Why CEDIA’s ROI Program Pays Off

CEDIA's Registered Outreach Instructor (ROI) program is a valuable business building tool that enables CEDIA members to provide accredited continuing education unit [CEU] courses to local design and building industry providers.

Dealers who take and pass the ROI Train-the-Trainer class can present CEDIA-developed courseware to architects, designers and builders within their geographic regions who belong to any of eight associations that have approved the ROI course material for their members.

The program was designed to help dealers develop new business relationships with potential referral partners without the cost of course development or submission for approval through industry partner associations.

CEDIA-registered outreach instructor Kurt Korfhage of Lexington, Ky.-based Integration Unlimited praises the ROI program as "one of the best tools that a CEDIA member can invest in to educate partners while gaining trust." He adds, "The program also hopes to raise awareness of CEDIA as an organization and resource to other building and design professionals to enhance the level of respect we get as an industry — and further establish our channel as the fourth necessary trade."

Peggy Ward, CEDIA's industry outreach education manager, adds that, "ultimately, the goal of the ROI program is to have residential building and design partners recognize CEDIA, look to our members as experts in the field, and call on them for future work."

The ROI program debuted more than three years ago at the CEDIA Lifestyle Conference with three education courses and a one-hour Train-the-Trainer session. "It soon became obvious that, though the concept was brilliant, the courses were too simplistic and cookie-cutter and the training was insufficient to prepare dealers to deliver professional-quality presentations," says Barry McCorkle, former ROI action committee chair.

A volunteer team consisting of several working committees was assembled to set new strategic goals for the program, decide what courses to develop, create new PowerPoint presentations with subject matter experts, and partner with additional building and design associations to accredit the courses.

Present Like a Pro

Another action team headed by Matt Carter of Columbia, S.C.-based Encore Technology + Design with Marilyn Sanford of Vancouver, B.C.- based La Scala Home Cinema + Integrated Media, Barry McCorkle of Nationwide buying group and others was tasked with creating a meatier one-day Train-the-Trainer program which was first delivered in April 2008 and has been offered six times since. Much of the one-day program involves teaching the principles of adult learning.