Associations Focus: Take the Helm
Mar 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Trade associations show their commitment to helping industry professionals create opportunities.
NSCA
CRANK IT UP!
“Commercial Electronic Systems Integration” — fancy words with powerful meaning, and it’s something to be excited about. Then again, you already know that. You live the excitement of this industry every day. NSCA is cranking up the volume in this industry by taking the lead in some very powerful initiatives: EST, business resources, trade show innovations, convergence education, networking opportunities, and more. Look for the “Crank It Up!” meter to learn more about exciting ways NSCA is growing your industry, and find out how you can get involved.
Get your new 2006 Essentials of Systems Integration CD-ROM — an exclusive member benefit for new and renewing members in 2006. It contains more than 450 documents, articles, and resources that provide businesses a leg up on the competition. Find an all-new Sales and Marketing section, new format, and other new features in the completely redesigned 2006 edition. Renew your membership early to get yours today. For questions, email Tami Wright at [email protected].
Add volume to your staff’s expertise with world-class education through NSCA University. Six new colleges and the Certificate of Completion Program will launch at Expo in March. This is the newest, most comprehensive way to complete career path training for all electronic systems professionals.
In addition to the renowned NSCA C-SI and C-EST Certifications, visit nsca.org/university to learn more about how you can boost your potential by getting a Certificate of Completion from any of the following colleges:
- System Sales
- System Design
- Technical Knowledge
- Allied Professionals
- Project Management
- Business.
TURN UP YOUR SKILLS!
The NSCA Education Foundation offers a wide variety of education and certification opportunities to electronic systems professionals. Learn how you can take advantage of the Education Foundation scholarship program, contribute to the growth of educational advancements through tax-deductible donations, endorse EST training and certification, and more. Join companies like Herman Procurement and Logistics, Shure, Bose, and LG, which all have recently made donations to improve the industry. Visit nscafoundation.org for more information.
NSCA EXPO RECAP
Coming in next month’s issue will be a full summary of the exciting announcements and activities from the 2006 NSCA Expo. Don’t miss out on new product announcements, award winners, and other newsworthy items. Whether you attended Expo or not, you’ll want to be in the know of the full rundown.
REMEMBER TO RENEW YOUR NSCA MEMBERSHIP
Continue to improve your success and renew your NSCA membership today. New 2006 member benefits are available now, with more to be released soon. Visit nsca.org/renew or call Tami Wright at (800) 446-NSCA. With Expo coming up in March, now is the perfect time to renew — remember that admission to the expo is free for NSCA members.
NSCA University Education and Certification Calendar
March 31 — C-SI Online Review
Registration Deadline
April 7 — C-SI Online Review begins for Chicago Exam
April 20 — C-EST Two-Day Review and Exam Registration Deadline, Chicago
April 21 — C-SI One-Day Review and Exam Registration Deadline, Chicago
May 10 – 11 — C-EST Two-Day Review, Chicago
May 11 — C-SI One-Day Review, Chicago
May 11 — Project Management Registration Deadline
May 12 — C-SI and C-EST Exam, Chicago
May 12 — C-EST Online Review Registration Deadline for Kansas City Exam
May 18-19 — Project Management, Boston
May 19 — C-EST Online Review begins for Kansas City Exam
For more information about NSCA, visitnsca.orgor call (800) 446-6722.
Associations Focus: Take the Helm
Mar 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Trade associations show their commitment to helping industry professionals create opportunities.
INFOCOMM INTERNATIONAL
EDUCATION PULLS OUT ALL STOPS AT INFOCOMM 06
Education will play a fundamental role at InfoComm 06 with six full days, June 3-9, devoted to the InfoComm Academy Conference leading into the Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
InfoComm International, the organizer behind InfoComm 06, has a stellar conference and exhibition planned. More than 750 exhibitors will be showcasing cutting-edge information communications technologies on the exhibition floor alongside pavilions, galleries, demo rooms, product training opportunities, and special events. These great features will occupy 425,000 net square feet, an all-time InfoComm record.
InfoComm Academy has shored up this year’s Conference with more than 250 sessions focusing on audio, business and management, conferencing, control, design, display, rental and staging, distribution, sales and marketing, and IT/IP. Even more classes have been added to cover such hot topics as advanced audio, project management, digital signage, homeland security, live sound, HD, edge blending, and wireless technologies.
The conference kicks into gear with seven Institutes for Professional Development including the popular “Design School Level 1” and “Videoconferencing: Applications, Technology, and Trends.” Both of these events sold out in 2005. New additions, including “Design School Level and Project Management: Competencies and Structure,” are customized for the AV industry and approved by the Project Management Institute, the gold standard of project management certification.
Essential to AV education, InfoComm’s nationally recognized certification program will be hard at work at the Conference with its “Certification Prep” course followed by testing for InfoComm’s Certified Technology Specialist designation — a mark of professionalism and quality throughout the industry. It is the only AV industry certification recognized by the National Certification Commission.
