Institute for Professional Development: Focus Your Mind

May 11, 2005 12:49 PM

           

Call it the calm before the storm. The Institute for Professional Development (IPD) continues a four-decade-long tradition with its three-day intensive courses—the ideal way to set yourself up for a productive InfoComm, especially if you prefer substance to soundbites. For many attendees, it's the equivalent of a mental spa weekend, an all-too-rare opportunity in today's perpetual information rush hour to focus on in-depth topics. Though the topics have changed dramatically over the IPD's 40-plus years, the format remains the same: small-scale, discussion-oriented sessions on current hot buttons and fundamentals. With basic- and intermediate-level tracks, the IPD is open to a wide range of InfoComm attendees (until it fills up, as it always does).

Basic-level classes are the ideal place to start making a competitive push.

• Facilities Design for Universities: Steve Thorburn, PE, CTS-I, CTS-D, of Thorburn Associations reprises his popular fundamentals class for those who make and manage AV decisions at universities. It's a great introduction to terminology, needs analysis, budgeting, proposal decoding, installation gotchas, and post-installation training. Learn to translate between AV professionals and university management. And if you're an AV pro with customers in the university market, you should consider attending. What better way to learn your customers' concerns?
• Integrated Systems Sales: IPD vet Bill Sharer, CTS, of Exxel Management & Marketing continues to help AV sales professionals modernize for an IT world. Get insight into how purchase decisions are made—especially at the enterprise level—and learn how to tailor your recommendations and proposals accordingly.
• Networking for the Commercial AV Professional: Max Kopsho, CTS, MCSE, of Christie Digital gives a practical overview of essential IT networking basics and segues into a hands-on opportunity to design and build a simple AV/IT network. One of the most important things any AV pro can do is understand how networking can leverage AV systems and components. This is a great way to set yourself up to get the most out of the show floor, since IT terminology will be everywhere.
• Videoconference: Technology, Applications and Trends: Scott Sharer, CTS, BA, MFA, of Communication Design Group/TANDBERG will thrust attendees into the heart of the videoconferencing experience through this unique hands-on approach to understanding the components, integration, human factors, and aesthetics of videoconferencing, including the secrets of analog POTS, digital ISDN, and 100BaseT Ethernet IP networks. (Also available as an intermediate-level class.)

The following intermediate-level course continues with the videoconferencing theme.

• Lighting for Videoconference and Performance Spaces: Jim Yorgey, PE, LC, of Lutron and Jim Benya, PE, LC, FIES, of Benya Lighting Design help AV designers or consultants design basic lighting systems for board rooms, conference rooms, and training rooms. The ever-popular Do and Don't examples clarify key design principles of lighting for this make-or-break aspect of successful AV.

June 4-6, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Price: $795 (ICIA members), $995 (nonmembers)

CTS and CTS-D @ IPD

Becoming a Certified Technical Specialist just got easier through two IPD opportunities. This year builds on the success of last year's InfoComm Academy Design School Level 1 Course, which leads toward certification in AV design. Joe Bocchiaro III, Ph.D., CTS-D, ICIA, teaches a three-day course that combines display, audio, and control theory with hands-on reinforcement. Topics include design process and scope, project management, facilities design vs. systems design, and codes and regulations.

Scott Wills, CTS-D, CTS-I, ICIA, leads a new classroom course to help candidates prepare for the general Certified Technology Specialist designation. If you learn most effectively in a classroom, this course provides an opportunity to work with an instructor and participate in exercises specifically designed to clarify key concepts provided in ICIA's Essentials of the AV Industry Online course. At the end of the three-day program, candidates may take a written CTS exam. Candidates may also take the exam during show hours. Please note that you need to register for the CTS exam separately.