Automation career day speaker!

Calum Pearson served as Company Manager for KÀ (one of Cirque du Soleil’s events), and was responsible for managing operations of Cirque du Soleil’s fourth permanent show in Las Vegas. He brings over 17 years of operations and management experience in the entertainment industry to Cirque du Soleil. Prior to joining Cirque du Soleil, Pearson spent 16 years touring with music productions, including Bon Jovi and Van Halen, and family acts such as Disney on Ice. His responsibilities progressed over the years from lead rigger to technical director and company manager.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) and the Automation Federation (AF) announce that the Vice President of Technical and Show Support for the Resident Show Division of Cirque du Soleil, Calum Pearson, will deliver the keynote address at Automation Career Day on Wednesday, 19 October 2011. This is one of the Automation Career Connections events held in conjunction with ISA Automation Week 2011: Technology and Solutions Event (17-20 October 2011 Mobile AL USA).

Automation Career Day will provide high school students the opportunity to learn more about careers in automation through a mini career fair. Students will be able to participate in a variety of informational and interactive displays and connect with industry representatives to learn more about automation and related careers. The goal of this event is to teach students about the many career paths available to them in automation and about the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to their future endeavors.

During this year’s Automation Career Day event, Pearson will speak with students from the Mobile, Alabama, area about the science and technology behind the interworking of Cirque du Soleil’s shows and about the individuals who work with this technology to produce these entertainment events.

“As Cirque, or any industry looks to the future, it is impossible to do so without getting excited about the next generation of innovators. Automation Career Day is an amazing opportunity to meet with the kids who will shape tomorrow and see how we embark on that journey together,” said Pearson.

“We are very excited to have Calum Pearson from Cirque du Soleil as our keynote speaker for Automation Career Day. We are confident he will open the eyes of the students in attendance to the many possibilities that await them in the world of automation,” said Mike Marlowe, MD at the Automation Federation.