At its AGM last month, CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) revealed its determination to deliver what members want from the organisation. CEDIA Region 1 recently announced the acquisition of 49% of the CEDIA Region 2 stake in Integrated Systems Europe.
At the AGM, the Board also revealed that plans are well under way for Expo 2008, with the vast majority of the expanded floor space already reserved. Chairman Simon Williams pointed out that – because CEDIA does not exist to make a profit – increased levels of revenue to the Region 1 organisation would translate directly into benefits for its members across Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India and Africa.
“We are clearly focused on giving value and benefits to our members,” said Williams. “Through certification we are working hard to differentiate CEDIA members from their competition and give them an advantage. We are seeking to help them by making better business documentation available to them, by generating awareness amongst design professionals, and by improving their marketing through the CEDIA Awards scheme.
“We are also looking beyond the UK to provide properly funded outreach to the Region, thanks largely to our investment in the Integrated Systems Europe event,” Williams added.
As part of the AGM, Steve Martin, CEDIA Education Chair highlighted the growth of the education programme and the countdown to mandatory certification from January 2008. To date, 61 CEDIA members are able to lead CPD training, with more than 600 architects taking the course in the past nine months.
International training is also taking off, with courses run by CEDIA at ISE, PALME (Dubai), IS Russia, the ISE Roadshows and CEDIA US Expo, as well as a very successful Installer level one review and exam in South Africa and training sessions in Switzerland.
Martin also announced that the number of UK CEDIA Certified Instructors now stands at 67, up from 25 last year. Initiatives for the coming year which include the introduction of a new education committee, the roll out of new advanced designer exams; high quality handouts to training attendees – online and in hard copy – and tracking of CEU points via a new database for the benefit of CEDIA and its members.
In the association’s election, which featured nine Trade Supplier members, Adrian Blundell of distributor CSE (pictured) was newly elected to the board; he will take up the mantle of Trade Suppliers Council Chair. Stuart Tickle of distribution company AWE Europe was re-elected to the board, and will serve a further two years as Expo Chair. His Treasurer responsibilities pass to Paul Hellier of D&T Electronics, a former ESP Expo chair.
