I recently sat down with the folks at Catalyst AV Distribution Group. Catalyst AV, a network of independent consumer electronics distributors, has begun phase two of its, “Great North American Catalyst AV/AVPro Edge Training Tour”. Phase one was held during the spring of this year. Manufacturers Cleerline and Techlogix have joined AVPro for the 2019/2020 training schedule.
The Catalyst AV Executive Director and two members talked to me about what prompted phase two of the training tour.
Maureen Jenson: Hi Helge, I know phase one of the training tour was highly successful. Please tell our readers about your findings?
Helge Fischer, Catalyst AV Executive Director: During the first six months of 2019 our distribution membership trained well over 1,500 integrators in product use during the first phase of our training tour. We are delighted to add manufacturers Cleerline and Techlogix to the next six months of training. This gives the integrator even more bang for their time investment buck and provides a much richer training experience.
The trainings during the first half of 2019, all involved netted direct bottom-line dollar results. Our members and AVPro were beyond delighted!
Maureen Jenson: Hi Harold, you recently had your phase two trainings in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh at two locations. Please tell our readers the outcome and what you focused on?
Catalyst AV member Harold Ulery, Dorrance Supply Co, (serving IN, OH, KY, WV, Western PA ): That’s right Maureen, we had AVPro and Cleerline in attendance and trained a total of 49 dealers across the two trainings. 25 in Indianapolis and 24 in Pittsburgh. With Cleerline we covered ‘why fiber?’ That involved choosing the right fiber for a specific install, Cleerline vs others and a hands on termination training. With AVPro the training was on AVPro Fiber solutions, HDMI Matrixes, HDMI troubleshooting with Fox n Hound tool, new ConferX conference room pieces. The pictures tell the value of the experience.
Dorrance Supply Co Training – Indianapolis
Dorrance Supply Co Training – Pittsburgh
Maureen Jenson: Patrick, you recently completed phase two trainings at Audio Video Warehouse in AZ. As we get closer to 2020, what are some of the issues effecting your dealers?
Catalyst AV member Patrick Boyer, Audio and Video Warehouse (serving AZ, NV, NM, El Paso TX): Hi Maureen, understanding advanced video connectivity centered around the coming 8k standard is very complicated. At The Audio Video Warehouse, we are committed to providing our customers the advanced training necessary to design, install and troubleshoot these systems.
AV Warehouse Training – Las Vegas
We partnered with the leaders in the industry to bring the cutting edge solutions our dealers need. Cleerline Technology Group provides everything required for the fiber infrastructure and AVPro Edge provides matrix switches, extenders, distribution amps, HDMI cables and other video distribution products that provide dealers the product and knowledge necessary to implement profitable, repeatable systems.
Added AV Warehouse’s Brian Hutchinson: These events allow our dealers to stay ahead of technology trends while improving upon their ability to diagnose systems efficiently and consistently.
Being on the bleeding edge of technology is not easy. Sharing our knowledge and reinforcing our ability to support the dealer, at whatever the cost, reinforces our relationship. Technology will forever change. But our relationships will last a lifetime.
A closing comment from Matt Murray, CTO AVPro Global Hldgs: These trainings are crucial for the success of all installers. As a company focused on pushing audio video technology into the future, AVPro is proud to work with not just Dorrance Supply Co and AV Warehouse, but the entire Catalyst AV distributor group.
We have just been part of the AV Warehouse trainings in Arizona and Las Vegas. They are extremely customer service focused and always available for their installers. They believe in training, education and support to keep installers on the cutting edge that is unmatched by others. It is always impressive to work with them because they are always taking things to the edge of what is possible and keeping not only themselves, but their customers viable in the technology industry as the world evolves! We constantly recommend installers to engage with AV Warehouse and Dorrance Supply Co, and they never regret it.