Back by popular demand, Synergistic Audio Concepts (Syn-Aud-Con) will deliver its special brand of audio training with a four-day course in sound reinforcement for designers. Plus, audio/video consultancy group Technology Visions is leading a new, hands-on workshop called “Loudspeaker and Speech Intelligibility.”
Providing even more value, Super Tuesday will feature six-hour workshops of intensive instruction June 7 at InfoComm, including the all-new “Designing in the Digital Age”; “Digital Signage”; “Government and Corporate AV Information Security”; “Is the Residential Market Right for Your Company?”; “Project Management Overview” (an executive level, PMI-endorsed course); and “Rental and Staging Management and Operations.”
Each year, InfoComm teams up with leading conference partners to provide the best programs the industry has to offer. New to InfoComm, The ESTA Foundation, POPAI (Point-of-Purchase Advertising International), and BICSI will lend their expertise with exciting new curricula. EduComm will return this year, while CMMA and IMCCA bring back valuable courses for communications media and collaborative conferencing professionals.
These are just a few of the many educational activities planned for this year. For a detailed description of others, visit www.infocommshow.org. See you at InfoComm!
For more information about InfoComm International, visitinfocomm.org.
Associations Focus: Take the Helm
Mar 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Trade associations show their commitment to helping industry professionals create opportunities.
CEDIA
CEDIA ELECTRONIC LIFESTYLES AWARDS
The CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards are back and better than ever. With some major changes this year to the format of the Designers’ Awards, these should be the most competitive awards to date. Here is a list of all Designers’ Awards categories:
- Large Home Theater
- Small Home Theater (New)
- Theme Theater (New)
- Media Room
- Integrated Home
- Special Project
- Hidden Installation
- Dressed System.
And let’s not forget about the Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards, Installer of the Year, and Dealer of the Year. Don’t miss your chance to be recognized as one of the best in the industry.
Awards Deadlines:
- Designers’ Awards — May 5
- Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards — May 12
- Dealer of the Year — June 2
- Installer of the Year — June 2.
For complete guidelines and to register for the Electronic Lifestyles Awards, visit www.cedia.org/awards. For questions, please contact CEDIA at (800) 669-5329.
CEDIA UNIVERSITY — CU ON THE ROAD
CU On the Road is coming to the East Coast March 21-24 for four days of CEDIA University Education at Crestron Headquarters in Rockleigh, N.J. A full-day workshop will be presented by CEDIA Certified Instructor Todd Adams of DiPartner.com. The workshop, “Intensive Business Planning,” will help create operational, financial, and marketing plans for your business.
Another full-day workshop will be offered March 22. “How to Market & Sell Profitable Projects,” presented by Rob Gerhardt of Group Gerhardt, discusses the inability to sell profitable jobs while showing attendees how to develop a niche market.
The event also includes two Designer Certification Reviews and one Designer Certification Exam. Visit www.cedia.org/education/on_the_road.php for complete information on workshops and hotels and to register. Contact CEDIA at (800) 669-5329 or email [email protected].
CEDIA EST RESIDENTIAL BOOT CAMP
CEDIA University will be offering a new and improved Electronic Systems Technician (EST) Residential Boot Camp at CEDIA Headquarters in Indianapolis March 7-9. This course emphasizes the basic skills necessary to be successful in the custom electronics industry. All of the presentation materials, graphics, and videos have been upgraded to keep up with the ever-changing industry. The lab has been thoroughly updated with more complete installation tasks, more equipment, and more test procedures with an emphasis on the use and maintenance of proper job documentation. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get basic installation training with top-of-the-line instructors at a state-of-the-art training facility.
During the boot camp, the following topics will be covered:
- Cable Concepts Fundamentals
- Safety Codes
- Distributed Audio and Video
- RF Distribution.
For more details and to register, visit www.cedia.org/education/bootcamp.php. Questions? Contact CEDIA at (800) 669-5329 ext. 159.
CEDIA Calendar of Events — March 2006
EST Residential Boot Camp
March 7-9
Location: CEDIA Training Facility, Indianapolis
Installer Level I Exam
March 10
Location: CEDIA Training Facility, Indianapolis
Installer Level I Review and Exam
March 13
Location: ADI, Westchester, N.Y.
Installer Level I Review and Exam
March 15
Location: TAG, Irvine, Calif.
CEDIA Industry Outreach:
Interiors 2006
March 16-19
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Installer Level I Review And Exam
March 17
Location: Media Dynamics, Thornhill, Ontario
CU On The Road
March 21-24
Location: Crestron Headquarters, Rockleigh, N.J.
CEDIA Industry Outreach:
Home Entertainment Source
March 24-28
Location: Dallas
CEDIA Industry Outreach:
IDEC Conference
March 27-31
Location: Scottsdale, Ariz.
For a complete list of all CEDIA 2006 events, please visit cedia.org/calendar.
For more information on CEDIA, visitcedia.orgor call (800) 669-5329.
