit both a digital and an analog signal. Since a DVI-I connector offers the most flexibility, video cards such as the ATI Radeon 8500 use this connector so that either a DVI digital screen or VGA monitor can be connected. In practice, DVI Analog-only cables are rare, and DVI Analog devices are non-existent.

Analog Only Signals or DVI-A  uses a DVI style connector on a cable that sends an analog-only signal, which can be understood by analog VGA monitors. In a digital-only world, "DVI Analog" would make no sense. However, as with all new technologies, there needs to be way to connect to older equipment.

Mini-DVI connectors are capable of carrying DVI, VGA, or TV signals through the use of adapters, detected with EDID (Extended display identification data) via DDC (Display Data Channel). This connector is often used in place of a DVI connector in order to save physical space on devices. Mini-DVI does not support dual-link connections and hence cannot support resolutions higher than 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz.

Don't forget these additionally issues: these signals come through single or dual link cables-primarily 8 versus 24 pins, most DVI digital devices have connectors that can accept dual link cables, a few plasma TVs that can only accept a single link cable and in DVI like anything else, an Analog signal will only talk to analog devices, and a Digital signal will only talk to digital devices.

Give GET, LLC a call at 671-483-0789 or drop us a line at www.get-guam.com to make sure you get the exact digital video cable you need.  We are proud to be a Panduit Business Partner and an Authorized Reseller for the Fiber Optic Marketplace LLC. 

Guam-A Different Perspective

Overlooking Agana Bay recently made me think that there are great things to come for Guam and Magnificent Micronesia.  

The surf was a bit higher than usual-carryover of a storm that is slowly pushing away from our area and into Asia.  The water was its normal turquoise blue. Tourists wore smiles on their faces-maybe the sand in their toes or thoughts of not being at the front end of the bad weather across the Pacific Rim are the cause.  

Clean air.  

Not too hot.  

Paradise.

As we push into the final quarter of 2013, the visitor industry is staring down a record year.  Visitor arrivals just from Korea alone is projected to hit nearly a quarter of a million with a net impact of $423 Million USD.  August arrival numbers showed a 5% increase from last year.  

Can Guam hit 1.4 million tourists this year? 

Local tourism experts are hopeful.  Hoteliers are optimistic.  Airline executives are confident that the number can be reached or exceeded.  Island residents know what the net impact will be to everyone who depends on robust activity along Tumon Bay.

A couple of facts: into the next 5 to 10 years, 2 out of 5 international travellers will be Asian. By 2023, China will overtake the United States to become the world’s largest travel and tourism economy.

Vice President for Atlantic & Pacific Sales at United Airlines James Mueller said recently that there are challenges ahead to  boost growth opportunities for airlines all across Asia. Newspapers and bloggers across the region are noting that airline growth is being stymied by increasing fuel prices, which in turn is having an impact on the choosing of new routes.

Director and General at Airport’s Counsel International (ACI) Angela Gittens said it best that governments in Asia Pacific by large understand the importance of aviation and the need to adopt to growing capacities.

Guam will see $100 million in upgrades at the Guam International Airport to respond to the new normal in the region.  The island is poised to become a bigger player and could soon attract new airlines which in turn brings more visitors. Such investment is going to see a trickle down effect to hotel properties and certainly other critical visitor industry infrastructure.

Paradise Guam is poised for further growth.  

Our community must come together to find new ways to grow our number one industry and protect the lifeblood of our island economy.

FF&E Services-Defining and Developing Solutions

GET, LLC continues our discussion on Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment or FF&E-this blog focusing on the abilities needed to define requirements and develop solutions for your end user or building owner. 

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Handbook of Professional Practice says that to determine the client’s furniture requirements, the architect or consultant must fully understand the client’s FF&E budget and then carefully evaluate their individual work space needs to include spatial constraints and overall equipment needs. The use of customized survey forms to gather, process, and document this information is helpful with this part of the process-in fact, many systems furniture companies have their own sample forms which can be used as a starting point.

Also, design teams and consultants should be able to evaluate alternative furniture products and make appropriate recommendations with respect to the client’s overall furniture needs. This comes with experience and requires knowledge of available resources for all types of furniture and furnishings. Research skills are needed to find alternative products in various price ranges.  There is no question that this task requires a clear understanding of the costs and benefits of various alternative products, as well as persistence and creativity.

