AiN Group 2014 Live & Learn Conference
AiN (Authorized Integrators Network) Group, now in its 13th year, held its first stand-alone conference in late January at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Fla. AiN is the managing partner of GE Home and Security Technologies (GEHT), a network of about 200 dealers who are authorized to sell and install GE-branded security systems from Interlogix, as well as sound systems, lighting, home automation, central vacuum, and other technologies from approximately 30 approved vendors.
Dr. Topher Morrison Speaks at AiN Group Live & Learn Conference
Do you have the trust and relationships in place to be not just a boss, but also an influential leader of your business? Motivational speaker Dr. Topher Morrison helped guests of the AiN 2014 Live & Learn Conference understand the principles they need to consider and adopt in order to be a more successful leader. At another motivational session, presenter Garrison Wynn spoke about leadership, human behavior and communication. Perhaps the message that hit home with most of the dealers was when he discussed generational differences in managing younger workers. “If I want to lead someone under 30, I need to praise them along the way because that’s what they’re used to,” Wynn said.
AiN Group at Live & Learn Conference
New Program Presented at AiN Live & Learn Conference
AiN Group’s Larry Wright, Todd Girdis and Renee Lupo (left to right) presented a new National Builder Program that will target top national homebuilders to use AiN dealers for security and other residential systems. AiN — or, Authorized Integrators Network — is the managing partner of GE Home and Security Technologies (GEHT). AiN Group’s network of about 200 dealers are authorized to sell and install GE-branded security systems from Interlogix. The builder offering would encompass five main technologies: structured wiring, surround sound, security, whole house audio, and vacuum.
Michael Barnes speaks at AiN Group Live & Learn
Bryan Lawrence Speaks at AiN Group Live & Learn Conference
Bryan Lawrence (with microphone), of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, informed dealers about the top 10 things you need to know about customer contracts, as part of a best practices dealer panel that covered contracts, insurance, recruitment and hiring, and employee compensation and benefits — all relevant topics for dealers at the 2014 AiN Group Live & Learn Conference.
AiN Group Live & Learn Product Showcase
The AiN Group Live and Learn Product Showcase brought together approximately 400 conference guests in a pirate-themed “treasure hunt” that called for dealers to visit each vendor booth in order to be eligible for prizes. About 30 vendors were part of the showcase, representing a wide variety of products and services, including UTC/Interlogix, Linear, Bose, H-P Products/Dirt Devil, Windy City Wire, Tri-Ed, Kwikset, Alarm.com, Klipsch, SageQuest, Relidy, Legrand, and many others.
Barry Rutenberg Speaks at AiN Group Live & Learn Conference
Barry Rutenberg, immediate past chair of the National Association of Homebuilders, gave AiN Group conference attendees an insider’s look at the politics and regulatory environment affecting homebuilding, as well as a positive forecast for future building. He showed a forecast from the NAHB that predicts single-family starts will number around 92 percent of “normal” by fourth quarter 2015.
AJ Gomez Speaks at AiN Group Live & Learn Conference
AiN dealer AJ Gomez (at podium) spoke about a telemarketing effort during a dealer panel on best practices in sales, marketing and advertising. Other dealers who participated were (left to right, seated) Barry Bruce, Bob Mariano, Dan Dubansky, Randi Elrad, and Chris Vendemia.
AiN Group at Live & Learn Conference Awards Ceremony
An elegant awards ceremony was held during the conference, at which 33 awards (18 from AiN and 15 from strategic partners) were presented to the dealers. Guardian Protection Services; Phoenix Systems; and Security Force were honored with Dealer of the Year National Awards. Ranger Technology Solutions was honored with New Dealer “Rookie” of the Year by AiN Group. Interactive break-out sessions conducted by AiN Group manufacturing partners were held the following morning.