Brawn Consulting Catalog of Courses

 Introductory Courses

•  AV 101 Introduction Series (Typically 1 hour each)
• AV 101-An Introduction to Pro AV focuses on the AV market place and the industry from the inside out, defining who a Pro AV dealer is, what they provide and what applications/solutions they offer.  

• AV 101 for Sales is designed for those going into commercial AV sales and covers the sales models used at dealerships as well as the different types of products, design, integration and onsite service offerings and how they relate to one another.

• Audio 101: The Basics (Typically 2 hours)
• An audio fundamentals course covering the science and measurement of audio along with the components creating and transmitting sound in program and voice reinforcement systems.

• Video 101 (Typically 2 hours)
• An introductory course covering the basics of video in both analog and digital formats along with an understanding of specifications and what they mean.

• Introduction To Display Technologies (Typically 2 hours)
• A fundamentals course taking an analog to digital journey in display technologies with descriptions and comparisons beginning with film and CRT through LCD, DLP, Plasma, LCoS, and OLED.

Management Courses

• Excellence in Management-A Definitive Approach (Typically 2 hours)
• Contrary to conventional “wisdom” which states “good” management is a “cookie cutter” process, Excellence in Management shows success is more consistently achieved through the creative application of talents with decisions based on individualized perspectives.

• Differentiation for Profitable Sales (Typically 2 hours)
• An examination of ways to “differentiate” a company and their products and services through clear value propositions and the establishment of “real” value creating a compelling alternative to the competition in the eyes of the end users.

• Direction through Leadership (Typically 1 hour)
• A focus on understanding that leadership is the catalyst to insure attainment of our goals.   “Leadership: The art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.” 

• Time Management and Planning (Typically 2 hours)
• A focus on personal and professional growth and setting/achieving goals through effective decision making, confronting procrastination, planning and prioritizing, organizing and scheduling your time, and acceptance and delegation of authority.

• Analyze This: SWOT and the 5P Approach (Typically 2 hours)
• A tutorial on business growth through SWOT analysis covering Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat bolstered by the 5P approach of Product, Price, Program, Process, and People. 

• The Business Side of Sales (Typically 2 hours)
• A “mini MBA” course that explains to the non-CFOs of the company in sales, operations, and technical departments how the business side of the Pro AV industry works in an understandable and enjoyable form.

• Customer Service: Inside Out (Typically 2 hours)
• Understanding the key elements of “good” customer service and the need for a customer service culture, active listening techniques, and turning a complaint into repeat business. 

Sales Courses

• Value Added Selling with Customer Focus (typically 4 hours)
• A course illustrating the concept of value beyond price. An adaptation of the top sales training courses in America, selecting the “sweet spot” from each with the nationally acclaimed “SPIN Selling” at the core.

• Selling Design Build (Typically 2 hours)
• A close look at the audio visual design-build process from beginning to end, focusing on relationships and networking within the architectural, design, and general contractor communities to insure a constant flow of profitable business.

• Digital Signage:  The Future Is Now (Typically 1 hour)
•  Going beyond digital signage in retail environments by exploring corporate, government, and entertainment venues along with current market data showing forecast growth and return on investment in each sector. 

• Understanding and Creating Value Propositions (Typically 2 hours)
• A step by step process of identifying and refining value propositions for an audio visual company that provides compelling reasons to buy from you.

Technical Courses

• Advanced Display Technologies (Typically 2 & 4 hour versions)
• A detailed look at display technologies from film and CRT, through LCD, DLP, Plasma, LCoS, LED, and OLED technologies, discussing the design, manufacturing, and limitations of each.
• Digital Signage Displays: Why, What, When, and Where (Typically 1 hour)
• Revealing the most appropriate display technologies for each digital signage application with an eye towards performance, initial cost, serviceability and total cost of ownership.
• The Connection University (Typically 2 hours)
• A detailed look at the construction of cable components such as conductors, shields, and jackets as well as specifications of cables and connectors and how to apply this knowledge in the real world of systems integration.

