Advice for the AV Newb

I know that, in past articles and blogs, I have been a big proponent of industry education – because education is the key to success and advancement in the AV world. However, not all education is created equal, and not all education comes from a webinar or textbook. In fact, the best education, the most […]

Advice for the AV Newb

Let’s Get to Work

2011 should be a much better year for systems integrators based on the construction forecasts I’ve seen recently. First, the McGraw-Hill construction market forecast shows a positive picture for the fist time in several years. Overall, we can focus on one big number: new construction starts nationwide are projected to be up 8 percent. The […]

Let’s Get to Work

NSCA Releases ProAV Industry’s Financial Analysis Report

NSCA’s latest release of its biennial Financial Analysis of the Industry coincides with a more optimistic view of the economy and, consequently, predictions of new business ventures in 2011. The new 2010 report allows systems integrators to track and benchmark their past two years in comparison to industry peers to create a more realistic picture […]

NSCA Releases ProAV Industry’s Financial Analysis Report

News from The Whitlock Group, Crestron, Salitek…

EyeClick and Salitek are partnering to create interactive video walls using EyeClick’s interactive software and Salitek’s Orion MPDP screens… ClearOne announced the founding members in the newly formed StreamNet Partner Program: ClearOne, Naim, NetStreams, and Polk Audio. They have been joined by other member (non-founding) companies, including Da-Lite, Key Digital, and D-Tools… RGB Communications has appointed Jane Pryor as a […]

NSCA Announces New Board Members

The NSCA Board of Directors recently changed leadership during its annual member meeting in June during InfoComm 2010. Taking over as president of the NSCA Board is Ron Pusey, president/CEO of Communications Specialists, Inc. Additionally, Ingolf de Jong, president of General Communications, Inc., has moved to the vice-president position; Ray Bailey, president of Lone Star […]

NSCA Announces New Board Members

Press Release: NSCA Announces Changes to Board of Directors

Cronin Joins NSCA Leadership Team CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, August 3, 2010 — The NSCA Board of Directors recently changed leadership during its annual member meeting in June during InfoComm 2010. Taking over as president of the NSCA Board is Ron Pusey, president/CEO of Communications Specialists, Inc. Additionally, Ingolf de Jong, president of General Communications, Inc., […]

NSCA’s InfoComm Report

SpinetiX received the NEC Best of InfoComm 2010 award and a $25,000 prize for its HMP100 Hyper Media Player. The company then graciously contributed its prize to both the NSCA Education Foundation and the International Communications Industries Foundation. Two other events helped raise money to result in the NSCA Education Foundation’s most successful InfoComm. The […]

NSCA’s InfoComm Report

NSCA to Repackage NSCA Zone at InfoComm 2010

The NSCA Zone, booth #C5859 at InfoComm 2010, is your one-stop shop during InfoComm 2010 to network with industry peers, find business solutions for your everyday needs, putt for charity and a chance to win $500 daily, and enter to win a variety of prizes and products, including one of three 42” LCD HDTVs. NSCA […]

NSCA to Repackage NSCA Zone at InfoComm 2010

NSCA to Offer InfoComm Keynote Speaker

NSCA will host a keynote presentation featuring NSCA speaker Bob Prosen from 8-9:30 a.m. on June 9 in Rooms N232 and N234 at the Las Vegas Convention Center prior to the opening ceremonies of InfoComm 2010. A renowned business expert and author, Prosen has appeared at two consecutive Business & Leadership Conferences, providing attendees with […]

NSCA to Offer InfoComm Keynote Speaker

Come to the NSCA Business & Leadership Conference

Navigate Your Business Through the New, Post-Recession Reality Take home tips and ideas to get ahead in 2010 Learn innovative, new strategies to propel your business ahead at NSCA’s Business & Leadership Conference, February 25-27, at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. You can’t afford to miss the event designed […]

