Absorbing the AV Industry Like a Sponge

In this post college graduate moment in life, from having finished a rewarding internship with Zdi to still engaging in the aftereffect results and opportunities of InfoComm 2015, there is certainly a lot to handle. In this jam packed instance, my best response is to absorb it like a sponge and digest as much of […]

Absorbing the AV Industry Like a Sponge

Business Training, New Technology Highlight InfoComm’s ISE Education Program

InfoComm International, co-owner of Integrated Systems Europe, has enhanced its education programme for ISE 2016 to offer more valuable training than ever before. InfoComm’s offerings will feature sessions in three different formats to suit all interests: InfoComm Conferences, MasterClass sessions and FlashTracks. ISE attendees should sign up now to reserve their spot for in-demand courses […]

Business Training, New Technology Highlight InfoComm’s ISE Education Program

5 Ways to Make CTS Better

Well it’s been a couple weeks since my last piece on CTS, and I figured the cooling off period was just about over.  Needless, to say, my last piece created a lot of great conversation, as well as a couple of follow up blogs from industry consultant Leonard Suskin and even rAVe founder Gary Kayye. For […]

5 Ways to Make CTS Better

In Defense of the CTS Program

There’s been some chatter around here lately on the CTS certification. Mark Coxon used his skepticism on renewal rates as a vehicle to question the value of the certification. Gary Kayye told us what CTS means to him. This lead me to contemplate what I thought of the certification, about renewal, and about where we […]

In Defense of the CTS Program

Why CTS Matters to Me

I want to start this off by making sure you all know I have a bias. I served on the InfoComm PETC (Professional Education & Training Committee for 12 years and as its chairman for four years. During that time, we developed the on-line CTS program, the CTS-I (CTS-Installation) certification as well as the CTS-D […]

Why CTS Matters to Me

We Can Do Better! A Look Into CTS

In June of 2014 I earned my CTS certification at InfoComm in Las Vegas. In fact, I was so excited at the time that I threw out a challenge to other members to follow me to the CTS-I and CTS-D certifications as to get 100 more people on the roster that had both the CTS–I […]

We Can Do Better! A Look Into CTS

CTS Program Continues to Grow Worldwide

In the past few months the Certified Technology Specialist program has broken records and has had AV pros from all over the world bring CTS to their countries. In fact, this month, Godfrey D’Sa, Technical Director of Innovative Systems and Solutions in Mumbai , became the first CTS-I holder in India. “CTS-I certified, oh what […]

CTS Program Continues to Grow Worldwide

InfoComm is Looking for People to Serve on the International Certification Steering Committee

Do you want to make a difference and help shape the industry? As someone who has already gone the extra mile to earn your certification, you could be just the right fit for the InfoComm International Certification Steering Committee. In October, CTS holders will elect new members to the Certification Steering Committee. All CTS, CTS-D […]

InfoComm is Looking for People to Serve on the International Certification Steering Committee

CTS Reaccredited by ANSI

If you’re an InfoComm CTS, congratulations! You should feel proud of this accomplishment. ANSI accreditation is recognized as the highest standard in personnel certification accreditation. And you earned the only one for professional AV! The ANSI Personnel Certification Accreditation Committee approved InfoComm reaccreditation under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024:2012 for the following certifications: Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) Certified […]

CTS Reaccredited by ANSI

Women of InfoComm Network and CTS

This year at InfoComm 2015, the Women of InfoComm Network Council held its first meeting with great success. Both women and men from all sectors of the industry were present and discussed initiatives, including CTS certification. In the InfoComm Today Podcast Women of InfoComm and CTS, Christa Bender, CTS, Inside Sales and Marketing Coordinator at […]

Women of InfoComm Network and CTS

Waveguide Is First Design Firm to Earn InfoComm APEx

Waveguide has qualified as an InfoComm International AV Provider of Excellence, or APEx, making it the first independent consultant in the world to earn the distinction. The InfoComm APEx program recognizes AV design consulting firms and integrators dedicated to industry excellence by providing quality service to customers and adhering to best practices and standards. “With […]