Companies like ours work hard to understand what you need in your respective office or building and remain committed to offering the best solutions for your organization.

For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs- please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All the solutions are Made in America!

Independence LED Lighting Collaborates With Domino's Pizza to Set World Record for LED Lighting Efficiency

A great story out of New Jersey as Vanguard Energy Services NJ and our friends at Independence LED Lighting recently worked with Domino's Pizza to complete the most energy efficient restaurant lighting retrofit in the world.

"We have many 'firsts' across the public and private sectors, but Domino's hits a special chord," said Charlie Szoradi, CEO of Independence LED. "Back in the '80s, I delivered Domino's pizza to help pay for my University of Virginia undergraduate architecture degree. Decades later, the massive potential quarter billion dollars in cost savings across Domino's worldwide footprint is part of in a global energy tipping point."

The location in  Dover, New Jersey has secured a place in energy history.  Vanguard is one of the Authorized Resellers for the US made Independence LED tubes and fixtures, which previously set the restaurant record in 2010 for the Applebee's in Newtown, PA.

Typical 2' x 4' fluorescent troffer fixtures include four 32 watt tubes, but the 15 watt Independence LED tubes were able to go from 128 to 60 watts for the 2010 Applebee's record. For Domino's, Vanguard recommended using the updated, Independence LEDs at only 50 watts per fixture. For roll-out to Domino's and other accounts, Independence LED can now go down further to 44 watts per fixture.

Business owners can save over 65% with a Return on Investment (ROI) over 40%, and have reliable US made products with the strongest 10 year warranty in class.

What will Domino's Pizza save?

The numbers don't lie: Pilot Location: $2,400 per year and $25,000 over LED life. Plus 325,000 lbs of CO2 saved. (1.35 lbs per kWh or 13 lbs per dollar saved).

Good job, Charlie!!! GET, LLC is proud to be an authorized distributor for Independence LED Lighting and can bring a similar solution to your respective building.  To learn more about the American-made LED products that GET, LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs.

Local NAWIC and OSHA Alliance to Promote Health and safety Through Website

Great news out of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).  

Recently, NAWIC Region 10 Safety and Health Chairwoman Ann Marie Pelobello and NAWIC Guam President Bing Mejia announced a two year alliance contract between NAWIC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to consult, train and educate Guam's women in the construction trades. 

"Safety and health problems in construction create barriers to women entering and remaining in this field," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Through this alliance, we will work together to forge innovative solutions to improve the safety, health and working conditions for women in the construction trades and retain them during a critical time of job shortages in this industry."

The alliance will focus on musculoskeletal and sanitation hazards and issues related to poorly-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) and will utilize a new web page that will address these issues and highlight these matters with associated training programs.

Based on a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, OSHA also unveiled its new Women in Construction Web page, a site that outlines and addresses safety and health issues specific to female construction workers, including PPE, sanitary facilities and other resources.

Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. The purpose of each alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.

GET, LLC is proud to be a member of NAWIC and the Guam Chapter-one of 150 chapters with a network of 4,500 members nationwide.  We hold NAWIC's core values close to our business- Believe.  Persevere.  Dare. Check out our website at www.get-guam.com or drop us a line to help us do our part to grow this important industry.

FF&E Services-Knowledge of Furniture Products

We continue our discussion on this blog about Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment or FF&E-this time on the specific skill sets associated with providing FF& E Services.  It is critical that those offering FF&E services must be knowledgeable about systems furniture, case goods, seating, "loose" furniture, and other specialty furniture.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Handbook of Professional Practice says that one of the keys to this is knowledge of ergonomics, furniture construction, and fabric characteristics such as durability, flammability, and applied coatings is essential to providing appropriate recommendations to the respective client. The AIA says that most product information is readily available through manufacturers’ representatives, like GET, LLC,  or through online resources like www.get-guam.com.

When evaluating furniture, architects and designers should also pay close attention to product warranties and the manufacturer’s financial viability-emerging as key in the buying process.

Local sales representatives, like us, are the best resource for pricing and follow-up information. Most vendors encourage their sales staff to call on design firms to inform them about the costs and benefits of their particular lines. These companies also will provide samples and mock-ups of their products for evaluation, often at no charge.