• Installation Standards and Practices (1 to 2 hours per course)
• A comprehensive standards and “best practices” course for the integration and installation segment of the professional audio visual and IT industries, conducted in modules with testing and certifications upon completion.
• IS&P Section I – Fundamentals of the Job
• IS&P Section II -  Fundamentals of Installation
• IS&P Section III – Basic Theory, Testing and Troubleshooting
• IS&P Section  IV – Project Management 101 and Advanced Installation Techniques
• IS&P Section V – Advanced Project Management, System Configuration and Testing 

• Video Conferencing Theory and Practice (Typically 2 hours)
• An exploration of current video conferencing theory, methodologies, hardware, software and networks and the interactivity with participants at all sites seeing and hearing each other simultaneously.

• Job Safety (Typically 4 hours)
• The course, based on OSHA, NEC, and UL provides guidelines and practices required to train your staff in areas of job safety such as personal protective equipment, lifting and bending, ladder safety, electrical, fire, and tool safety as well as standard medical and first aid procedures.

• Math for AV Design and Integration (Typically 2 hours)
• A fundamentals course in the basic math elements of algebra and geometry that are  utilized in the day to day lives of audio visual designers and technicians working in systems design and integration.

• Networks (Typically 1 hour)
• With AV and IT merging, AV integrators need a fundamental understanding of how computer networking functions. This course provides a complete primer to the hardware, structure, and protocols of computer networking, from small LANs to large WANs. 

• Contractor-Sub Contractor Procedures (Typically 2 hours)
• This course defines the contractor–sub contractor relationship by providing a step by step process for working on each phase of a project through pre project meetings, communication during a project, dispute resolutions, and reporting procedures as well as project wrap up.

• Job Site Procedures and Etiquette (Typically 2 hours)
• An examination of the preparation, planning, and etiquette when working in another’s space before embarking upon the project with issues like security clearances, on site parking, shipping and receiving docks, approved pathways, storage, break rooms, etc.  

• Reading Blueprints and Drawings (Typically 2 hours)
• An introduction to the reading of blueprints from the use of the architect’s scale through AIA and CSI blueprint standards as well as the drawings used in the audio visual industry.

• Acoustics: A Primer (Typically 2 hours)
• This tutorial begins with a study of the physics of sound and common audio measurements, followed by a discussion of human aural perception relative to ones environment.  

• Attaching to Structure (Typically 2 hours)
• This course explores the types of structures that are encountered in audio visual systems integration and uses Hilti products and procedures to illustrate the types of connectors, anchors, and attachment procedures that insure a safe installation to code.

• Troubleshooting: Finding The Problem (Typically 2 hours)
• This course uncovers the art of finding and repairing a failed system by first and foremost understanding how to think critically and then applying technical skills to resolve the “real” cause of the problem.

• Project Management (Typically 4 hour & full day versions)
• A tutorial on the responsibilities of the project manager in communications, cost management, human resources, time management, procurement, integration, and risk management transforming the sales order into a finished product that meets or exceeds the expectations of the end user.

• Understanding RF (Typically 2 hours)
• This tutorial explores the expanding world of wireless communications and RF with applications in broadcast television, wireless communications, and remote control. 

• Understanding CCTV (Typically 2 hours)
• Explores the design and main components that make up Closed Circuit Television of varying complexity including hard wired, microwave, and infrared based systems.

• Using Test Equipment (Typically 4 hour and full day versions)
• This tutorial covers the use of multi meters, oscilloscopes, SPL meters, and video test generators in audio visual applications to measure performance and compliance to specifications in as built systems.


•  Projection Screens: The Science, Design & Application (Typically 2 hour)
  • An in depth look at what we see on screen and why images look the way they do with clearly defined methodologies and metrics for improving dynamic range in ones environment.