Waveguide Is First Design Firm to Earn InfoComm APEx

Meet the 10,000th CTS Holder

Last month, InfoComm welcomed the 10,000th Certified Technology Specialist to the ranks of the AV industry: Larry Flad, CTS, of PSX Audiovisual Technologies in New Orleans. “I’m looking forward to the recognition that comes with the CTS credential, along with my 19 years in the industry,” Flad says. “I plan to take the CTS-D test […]

Meet the 10,000th CTS Holder

A Pre-Show Message From the InfoComm CTS Certification Chair

By Rich Kowalske, CTS-D, CTS-I Certification Steering Committee Chair Here we are once again preparing for the largest event of the year — the InfoComm show! We are all starting to make our travel plans and decide what classes to take, which booths to take tours of…and of course, which parties we will attend! Are […]

A Pre-Show Message From the InfoComm CTS Certification Chair

InfoComm Debuts Major New Course Structure at Summer Show

InfoComm is not just thousands of new AV products — it’s also your resource for the in-depth, specialized training you need to sharpen your skills and further your career. Along with nearly 100 InfoComm University workshops and courses, you’ll also find these topic-specific conferences and sessions: Solutions Summit: Digital Signage This year’s program will discuss […]

InfoComm Debuts Major New Course Structure at Summer Show

Must-Reads for CTS Holders

CTS holders pride themselves in standing apart from the crowd. Keep your edge fresh. Carve out some time to stay on top of the industry trends. Your schedule is not a light one, so we collected resources that are important for you to know about. Here are a few topics that might interest you. Plus, […]

Must-Reads for CTS Holders

Connecting and Volcanos – My Two AHA! Moments This Week

Another great week with a class of incredibly talented AV geeks getting their CTS credentials. This was another unique class because it was for a manufacturer, so the depth of knowledge in projection and image quality was unparalleled.  I learned a lot from this team of professionals. Along the way I learned some things I […]

Connecting and Volcanos – My Two AHA! Moments This Week

Back to School

What perfect timing! The same day that I had the awesome pleasure of being in front of a best and brightest class of 22 CTS candidates from the Atlanta market of the AV industry, my five year old grandson started his first day of kindergarten. Today we both had a great day of back-to-school. Once […]

Back to School

Revolabs Announces Training Academy Portal and 20 Live Training Events

Revolabs has announced that the company is launching Revolabs Academy Training Program — a free, interactive online learning portal that provides users with a better understanding of audio fundamentals, measurement and performance, and proper use and installation of Revolabs products. Available now, the online curriculum complements the company’s upcoming training and certification tour, which will […]

Revolabs Announces Training Academy Portal and 20 Live Training Events

InfoComm 2014 Redux

Were you one of the more than 37,000 AV professionals attending InfoComm 2014? Whether you were part of the crowd, or sorry you missed it, this is your chance to catch up on everything from the sanguine to the silly. InfoComm International celebrated its 75th Anniversary at the show at the 75th Anniversary Awards dinner. […]

InfoComm 2014 Redux

Dog Days of Summer

As I sit down to write this column for July, I expected to be overflowing with excitement and interest from InfoComm. I am on a bit of an InfoComm hiatus, having not attended for three years. Yet, I am struck that there does not seem to be any HUGE news out of the show this […]

Dog Days of Summer

InfoComm Breaks All-Time Attendance Record

Last week’s InfoComm 2014 in Las Vegas was visited by 37,048 attendees from more than 114 countries and this represents a 5.5 percent increase in attendance over InfoComm 2013 that was in Orlando, Fla. We had more than 25 reporters there and covered the show with over 1,300 videos, some 200 or so news stories […]

InfoComm Breaks All-Time Attendance Record

Who’s Comin With Me? A CTS-D CTS-I Challenge

Alright, so it’s official. I finally lifted my 12 year boycott on getting my CTS, bit the bullet, and took the test. Then I waited in nervous anticipation for my score, and by some glitch in the system software, I passed! Given that it’s been 12 years, I felt an explanation as to why I […]

Who’s Comin With Me? A CTS-D CTS-I Challenge

InfoComm Issues Tips for CTS Holders

If you’re a CTS holder coming to InfoComm 2014, you are among the industry’s highest achievers. Here are just a few highlights that you might want to add to your schedule: Meet Chuck. Chuck Espinoza, CTS-D, CTS-I, is the chair of your Certification Committee. He has time set aside to be at the Certification Table, […]

InfoComm Issues Tips for CTS Holders

Do What You Love, Love What You Do!