Many sales representatives provide “lunch-and-learn” presentations for design firms and regularly host designers on factory trips to highlight lines appropriate for a specific project. 

Providing furniture procurement services also requires good knowledge of local furniture dealers, including the services they offer and the lines they carry. For example, for workstation systems projects, dealers often provide final detailed layouts and specifications to the architect’s design requirements. They also may inventory existing furniture for evaluation by the architect or coordinate installation.

The AIA says that designers and architects can sometimes find it helpful to create a partnering arrangement with local dealers and to work with different companies to fill the needs of different projects.

For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All the solutions are Made in America!

Be on the Look Out for Counterfeit UL Marked Cable and Wire

There is an alarming trend being seen across the cabling industry. There are suppliers in the marketplace selling cable -- particularly network cable -- that is mislabeled and fails to meet basic safety requirements. 

Case in point-network cable rated for a certain level of fire resistance that does not actually meet that rating, causing serious safety issues when installed.

Also, network and/or power cable being sold that is made with copper-clad aluminum wires (CCA), as opposed to pure copper wires. The most concerning issue here is the possibility of fire, in the case of power and POE (Power over Ethernet), due to aluminum's higher resistance and lower melting point. While less important, there is a  degraded network performance that comes from using the wrong metal and the possibility of paying full price for a product that fails to meet  specifications.

A network cable (Cat5e/6/6a) is defined by specific physical and electrical characteristics, the most important being resistance across distances. CCA-based network cables do not meet UL testing or meet approved standards. This should be a concern for both the contractor and the business/home owner who pays for specific category graded network cable. Quite simply, a CCA cable is not an approved technology for Category cable, and suppliers who try to pass them off as such are "ripping off" their customers and opening them up to potential lawsuits.

GET, LLC advises that you know your supplier. Don't be fooled by the cheapest cabling product on the market you can find. Make sure that what you're buying is actually what it claims to be.

If you need network cabling, contact us at 671-797-0789 or check out our website at www.get-guam.com for more information on the related products and services we provide-though our friends at Panduit or Fiber Optic Marketplace LLC, if you don't see what you need just give us a call.

Structured Stainless Steel Guide Released

An interesting development out of the steel industry as American design professionals now have access to a new resource related to carbon steel structural components  for steel buildings.  

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Steel Design Guide No. 27, Structural Stainless Steel, authored by Associate Director at the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) Nancy Baddoo, provides guidance for the design of structural hot-rolled or welded open sections such as I-shaped members, channels, and equal-leg angles, as well as rectangular and round hollow structural sections (HSS).

The publication is intended for engineers experienced in the design of carbon steel structural components, but not necessarily in the design of stainless steel structures, and is aligned with the design provisions in the 2010 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. The AISC Guide applies to austenitic, duplex and precipitation hardening stainless steel structural sections with thickness 8 in. (3 mm) and greater.  Some of the topics covered in this guide include material behavior and selection, cross-section design, member design, connections and fabrication.

"Up until now, there have been no specifications or guidelines for the design of structures fabricated from hot-rolled stainless steel plates or shapes," said Ted Galambos, Ph.D., P.E., emeritus professor of structural engineering at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a reviewer of Design Guide No. 27. "This document, for the first time in the U.S., will show designers how to proportion stainless steel beams, columns, frames and connections that are fabricated from hot-rolled components. With this new design guide, it will be an easy task to expand the arsenal of engineers."

It was a collaborative effort to put this guide together, bring the collective talents of the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA), International Molybdenum Association (IMOA), International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF), Nickel Institute, Outokumpu, Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), Stainless Structurals LLC, Stalatube, and the Steel Institute of New York (SINY).

To find out more about how GET, LLC through, our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc., can help your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information. 

Aerial Work Platform Tip Sheets Rolled Out

A great set of products have been rolled out by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in cooperation with the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA).  The two organizations collaborated on five new tip sheets focused on safety at work using aerial work platform (AWP) equipment.

“The AWP industry needs documents like this available for use," said SAIA President Marty Coughlin.  “The more tip sheets we get out the safer the industry is.”

The five tip sheets are a AWP Jobsite Checklist and AWP Prestart Safety Checklist, Preparing AWP for Transport, Rescue Plans for AWPs and Selecting and Implementing a Fall Protection System for an AWAP.

