Welcome!

1. Welcome! The InfoComm POV: Certification Webinar will start shortly, until then, the line will be quiet.

2. Webinar Etiquette and Ground Rules • Your line will be muted to help facilitate the presentation. • Please message Mary Baehr on the chat list if you have questions for any of the presenters, we will address them as time permits. • If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please dial *10* to be connected with Genesys Customer Support. • If you are disconnected from the call, please chat Mary Baehr, and let her know. • This session will be recorded.

3. Point of View Certification and the AV Industry Randal A. Lemke, PhD Executive Director InfoComm International

4. Welcome to Point of View Series • The purpose of the POV series is to highlight information about issues affecting the audiovisual industry and to provide a forum for InfoComm to share the association’s viewpoints. • This is the second in the series. The first dealt with apprenticeship and licensure.

5. Quick Update from Apprenticeship and Licensure • March POV was on Apprenticeship and Licensure • If you missed it, you can access it at www.infocomm.org • Differentiated apprenticeship, licensure, and certification • Since then: • New Hampshire State Senate overwhelming rejected the study or implementation of mandatory EST certification. • Labels the concept “legislatively inexpedient” • Nebraska is studying EST licensure, and has already heard from a variety of businesses opposed

6. What is Certification? Certification is a process, often voluntary, by which acknowledgment is accorded to individuals who demonstrate a level of knowledge and skill required in a profession or skill set. Certification is typically issued by a trade organization or manufacturer.

7. What is the Link Between Licensure and Certification? None Certification does not approach the status of licensure since it is voluntary, and accorded to individuals who demonstrate a level of knowledge and skill required in a profession or skill set. A license is a legal credential. In this POV, we’ll discuss certification.

8. Introduction of Invited Guests • L. William Nattress III, CTS-I, Shen Milsom & Wilke, Inc. Chair, InfoComm’s Professional Education and Training Committee (PETC) • Gary Hall, CTS-D, CTS-I, Booz Allen Hamilton • Chris Miller, CTS,Executive Director, Professional Systems Network Intl. (PSNI)President, International Communications Industries Foundation

9. Certification from 2 Perspectives • Individual • Business

10. Benefits of Individual Certification • Evidence of technical credibility • Gain better problem solving skills • Greater job satisfaction through increased technical understanding • AV Industry-wide recognition of technical expertise.

11. Benefits of Certification to Businesses • Quality and credibility that certified employees bring to your company • Provides a measurement tool developed by the industry to assess technical knowledge • A marketing advantage that allows businesses that invest in certification to distinguish that company from the competition.

12. How Can You Judge a Certification Program? • Purpose – Does it measure at appropriate levels for candidates, knowledge and/or skill gained through education and experience in practice in their field? • It should be available to all potential candidates, objectively administered and impartially evaluated. • Nomenclature – The certification title should reflect the nature of the profession.

13. Administrative Concerns • Does it have a full time staff? • It should have policies and procedures for: • Awarding certification • Revocation of certification • Code of Ethics • Renewal/Recertification process • Appeals process • ADA procedures • Disciplinary process • Advisory committees of subject matter experts with appropriate credentials • Psychometric review of test construction and test performance evaluation • Psychometric development from Job Task Analysis (JTA) or Designing a Curriculum (DACUM) process • Training for staff and test proctors

14. Is the Certification Independently Verified? • Does the certification program belong to other independent certification bodies? • Is it recognized by independent review bodies? • Is it recognized by state or federal agencies?

15. Is the Certification in Legal Compliance? • Ownership of intellectual property • Registered marks and logos • Maintain a record system to safe guard test scores and records • Offer a public searchable database of certificates with proper safeguards

16. Is the Certification Marketed and Accepted? • Print advertisements • Promotional brochures • Press releases • In widespread use

17. InfoComm Point of View • InfoComm certification is THE best certification for the audiovisual industry—past, present, and your future!

18. Why InfoComm’s Certification Program Meets Your Company’s Needs • THE Authority in Offering Certification • High Growth • Expert Technical Content • External Validation and Accreditation • Objective Evaluation • Global Acceptance for an International Industry • Career Growth • Industry Affiliation • Responsiveness • Marketing Value • Innovation • Recognition • Business Certification • Quality

19. InfoComm Certification is THE Authority • InfoComm International has been offering certification since 1981. It is the only AV certification recognized by the National Certification Commission and supported by outside psychometric principles and evaluation.

20. Strength in Numbers There are nearly 5,000 Certified Technology Specialists. Over 200 AV professionals are achieving their certification monthly.

21. External Validation and Accreditation • In March 2005, the National Certification Commission, a not-for-profit organization representing 150 member associations, accepted InfoComm’s Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) program into its National Registry. NCC acceptance verifies that InfoComm's program is comprehensive and objective, and meets the criteria established by the NCC for professional certification programs.

