Time for Action
Sep 1, 2004 12:00 PM
Due to an increase in demand for certification, CEDIA is offering a wider range of certification programs, more often and all over North America. As of late July, CEDIA had awarded more than 2,600 certificates. After partnering with AVAD in 2003, CEDIA was able to offer the Installer Level I review course and exam at AVAD locations twice a month throughout the United States. Since the program began, CEDIA has awarded more than 280 certificates through the AVAD locations (as of late June). CEDIA and AVAD will continue the partnership into 2005, when both the Installer Level I and II review courses and exams will be offered.
Most recently, Canadian subject matter experts developed and launched the Canadian version of the Designer exam at the Canadian Exposition in June 2004. Existing programs are being reevaluated, including the Installer Level II exam. All CEDIA certification exams are subject to review and updates on an ongoing basis to ensure all questions and information are timely and accurate. Rich Green is leading a group of subject matter experts to update the Installer Level II exam. Staying up to date allows the value and integrity of each certification to be held in high regard.
Questions regarding CEDIA certification can be directed to Holly Hart at [email protected].
ACTION TEAMS
Five action teams recently were created by the Membership Council to better serve CEDIA’s members: Public Policy, Membership Welcome and Recruitment, Volunteer Development, Membership Requirements, and Industry Best Practices. Each team has specific goals, which are constructed to address current and near-future needs of CEDIA and its members.
Public Policy, headed by Gerry Demple of Ultimate Electronics, monitors upcoming legislation throughout the United States that could affect CEDIA members. When legislation appears that is threatening, CEDIA members in that area are notified and encouraged to take action. A grassroots initiative also exists to police legislation by finding people in the custom electronics industry who have political ties. Visit the grassroots Web site at www.cedia.org/volunteer/legislative_network.php.
Membership Welcome and Recruitment is charged with welcoming new CEDIA members and answering questions. Headed by Jill Kent of Electronic Interiors and Audio Video Systems, the team divides the country into segments and has representatives from those geographic regions personally contact new CEDIA members.
Volunteer Development, under the direction of Chad Modad of AD Systems, is creating a list of people who are interested in volunteering. The team established guidelines, created a volunteer handbook, and is tracking new volunteers. Please visit www.cedia.org/volunteer for more information.
Membership Requirements and Industry Best Practices have temporarily merged because their work is interdependent. The goal of the teams is to make CEDIA membership value increase by strengthening membership requirements and creating industry best standards. Tony Grimani of Performance Media Industries and Hank Finke of ReQuest Multimedia head this team.
Information about CEDIA membership is available at www.cedia.org. To volunteer, fill out an application at www.cedia.org/volunteer/volunteer_form.php, and a member of the CEDIA professional staff will contact you.
CEDIA Calendar of Events
CEDIA Education at HomeTech EXPO
September 24-26, Mexico City
Certification Review and Exam at AVAD, Installer Level I
October 12, Salt Lake City
Certification Review and Exam at AVAD, Installer Level I
October 14, Scottsdale, Arizona
CEDIA Boot Camp
October 20-22, Indianapolis
For more information on CEDIA, visit www.cedia.org or call (800) 669-5329.