The tip sheets are designed to help the industry understand their responsibilities when operating, transporting and using AWP equipment.

I went through each of them and I was very impressed with what the documents laid out and how they can help aerial lift owners, like GET,LLC, and frequent users of these important job site tools of the trade. 

They were all easy to read.  The sheets can be added easily to project binders and can be easily stored with the equipment user manuals. Also, it allows end users to work with equipment owners to ensure among other things that the aerial lifts are in safe working condition, shows a record of repair, guides users through the development of safety plans and offers great guidance on choosing fall protection.

The key here-these tip sheets are for informational purposes only.  They do not replace formal aerial lift training and certification.  The sheets do not decrease the liability when operating a lift on a job site.  The tip sheets are great when used with common sense. 

I encourage you to take a look at these tip sheets at the SAIA website at www.saiaonline.org.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789. 

Guam-A Different Perspective

The political drama continues in Hagatna.  From Adelup to Hessler, the opening salvos of what will almost certainly be THE issue of the 2014 Election Cycle has since been launched and the electorate can expect plenty of spin and rhetoric in the coming days and months.  

Yesterday,  the Governor of Guam signed the sixth bill substituted for his Organic Act mandated submission of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget for the Government of Guam.  The Governor chided the Guam Legislature in his veto message stating that,"...The passage of the bill is the worst exercise of political gamesmanship over the past two years."

So the question is-what next?

With a little over 20 days remaining until the end of the fiscal year, the reviews of the final Budget Act are happening pretty fast across the Executive Branch and in the local media.  A focus on the Guam Memorial Hospital was magnified over the past two weeks and final two revisions.  There is no question that what is left in this new law are simply very few options and limited money to operate Gov Guam this year.  We all can expect varying levels of impact in our community starting October 1st.

The scuttle around town is that there was so much infighting and bickering among Republicans and Democrats continue to craft talking points to pick at the Calvo Administration's description of the entire process.  With a 15-0 vote, the Senators of the Guam Legislature met their Organic Act mandate-but not without much criticism of the process.  Blowups in closed door meetings and absolutely disrespectful encounters between Administration officials and Senators were played out in recent days that not only changes the fiscal landscape of Gov Guam for another year, but will have an adverse effect on who exactly will possess the majority come election day.

Yes-there will be another Fiscal Year Budget to debate at the height of Decision 2014.  There will be more of the political theater that we all witnessed recently.  Each side will press the other on what exactly is the best direction for the island.

$804.7 million.  Policy makers are banking on $140 million to assist local coffers.  Plenty of tax refunds.  Education will get money.  Pay raises and COLA payments are promised. But what will be the collective legacy of this current Guam Legislature and Governor of Guam?

I would surmise that each will look to take credit for the good things and slam the other for the bad.  When the Budget for 2014 falls short or gains even the slightest of a surplus, each side will spin harsh criticism or outright victory.  Pocket book issues now rule the day. How does the Gov Guam Budget keep the lights on at your house?  Have the policies outlined keep food on our collective tables?  Does this particular law attract business to Guam and grow or contract our economy?

There are a lot of questions posed on this particular post.  A short answer to many of these is, "...it depends.".  I think that this process showed the dark side to Guam politics.  It revealed a lack of what many I spoke with on this issue-a true sense of helping our people achieve their own destiny in life.  Also missing was a lack of fiscal discipline and acknowledgement of the reality of the times we are facing.  Dependence continues to rule the day.  Independence is pushed away.  

I cannot figure out why public policy today has yet to progress beyond what was the norm 43 years ago.  We need to push for substantive change and not settle for the status quo.

FF&E Services-Agreements for Services

Continuing our discussion on this blog about Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment or FF&E-this time on agreements for FF& E Services.

The American Institute of Architects Handbook of Professional Practice points out that clients with considerable FF&E selection and procurement experience and facility management resources often have their own agreements for FF&E services. When clients require the use of such agreements, architects are strongly advised to review them carefully, including review by the firm’s attorney.

When the client does not require use of its own agreement for FF&E services, architects may use one of two AIA standard forms of agreement for this purpose. When FF&E acquisition services are part of interior design services, B171 ID-2003, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect for Furniture, Furnishings, and Equipment Design Services, can be used.

