Great employees are the heartbeat of any industry — especially commercial integration. That’s why the NSCA Education Foundation’s mission is focused on helping professionals develop new skills, grow their confidence and discover what they’re capable of achieving.
It’s no secret that seasoned professionals are retiring faster than new workers are joining the industry. Thus, the work of the NSCA Education Foundation has never been more vital. It works to bridge the gap, inspire fresh talent and ensure that the industry’s future stays bright.
This year is a big one for the Foundation. It marks 25 years of building better futures and empowering tomorrow’s leaders.
What follows is a snapshot of what the NSCA Education Foundation has accomplished in the last 25 years — and we’re still going strong!
An Initiative to Create a Qualified Workforce
The NSCA Education Foundation is responsible for Ignite, a workforce-development initiative aimed at establishing a larger, more capable workforce. This is done by connecting students and new professionals with education opportunities that let them experience careers in our industry.
It also funds the Ignite Internship Program, which helps integrators create frameworks around internship programs, and which offers $1,000 grants to subsidize the costs of bringing on interns.
“Over the past few summers, we’ve welcomed interns through Ignite,” Dawna Payne, executive vice president at Texadia Systems, says. “The grants offered have helped us open doors to careers in technology and show students the real-world possibilities that exist within our industry. One of our interns is joining us as a full-time programmer after he graduates.”
Ongoing Education to Sustain Industry Growth
Helping more than 4,000 students attend technical colleges throughout North America by offering financial support, we are preparing industry newcomers for careers in commercial integration. This continued investment in education cultivates a skilled workforce to ensure industry growth and innovation.
Entry-Level Certification Programs to Empower Workers
In 2006, the Foundation established the Electronic Systems Professional Alliance (ESPA), a communications technology consortium offering training, curriculum and apprenticeship programs for entry-level workers.
ESPA went on to create a universally recognized certification program for electronic systems technicians (ESTs) in the residential and commercial integration industries.
Scholarships to Build Leadership Skills
To help professionals develop leadership and business skills, the NSCA Education Foundation established the Randy Vaughan Leadership Awards program. So far, we’ve offered more than $500,000 in scholarships to industry professionals so that they can attend the Business & Leadership Conference (BLC) at no cost.
“Attending BLC through a Randy Vaughan Scholarship helped shift my perspective from designer to ownership and sales, which gave me valuable insight into areas where my organization can grow,” Greg Stewart, director of engineering at Valley Communications, says. “The opportunity to have focused conversations with peers about business strategy and challenges provided a broader view of the industry and reinforced the importance of cross-functional thinking.”
Data and Research to Boost Business
We produce valuable research every year that integrators use to run their businesses better. These reports include the Electronic Systems Outlook, the Financial Analysis of the Industry, the Compensation & Benefits Report, the Labor Installation Standard and the Guide to State Licensing. Many of them are made possible through funds from the NSCA Education Foundation.
“The Financial Analysis of the Industry helps us take an in-depth look at integrator operations and dynamics to better understand the company’s financial health,” Brandon Lawshe, vice president at MVS, explains. “It also helps us decide where to focus our business strategy in terms of market verticals.”
Resources to Improve School Security
PASS K-12 (the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) was established in 2014 using funds from the NSCA Education Foundation. And, today, we continue to support it. As a result, more than 4,000 schools have integrated PASS Guidelines into their technology and safety plans.
PASS provides comprehensive information on best practices for securing K-12 school facilities, offering tools and insights to help school administrators, school boards and public safety professionals implement security measures that are highly effective.
Related: PASS Reaffirms Leadership in Fostering Safer Schools
The PASS Guidelines act as the bedrock of “a layered approach to school safety and security,” Allan Cameron, PhD, superintendent at Wrentham Public Schools in Massachusetts, says. “We’ve collaborated with local police to ensure our protocols reflect the best practices outlined by PASS. We have expanded our video surveillance resources, visitor monitoring systems, cybersecurity and alarms based on the PASS guidance. We will continue to use the PASS Guidelines as we continue to review and improve our infrastructure and protocols.”
Training to Prepare Future Leaders
By launching the Next-Gen Academy, a training resource for rising stars who want to be better prepared to lead, the NSCA Education Foundation gives young professionals a resource to which they can turn. It offers guidance on building skills and knowledge, as well as overcoming setbacks and challenges.
Empowering Future Leaders to Excel
Through the Excellence in Business Operations (XBO) Experience event, the NSCA Education Foundation helps up-and-coming industry leaders get the training they need to excel in leadership.
As part of XBO, the Jeff M. Kindig Future Leaders Scholarship is funded by the Foundation; it covers registration fees for XBO attendees who see themselves as next-generation leaders.
“At XBO, learning about the importance of trust in the workplace, building a strong foundation for future success and understanding the impact of global leadership broadened my perspective and inspired me to strive for excellence,” Gabby Miller, customer experience manager at SVT, says. “The event boosted my confidence and prepared me for a future in the industry.”
Help Us Enable Industry Growth
The NSCA Education Foundation is committed to enabling industry growth by providing access to the best education and the latest practices available. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, there are tax incentives for giving. (You may be able to deduct donations.)
If the NSCA Education Foundation has impacted you, we’d love to tell your story. Reach out to NSCA’s director of workforce development, Laura Janssen, at [email protected].
Tom LeBlanc is executive director of NSCA. To learn more about becoming an NSCA member, go to NSCA.org.
