02.07.2007 — There are some who like to say that the only guarantees in life are death and taxes. Though simplistic, it’s pretty hard to argue with this statement.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope for custom-electronics professionals looking for certifications they can count on to build a solid business foundation.

Industry training from respected organizations like the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and the Home Acoustics Alliance (HAA) provides installers with tools to significantly improve the quality of their work and differentiate their skills in a marketplace that many say is being watered down by mediocre quality.

Lots of Options

Within the electronics industry there are several well-known sources of education that are available beyond manufacturer training. There are training programs from groups such as THX for audio and video, BICSI for telecommunications, CompTIA for computing technologies, and training that covers the custom industry specifically from CEDIA.

Peter Hodson III, president of P3, Integration, has certifications from ISF, HAA, BICSI, CompTIA, CEDIA and the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA). He says it has taken time to accumulate these certifications, but it’s been beneficial for his company.

"These trainings combine to create a professional service provider that is capable of walking into most any circumstance to help a customer," he says.

"You never quite know what you will find when you arrive on site. Almost every time I do a job for a customer, upon successful completion I am asked to help the customer with something else. ‘Do you know about computers?’ Yes. ‘Telephones?’ Yes. ‘Wireless and wired LANs?’ Yes. I can’t tell you how many flat-panel jobs have translated into redoing a customer’s business infrastructure."

A/V Is Hook

Every profession has its star attractions. In the NFL it’s players like Tom Brady, and in rock-n-roll it’s guitarists like Eddie Van Halen. In the world of custom installation, audio/video is the headlining attraction for consumers.

This means that in addition to the high levels of customer service expected from integrators it is imperative that installers provide their clients with the best possible A/V experience.

Installers like Hodson note that because of the training they’ve received from the ISF and the HAA they’ve been able to separate their businesses from the crowded mainstream. "The customers know within five minutes that you are their man," exclaims Hodson. "Once you gain trust and demonstrate that you can do the job, they are all too happy to recommend you to their friends."

He adds that the benefits of the training extend further than word-of-mouth referrals because his customers receive the benefit of having an expertly installed system from a certified integrator.

Installers interested in enrolling in training seminars from the ISF and HAA can catch the educational sessions in locations across the country.