Training the Next Generation
of AVL Professionals

As the AVL industry evolves, there is a consistent demand for professionals who can manage technological advancements, build client relationships, and elevate industry craftsmanship. At the heart of this demand is the recognition that nurturing talent and fostering knowledge are critical to ensuring the industry’s growth and resilience. By focusing on education, mentorship, and positive growth, we can equip the next generation of AVL professionals to adeptly handle the challenges of the future.

Navigating Post-Pandemic Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant turning point for our industry. The shutdown of live events led to a considerable loss of seasoned professionals who sought stability in different careers, leaving behind a void of expertise and knowledge. This gap highlights an urgent need: our industry must pivot from merely lamenting these losses to actively cultivating the next wave of AVL professionals.

Shifting from Complaining to Training

Too often, we’ve heard the echoes of dissatisfaction about what was lost in the “good old days,” yet, there’s been a glaring lack of emphasis on developing new talent. Complaining often becomes the path of least resistance in our profession — a shared grumble easily finds company, while positivity can sometimes feel isolating. However, choosing to rise above negativity and committing to a positive, growth-oriented mindset is not only challenging but also significantly more rewarding. It’s time to shift our focus toward fostering an environment rich with grace, humility, and the willingness to train those eager to enter our field. As an industry, we must embrace the responsibility of growing future experts to fill the gaps left by seasoned veterans. By seeking positivity and change, we take steps to elevate our craft and our community, creating a more vibrant and welcoming industry for everyone.

Empowering Through Education and Paying it Forward

At CTS AVL, we are committed to leading this charge through CTS University (CTSU). This initiative is more than a simple training program — it’s our commitment to the future. Through CTSU, we offer free workshops and training sessions, taught by industry veterans, designed to share skills, forge connections, and enhance the overall quality of our field. This endeavor embodies our dedication to shaping tomorrow’s leaders and experts, ensuring a higher benchmark of excellence industry-wide.

Cultivating expertise in others isn’t a risk to our status — it’s a chance to enhance our industry collectively. By empowering others to master their craft, wherever they choose to apply their skills, we strengthen the fabric of the AVL profession for everyone involved. It’s all about paying it forward, a practice that many of us benefited from when we started our careers.

Remember the pivotal mentors in your journey? Those who offered guidance, patience, and the occasional tough love helped mold our careers. Now, it’s our responsibility to pass on that legacy, nurturing the potential we see in the new generation. Avoiding the trap of nostalgia and victimhood, we should focus on what we can contribute today.

Embracing a Service-Minded Approach

Focusing on service and mentorship can elevate the entire industry. Recognizing when it’s our turn to teach, guide, and lead ensures we’re sowing seeds for a thriving professional community. By choosing action over inaction through sharing knowledge and creating opportunities, we commit to shaping a robust, dynamic, and resilient AVL industry for years to come.