Recognizing the importance of continuing education for the home technology custom install professional as well as independent CE retailers, two powerhouse organizations are partnering to enhance the accessibility of learning platforms. 

CEDIA, long known for its strength in training the residential integration industry, and Nationwide Marketing Group, reportedly the largest buying group in the industry, which provides marketing and business support for retailers, are joining together. This partnership will provide Home Technology Specialists Nationwide (HTSN) dealers access to a wealth of educational resources.

According to the two organizations, through the partnership, HTSN dealers will receive complimentary membership with CEDIA, paid by Nationwide, and CEDIA member pricing toward CEDIA Academy courses and other training opportunities.

To further their dedication to HTSN dealers’ businesses, CEDIA and Nationwide are working on a collaboration to offer CEDIA Outreach Instructor Train the Trainer courses at future Nationwide PrimeTime shows and HTSN Summit events. Completing the course allows CEDIA members to provide continuing education unit (CEU) courses to industry partners such as designers and builders.

Through CEDIA Academy, integrators can choose from a host of technical and business courses, covering topics, including brand building, finance for the non-financial managers, hiring best practices, cash flow, etc. 

CEDIA assists members to become “job-ready” with its Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) pathway, which provides entry-level or new-to-the-industry technicians the foundational knowledge they need. Also accessible for CEDIA members is the Media Room-level access to The CEDIA Designer, which helps integrators create “technically perfect” home cinema or media room designs quickly.

For added convenience, Nationwide and CEDIA are working to integrate the courses into the Nationwide eXchange platform. Therefore, through one portal, HTSN dealers will be able to explore CEDIA’s training opportunities and shop for product for their businesses.

Nationwide President and Chief Member Advocate, Tom Hickman, emphasized the value of education. In a statement, he said: “When there are more certified and well-educated custom installers across our channel, it benefits everyone…And when it comes to training and education in the CI industry, CEDIA has long been the gold standard. We couldn’t think of a better or more complete curriculum than the one they bring to the table.”

CEDIA Interim Co-CEO Giles Sutton said that the partnership “with HTSN and Nationwide Marketing Group will broaden the opportunity to skill up the dealer community…We welcome our new members and look forward to helping them achieve greater success in this exciting industry.”

CEDIA will join Nationwide at Virtual PrimeTime, March 16-18, in the Consumer Electronics Lounge where they will be available to meet with dealers. The association also has plans to attend Nationwide’s summer PrimeTime show and the next in-person HTSN Summit.

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