Associations Focus: In the Pursuit of Knowledge
Jul 1, 2007 12:00 PM
InfoComm 07 attracts record numbers, CEDIA previews easy-to-use skill-building at Expo 2007, and NSCA offers high-level business knowledge.
INFOCOMM INTERNATIONAL
Photo Courtesy Bennett Liles
INDUSTRY GROWTH LEADS TO RECORD ATTENDANCE AT INFOCOMM 07
InfoComm International released pre-liminary figures showing record participation at InfoComm 07, its annual conference and exhibition for audiovisual buyers and sellers worldwide, held in Anaheim, Calif., June 19-21.
Reflecting strong demand for AV communications technologies in business, education, and government, as well as the retail, healthcare, entertainment, worship, and residential markets, attendance at the exhibition so far has topped 31,600. AV professionals from more than 80 countries attended to see the latest technologies in display, projection, audio, collaborative conferencing, control, and networking applications. This reflects an 18.4-percent increase over last year’s record attendance.
A record 855 exhibitors participated at InfoComm this year, representing an 11-percent increase over the previous record of 770 in 2006. Exhibitors occupied 465,000 net square feet of exhibit and special events space, compared to 432,602 net square feet in 2006. There were 180 new exhibitors at this year’s show.
“InfoComm 07 reflects the fast pace of innovations and growth in the AV communications industry,” says Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., InfoComm International executive director. “We introduced new courses and exhibitors this year to address the demand for digital signage, audio, and collaborative conferencing technology, as well as high-definition products, digital content creation, and lighting and staging.”
InfoComm is attended by AV dealers, independent reps, design consultants, systems integrators, rental and staging companies, and AV buyers from business, government, education, healthcare, retail, entertainment, and the worship market. Approximately 70 percent of the attendees are commercially involved in the industry, with the remaining 30 percent comprising specifiers, buyers, and users.
CONFERENCE, CLASSES, AND MORE
Attendees also value InfoComm for its educational sessions. Registrations for InfoComm Academy educational courses totaled 8,601 for 2007, up more than 9 percent from 7,861 in 2006. The Institute of Professional Development (IPD) attracted 531 registrants, up from 404 in 2006 — a more than 31-percent increase. Super Monday, a full day of advanced instruction for AV pros, attracted 731 registrants in 2007. Attendees come to InfoComm for the diversity of courses on topics ranging from acoustics to videoconferencing. Among the most-attended courses were the classes focusing on AV best practices, AV/IT integration, technology trends, and project management. Other popular classes include Syn-Aud-Con’s Sound Reinforcement for Designers and the new Imaging Science Foundation certification class.
InfoComm also offered its three-day Certification Prep course prior to the exhibition opening. This year, 65 individuals have earned their Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credentials onsite so far. Nearly 7,000 AV professionals have earned the CTS designation.
Other highlights of InfoComm 07 include the release of the 2007 Market Definition and Strategy Study, which found that the audiovisual industry in North America has grown into a $25 billion industry, as well as the introduction of Extron Electronics’ new HD InfoComm Projection Shoot-Out software.
Associations Focus: In the Pursuit of Knowledge
Jul 1, 2007 12:00 PM
InfoComm 07 attracts record numbers, CEDIA previews easy-to-use skill-building at Expo 2007, and NSCA offers high-level business knowledge.
CEDIA
WHAT’S NEW AT EXPO FOR 2007
Wondering what CEDIA University has new for you? Use the 2007 registration brochure, available at www.cedia.org/expo, and the tools within it to determine what courses will best benefit you and your team.
- Review the recommended curriculum pathway at the beginning of each college listing
- Decide the best level (100 through 400) to select the appropriate courseware for your employees’ skill and knowledge level
- Read the course descriptions and objectives to target the right content
129 Core Curriculum Courses
CEDIA has built core curriculum in all five colleges encompassing industry best practices. Professional instructional designers, along with CEDIA subject matter experts, have authored these courses for technicians, designers, project managers, sales teams, and business owners and leaders.
Core Courses Offered in Spanish
With the show attracting an increasing number of international visitors, we have expanded some of the university offerings to include courses translated and delivered in Spanish. Printed materials will be available in both Spanish and English versions for those attendees. For more information, refer to p. 43 in the registration brochure.
Advanced Electronic Systems Technician Exam
CEDIA’s certification subject matter team has repurposed the Installer Level II Exam into a more robust tool encompassing and gauging stronger skills and tasks for an advanced technician. The updated exam is geared toward those professionals who assist in the training and mentoring of new technicians; interact with others; install, troubleshoot, calibrate, and program remotes; work with subsystem integration and control; and ensure that installations meet design specifications. The Advanced EST Certification will affirm the position of professionals who have worked in the field for three to five years, have an Installer Level I Certification, and have mastered the skills listed above.
Updated Designer Exam
This exam has undergone a year-long, thorough analysis assessing new technologies and approaches, and has been refined to fit CEDIA’s best practices. CEDIA’s newly unveiled pre-test assessments, core courses, and related designer products will assist you in determining your level of preparedness prior to the exam.
