Chat with Mark Walters, President and Chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance, International Technology, Standards and Policy Authority
Currently Mark serves as the President and Chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance, a consortium of over 200 leading manufacturers and service providers worldwide that are dedicated to interoperable wireless home control products based on the Z-Wave open standard. The Alliance serves as the standards body for Z-Wave and provides its members both technical and marketing support.
Mark has over 20 years experience in all aspects of electronic product solutions. He has held senior management roles in Engineering and Product Development for companies with products as diverse as high-end sound reinforcement, vehicular sensing and controls, premise wiring solutions and automated building controls. His specialties are RF Mesh Networks and Home Automation and Security. His passion is using technology to improve the lives of those that need assistance to make it through the day with comfort, safety and dignity.
When not making the world safe for automation and assisted living he enjoys the outdoors, sailing, automotive restoration and auto racing.
Mark holds bachelor's degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a MBA from City University, Seattle.
To listen to the interview, click on this MP3 file link
DISCUSSION:
Interview Time Index (MM:SS) and Topic
:00:23:
Can you talk about some of your top career successes and lessons learned that you feel will be useful to the audience?
:01:27:
Can you describe your journey leading to your current role?
:03:38:
Many people in the audience may not be familiar with the Z-Wave Alliance and the challenges that led up to the formation and you being the Chairman and President. Can you comment? Also what is the value of the work from the Z-Wave Alliance?
:07:12:
How many members do you have now?
:09:00:
Mark comments further about the Z-Wave Alliance; building brand awareness so consumers will ask for it when shopping for products and services.
:11:40:
Mark comments on why others should get involved in this work.
:14:09:
What do you hope to accomplish this year?
:16:19:
What do you wish to accomplish in the next three years?
:19:16:
What are the gaps of where you are today and where you want to be and how will you close these gaps?
:22:14:
What surprises you as President?
:25:16:
You personally, what do you plan to do next?
:26:31:
What do you see as the top upcoming disruptive innovations?
:29:22:
I was just thinking about what you are trying to do with Z-Wave Alliance. I'm thinking as a consumer I see kind of a spectrum confusion – there's my bluetooth device, cellular phone, wireless mouse, cordless phone, router with its own WiFi, etc. — how do you address all of that where maybe there's interference?
:32:26:
In my interviews with many senior executives of very large companies I ask the question where they see as growth areas (in technical areas) internationally. They talk about Africa, India, China, perhaps South America and even now greater growth in the United States. Do you define these as the same top ICT growth regions internationally?
:35:31:
What are the top areas of controversy in the areas that you work and your proposed solutions?
:40:26:
What are your views on this rapid growth in free content?
:43:15:
What are your views on the rapid growth in crowd funding?
:46:16:
What are your views on digital currencies?
:48:37:
What kinds of improvements in policy (in the areas that you work) should happen in the next two years and what would you like to see internationally?
:51:21:
From your extensive speaking, travels and work, please share some stories (amusing, surprising, unexpected, amazing).
:55:10:
If you were conducting this interview, what questions would you ask, and then what would be your answers?
:57:09:
Mark, with your demanding schedule, we are indeed fortunate to have you come in to do this interview. Thank you for sharing your deep experiences with our audience.