Bedrock Learning to Support the 2011 SkillsUSA Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance Contest

Bedrock Learning, the industry preferred connected home and commercial training provider, will join the 2011 National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo. this year as a Technical Committee member for the Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance Contest.

The SkillsUSA Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance Contest gathers both the High School and Post Secondary Gold Medalists from their state competitions which come from more than 300,000 SkillsUSA members from nearly 4,000 schools vie for an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and understanding of the industry’s best practices. Contestants must show a great deal of knowledge and understanding in connected home technologies. They are assessed in several technical areas including:

• Prepare cabling – Five types of cable
• Install a home theater – TV, sound system and simple calibration
• Install a wireless network with a laptop
• Security – hook-up a video surveillance system to a wireless network

In addition, the contestants will take a written exam that counts for 25% of their overall score. They must be prepared to meet the high code of conduct and various skill difficulty levels needed for successful entry-level positions in the field.

“We are thrilled to add an industry recognized leader to the technical committee this year. Helen [Heneveld] and Bedrock Learning bring real-world knowledge and 20+ years of experience. They are a great resource for the contestants eager to gain knowledge and demonstrate their skills,” said William Maddox, technical chair, SkillsUSA Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance Contest and Vice President, Service Management Group for N.E.W. Customer Service Companies.

As a member of the Technical Committee, Helen Heneveld, Bedrock Learning President, offers her expertise and guidance for the contest. Heneveld is an internationally recognized leader in the connected home market with over 20 years experience in the industry. She is a co-author of the DHTI+ Home Technology Integrator and CEDIA Installer 1 All-In-One Exam Guide by McGraw-Hill. She is also an active member and past board member of CEDIA, Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, CABA, Continental Automated Building Association, and currently serves on the CEA, Consumer Electronics Association, Board of Directors for the TechHome Division.

“It is an honor to volunteer and help the youth of America prepare for the jobs of the 21st century,” said Heneveld. “With the convergence and integration of technology systems, this competition builds awareness and recognizes those individuals who excel at delivering the connected home. Work opportunities abound in the growing field of technology installation and integration.”

Over 5,500 of the best career and technical students compete in nearly 94 separate events, of which the Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance Contest is one. Students qualify for the championships through the state and national levels of SkillsUSA. This is a multi-million dollar event that takes up space equivalent to approximately 16 football fields. Nearly 1,500 judges and contest organizers from labor and management make the national event possible. The objective of the championships is, “to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers’ needs,” according to the SkillsUSA website.

About Bedrock Learning

Bedrock Learning solves your training needs with online curriculum for the connected home industry. Developed by industry experts, courses deliver the principles of technology systems in the home: Structured Wiring, Multi-Room Audio, Home Theater, Lighting Control and Home Networking.  Online courses are convenient and available 24/7, allowing students to work at their own pace. Installers, salespeople, customer support and other professionals learn while quizzes/final tests provide knowledge verification. For over 20 years, companies have come to rely on Bedrock Learning because of student success and their ability to help drive business performance. Visit www.bedrocklearning.com or call 616.355.1418 to explore the possibilities.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national organization of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA helps high school and college students enrolled in career and technical education programs to excel by teaching employability skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership in conjunction with their trade, technical and service occupations skills. The association’s annual membership exceeds 300,000 students and instructors in more than 4,000 schools and colleges in every state, three territories and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org.