Aptly titled, “Tomorrow Starts Today” ProSource Summit 2020 kicked off in Las Vegas on March 8th.
ProSource CEO and President Dave Workman told over 400 attendees about some of the successes of 2019, including 39 new members, and discussed many new initiatives primed to help make 2020 a remarkable year for ProSource members.
One of the strongest announcements was the upcoming launch of the ProSource University Learning Management System. “ProSource U” is an educational program that is designed to assist business owners with the challenges of onboarding, training and retaining new employees in the custom installation channel.
Said Workman, “The #1 prohibitive factor in growing your business is getting the right people. We’ve got to evolve beyond that. ProSource U is the buying group’s answer to the difficult question most, if not all, dealers and retailers face: How can I grow my business if I can’t on-board, train and retain new talent?”
“We are bringing members a program that will provide a complete structure that will assist with training a new hire as a qualified technician, sales representative or whatever else is needed; it will take your business to the next level. ProSource U is going to be a repository for all of our vendor training. We are THE ONLY GROUP to have access to the entire CEDIA content library. ProSource U will allow you as a business owner to bring people in and have a structure to bring them through your organization.”
ProSource U is currently in beta testing and is scheduled to roll out to the general membership in Summer 2020.
Healthcare objectives were also high up on the agenda and the group has partnered with Cigna. Said Workman, “Cigna is a real game changer and we are expecting a huge upside this year; businesses will be covered in all 50 states. These are the big goals that buying groups should be taking on and these goals are not easy. The potential for members’ savings is huge. One member saved $250,000 on providing health care last year to his team of 100 employees.”
Also on the agenda, was an expanded Town Hall schedule, Summer Education Series, Regional Lighting Seminars and the ProSource Exclusive Lighting Certification. More to come in the months ahead!
Members of the Year
South Central: Sound Effects/SFX AV, Mesa, AZ, Wesley Palmer, Owner
North Central: Pflanz Electronics, Sioux City, IA, Scott Pflanz, Owner
Southeast: Twisted Pair Media, Nashville, TN, Ryan Shelton and Wesley Kinney, Owners
West: Infinite Home Theater, Meridian, ID, Maitland and Katie Fritzley, Owners
Northeast: Home Technology Experts, Manhattan, the Hamptons and South Hampton, NY, Alex Karoussos, Owner
PRO Level Member: Nebraska Furniture Mart, headquarters in Omaha, NE, Irv Blumkin, CEO
Dave Workman opens the Summit 2020 in Las Vegas.
Lighting guru David Warfel expands upon the upcoming ProSource U opportunities.
Eric Bodley, Future Ready Solutions; Pat Mulligan, Pacific Audio and Communications and Bjorn Dybdahl of Bjorn’s. Said Mulligan: “Being a ProSource member, with all of the benefits, constantly helps our business grow.”
