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	Women in Project Management Analog Video Rambles Into the Sunset New Blog: Calling All Voices! Tech Managers Rejoice! The Power of AV for Education InfoComm and IATSE Form Education Pact		More News InfoComm 2012; InfoComm University; Google Plus; Staging and Events Virtual Class; AV Standards Development; Certification Committee; Roundtables; Changes to CTS Exams; Test-Taking Webinar Featured Events

Women in Project Management

By Bradley A. Malone, PMP

AV project management isn't what it used to be. For one thing, most projects are more complex than ever and require coordination among various different trades (and often various client stakeholders). In the first in a series of InfoComm-exclusive project management articles, InfoComm University™ instructor Brad Malone talks about the traits necessary to manage today's successful AV projects — and the fact that he often sees those traits in a growing number of female project managers.

Read the whole story.

Analog Video Rambles Into Sunset

By Tim Kridel

Blu-ray. Who knew that the professional AV industry would be affected by a home entertainment media standard? The fact is, Blu-ray itself has little to do with pro-AV, but the licensing baggage that Blu-ray brings with it — and requirements to phase out certain analog connections — is liable to impact some professional installations and trigger a round of service calls. What can you do to prepare for the so-called analog sunset?

Read the whole article.

New Blog: Calling All Voices!

In an effort to arm AV professionals with the latest insights and analysis of industry-changing trends, InfoComm International® is launching a new online blog. Penned by seasoned AV insiders and InfoComm experts, the new All Voices blog will tackle issues related to cutting-edge AV technology, as well as industry best practices, sustainability, smart buildings, AV/IT and more. The All Voices blog is a place where you can share your own comments on the issues of the day. And over time, InfoComm will add more voices to the group blog to reflect fresh ideas and thought-provoking counterpoints. So bookmark the site, and check back often.

Tech Managers Rejoice! The Power of AV for Education

InfoComm International is hosting its inaugural Power of AV for Education event in the Washington, D.C., metro area Feb. 16. The half-day session will be held at InfoComm's headquarters in Fairfax, Va., and give attendees the opportunity to hear success stories from their peers, network and discuss the issues most impacting education technology managers.

Attendees — particularly managers serving primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions — will be treated to Technology in the University: Future Trends, a presentation by Andy Howard, Managing Director of Howard & Associates, which consults with clients on using IP video to enhance communications. Attendees will also learn from three case studies, presented by technology managers representing the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, George Mason University and Providence College.

For more information, visit our site or contact Keith Myers.

InfoComm and IATSE Form Education Pact

IATSE, an international union representing members in the stagecraft, motion picture and television production, and trade show industries, and InfoComm International, the leading non-profit trade association serving the professional audiovisual communications industry worldwide, have partnered to offer a certification preparation program for IATSE members, who will have access to state-of-the-art training and certification in the growing audiovisual industry.

For members, IATSE has pre-paid access to online classes leading to examination and documentation as an InfoComm-Recognized AV Technologist, an entry-level position. In addition, IATSE will sponsor four three-day classroom sessions per year, presented by InfoComm instructors in preparation for examination as a Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS®), an ANSI-accredited certification. The sessions will be held in multiple locations throughout North America.

Read the news.

More News from InfoComm

Save the Date for InfoComm 2012!

Mark your calendars for the largest, most comprehensive AV show. Find the most innovative solutions and products, get fresh ideas and build new connections all under one roof.

Conference: June 9-15
Exhibits: June 13-15
Las Vegas Convention Center

Welcome to InfoComm University
Say hello to the new place for AV education: InfoComm University™. New look, new name, same quality training you've come to expect from InfoComm Academy®. When 96 percent of students report that they use what they learn in class on the job, you know you're in the right place. Find out what you need to learn to stay competitive in the 2012 Education Catalog.

InfoComm Expands Social Media Presence
InfoComm International is now on Google+. Add us to your circles and share with friends!

Must-Know Event Tips for Technology Managers
Get the inside scoop on field-tested project management tools for your next event or meeting. Through the Staging and Events Management Virtual Classroom, you'll learn how to analyze infrastructure — including power, rigging and labor — and leave with a big-picture view of how the diverse parts of a staged event work together.

Call +1.703.273.7200 or register online to save your seat for the only course like this scheduled for 2012, Feb. 7-March 9.

Behind the Scenes of AV Standards Development
If you like to get all technical about display-image size, you missed a great meeting. When the Display Image Size for 2D Content in Audiovisual Systems task group met, they analyzed several images with a variety of content, based on the needs of the audience. One thing's for sure: One size does not fit all.

View pictures of the meeting, chaired by Greg Jeffreys, Paradigm Audio Visual Ltd., and InfoComm President. And email standards@infocomm.org to find out how you can get involved in standards creation.

Six CTS Holders Elected to Certification Committee
In November, CTS holders elected six members to the InfoComm International Certification Committee. They are:

Douglas Dillman, CTS-D, CTS-I
AV Designer, Newcomb & Boyd

John Eden-Green, CTS-D
Systems Design/Development Manager

Josef H. Henschen, CTS-I
Audio Visual Designer, Newcomb & Boyd

L. William Nattress III, CTS-D, CTS-I
Associate Principal, Shen Milsom & Wilke LLC

Troy J. Peters, CTS
Audiovisual Manager, SPIE

Bill Schripsema, CTS
President, Audio Visual Directions

New Year's Resolution: Attend an InfoComm Business Roundtable
In 2012, InfoComm International is holding roundtables in more than 30 cities around the world.

First up: the Washington, D.C., metro area on Jan. 19. This event will offer focused Manufacturers' Training sessions from Biamp Systems, Chief, Kramer and Williams Sound, plus a guest presentation by Peggy O'Keefe titled Love, Addiction and Product Management — A Manager's Guide to Maintaining Balance, and the popular roundtable discussion. And it all happens in just a half day. Earn up to 2 RUs and end the afternoon with a special networking reception.

Register today. And for information about roundtables in your region, visit infocomm.org/roundtables.

Changes to CTS Exams You Need to Know About
Starting later this month, you will notice two changes to the CTS exams.

More time. Candidates for all three exams, CTS, CTS-D and CTS-I, will have an extra 30 minutes to take their tests, so there is no need to feel rushed. To accommodate this extended period of time, the fee to take the exams will increase slightly — by just $10.
Access to math formulas. CTS-D test-takers will have a new resource they can use during the exam: on-screen access to all relevant math formulas. That way they can focus on which formula to use, not on the formula itself.

How to Become a Test-Taking Whiz
For most of us, just the word “test” can be unnerving. That's normal. To gain some confidence before you take your CTS exam, all you need are a few test-taking tips. Tune in Wed., Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. EST to find out how to self-assess the areas where you need to focus your study, find resources that are right for your learning style and conquer the art of taking a test.

Save your seat now.