Best Buy's Magnolia Home Theater Chooses ICIA Certification Program for Employees; National Expansion of In-Store Home Theater Locations and Required Certified Technology Specialist Credential for Staff Reinforce Customer Focus of CE Retailer

Business Wire, June 1, 2005

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy has chosen the online audiovisual training and certification programs of the International Communications Industries Association, Inc.(R) (ICIA(R)) to educate the associates of its expanding Magnolia Home Theater in-store locations, it was announced today by Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., ICIA Executive Director. The program was successfully launched in April, and nearly 100 Magnolia associates have attended an orientation for ICIA training and certification.

Magnolia Home Theater's staff is completing three ICIA online training courses during their normal in-store work hours, culminating in a 90-minute written exam required to become a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS). All Magnolia Home Theater employees who pass their CTS will be awarded a badge indicating to customers that they are trained audiovisual professionals.

"We selected the ICIA certification program because of its exemplary online coursework. It truly is the best certification program in the industry," said Aaron Miller, Director of Custom for Magnolia Home Theater. "Our investment in this training reflects our commitment to providing customers the best possible services so that they're able to fully enjoy the home theater experience."

Magnolia Home Theater employees begin their training with ICIA's Quick Start, a short course that provides an overview of the audiovisual industry. The students take the comprehensive Essentials of the AV Industry, 30 to 40 hours of online instruction to educate professionals on the science and technology behind audiovisual systems. Essentials begins with an audio instruction on acoustics and hearing; it then moves into the essentials of visual, delving into the dynamics of light, viewing environments, and then to visual display components, display technologies, the signals used, and display system setup. The final chapter of the course covers types of audiovisual systems, typical subsystems in an AV system, and primary functions and components.

The third course for Magnolia Home Theater's employees is ICIA's Installation School, online curriculum that offers step-by-step instructions on topics from soldering to setting up microphones as well as content on power and grounding, trouble-shooting for audio, video, RF, data display and control, and best-practices for installation professionals.

"We are very pleased that Best Buy has chosen the ICIA CTS designation as the certification of choice for its growing Magnolia Home Theater installation team," said Lemke. "As audiovisual equipment has become more sophisticated, so too has the need for professional advice and installation to assure maximum performance. Its investment in CTS certified personnel is evidence of Best Buy's commitment to delivering a superior experience for customers."

The InfoComm/ICIA CTS credential is for audiovisual professionals who have demonstrated knowledge and comprehension of the science and technology used in communications including audio, video, display and systems. By demonstrating they know how things work, CTS professionals are able to apply these fundamentals to new technologies and applications. To achieve a CTS credential, the individual must also agree to a code of ethics pledging truth, accuracy and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their profession.

About ICIA

ICIA is the international trade association of the professional audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, ICIA's 3,300 members include manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end-users and multimedia professionals from more than 69 countries. ICIA is the leading resource for AV market intelligence and news. Its training and education programs, along with its Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Certified Audiovisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) credentials, set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. ICIA is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers worldwide. ICIA also co-sponsors the Integrated Systems Asia, Integrated Systems China and Integrated Systems Europe industry expositions. Additional information is available at www.infocomm.org.