22. External Validation and Accreditation • Our general certification has been approved by the Veterans Administration for reimbursement for veterans under the current GI Bill and has been since 2001. • We continue to strive for the best quality in testing delivery by submitting our programs to international bodies known for their objective review.

23. Global Acceptance for an International Industry • 10% of CTS designees are outside of North America and growing • International growth in certification means international growth as an industry in a global economy • InfoComm is truly an international association, offering our education and certification in multiple languages and with staff on the ground on 3 continents

24. Workforce Development • We’re training employees of the future by making our CTS Prep course materials available to secondary and post-secondary schools around the country. • We plan to grow this program so they know us, and we’ll help them find you.

25. Responsiveness • We work closely with you to add programs you need to support the work you do • We listen to you through our robust council and committee structure, Leadership Forums, Executive Conference, and regional meetings

26. Marketing Value • We’re the association leaders establishing industry identity and legitimacy in the market place with our campaigns, shows and Department of Labor Involvement. • We have developed a bid sheet insert that can be used by CAVSP members that explains to customers the value of using companies and personnel that are certified. • We have worked with business media across the country to promote the value of CTS and CAVSP, including Business Journals, Fortune Magazine and Inc.

27. Recognition • With nearly 5,000 people wearing patches, pins and truck decals and handing out business cards, the CTS emblem is being seen by clients and potential clients every day around the world. • The CTS is also backed by an awareness campaign.

28. Business Recognition • Only InfoComm has the CAVSP designation — a business-level recognition program that identifies companies that have chosen to invest in certification for their employees. • We help you promote your certification by providing press release templates and our new bid response sheet. • New forms on the member BusinessKit CD make it easier than ever to get your CAVSP

29. Innovation • Our programs reflect the best of our members: • Entrepreneurial spirit • Creativity • Continuous improvement • Desire to try new educational technologies • Use technologies our members promote • We dare to be different and are always striving to achieve more, just like you! • Coming June 1, a searchable CTS database with expiration dates will be available on www.infocomm.org.

30. CAVSP Makes a Difference! • Gary Hall, CTS-D, CTS-I, Booz Allen Hamilton • Chris Miller, CTS, PSNI

31. Booz Allen Hamilton Founded in 1914, Booz Allen Hamilton is a private corporation with headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Booz Allen is a global management and technology-consulting firm that provides strategy, systems, operations, and technology consulting services to clients around the world. There are more than 15,000 Booz Allen staff members worldwide in more than 130 offices.

32. Booz Allen • Booz Allen has incorporated the CTS program into its recruitment and hiring process. Preference is given to candidates who have earned their CTS. Extra preference is given to job candidates who have achieved a specialized CTS. • Employees who are hired without a CTS are encouraged to earn one through our performance review process. • The Booz Allen McLean office in Virginia is recognized as a CAVSP Gold Company.

33. Booz Allen • Our internal customers have more confidence in our team’s judgment and abilities because we have achieved our CTS and CAVSP Gold status. • InfoComm’s CTS was the primary AV Industry certification that we seriously considered because it is subject to outside testing and is recognized by the National Certification Commission. • Booz Allen will be giving preference in the bid process to integrators that have achieved CAVSP status.

34. Professional Systems Network, Inc. • Formed 20 years ago, Professional Systems Network, Inc., (PSNI) is an international alliance of premiere audio visual and broadcast systems integrators — a source resource for teleproduction and audio visual systems solutions. • These independent industry leaders — representing 55 locations throughout the US and Canada — design, build, install and service AV and broadcast systems. • With combined sales totaling more than $500 million, and representing 1,600 employees throughout the US and Canada, PSNI affiliates provide state of the art solutions for all audio visual environments.

35. PSNI Dedicated to CAVSP • PSNI now requires in its bylaws for all of its members/stockholders to achieve CAVSP status by January 2007. • Companies will not be grandfathered in. “It is imperative that all of our companies demonstrate and meet certain minimum standards of training and education to assure our clients that we are consistent in our client approach to systems integration.”

36. PETC’s Role in Certification • Active subcommittee looking at many facets of certification • Constantly looking for ways to increase certification and professionalism in the industry • Works with other organizations to help our industry get the best of the best (BICSI - RCDD and PMI - PMP) • Will be rejuvenating the CTS-Rental starting end of ’06 and early ‘07

37. Quality • We encourage you and your staff to get certified at InfoComm ’06. A schedule of testing is available at www.infocommshow.org • Learn more about quality and best practices at our next webinar.

38. You’re Invited! If you’re a Certified Technology Specialist, join us at a reception in your honor at InfoComm in Orlando • Wednesday, June 7th from 4:00 – 5:30 PM • Room 312C

39. Future Point of View Webinars • July 20th : Best Practices • September 6th: MasterFormat™

40. Contact Information • For more information about InfoComm certification, please contact: Lou Nanni, Director of Certification lnanni@infocomm.org