The FF&E increments of work in this agreement are closely aligned with those for building design and construction. If FF&E services are provided as a stand-alone service, architects can use B175 ID-2003, Standard Form of Agreement Between the Owner and the Architect for Furniture, Furnishings, and Equipment Design Services.

Does that make the architect a reseller?

The AIA proffers that some clients desire a single point of project control or turnkey service for FF&E selection and acquisition. In such cases, a design firm can act as a reseller of furniture by entering into purchasing agreements directly with manufacturers.  In this role, the design firm takes on responsibilities and tasks generally provided by furniture dealers.

We would argue that this brokered arrangement requires additional skills and knowledge and proper disclosure of the firm’s responsibilities to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. 

A pitfall for sure.

It is also important for architects to consult with their insurance brokers to ensure they are adequately insured for providing these services and to evaluate any risk or liability associated with them.

Companies like ours take out all the guesswork here, and provide a valuable source for such services and a rates that won't compromise your respective project.  Pick wisely I say.

For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with all your FF&E needs-including lighting-please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All of our solutions are Made in America!

Solid State Lighting Market to Eclipse $56 Billion Over The Next Five Years

The On-Line industry news leader Edison Report rolls out word this week from a new market research report that the total Solid State Lighting (SSL) market is expected to reach $56.79 billion by 2018.

Edison Report cites the U.S.-based global market research and consulting company Markets and Markets recently published, “Solid State Lighting Market by Types (LED, OLED, and PLED), Application (General Lighting, Backlighting, Automotive, Medical), Verticals (Industrial, Residential, Consumer Electronics), Materials & Geography – Analysis & Forecast (2013-2018)“ that from 2013 to 2018, backlighting and general lighting application will contribute to the global Solid State Lighting applications market with a share of 87% in 2012 and is expected to record high growth in coming years.

According to Markets and Markets, the global Solid State Lighting Market has been segmented by types of SSL, applications and verticals. The Solid State Lighting Market by types includes Light emitting diodes (LED), Organic light emitting diodes (OLED) and Polymer based light emitting diodes (PLED). The SSL based LED’s are further segmented by materials used at different stages of manufacturing process in the report. LED based SSL are primarily utilized in general lighting and backlighting based applications. Energy efficient characteristics of the SSL lighting technologies will be integrated with light based medical applications.

The Markets and Markets report notes that OLED’s has high market share in backlighting applications adding that demand for OLED display has been accelerating as it has diverse applications and better display features. They say that going forward, with decreasing production costs, prices of OLED panels will decline and OLED will further penetrate the display market displacing LCD and LED display technologies. Many Asian companies have geared up to emerge as dominant players in the OLED equipment and materials market.

APAC is the leading region in the overall Solid State Lighting Market with 50% of market share in 2012; followed by North America and Europe with 23.9% and 19.9% each in 2012. In ROW, Russia, Brazil and the Middle East are the largest contributors with total share of 6.3% occupied in global Solid State Lighting Market.

To learn more about the LED products that GET, LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs.

USB-It is Everything!

And just think-it was just like yesterday.  

In the mid 1990's the Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol was developed to become the industry standard for connecting computers with electronic devices, transferring data and supplying power to keyboards, printers, digital cameras, disk drives, network adapters and smart phones. Nearly Two billion industry standard USB compatible devices are sold each year, as USB makes its way in to everything from the dashboard of the newer model cars to modern television and cable top boxes.

It was January 1996.  The USB 1.0 was released with data rates of 1.5Mb/s (Low-Bandwidth) and 12Mb/s (Full-Bandwidth). Did you know that the earliest versions of USB did not allow for the use of extension cables and other pass-through devices?  USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) would be released in April 2001 and was capable of a much higher bandwidth (480Mb/s) at the time. Six months later the Mini-B connector was introduced, which greatly increased the ability to make smaller USB compatible devices that can connect to your PC. 

In late 2004 USB On-The-Go was added to the Hi-Speed spec. USB On-The-Go (often abbreviated USB OTG or just OTG) is a specification that allows USB devices such as digital audio players or mobile phones to act as a host, allowing other USB devices like a USB flash drive, mouse, or keyboard to be attached to them. 

Later, USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed) was introduced to the electronics market in November 2008. SuperSpeed USB cables are able to transfer a signal at 5Gb/s, greatly reducing data transfer time and reducing power consumption. While backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports, USB 3.0 devices use new revised connectors. 

