12 Keynotes September 2024 aloa.org EDUCATION It Doesn’t Stay in Vegas If you have always wanted to give back to the industry and teach, then becoming a Certified ACE Instructor (CAI) would have been available to you. The CAI Instructor Course is an intense, three-day foray into the basics of teaching methods and motivation, culminating in a planned presentation to demonstrate your newly learned knowledge and skills. If cars are what drive you, then the Mercedes Benz 3-Day Workshop would have been right up your alley. If your edge is in safes and vaults, then Mechan- ical Safe Lock Servicing would have been the class to lock onto. All in all, students praised the instructors and variety of classes that made the educational com- ponent of ALOA 2024 truly magnificent. Evening Seminars One thing our students have told us loudly and clearly: They did not want to go back to their rooms or the casino after their 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. classes ended. Many wanted more education — as much as they could get! So, we supplied just that in the form of free Evening Seminars. There was no registration beforehand; just a list of the seminars one could attend. One student said he wished he could subdivide so he could attend two at one time. Covert Entry & More was a huge draw, as was Magic in Locksmith- ing. I had the pleasure of seeing that magic firsthand, presented by Corey Friedman of California, a seasoned locksmith with a background in magic. He certainly brought smiles and laughter to attendees as they watched (and par- ticipated) in awe. Corey also taught the audience several magic tricks they could use on customers to help solidify a great working relationship. Seminars such as A Financial Reality Check on Your Business, Life Safety 101, Changing from In-House to Out-House Careers, Secrets of Master Keying and Simplest Access Control to Sell and Install were also well attended. This program is one we will certainly keep for our next ALOA Convention in Orlando in 2025. Testing For those moving up the Proficiency Registration Program (PRP) ladder, the Education Department offered a sitting on Wednesday night. This was a four-hour opportunity to take a variety of exams to enhance one’s locksmith credentials in all areas of locksmith- ing, including Institutional, General Locksmithing, Automotive and Safes & Vaults. We had 53 people taking a bar- rage of tests that evening, which made it one of the largest sittings in quite some time. If you did not attend, you still can take the various PRP exams through a remote testing center. Contact Dawne Chandler, ALOA Certifications, at [email protected] to ask questions and perhaps set up a testing. Food For Thought Each 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. class included a fabulous full lunch each day, with stu- dents across all classes dining together. This was a time to relax and enjoy the wide range of appetizers, salads, sides and entrees while sharing the morning learnings with friends and colleagues. It was also a great opportunity to meet new friends and network while relaxing and enjoying. Extras Aside from the myriad of educational opportunities available, attendees could attend many various scheduled meetings and events, such as: First-Time Attendee Orientation, Women in Locksmithing, IAIL Meeting, State of the States Meet- ing, AIL Meeting and the IAAL Meeting. But, for the real fun, I hope you did not miss the exquisite free Kick-Off Party held in the Grand Ballroom on Friday evening. A wide range of gourmet food and drink was available. Here, again, was an opportunity to relax, network, and connect with new and old friends in a fun, exciting atmosphere — all sponsored by Key Innovations. Fun was truly had by all. Completing ALOA 2024 was the 2024 ALOA Membership Meeting on Satur- day morning, followed by the Security Expo trade show that was held on Satur- day and Sunday. It was a fine way to com- plement the entire learning experience. So, if you were unable to attend this ALOA Convention & Security Expo in Las Vegas, don’t gamble with the future: Plan now to attend ALOA 2025, “Your Key to Connections,” which will be held at the Hilton Orlando August 3-9, 2025. See you there. ALOA SPAI Director of Education William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed., has been a locksmith since 1975 and is the owner of www.ICLSglobal.com. Bill is an IC specialist, an industry author, the sub- ject matter expert on IC for ALOA, and an ALOA ACE instructor, teaching classes on inter- changeable cores and master keying across the country. He has originated SFIC Technical Manuals for both national and international lock manufacturers, and maintains a working relationship with the major lock and security manufacturers throughout the world. In 2013, he was named Keynotes Author of the Year. If you missed this event, you lost out on a ton of exciting new educational opportunities.