These exams will be available Wednesday through Saturday in the online testing center at CEDIA Expo. There is no pre-registration required. However, pre-registration is required for the written exams that are scheduled on Sept. 6, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (p. 42 in your registration brochure) for the Advanced EST Certification, and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the Designer Exam (p. 32 in the registration brochure).
CERTIFICATION COMPUTER-BASED TESTING — ONSITE AT DENVER
It’s not entirely new, but it is new to some: By showing up at the Colorado Convention Center during set hours, an attendee can register, pay with credit card, take the exam, and receive results on the spot.
Certification exams available online:
- Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Installer Level I – U.S. and Canada
- Sept. 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advanced EST – U.S.
- Sept. 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Installer Level II – U.S. and Canada
- Sept. 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Designer – U.S. and Canada
For more information or to download the 2007 registration brochure, visit www.cedia.org/expo or call (800) 669-5329.
CEDIA SKILLS ON DISPLAY
The May 25 episode of Designing Spaces, a popular television series that inspires viewers to explore new home-renovation ideas, featured a 30-minute segment that highlighted the expertise of CEDIA Certified electronic systems contractors and the value of working with a CEDIA member. The installation featured on the show was a system designed and installed by CEDIA member Jeff Hoover, owner of Audio Advisors in West Palm Beach, Fla. The center includes whole-house integration with everything from a home theater to outdoor lighting.
Did you miss it? Not to worry, the episode will continue to be broadcasted nationally on TLC and WE, with additional coverage on cable affiliates for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PAX, and UPN. This episode has the potential to reach more than 80 million households.
For more information on CEDIA, visitwww.cedia.orgor call (800) 669-5329.
Associations Focus: In the Pursuit of Knowledge
Jul 1, 2007 12:00 PM
InfoComm 07 attracts record numbers, CEDIA previews easy-to-use skill-building at Expo 2007, and NSCA offers high-level business knowledge.
NSCA
NSCA’S FALL BUSINESS CONFERENCE HEADS TO SAN DIEGO
This year’s NSCA Fall Business Conference is taking to the beach in sunny San Diego. The event will be held Oct. 21-23 at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. The 10th annual conference is the premier forum for electronic systems contractors to exchange ideas and hone their business skills. It offers everything from practical management tips to visionary ideas from recognized experts. This year, the conference will offer two dedicated tracks of strategic business sessions: one for executives and another for managers. Attendees can customize their individual learning experience to bring better focus to specific needs, interests, and issues. Sessions will present strategies for maximizing margin and profit, triumphing over lower-priced competitors, boosting employee retention and satisfaction, earning customer loyalty, preparing for forthcoming generations of customers and employees, reducing marketing costs, and competing more effectively in today’s marketplace.
The conference’s keynote speakers will be Bill Brooks, CEO of The Brooks Group, and Steve Farber, president of Extreme Leadership.
Slated for Oct. 22, Brooks’ session, “How to Sell at Margins Higher than Your Competitors,” will divulge a number of profit-boosting secrets gained from years of personal experience. Farber’s session, “The Radical Leap: Extreme Leadership at Work,” to be held Oct. 23, will explore ways to use the power of the heart to achieve more in the workplace, and reveal strategies for building meaningful business relationships.
Fully accredited within NSCA University’s College of Business, all Fall Business Conference sessions are worth 1.25 learning units (LUs), with the exception of the keynote sessions, which are worth two LUs each. Attendees have the opportunity to earn up to nine learning units.
To learn more or register for the NSCA Fall Business Conference, visit www.fallbiz.org, or call (800) 446-6722. Conference fees are $845 if you register before Sept. 1 and $995 thereafter up to the day of the event.
NSCA STILL WRITING THE BOOK ON INSIDE INFORMATION
Now is a good time to check out NSCA’s Q3 Market Intelligence Briefing, which provides clear insight into the state of wireless technology in our industry.
NSCA has made some surprising discoveries on this topic. For instance, although wireless has indeed revolutionized systems integration, its acceptance has been slow compared to the advancement of product development and systems applications. Demand for the technology is increasing among users, who have a high comfort level with its use. Demand will continue to increase, and if our industry lags behind in training and acceptance, someone else will step in and take the business.
What are the obstacles preventing systems integrators and consultants from designing and installing more wireless systems? Read the full report and gain the real, working knowledge you can get only from NSCA.
NSCA corporate members can download the report at www.nsca.org/mib.
FIVE STUDENTS TO RECEIVE NSCA SCHOLARSHIPS
With school out and summer in full swing, the NSCA Education Foundation is continuing its outreach campaign to the next generation of electronic systems industry professionals. Five $1,000 scholarships will be distributed in the coming weeks to students chosen by a special selection committee. The foundation will also provide 200 other students with free NSCA memberships. Student memberships include access to an online job board and résumé database, entry to the NSCA Conference and Expo, special member pricing on NSCA University classes, and regular updates on legislation affecting the industry.
“We are already receiving applications for the scholarships and are excited about this initiative,” says NSCA Education Foundation Managing Director Melissa Henderson. “The foundation’s goal this year is to lend all the support we can to young professionals with the resources and training they’ll need to start their careers on solid ground.”
