“Hearing and seeing things is one thing, but using and experiencing them is another,” says Pedigo.
MacCormack sees value in the Future Technology Pavilion but finds it better for readers to hear more about products that are either available at showtime or will be soon than hearing about a conceptual product that may never make it to the market. He also is partial to manufacturers that stock their booths with bottled water and have comfy chairs available for press meetings.
The last AV Week show of 2013 wrapped with a look at the Red Hook Initiative, a community outreach program that exposes at-risk youth to a variety of future options, including a career in AV.
“It’s up to each of us as integrators to reach out,” says Meade. “There are scholarships available but almost no one’s applying for them. It’s not always a matter of finding qualified individuals. We will train you if you have the aptitude and the interest level.”
Madison Media Institute in Wisconsin and the Walker Career Center are two similar programs to Red Hook, says Pedigo.
“There’s been incremental movement (on connecting industry vets and students) but it’s not fast enough to meet the demand,” he says. “We complain about the unemployment rate but it starts with us reaching out. It has to happen at the local level first.”
Watch AV Week episode 121, “Padded Floors and Walls”
