Like Father, Like Son: Freshman Follows in Dad’s Footsteps with InfoComm Program

Griffin Towne is only 18 and halfway through his freshman year at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, but he already has a decent idea of where life might take him after he graduates from college.

In fact, all he has to do is follow his father’s footsteps. Towne was among this year’s class of grant recipients through InfoComm International’s International Communications Industry Foundation (ICIF) program. Last summer he worked in the Memphis office of M3 Technology Group, where his father, Michael, is senior account manager.

“I’m definitely thinking about doing something tech-related,” says Griffin Towne, who went to an entry-level Crestron programming class during spring break 2016.

The ICIF grant program “started as a great income augmenter for him, but we were looking for more,” says Michael Towne, alluding to the fact both M3 and InfoComm contributes $2,000 each to the cause through the grant program.

Towne worked 45 to 50 hours a week last summer at M3, mostly doing installations with some design and programming mixed in.

Michael Towne calls the ICIF grant program “a great opportunity to run through the summer. It became not only a great opportunity in terms of resources, but also a good way to bring a young person into the company. It changed the approach and attitude of other people in the office to have them mentoring someone else.”

Michael was happy to be part of the ICIF program but would like to see InfoComm tweak it to focus on rising college freshmen rather than gearing it more toward attracting upper-classmen. Overall, though, “it’s attractive to be in the tech field, and there’s a crunch for capable programmers.”

There was another benefit to the grant program for the elder Towne. “It’s great to work with your son and show him what you do professionally,” he says.

ICIF is not the only program InfoComm is using to attract the next generation of AV professionals. InfoComm International has partnered with Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) in Boston to create an AV technology program at the college.

The school offers coursework in AV technology within its computer technology department and plans to launch an associate degree in the field in January. Classes will include InfoComm courses Quick Start to the AV Industry, Essentials of AV Technology, AV Math and Networking Technology. Students will also take the AV Technologist exam.

Also See: How to Find (and Manage) the Best Employees

InfoComm also signed an agreement with Downey Unified School District in southern California to offer foundational AV coursework, giving students access to InfoComm’s online course Essentials of AV Technology and the Recognized AV Technologist Certificate Program (RAVT) exam. Students will also have access to the Certified Technology Specialist online prep course.

InfoComm has also built partnerships with Columbia College in Chicago, Valencia College in Orlando and Bogotá public schools in Colombia.

Now, let’s go Back Stage to find out more about Griffin Towne:

Commercial Integrator: How did you enjoy your time working at M3 last summer?

Griffin Towne: “I’m more of a problem-solver than a doer, so I’m more oriented toward programming and design [than installations]. As time went on, I became much more of a resource.”

His father agrees, saying Griffin “was an asset we were relying on. [Other M3 employees] wanted to help him and show him how to do things.”

CI: What will your experience last summer mean for your future?

Towne: “I’m hoping to graduate with a computer science degree, but this is something to fall back on. I had a general idea of what they were doing when I started but now I’m able to tell people about settings on projectors, hanging screens and other things like that.”