So that’s a wrap on the 2019 Spring E4 Experience. And this year, it was more than an event… it was an Experience. Read on, I’ll explain.
In this, its tenth year Almo shed the name of the award winning E4 AV Tour, and rebranded the event the E4 Experience. Said Melody Craigmyle, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Almo Corporation, “We’re seeing the industry really focus on the customer experience, be it live events, business meetings or house of worship experiences. We are giving them an invaluable, full-day encounter that enables resellers, integrators and end-users to connect, learn and grow. Especially if they’ve not got the opportunity to travel to other industry trade shows.”
Outside of InfoComm, (happening June 8-14 in Orlando, FL), the only other show you can attend and receive multiple CTS Renewal Units in a single day is the E4 Experience, featuring new exhibitors, new instructors, and exciting new networking opportunities.
Almo created new partnerships in 2019 with the SDVoE Alliance to offer an AV-over-IP Design Certification as well as the Digital Signage Federation to give attendees the opportunity to earn certification in the fast-paced Foundations of Digital Signage course. Back by popular demand this spring was the highly attended Guided Exhibit Hall Tour, led by industry veteran and rAVe [Publications] founder Gary Kayye.
“We recruited super-star educations – influential and highly respected business professionals – to help our attendees stretch their knowledge, spark new ideas and embrace the future of Pro AV and IT”, said Craigmyle.
Among those all-star instructors who joined us in Chicago and Southern California this March and April was Justin Kennington, president of SDVoE, who said the organization was happy to participate in the E4 Experience because of the opportunity to make the jobs easier for system designers and installers, ultimately making their customers happier. He noted “the Certified Design Partner program teaches attendees the difference between designing with matrix switches and designing with SDVoE – those who are certified become recognized experts in how to successfully design AV systems on this platform and how to communication the benefits to customers.”
Brian Gorg, executive director of the Digital Signage Federation was also pleased to be able to bring unbiased and relevant information to those looking to further their digital signage practice. “The Digital Signage Federation is proud to participate in the E4 Experience where we may education integrators, resellers and end users about the business and technical aspects of digital signage.
In total, there were 11 CTS Renewal Units to be had whether you attended Chicago or Southern California. It’s impossible to attend two classes at once, but the sheer availability to earn a total of five in a single day is virtually unheard of. Thanks to the incredible partnerships Almo has with our manufacturer partners and sponsors, the opportunity to maintain this very important certification was provided to all attendees free of charge and included parking validation, breakfast and lunch, and hundreds of products on exhibit featuring the latest technology available by vendors like LG, Sharp, and new vendors like Vivitek, D-Link systems, VDO360 and Barco.
If certification RUs and hot new technology wasn’t your thing, we had that covered, too. Sharp presented a hugely popular autograph and photo opportunity with sports legends at both stops. Chicago guests were thrilled to meet and chat with former Chicago Bears quarterback and two-time Super Bowl Champion, Jim McMahon and in Southern California fans took autographs and selfies with former Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year, MVP and six-time All-Star Jose Canseco.
It’s a whirlwind, having two shows in two very different parts of the country within less than one month of each other! It takes a great deal of effort and planning to set up this one day show. Weeks to do site visits and choose an ideal location, more time to scrutinize schedules and choose a date that has no conflicts with holidays or other industry shows. Then months of coordinating with vendor partners to organize booth space, secure their latest technology to showcase and get it shipped to the location.
When it’s show time, it takes a village, but we set up an E4 Experience in a single day! It’s all hands on deck to set up every vendor booth, registration desk, classrooms and the main stage. It’s fun to see it all come together. And the morning of the event really brings it home why we at Almo put so much effort into these events.
If you joined us in Chicago or Southern California let us know! Drop a comment and tell us what you thought, learned and or earned. And if you missed it, you’ll have another shot. Registration opens late summer for our fall show. We’ll be bringing our all-star instructors, advanced education, new technology, new vendor surprises and special celebrity autograph session to Teaneck, NJ on September 25 and Alpharetta, GA on October 15. We can’t wait to see you there!