Come to the NSCA Business & Leadership Conference

NSCA Educational Foundation Raises 100K in 2009

The NSCA Education Foundation raised $100,000 in 2009 to continue its goal to create and provide educational opportunities for students seeking a career path within the commercial electronic systems industry. The Foundation increased its number of student scholarships in 2009 and also provided financial assistance for student memberships to NSCA. The charitable contributions were also […]

NSCA Educational Foundation Raises 100K in 2009

InfoComm 2009: It’s All About Education

For years, we at rAVe have been writing about the value of InfoComm – not necessarily as the mega-AV tradeshow, but as THE BEST one-stop-shop for ProAV education. Well, at InfoComm 2009, you’ll have two – not just one – ProAV associations offering hundreds of courses at the show:  both NSCA and InfoComm. Have you […]

NSCA, Again, Features the Drunk Uncles at InfoComm 2009

Attend a charity concert featuring the blues band, the Drunk Unkles, at 9 p.m. on June 17, at the popular B.B. King’s Blues Club in Orlando, FL during InfoComm 09. The event provides support to recruit students to the commercial electronic systems industry and as well as provide educational opportunities.  The Drunk Uncles, made up […]

NSCA, Again, Features the Drunk Uncles at InfoComm 2009

NSCA Raises More Than $50,000 for Charitable Organizations

Industry members had the chance to relax and raise money for charitable causes during InfoComm 08. During its first joint show with InfoComm, NSCA hosted many of its popular events from previous NSCA Expos. The Systems Integration Industry Charity Golf Tournament, host sponsored by Atlas Sound/IED, kicked off the week and raised money for the […]

NSCA Education Foundation Announces Scholarships

The NSCA Education Foundation recently awarded eight $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing education related to the commercial electronic systems industry. Winners include Jess Ashby, Marc-Andrew Brooks, Cody Dixon, Erin Graham, Brad Groarke, Wesley Luce, Dawn Meade and Ross Nordeen. In their applications, the scholarship winners outlined their career goals, past experiences and hopes for the […]

Reaching out to Generation Y Within Our Channel

By Chuck Wilson Executive Director, NSCA Effective strategies for successfully working with young people in systems integration There is wide disagreement regarding the exact birth dates that define Generation Y. In the broadest sense, we could safely say they include the more than 70 million Americans born between 1977 and 2002. Also known as echo […]

rAVe Founder, Gary Kayye, Named NSCA Instructor of the Year

The National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) has named Gary Kayye as the NSCA University College of Business Instructor of the Year. Kayye was selected based on student evaluations of his course, “Crossing the Chasm,” which he presented at the 2007 NSCA Expo. “NSCA is honored to present this award to Gary,” said NSCA Executive Director […]

DLP BrilliantColor Shines at InfoComm

There was an impressive demo at the DLP booth and at some projector manufacturers’ booths at InfoComm, with projected images comparing a front projector using the new DLP BrilliantColor technology and an LCD projector. The side-by-side showed the DLP model displaying quite a few more colors than the LCD and it was particularly noticeable in […]

‘Tools of the Trade’ Exhibit Area Makes NSCA Expo Debut

An exhibit area called “Tools of the Trade” will be shown for the first time at NSCA. From the smallest tools to enterprise software, this new area plans to demonstrate all sorts of integrator solutions. NSCA says the new exhibit is the result of a member survey, which indicated integrators are looking for problem-solving devices […]

InfoComm Executive Update

Notes from the Kitchen Table   One of the most honored places in a home is the kitchen table. The dining room, if you have one, might offer a more elegant setting, but it is often reserved for more formal occasions. The kitchen table is where families and close friends gather to eat, play games, read […]

Cash Flow: Likely The Biggest Issue Facing Your Business

By Chuck Wilson, NSCA Executive Director In the systems integration business, we seem to spend an inordinate amount of our time focused on technology. This is only natural; true passion for technology is what led many of us to pursue this career path, and there’s something satisfying about forming technology and components into a system […]

