Samantha Ventura, CEDIA’s senior vice president of education and training, will be leaving the association on October 8 after a three-and-a-half-year tenure.
Ventura, who has contributed stories to Residential Systems on the benefits of soft skills and the need for diversity in education, modernized CEDIA’s training program and greatly improved the online experience. CEDIA interim co-CEO Giles Sutton outlined her many achievements in a letter to staff members that is printed below.
From Giles Sutton:
Samantha Ventura, CEDIA’s senior vice president of education and training, will be leaving CEDIA on October 8. Sam’s unwavering commitment to every aspect of her work as well as her warmth and kindness, has made her a true asset. We are grateful to have had the chance to work alongside her and had the opportunity to learn from her. In her three and a half years of service, she has had a profound impact on the association and the industry.
Samantha led the organization in reimagining our online learning delivery to be more convenient for members and equitably aligned for global delivery. Samantha vetted, adopted, and implemented the CEDIA Academy LMS (Learning Management System, allowing CEDIA to offer modern, interactive online training that could also be localized for the EMEA region.
Samantha re-designed the CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) training for in-person, online, or hybrid delivery, updating content as she did so. The redesigned program trains participants in adult learning principles, presentation skills, and networking strategies — valuable takeaways that make the COI program one of CEDIA’s highest-valued member benefits.
Samantha has also presided over the development of the CIT and IST learning pathways, as well as their corresponding books, laying the groundwork for a system of stackable certifications designed in accordance with the globally recognized International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17024 standard for personnel certification processes. The newly launched CIT Certification and the IST certification currently in beta together represent the largest volunteer development effort CEDIA has ever undertaken. This robust, modern certification program will increase opportunities for individuals and grow the credibility and awareness of our industry.
Samantha has also been instrumental in expanding the reach of our programs, deepening the range of educational offerings available to our members, and extending awareness of the industry. In 2021 alone, Samantha has led the organization in our educational partnership with Google, the Powerhouse Alliance, and HTSN, bringing new courses to CEDIA Academy online, and making hands-on classes more accessible to CI professionals across North America.
Samantha has had a lasting impact on our members as well. She is one of the most effective instructors in CEDIA’s history; members who took her COI class or one of her leadership classes have routinely praised her as an educator. She has been a prominent voice in the industry, representing CEDIA as a keynote speaker, instructor, and contributor to both CEDIA publications, including our podcast, blog, and association magazine, and many channel publications. She has frequently been a featured contributor in international publications including Installation Magazine, Residential Systems, and CE Pro, writing on topics including Women in AV, Diversity in Skilled Trades, and Reflective Leadership.
Samantha’s deep background in education and organizational leadership has enabled her to be powerfully effective as senior vice president of education and training. As a staff, we have been fortunate to learn from her in professional development sessions as well as our day-to-day interactions.
As she takes a step back from the custom integration industry to focus on these passions, we owe her an enormous debt of gratitude. Please join me in thanking Samantha for her leadership and wishing her every success on the next stage of her professional journey.
For more information, visit cedia.net.