The Network Professional Association in cooperation with NetWorld+Interop 2002, Network World Magazine and Network Computing magazine presents the inaugural award for Career Achievement to Stephen Ibaraki, ISP, of iGEN Knowledge Solutions Inc. Stephen Ibaraki, took home the highest honor as recipient of the Best Networking Professional - Career Achievement Award as the Network Professional Association hosted its first Awards for Professionalism ceremony at Networld + Interop 2002, which took place at noon, May 8, 2002 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
 

"This award honors a networking professional who has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and work ethics within the industry. This individual should serve as a role model in the network computing community and may be considered by peers as an industry luminary...judged based on the individual’s ethical standards and years of experience." 
 

The NPA is the voice of the global networking industry with ties to industry publications such as Network Computing magazine and Network World magazine and major vendors including Pearson Technology Group, Network World, IBM, Sun, Novell, Microsoft and others. They also work with the largest trade show in the sector, NetWorld+Interop Las Vegas; sponsor the Mobile & Wireless World conference; and sponsor the yearly NPA awards for professionalism in cooperation with NetWorld+Interop.

New Director: Through a nomination put forward by the executive director and by a vote of the board on December 15, 2003, Stephen was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Network Professional Association.