Schroeder Awarded NSCA Lifetime Achievement Honor

I can’t think of anyone who deserves this more than Sandy.  He doesn’t look it, but he’s been an industry icon for decades! Sandy Schroeder has been named as the 2007 recipient of the NSCA Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given annually to an individual making exceptional contributions to the industry at large. Schroeder, who […]

NSCA Offering Student Scholarships

The NSCA Education Foundation is awarding five $1,000 educational scholarships to students entering the commercial electronic systems industry. “The future of the commercial electronic systems industry relies upon the next generation of individuals entering the marketplace,” said Melissa Henderson, NSCA Education Foundation managing director. ”As part of NSCA’s outreach program, the Foundation and its supporters […]

User-Changeable Color Wheels, Changeable Bayonet Lenses Make for Unusually Versatile NEC Install Pro

NEC brought a new projector to both CeBIT and NSCA tradeshows this month. The NP4000 has more versatility than most for the price point. This 5000-lumen DLP lets installers choose between a user-changeable four or six segment color wheel, so you can select which is best if your customer is displaying presentations versus video. It […]

Wireless Clocks Serve as Repeaters, Transmitters, for Accurate Times

With Sapling’s clock system, every clock on the “network” can be kept accurate as if directly connected to a web-based atomic clock. They showed off this wireless digital and analog clock system at NSCA. Both the analog (SAL series) and the digital (SBL series) act as both transmitters and repeaters to keep all the clocks […]

On the Path to Success: Recruiting and Retaining Quality Employees

By Chuck Wilson, NSCA Executive Director In the days before GPS navigational systems and online map search engines, the gas station attendant used to have all the answers. Day or night, rain or shine, drivers who found themselves lost could drive up to one of countless 24-hour roadside assistance help desks known as gas stations. There […]

NSCA Announces Call for ‘Innovations in Technology Awards’

A call for entries was announced for the NSCA Expo 2007 Innovations in Technology Awards. Spanning seven product categories including Audio, Business Productivity, Control Systems, Convergence, Security/Fire/Life Safety, Video/Display Technology, and Website, the awards are open to all Expo exhibitors.  NSCA Expo exhibitors are eligible to submit one new product per category in up to […]

NSCA, The Digital Signage Group, Partner for Digital Signage Showcase at NSCA

NSCA and The Digital Signage Group announced the two will team up for the NSCA Expo 2007 Digital Signage Showcase. The showcase will include a wide variety of classes hosted by TDSG and the organizations say attendees can expect to expand their digital signage marketplace knowledge on topics ranging from how to build partnerships with […]

NSCA Primer

Making Sense of Changes to CSI MasterFormat It’s been said time and time again, and by now there can be no doubt that we are living in an age of abundant information. But the power of living in such an age does not reside in the mere accumulation of facts, it depends substantially on how […]

Gary Kayye to Discuss “The Future of AV in Everything” at NSCA University Chicago Event

A one-day seminar in Chicago was announced by NSCA. The November 7 event is a full day of classes hosted by Sound Marketing, Middle Atlantic Products and Harman Professional. Normally a $260 cost, the event is free to AV professionals. Two of the courses will be taught by Gary Kayye. The first, “The future of […]

Get a Business Health Check-up at NSCA’s Fall Business Conference

NSCA is bringing the leading business executives in the systems integration industry together for an intensive conference that focuses on strategy and tools business owners need to keep their businesses going strong. October 26-28, 2006 owners, presidents, and managers will gather in Myrtle Beach to evaluate the health of their organizations and learn from others […]

NSCA Sponsoring MasterFormat Training, Tools

NSCA announced that, in partnership with Hall Architects, the organization will launch educational programs beginning this month for CSI MasterFormat 2004. Dennis Hall of Hall Architects was Chairman of the MasterFormat Expansion Task Team (MFETT) alongside Chuck Wilson, NSCA Executive Director and chairman of the Facility Services Workgroup. NSCA will provide four phases of educational […]