In January 2013 the USB group revealed in a press release plans to update USB 3.0 to 10Gb/s in order to equal Thunderbolt cable speeds. Soon most mobile devices will allow for USB 3.0 compatibility making the wait to transfer music, videos and photos to and from your computer a thing of the past.

If you need USB devices, contact GET, LLC at 671-797-0789 or check out our website at www.get-guam.com for more information on the related products and services we provide-though our friends at Panduit or Fiber Optic Marketplace LLC, if you don't see what you need just give us a call, and we can help get you connected at the highest speed possible for your devices.

GUASA-The Guam Roundtable Day Two

Day Two.  An effort that surely won't be forgotten for a long time.  

The Guam Roundtable certainly delivered early One-Two punches to start the discussions.  An informative presentation by Brian Wood and Craig Whelden of the U.S. Marine Corps.  Of the dozens of briefings I had sat in and dozens of public meetings in which I observed in a policy capacity, the presentation by these two professionals clearly mapped out the way forward for the U.S. Marines-not just for Guam but the other parts of the region who are part of this "Rebalancing" of forces in this part of the world.  The two provided such great insight in a way not seen before.  Though these gentleman were not "Marines", the Senior Executive Service duo more than shared their professional opinions and expertise on ensuring the Guam portion of this Rebalancing happens and does so as outlined in the agreements between the United States and Japan which began back in 1996.  Their presentation showcased a new normal in the posturing of forces in the Western Pacific and was very "real" in the security approach west of the International Date Line.

Basing Options were also discussed by the Rand Duo of Doctors Alan Vick and Stacie Pettyjohn.  What was interesting to note was their candor on the strategy for the U.S. in Asia-the revelation that there wasn't one.  As a listener, it was such a far cry from the specific history and developmental lead up into the final discussions from Day One of this GUASA conference.  It had reinforced what Guam Delegate Madeline Bordallo told Roundtable-goers of the lack of a strategy and the hesitance of the U.S. Congress to get the Guam Program moving forward  

Yes-an Environmental Impact Statement was completed.  

Yes-it was done twice.  

Yes-there is a Record of Decision.  

Yes-we will have an answer in 2015.

Following a stirring keynote from Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Admiral Tilghman Payne, the talk quickly went to what is in this effort for Guam?  A number of Roundtable-goers went to local issues and left the panelists to answer the best they could on issues that clearly were outside of their expertise.  The comments were straight forward.  GUASA members took the opportunity to share their input on the information provided them and the two day conference attendees-much centric to strategy related to China.

What did this blogger walk away with?  

Try these bullets points from the panel members:

• What is possible versus what is coming.
• We need deep cooperation with our Allies.
• What is the message to move forward?
• What will Guam articulate out of this process.
• Treating people as equal Americans.
• Guam is the "springboard to the region".
• National Security and Economy are key to protecting U.S. security policy in Asia
• There is confidence in the Rebalance.
• Pivoting to Asia.
• Imagine a world without Guam.

It is clear from these bullet points that the GUASA group and The Guam Roundtable panel that there is more that needs to be done.  A white paper will be developed from this two day event.  

A follow on meeting to this event will be held in Washington DC.  Clear public policy direction must be given from the current White House.  The Senate needs to own this issue and not punt while the Government of Japan is doing everything it can to execute the change across their country-for the best of the region.

GET, LLC says "good job" to the GUASA organization for their effort in the this conference.  Let's see where this takes us next.

GUASA-The Guam Roundtable Day One

Today The Guam Roundtable, hosted by the Guam U.S. Asia Security Alliance (GUASA), kicked off in Tumon, Guam.  The first of two days was spent discussing the National Defense policies of the United States and the greater importance of the impacts of such mandates on security across the Pacific Rim-with a focus on Guam and Micronesia. 

The room was filled with Guam's business elite, lawmakers and influential opinion makers of our island community.  GET, LLC was privileged to be counted among such an esteemed group.  Each of us listened intently to the panel who is using this opportunity to share their respective views on this important issue, but to also listen to our community and gain perspective of what security means to the greater Micronesian populous.

