August 13, 2001 The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA—www.cedia.org), a trade organization of companies specializing in the design and installation of home-electronic systems, is taking steps to restructure itself in an effort to meet the needs of its international members.
"Several fundamental changes have already taken place within the association, such as changing the bylaws and board representation to include a more global focus," the organization said in a statement announcing the changes. "CEDIA has increased its board size by three, and those are specifically assigned to non-U.S. CEDIA members."
A task force of current CEDIA board members, staff, chapter presidents, and others are currently evaluating the group's international effectiveness, and working to modify its international structure. CEDIA currently has members in 45 countries, and has recently held or supported trade and training events in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Russia, and Brazil.
The task force's goals are to make it easier for CEDIA to get operational work completed, increase the coordination of the organization's global efforts, enable more members to receive services regardless of their locations, increase CEDIA's global perspective, and increase the synergy of all CEDIA programs taking place around the world.
"As the industry has continued to grow and develop in countries around the world, the demands have increased on CEDIA to provide services and support to companies within the custom-installation industry," said CEDIA president Steve Hayes. "It is the responsibility of CEDIA to continue the aggressive development of the industry, in tandem with the increase in market awareness, so that all of our members benefit from increasing business."