This past week I was one of the luckiest workers in the world. Why? I was doing what I love and I was doing it for a living.  Life is good.  It helps that I am married to a perfect woman and that I love my wife and kids. It helps that I am a […]

Do What You Love, Love What You Do!

Why I Like InfoComm’s New APEx Program

I actually heard about InfoComm’s new APEx program about three weeks before InfoComm announced it formally. I attended an InfoComm roundtable event in Irvine, Calif. where Duffy Wilbert , SVP of member services, described how the organization intended to raise the bar on customer experience and thought leadership. Duffy related that InfoComm had come to […]

Why I Like InfoComm’s New APEx Program

On Language, Juggling, Lunchtime in the Park, AV, and Networks

Quite a few years ago I earned the CTS (Certified Technical Specialist) certification from InfoComm. Last year I began studying to take the ICND1 (Interconnected Network Devices) in pursuit of my first-ever Cisco certification. Last week I started learning to throw a juggling pattern called a 4,4,1. What do these three seemingly disparate items have […]

On Language, Juggling, Lunchtime in the Park, AV, and Networks

Major OEMs Announce Sponsorship of AV Networking World at ISE

Many of the leading manufacturers in the AV industry announced this year’s AV Networking World (AVNW) educational seminar and workshop on Feb. 4, 2014 in Amsterdam. Join the industry’s highly anticipated event about the use of networking to facilitate AV/IT convergence held at the Holiday Inn near the RAI Convention Center. This free all-day event […]

Major OEMs Announce Sponsorship of AV Networking World at ISE

InfoComm Education Does ISE

If you’re attending ISE 2014 Feb. 4-6, you won’t want to miss the following professional development and networking opportunities. There’s less than a month to go, so plan accordingly. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. Register for Your CTS Exam at ISE: Again this year, you can take the CTS, CTS-D and CTS-I exams at Integrated […]

InfoComm Education Does ISE

AV People: Michelle Miller of Advanced Audio Video Technologies

For Michelle Miller, her interest in AV started in high school. The church she attended at the time allowed the senior high youth to run the sound board for services and, although she never had the chance, she always had an interest in learning how to run sound. It wouldn’t be until she was dating her […]

AV People: Michelle Miller of Advanced Audio Video Technologies

What is the Value of CTS Today?

There is an interesting discussion taking place on LinkedIn in the AV Industry Professionals Group.  Sam Malik of Premier Mounts asked a great open ended question,  “What is the Value of CTS Today?” As you can imagine, the responses vary, depending on what the respondent felt the word “certification” meant. Some feel that it merely […]

What is the Value of CTS Today?

190 People Earned a CTS at InfoComm 2013

If you weren’t at InfoComm 2013, June 8-14 in Orlando, FL, you missed some exciting CTS highlights. Here are a few: 190 professionals earned the CTS designations at the show — and 40 of those added the coveted CTS-D or CTS-I to their name. Congratulations to the newest CTS holders! Cheers to Bill, Martin, CTS, […]

190 People Earned a CTS at InfoComm 2013

InfoComm CTS is Nothing Like a Driver’s License or a PhD

My last day of InfoComm was Friday June 15th, and on that day I sat down to do an InfoComm PodCast for RedBand Radio with industry consultant Chris Neto, industry veteran George Tucker, and industry tech manager Mike Brandes. We talked about everything from show standouts, to questionable content, to Rock ‘em Sock’em Robots outside […]

InfoComm CTS is Nothing Like a Driver’s License or a PhD