CEDIA Resource Helps Members Prosper During Challenging Marketplace, Housing Decline

“Survival of the Fittest” webinar series offers online discussions and blogs on critical business topics to CEDIA members only

Indianapolis, Ind. (January 22, 2008) – The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) offers a new, free resource that is designed to help members face challenges, such as the declining housing market and possible retreat of consumer spending. CEDIA’s “Survival of the Fittest – Sustaining & Growing in Today’s Challenging Marketplace” webinar series will begin next month.

“The CEDIA Board of Directors knows that the housing decline and other economic factors are making running electronic systems contracting businesses more difficult,” said Utz Baldwin, President of CEDIA’s Board of Directors. “We face the same challenges in our own ESC businesses across North America and CEDIA is stepping up and doing something about it.”

The “Survival of the Fittest” Campaign will include 10 Webinar sessions, hosted the 2nd Thursday of every month at 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST. With the first webinar scheduled for February 14. The webinars will be broadcast live, but will then be recorded and posted online for members to utilize at their convenience. Question and answer sessions will be held after each 30-45 minute presentation. CEDIA is utilizing its key subject matter experts to help facilitate the presentations.

The webinars will cover the following topics:

• Market Issues—Construction Downturns, Working with Production Builders, etc.
• Strategic Issues—Marketing & Sales, Clear & Measurable Metrics, etc.
• Operational Issues—Lack of Adequate Systems/Processes, etc.
• Human Resource Issues—Qualified Personnel, Employee Engagement, etc.

The aforementioned topics are sample topics and may be utilized to build initial webinar models, but CEDIA is interested in building content for this campaign that is driven and chosen by CEDIA members.

The webinar series will also offer a blog and forum component available for members and subject matter experts to exchange ideas and gain further insight regarding the webinar topics. CEDIA members may register at www.cedia.org/survival and webinar suggestions may be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA Members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association’s website at www.cedia.org.

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