In preparation for ISE 2020, Chris Lavelle, Senior Director of Development, EMEA, AVIXA, looks at the ways in which AV professionals can make connections, develop knowledge and add to their overall experience.
One aspect that ISE always brings home to me is the sheer scale of the AV industry. With thousands of attendees, hundreds of exhibitors, networking events, conferences, product launches and more, it is an exciting, vibrant show like no other. As a co-owner of the show, AVIXA understands that this environment can be difficult to navigate and aims to bring people through its membership programme.
It’s very well me telling you this, but it’s always better to hear from people in the industry, which is why I asked just a handful of our members to share their experiences.
“AVIXA membership enables us to promote Audio Visual training and professional certification to both permanent and freelance AV staff. It also affords access to informative workshops and industry networking opportunities – says Graeme Massey, Managing Director of audio visual recruitment firm JacobsMassey -. Above all it provides us with the very latest news and trends within the AV industry”. “Being AVIXA members shows that as a company we are striving to make everything we design and deliver meet a worldwide recognised standard”, adds Dan Saville, System Designer, Pure Audio Visual.
So, what can you get out of becoming an AVIXA member, whether that be through your company or individually?
Events
Out of AVIXA’s 11,400 enterprise and individual members alone, you’ll find manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, consultants, programmers, live events companies, technology managers, content producers and multimedia professionals from more than 80 countries.
You can connect with these people at a plethora of AVIXA events – from giant trade shows like ISE and InfoComm, to smaller local events like our Business Workshops or Diversity Council group meetings – you can see the latest technology solutions first-hand, while sharing ideas on business practices with your peers.
Education
Furthermore, designated membership levels have access to our education offering, including our Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS). There are currently more than 12,000 CTS holders and over 2,000 of those are CTS-D or CTS-I holders. Last year we passed 1,000 CTS members in Europe, a significant milestone for the region.
For those looking to get started towards the coveted CTS, AVIXA offers micro credentials and AV Technologist Certificate. As an AVIXA (Premium or Elite) member, you will also have access to the leading resource for AV performance standards, allowing you to elevate work quality, lower costs and increase efficiency. For ambitious companies, you’ll be able to prove your worth and become a recognized AV Provider of Excellence (APEx) company.
“CTS benefits both employee and the employer, but I feel that CTS benefits the employee most – said Justin Paveley, CTS-D, CTS-I, Engineering Director, AVMI -. CTS has given me self-confidence, credibility and a technical proficiency that I wouldn’t have received elsewhere”.
Accessibility
Basic membership is free – with no cost and no commitment. Basic benefits include an AVIXA member directory, an overview of AVIXA’s market intelligence, free webinars, free worldwide trade access, career planning tools and more. You can also choose to become a Premium or Elite member, which come with their own set of benefits.
To find out more about membership, visit avixa.org
