Lutron Electronics and Middle Atlantic Products Sign-on as Headline Sponsors, with Aprilaire Securing Additional Partner Sponsorship Spot for Industry-Unmatched Installer Gathering this Month
LEXINGTON, KY–ELAN Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home automation systems, announced today that Lutron Electronics, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of lighting controls, and Middle Atlantic Products, the leading supplier of professional equipment mounting solutions for residential installers have signed-on as Headline Sponsors for the inaugural ELAN Tech Week 2006. Additionally, Aprilaire, an industry leader in developing and manufacturing quality air HVAC solutions and products has also signed-on as a Tech Week VIP Sponsor. Bedrock Learning will also be supporting the event with Tech Week-only special giveaways and promotional items. The announcement was made by Paul Starkey, ELAN’s Executive Vice president of Sales and Marketing.
Being held from May 14 – 18, 2006, at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington, Kentucky, ELAN’s inaugural Tech Week will be a completely new kind of training program that no other manufacturer serving the custom installation Industry has ever offered. Planned to be the industry’s most intensive technical training event, it has been specifically designed for the benefit of ELAN Technicians, Installers, and Programmers. Tech Week was uniquely developed to provide three different levels of hands-on and classroom training. Each level will feature separate key points of focus pertaining to the individual attendee’s experience level in order to help optimize learning for all. Attendees will participate in either two- or three-day programs and will be given the opportunity to preview ELAN’s newest products and provide feedback on them, as well as direct access to participating VIP partners and the entire ELAN team.
“We are very excited about the launch and the phenomenal Dealer interest in this new program, and are pleased to welcome Lutron, Middle Atlantic Products, and Aprilaire as Tech Week partner Sponsors. The support of these prestigious companies is a testament to the strength of this event and our ongoing dedication to integration partnerships and collaborations,” said Paul Starkey. “Having these leading companies join us provides exceptional added value for all attending Dealers, and allows us to create a powerful, well-rounded program.”
The ELAN Training, Support and in-field technical Regional Associate teams have spent the past month building 30 completely decked-out hands-on racks, so that attending installers will gain the very best training possible during their time at Tech Week. Additionally, Aprilaire and Middle Atlantic Products made special donations of product for every Tech Week rack, so that Dealers may go away with complete knowledge of pairing their products with ELAN systems.
Starting this year, the newly established ELAN Tech Week will alternate annually with the company’s phenomenally popular and unmatched TRIO Dealer Summit, in order to provide Technical Dealers with even more hands-on training time. Tech Week will bring together more than 220 of the country’s top ELAN Technicians/Installers who will further hone their skills and knowledge through intensive classroom ELAN training.
As the lead Sponsors of ELAN’s Tech Week, Lutron and Middle Atlantic Products will co-host various events during the five day program with ELAN including the final evening Blues and Martini Bash. In addition, the top Sponsors will present specific product and/or generic product category courses and showcase their products integrated with ELAN systems in a dedicated VIP exhibition area. This will provide Installers the opportunity to see how these manufacturers are working hand-in-hand with ELAN in order to simplify product integration and their installations. In addition, all Sponsors will have the opportunity to meet with the Dealers one-on-one, be part of Tech Week marketing efforts, and participate in Installer discussions. Several of the Sponsors, along with Bedrock Learning, will provide products for various Dealer prizes during drawings throughout the week. “Based on the success of our participation in ELAN’s previous TRIO events, we recognized that Tech Week offers an opportunity to interact very closely with some of the country’s top Technicians and Programmers and know that we can’t pass on something this special,” said Jeff Zemanek, Director of Residential Systems Accounts for Lutron. “The opportunity to share information regarding our new techniques, technologies and insights with this important audience is invaluable.”
Mike Baker, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Middle Atlantic Products added, “This is such an installer-focused, visionary training event, that we knew we wanted to be a headline sponsor as soon as we heard about it. This is an ideal opportunity for us to provide hands-on training to more than two hundred Dealers in one place, and we are thrilled to be included as a top partner. Like ELAN, we recognize the tremendous value of building and nurturing Dealer relationships and providing them with the best training possible.”
Tech Week adds to ELAN’s broad spectrum of industry-benchmark training offerings. Today, Dealers may choose exactly what is best for them from a wide array of multi-faceted options including ELAN’s online University, weekly national in-field trainings, trade show trainings, distribution trainings, ELAN’s regular twice-monthly headquarter trainings, TRIO and now Tech Week. These options combined, create a powerful training lineup unlike any other specialty company in the business has to offer. Additionally, all programs offer certification, so that Dealers have the means to be the best they can be with ELAN.
About Lutron Electronics:
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of lighting controls and architectural lighting control systems for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional applications. For additional information, please visit www.lutron.com.
About Middle Atlantic Products:
Middle Atlantic Products, Inc. is headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey and is an ISO 9001:2000-registered leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art steel enclosure systems for a wide range of applications, including the custom residential, commercial audio video installation, security, broadcast, post production, structured cabling and premise wiring markets. For over 25 years the company has been dedicated to the proposition that the enclosure systems is as important as the equipment it protects. Middle Atlantic Products incorporates application-driven engineering into every system it designs in order to meet the individualized requirements of the broadest range of installers. For additional information, please visit www.middleatlantic.com.
About Aprilaire:
Aprilaire humidifiers were introduced in 1954 as the first evaporative, flow-through-design humidifiers. Since then, the company has added the Aprilaire Automatic Humidifier, Aprilaire High Efficiency Air Cleaner, Aprilaire Zone Control System, Aprilaire Electronic Thermostats, Aprilaire Dehumidifiers and Aprilaire Energy Recovery Ventilator to continue its dedication to both quality manufacturing and more breathable, more healthful air. Aprilaire’s commitment includes ongoing programs of testing, engineering, research, product refinement, and practical experience. As a leader in the HVAC industry, the company is able to work closely with industry associations like ARI and ASHRAE. These affiliations allow Aprilaire to remain on top of industry standards and testing procedures. As a result, the company is proud to give consumers its assurances of superior quality and selection for indoor air products that help them stay comfortable. These products are conveniently sold by local heating and air conditioning contractors throughout North America. For additional information, please visit www.aprilaire.com.
About Bedrock Learning:
Bedrock Learning was founded by Helen Heneveld and Gareth Hancock and is based on more than 25 years of training and curriculum development experience. Recognizing a need in the residential technology industry, the company provides a comprehensive training solution designed for home technology installers, sales, customer support, and other residential technology professionals seeking to learn about this growing industry.
About ELAN Home Systems:
ELAN Home Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home automation systems. Based in Lexington, KY, the company’s systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use “whole house” experience. The company’s unique products provide complete lifestyle, feature-rich solutions, yet can be configured to fit the specific needs of every homeowner. ELAN products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.
