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conferences where people are able to participate intechnical updates in a vendor-neutral, manufacturerindependentsetting. These events are open to bothBICSI members and non-members who desire tolearn and benefit from the presentations.Next month, May 2-5, BICSI will be holdingits Canada Conference in Montreal at the HiltonMontreal Bonaventure hotel. Thousands ofindividuals participate in events such as these, andI encourage you to attend so you can share in thevaluable knowledge-sharing that will take place.This is the place to be when your career or businessis in need of updated technical training or access tocurrent IT/IP infrastructure-focused information.Richard S. Smith—the manager of Bell Aliant CablingSolutions—is the Canadian region director for BICSI, aprofessional association supporting the informationtransport systems (ITS) industry—including designers,installers and technicians—with information andeducation. Email the author at rsmith@bicsi.org, andvisit BICSI online at www.bicsi.org.There is a right way to install andmaintain IT infrastructure, and thenthere are all the other ways. BICSI membersare active in promoting the rightway of doing things by participating inwriting IT infrastructure-focused codes,standards and best practice documents.This information is included in—andforms the basis of—BICSI’s globallyrecognized credentials and training programs.Its design and installationmethods manuals are what BICSImaster instructors—and many othersaround the world—use to improvethe level of IT infrastructuretechnical expertise.To ensure the information individualsreceive through instructor-led orself-paced training has been retained,BICSI offers, not just hands-on andtheoretical testing, but proctoredexams as part of a professional credentialingprogram. The benefit tothose hiring credentialed professionalsis that it provides assurance the individualsnot only understand and retainthe information they have receivedbut, going forward, the credentialholderis staying up-to-date byparticipating in training relevant tothe designation.Information technology infrastructuretraining comes in many formsfrom many entities. Massive amountsof information available but, sadly,much of it is dated. You need to keepthis in mind because it can either helpor hinder your company’s productivity.Documentation and access to currentinformation are critically important.Just consider the service that Googleoffers. Information pertaining to justabout anything in which you have aninterest can be delivered to you in seconds,but then you have to wadethrough the results to find what’s mostimportant to you... and may even giveup after a while before ever finding it.This is why participation in qualified,career-focused IT infrastructure trainingshould be top priority important toyou, your career and your business.BICSI not only produces and providesthese products and services, but italso coordinates meetings andABB_mag_EB_April10.indd 13/4/10 11:25:17 AMwww.EBMag.com • April 2010 • 23