2008 International CES Mobile Electronics Boot Camp

Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC)
January 7-8, 2008
www.CESweb.org

Co-Sponsored by:
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) Program

Have you finalized all of your CES career enhancement plans yet?
You are probably already going to the International CES and plan to attend all the exhibits in the North Hall, but what about your career enhancement plans?

What are you doing to enhance your career or the career of your employees? For this objective, MECP is proud to announce a partnership with ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) for the CES Mobile Electronic Installer Boot Camp!

What is the Boot Camp all about?
The Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) program is always a special highlight of CES. This year, we’ve added to the educational program to broaden the topics and networking opportunities that are focused on today’s technician and specialist retailers over the course of 24 hours. That’s why we are calling it the Boot Camp! It’s packed with more than you’d expect to experience in 24 hours!

During the Mobile Electronics Boot Camp you’ll enjoy:

• An invitation to CEA’s Mobile Electronics Division reception on Monday, January 7 at 6 p.m. to kick off your MECP-CES experience! This is where the leaders in the industry and many key MECP Master Installation Technicians get together to talk shop and exchange information.
• On Tuesday, January 8, there are five conference sessions focused on topics important to all installation professionals and specialty retailers. It even includes lunch!
• Access to our co-sponsors, the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in their booth during CES
• Complimentary MECP study guide of your choice (choose at the conference to be sent in the mail)
• Complimentary MECP exam voucher of your choice (choose at the conference to be sent to you via e-mail)
• Access to the LVCC, North Hall In-Vehicle Technology exhibits
• Access to the LVCC, North Hall Member Lounge, including Internet access, free meeting space, business services, and complimentary food and beverages. This is a great perk that will save you money over the course of the show and give you a relaxed place to recharge!!
• Attendees will be recognized by an Installation Technician ribbon, affixed to their CES badge
• Your session wraps up with access to the General Motors keynote speech on Tuesday, January 8 at 4:30 p.m.

What are the conference session topics?  
All of the conference sessions take place Tuesday, January 8 in the LVCC, North Hall, N264.

There are five (5) sessions that run between 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Lunch is provided between the morning and afternoon sessions!

Session MECP1
OEM Integration Strategies: Mastering the Future of Entertainment Integration in Today's Cars
9-10:15 a.m. Tuesday, January 8   LVCC, North Hall, N264

Learn from key players in in-vehicle technology on what’s on the horizon for you in the installation bay. Our presenters will discuss what's coming from Detroit in regard to multimedia gateways and OEM entertainment challenges and opportunities for installation technicians. It’s a great session to get focused on what you need to do to reinvent yourself so tomorrow’s cars don’t pass you by!

Moderator:       Robert Garza, President and CEO, Select Products
Panelists:         Kris Bulla, President and COO, Victory Technologies
                        Chris Cook, VP of Integration Technologies, Mitek Corp.
Andy Wehmeyer, Product Marketing Manager, JBL & Infinity Mobile, Harman Consumer Group

Session MECP2
Automotive Electrical Troubleshooting: A Clinic on Using Diagnostic Test Tools
10:30-11:45 a.m. Tuesday, January 8   LVCC, North Hall, N264

You might know how to troubleshoot some electrical problems your way, but this session will help you troubleshoot them the right way! Through our expert presenter Jorge Menchu, you’ll learn what the top installation technicians know – how to use diagnostic test tools to help you identify current and future problems in your customers’ cars. You’ll get advice on how to get the most of your oscilloscope, scan tools, and various other accessories. This will be a “How This Works" and "What Does This Do" session.

Presenter:  Jorge Menchu, Founder, AESwave

Session MECP3 (Working Lunch)
Leaders in Mobile Electronics Installation - Q&A Session
Noon-12:45 p.m. Tuesday, January 8   LVCC, North Hall, N264

Not only will we provide you with a complimentary boxed lunch, but we’ll also provide you with the opportunity to join in on the conversation. Through this session, you will be able to speak directly with the leading automotive mechanics and installation technicians to discuss issues and challenges that impact your work life.

Presenters:       Tony Molla, VP of Communications, NIASE
                        Todd Ramsey, President, Ramsey Consulting Group Inc.

Session MECP4
Hybrid Gas/Electric Vehicle Safety and Technology
1-2:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 8   LVCC, North Hall, N264

Have you heard that working on hybrid vehicles can be a difficult and dangerous job? Don’t be fooled! It’s only hard if you don’t know what you are doing. Through this session you will gain a better understanding of how these vehicles work and what you need to know when working on them.

Presenter: David Hobbs, Training Instructor, Automotive Career Development Center

Session MECP5
The Installation Bay You Really Want
2:30- 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, January 8   LVCC, North Hall, N264

How do you move jobs through the bay, maintain high quality standards, and attach custom labor all while staying profitable? What makes you a specialist? This session led by independent mobile electronics retailers and one large national retailer will help you better understand identifying essential processes and techniques to keep the standards high while rocketing right past the competition in productivity. The panel will cover tooling, staff training, scheduling, documentation, and much more. When you understand what other successful retailers are doing, you can bring back specialty mobile electronics retailing to your store!

Moderator:       Robert Fields, President and CEO, Victory Technologies
Panelists:         Scott Whitehead, Benchmark Motoring (Bellevue, WA)
                        Joshua Landau, President, JML Audio (St Louis, MO)
                        Randall Schwartz, Senior Services Academy Manager, Best Buy
                        Jeff Smith, Owner, Audio Designs of Atlanta                
   

What does it cost?
The entire boot camp costs $149, but if you are MECP certified, ASE certified, or a CEA member – you can get the whole thing for just $99. Considering all of the education, the networking opportunities, and the MECP study guide and exam voucher, it’s like we’re paying you to attend!

How do I register?
Registration is easy, but be patient. Follow the link below and click “Registration” in the upper left corner. You will be taken to the CES registration page where you will need to register for the show – not just these conferences. If you have already registered for CES, use your e-mail address and password you set up during the original registration to revisit your account and simply add the Installer Boot Camp to your registration profile!

Register Here – http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/conferences/search/session_by_track_list.asp?ID_track=CES08_MEIT

Remember to click the “Register” link at the top left side of the page. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

What if I need more help registering?
No problem, if you need more help registering, just call CES conference registration customer service at (866) 233-7968 or via e-mail at CESreg@CE.org.

If you are an international attendee and are interested in attending the Installer Boot Camp and you require further assistance, contact the international registration customer service desk at +1 (301) 694-5243 or via e-mail at Internationalreg@CE.org.

Should I really make the effort to go?
It’s one of those events that you are going to hear about as MECP kicks off a big year in 2008. Besides the new conference partnership with ASE and the incredible networking opportunities at the Mobile Division Reception the night before the conference sessions, you really need to consider what you are doing to enhance your own position in the industry, either as a technician or a retail owner/manager. Instead of wondering why you should go, you should really be asking yourself “why not?”