Recently, 27 members of the Professional Systems Network, Inc., (PSNI) became the first group to complete InfoComm’s newest class — Project Management: Competencies and Structure, a foundational course providing the practical knowledge and hands-on exercises needed to start and complete a project successfully.
The curriculum of Project Management: Competencies and Structure focuses on the project life cycle phases, the corresponding project management processes, and the nine knowledge areas. The class allows participants to learn project management best practices with AV industry-specific case studies and start working towards a CAPM® or PMI Project Management Professional (PMP®) designation and increased credibility with clients. The training is recognized by the prestigious Project Management Institute and is conducted by a Project Management Institute (PMI®) Registered Education Provider (REP®).
PSNI, an international alliance of premier audio visual and broadcast systems integrators, provided positive feedback about the class. “We have seen the need for an AV-specific project management course as part of a movement to further professionalize the audiovisual field,” said Chris Miller, CTS, PSNI Executive Director. “InfoComm’s Project Management Class is the perfect way to ensure that AV professionals and building contractors, architects, and technology managers are all speaking the same language as a project progresses.”
Classroom participants attest to the quality of the program. “The instructor did an excellent job translating construction industry standards into the AV realm,” said Charles Coborn, Manager, Systems Integration, Snader Associates, Inc. “The course was great, the instructor was excellent,” Geary Franklyn, Senior Project Manager, Integrated Media Systems concurred.
InfoComm will be offering a related class, Project Management for Executives, which provides an executive overview of the five Project Management processes. “For companies sending project managers to the Competencies and Structures course, we highly recommend this class to maximize the project manager’s effectiveness within the company,” said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., InfoComm Executive Director. The class examines the authority and responsibilities associated with the key roles within a project and explores the different facets of an organization which must be in alignment in order to gain the full benefits of mature project management. These classes, like many of InfoComm’s offerings, can be taken during specified times, at InfoComm’s headquarters or tradeshow held in June each year, or offered for delivery onsite at a company.
PSNI, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is further solidifying its allegiance with InfoComm by requiring its members to achieve Certified Audio Visual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) status by January 2007. Companies can achieve Basic, Silver or Gold CAVSP levels based on the proportion of their technical sales and customer service personnel who earn InfoComm’s General or Specialized individual Certified Technology Specialist certification. PSNI Affiliates currently have over 450 CTS designated employees on staff and will have over 900 CTS by the end of 2006.
“With our 1500 employees creating $500 million in revenue, PSNI is well aware that quality can only be maintained through quality education and certification programs,” said Miller. “InfoComm delivers both, and the industry is better for it.”
InfoComm International is the trade association of the professional audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, the association’s 3,600 members include manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end-users and multimedia professionals from more than 60 countries. InfoComm International is the leading resource for AV market intelligence and news. Its training and education programs, along with its Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Certified Audiovisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) credentials, set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. InfoComm International is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers worldwide, and also co-sponsors the Integrated Systems events in Europe, China, India and Asia.