Center for a New American Security Senior Director Patrick Cronin kicked off the event asking a key question-why is the United States re-balancing Asia?  His group has spent the better part of the past couple of years analyzing the Guam Buildup Program and is tasked with advising Congress on what will be the way forward for the re-distribution of forces across the Pacific.  Cronin chronicled three major events in Guam's history that has set the stage for today's current state of the island as a center of the theatre of operations in the Western Pacific-the island being discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, Guam becoming part of the U.S. following the conclusion of the Spanish American War in 1898 and the invasion and eventual liberation of Guam during World War II.  Cronin remarked that the actions were the part of America's power shift to the West.  Today, Cronin said, the power shift is not seen through conflict but via the expansion of commerce and trade between the U.S. Mainland and Asia.  His description of Guam being in the "Cockpit of the 21st Century" was profound and resonated with the conference-goers.  The term linking the new system being developed in Asia via the expansion of China and the emerging of our neighbors in the Philippines and Vietnam are just the examples Cronin said that Guam will be leading centric to American foreign policy in the years to come.

Global Strategies and Transformation thought leader and Office of the Secretary of Defense US-Japan Alliance veteran Paul Giarra presented  a primer on how past Pacific campaigns were waged.  His presentation was filled with historic photos and thoughtful analysis into the role of the region during World War II.   His description of the U.S. Navy's constantly changing "education crucible" during the years of the conflict from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima highlighted the staggering figure of 6768 US Navy Sea Vessels that were used into 1945 and the conclusion of the fight with Imperial Japan. 

These two sessions were only the tip of the "Pacific Security Iceberg".  The panelists were very engaging and even spurred thoughtful questions from the audience who were glued to their seats.  People this blogger  spoke with during the breaks were impressed by the level of the discussions and the excitement of taking the results of The Guam Roundtable and turning it into a White Paper to be distributed all across Washington DC and the Nation as a whole.

Day two will bring the discussion on security closer to home and will feature an update on the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific, the basing options for the US in Asia and the role for Guam in the larger geopolitical context of security across the vast Pacific Ocean.

GUASA-A Preview of the Security Roundtable In Guam

Last month, I spent a bit of time writing on the importance of a security conference on Guam.  

Later today, this event hosted by the Guam U.S. Asia Security Alliance (GUASA) expects to challenge us to think about the role of America in this part of the world and how our Nation's intelligence community has viewed the geo-political activities of an area that is growing with each setting sun and rising tide.  With Japan, the Koreas, China and Southeast Asia at the doorsteps of the Western Pacific it is clear that much interest is being paid to what is happening here and the respective growth plans in the near future-economically and militarily.

This two-day event is featuring America's premier experts on U.S.-Asia relations and foreign policy.   I am anxious to hear from career intelligence expert Carl Ford Jr. , Rand Corporation experts Stacie Pettyjohn and Alan Vick, Global Strategies and Transformation thought leader and Office of the Secretary of Defense US-Japan Alliance veteran Paul Giarra, former 7th Fleet Commander VADM Tim Wright, former State Department Senior Policy Adviser and Asia Expert Robin Sakoda, China Defense Expert and Consultant Timothy Walton, Center for a New American Security Senior Director Patrick Cronin, East West Center Director Satu Limaye, former-U.S. Senate Staffer and intelligence analyst training professional Robert Mihalik, former-Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randy Schriver and Retired U.S. Marine Lt. General Wallace "Chip" Gregson.

The last two names are familiar to many in this part of the world for many reasons.

 I had the privilege of working closely with Randy while working for the Office of the Governor of Guam.  His role as advocate for the Islands in the State Department was key to advancing America's message across the Pacific during his tenure at State.  His team was diligent in their work to understand their role to support the ever growing needs of the U.S. Territories  and the U.S. Affiliated Islands of the Pacific-the U.S. Department of the Interior and the White House is primarily was tasked with this important oversight.  Randy's input at the GUASA event will come with much experience on the impacts of US-Asia foreign policy on the current and future development of the communities from just West of Hawaii to the Indian Ocean. 

One thing is for certain, I can call "Chip" a friend.  For just over 15 years the Colorado-native has had his finger on the pulse of the expansion of America's role in this area.  He began his advocacy for the Pacific as Defense Department Director of Asia-Pacific Policy in 1998.  Chip's leadership led him to the region where he excelled as Commanding General of Marine Corps Forces Pacific and his storied efforts led him back to the Pentagon as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs where he was DOD point-man on the region for the Obama Administration until April 2011.  When Marines talk about security in this region, everyone listens.  His humor and expertise will certainly contribute much to this important round table discussion.

