For Immediate Release
October 30, 2006
Press Contacts:
Jamie Antcliff
CEDIA
317-328-4336, ext. 119
jantcliff@cedia.org
Joshua Ryan Hall of Publicis for CEDIA
317-639-5135, ext. 116
joshua.hall@publicis-usa.com
CEDIA Unveils Strategy Driving Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
Detailed outreach platform seeks to strengthen
industry through hands-on experience and classroom instruction
Indianapolis, Ind. – The residential
electronic systems industry is expected to top $8 billion1 in
revenue this year and the Custom Electronic Design & Installation
Association (CEDIA) is embarking on a grassroots campaign to
ensure that its highly skilled and certified Member companies
capture the largest share of market possible.
Through its 2007 Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO,
CEDIA is reaching out to architects, designers builders, IT/security
managers, and other professional trades with the message that
electronic systems boost profits and CEDIA Members are the
most reputable and qualified partners for the design/build
process.
“Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
is the centerpiece of an outreach platform that will shape
the future of residential electronic systems contracting and
position CEDIA Members as critical to the design and construction
of every modern home,” said Don Gilpin, executive director
of CEDIA.
Three separate educational outreach components
held in Las Vegas at the same time will feed into CEDIA’s
Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO.
The Electronic Lifestyles® Forum,
which caters to architects, interior designers and residential
builders will include significant time on the Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
trade show floor. This is in direct response to feedback from
CEDIA’s inaugural Electronic Lifestyles® Forum
where attendees indicated that classroom instruction is essential,
but that hands-on experience with products and technologies,
as well as manufacturer product training would help to solidify
the electronic systems concepts. Industry professionals will
serve as CEDIA Ambassadors and escort the attending architects,
builders and interior designers through the trade show floor.
CEDIA believes providing industry professionals
as outreach ambassadors will maximize the effectiveness of
the trade show floor. The ambassadors will be able to answer
technical questions and serve as a bridge between the classroom
learning and hands-on experience.
The two other components of Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
include CU on the Road and a new “gateway” education
developed for security, IT and other professional trades that
have passive involvement with the residential electronic systems
industry. CU on the Road is CEDIA University’s traveling
educational program offering core curriculum courses, seminars,
certification reviews and exams, and full-day workshops. Visit www.cedia.org for
more information on CU on the Road. Details on the new entry-level “gateway” event
will be released later this year.
Attendees at both of the CU
on the Road and Gateway education will also have significant
time on the Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO tradeshow
floor.
“By reinventing the typical trade show
into the convergence point for multiple outreach and educational
initiatives, CEDIA has strengthened its influence among key
design/build audiences and reduced the number of overall industry
exhibition events for its manufacturing members,” Gilpin
said. “And because the new platform is scalable, we will
be able to add additional outreach and education events that
feed into Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO as those
needs or opportunities arise.”
The 2007 Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
will be held in Las Vegas, April 18, 19, 20, and 21, at the
Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian hotel. Booth
space sales are open to exhibitors now. Companies interested
in exhibiting at the 2007 Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
may contact Jennifer Roth of CEDIA at 317-328-4336 or jroth@cedia.org.
CEDIA is an international trade association
of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic
systems for the home. The association was founded in September
1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA
Members are established and insured businesses with bona fide
qualifications and experience in this specialized field. CEDIA
Members include residential electronic systems contractors
who have emerged as the “fourth contractor” in
the building and remodeling industries alongside electrical,
plumbing, and HVAC professionals. For more information on CEDIA,
visit the association’s Web site at www.cedia.org.
# # #
EDITOR’S NOTES: Executive
Director Don Gilpin is available for phone interviews to provide
further insight into the strategy behind Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO.
Contact Joshua Hall at 317-639-5135, ext. 116 or joshua.hall@publicis-usa.com.
1 Information on market revenue provided
by Parks Associates.
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