 Whatever Happened to Binary Answers?
When you ask if a project is done, how often do you get a simple yes or no answer? Rarely? InfoComm International’s longtime project management expert isn’t trying to be a jerk, but he wonders why people can’t just take responsibility for their progress and move on to constructive dialog. Lend your 10 cents to the conversation.
Standing Ovation
In case you missed it, InfoComm announced the winners of the 2015 InfoComm Awards, including this year’s Adele DeBerri Pioneer of AV, CTS Holder, Educator, and Volunteer of the Year, as well as the Young AV Professional, Women in AV and Fred Dixon Service in Education Award winners.
Join the winners and all your peers for the InfoComm Awards Dinner, Tuesday, June 16, at 7 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. It’s a great way to kick off the InfoComm 2015 show and celebrate the industry.
Get Revved Up at the New Manufacturers Conference
InfoComm International announces a new conference specifically for AV manufacturers, Aug. 12-14, 2015, at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Fla. Former Harley-Davidson Motor Company executive Ken Schmidt will give the opening keynote address, in which he’ll explain how businesses can improve their competitiveness and avoid margin-killing commoditization in even the most difficult marketing environments by understanding the most basic drivers of human behavior.
Attendees will have the opportunity to work in small groups with the conference’s other presenters, including Jason Jordan, author and partner at Vantage Point Performance, and David Meerman Scott, author and marketing and sales strategist. On the agenda: Channeling the Sales Management Code and Channeling the New Rules of Marketing & PR. For more information and to register, visit infocomm.org/MC.
Podcast: Control Systems Design
In March 2015, InfoComm published Modern Approaches to Control Systems Design, the collaborative effort of many different AV industry professionals. It sought to offer a framework for designing AV control systems in light of technical change and evolution. Hear Dave Silberstein, Director of Technical and Sales Education at Crestron, and Brad Grimes, Director of Editorial Services at InfoComm, discuss today's control systems with contributor and InfoComm Today host Tim Albright, CTS, Director of Operations at Innovad. Silberstein also gives an update on Crestron’s most recent Masters Class. Listen now.
The Changing World of Unified Communications
The Unified Communications and Collaboration Solutions Summit at InfoComm 2015 will tackle all the latest trends in UCC, like the fact that AV conference rooms will never be the same and that personal devices have changed everything. Brought to you by IMCCA, the UCC Solutions Summit includes three days of education and insight (not to mention a pair of popular Lunch-and-Learn events). Read up on all the trends and register.
The InfoComm Pitch
Still trying to talk those decision makers into letting you attend InfoComm 2015 in Orlando next month?
Use these brief talking points to help deliver your pitch.
New Council Name, Same Council Mission
In its fifth year, the Independent Technical Services (ITS) Council (formerly the Independent Technical Service Providers Council) has expanded to include 35 member companies. The ITS Council serves the needs and interests of AV system technicians, installers, operators, engineers, programmers, documentation service providers, staffing companies and project managers who are not employed by hardware vendors, dealers or integrators.
New Council Chair Jack Mayhugh, a partner at AVTek Staffing, knows firsthand the role that independent service providers play in successful project delivery. “As technical specialists, the member companies provide integrators, VARs and consultants with flexibility and elasticity in their project delivery capabilities and customer services,” he says. “The trend toward outsourcing isn’t surprising considering the benefits that result: cost savings, scalability and the agility to leverage external expertise, to name a few.”
The ITS Council will also host a cocktail reception during InfoComm 2015. The meet-and-greet will take place June 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Everglades Bar located at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Learn more about the council.
Webinar Tomorrow: The Benefits of InfoComm’s APEx Program
You talked, InfoComm listened. We’ve made some additional changes to the Audiovisual Providers of Excellence (APEx) Program to help your integration or design consulting firm participate in this initiative. Hear from former InfoComm President Scott Walker, CTS®-D, LEED AP, CEO of Waveguide Consulting. Learn firsthand how joining the APEx program helped his firm distinguish itself in the marketplace and how APEx can help boost your business.
See you tomorrow at 1 p.m. (New York)! Register now.
ICIF Grant Program Success
Many of your industry peers didn’t just wait for the right opportunity to foster AV workforce development — they shaped it by applying to be an International Communications Industries Foundation (ICIF) grant sponsor or recipient. The ICIF grant program is designed to help companies engage talented individuals in the AV industry. Participating companies gain insight into identifying and mentoring potential employees. Grant recipients get hands-on work experience and training to help them get started in the industry.
This year, ICIF has received several applications — and there’s room for more in the program. Best of all, interested parties can apply anytime, because applications are reviewed as they’re received and processed based on the academic school year. Interested? Learn more about the program and the requirements for grant sponsors and recipients at infocomm.org/icifgrant.
InfoComm Roundtable Stops in Indy
Join us for InfoComm's Roundtable in Indianapolis, July 23, to get an in-depth look at what makes for an exceptional AV experience. It’s free for members and non-members.
We'll share with you the components and goals of an exceptional experience and how such experiences can give you a strategic advantage in a competitive market. You’ll finish the event with an interactive workshop, in which you’ll learn how to apply what you learned to your own projects as you connect with your peers. Learn more and register.
InfoComm University Education — Free!
Want a free pass to an InfoComm University™ seminar or workshop at InfoComm 2015? Volunteer to be a room host, and you can attend the InfoComm University™ session of your choice for free. You can volunteer to host any course with the session ID format IS##, IUX## or IUL##. You'll be notified of whether your session is available within five business days. Sign up now.
The Perfect Project Management Training
Whether you’re a project manager, executive or sales professional, you need a broad understanding of AV and the project management principles unique to this industry. At InfoComm 2015, June 13-19, in Orlando, there will be plenty of project management classes to help you stay ahead of the curve, from an intense three-day course to shorter workshops and seminars. View a list of project management courses and register.
Join the Celebration — CTS is 10K Strong
In April, InfoComm International’s Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS®) program reached a milestone: 10,000 certified AV professionals and growing. See how your AV peers are celebrating on Twitter, using hashtags #10Kstrong and #AVtweeps.
Interested in joining the growing number of CTS holders? Explore the benefits of the only ANSI-accredited certification for AV and consider taking the exam at InfoComm 2015.
Upcoming Webinars
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