We can expect two days of straight talk from these experts on US-Asia affairs. Throw in some anecdotes from local leaders and thoughtful analysis of the issues facing every member of the Pacific community and you will have a recipe for what will could be an annual must attend event. 

GET, LLC will follow the event over the course of the next couple of days and offer our perspective of these important talks in Guam.

FF&E Services-Client Needs

I knew that it would have a positive impact on my business and my professional development.  This past summer, the annual American Institute of Architects Expo exposed me to many new products, services and importantly best practices in the delivery of the services GET, LLC provides to our customers.  

Pulling a page from my new friends at the American Institute of Architects, I will begin a series of blog posts that will focus on an area of service we have been working diligently to break into and have patiently worked to be a market leader in through our friends in the regional architecture business-Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment or FF&E. 

The AIA, through their Handbook of Professional Practice, notes that this particular service plays an essential role in the use and operations of buildings.  End users need to be able to have a clear view or perception and feel about a building and how to achieve the functional requirements of their respective interior spaces.

FF&E represents a range of products that include among other things systems furniture, loose furniture, artwork, planters and window coverings. Custom furniture and custom lighting are also considered FF&E.  Existing furniture in an interior space that is being considered for refinishing or reupholstering also can be part of an FF&E package.

So why seek these services?  There are a host of reasons.  

Architects and companies like GET, LLC can offer a set of basic services to include, but not limited to, managing the acquisition of these products and being that single point of contact for all of their procurement needs.

Primarily, clients seek out FF&E services to furnish new spaces, to replace or upgrade existing furnishings, to refurbish existing furniture, to expedite and simplify procurement. 

Clients be rest assured that this furniture acquisition management service is a need that can be filled with professionals like architects or consultants including GET, LLC. Such relationship is of great value and creates the lasting business partnership that services both the consultant and the client.

For more on how GET, LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs-don't forget our lighting sources are excellent, too-please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All the solutions are Made in America!

By 2020, Sale of Lighting Controls will Eclipse $5 Billion!!!

Photo sensors, occupancy sensors and networks controls. These are products that will certainly keep the lighting industry busy well into the next decade.  

The Wall Street Journal, citing a Navigant Research report, says that worldwide revenue from networked lighting controls will top out at more than $5.3 Billion by 2020.  This figure is up substantially from $1.7 Billion in 2013.

The Navigant report, analyzed the global market for lighting controls for commercial buildings to include new construction and retrofits.  Technologies ranging from Sensors, ballasts, drivers, switches, relays and controllers were all looked at. 

Throughout the U.S., municipalities and businesses are striving to replace their inefficient lighting to save energy, reduce their utility costs, and go green with more environmentally friendly, sustainable lighting solutions. New solid state lighting (SSL) technologies offer numerous benefits, including immediate energy savings of 50% or more, 50,000 hour lifespan for long term maintenance savings, and greater controllability. The use of controls, sensors, day lighting, and intelligent network systems offer an additional 25% or more in energy savings by adjusting light levels when and where the illumination is needed.

Navigant Research Analyst Jesse Foote told the Journal that,  "Building owners and managers, who are accustomed to the idea of centrally monitoring and managing their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, are beginning to expect the same level of control from lighting systems." Foote added that, "To meet this growing demand, a number of different types of vendors -- including pure-play startup companies and traditional lighting vendors -- are moving aggressively into the lighting controls market."

The report, entitled "Intelligent Lighting Controls for Commercial Buildings", noted that as falling prices for Light-Emitting Diode lighting (LEDs) drive up adoption rates of LED lamps, the adoption of lighting controls will also accelerate. Navigant Research opined that the semiconductor nature of LEDs makes them inherently controllable, with a high degree of dimmability, easy integration of controls with drivers, and instantaneous startup. Many LED lamps, according to Navigant, are being sold with built-in controllability, whether or not there are plans to make use of those features.

Want to get a jump on lighting controls for your building?   For more information on bringing controls and an LED lighting solution to your facility, please contact us at GET, LLC at 671-483-0789 or see our website at www.get-guam.com for details of the technologies that can be of significant value to all building owners-All Made in America!!!