aloa.org May 2024 Keynotes 33 class material and effectively instruct an ACE class. ALOA has been offering this course for many years and has discovered some of the finest ALOA instructors, bar none. Many of the instructors you see standing before you in class have taken the course. Information and skills you acquire will reinforce the many types of teaching styles that help students to learn in a variety of ways. Who Teaches It? ALOA is very fortunate to have two “superstar” CAI course instructors to guide you through the process: Chris- topher Meccia, CPL, CAI, and Gordon P. Malczewski, CPL, LSFDI, CAI. Both have not only taught this course for years but had — and still have — very success- ful careers in the locksmith industry. Gordon worked as a trainer for both Schlage and Medeco, and Christopher has been with Medeco, IDN and now Lockmasters. Their credentials are quite impressive, and they are both dedicated to supporting your entrance into the education arena. Why Become Certified? One of the major differences that ALOA has from other entities that may offer instruction is that we endeavor to offer every student a delivery method that is effective and strives for excellence. That is why we encourage all instructors to acquire the CAI designation. In essence, we want to make sure that those who are instructing are not just “people off the street” who may know subject matter, but rather those who have been vetted to assure top-quality, effective instruc- tion at all times. The CAI certification is like the “seal of approval” that shows your instructor has what it takes … and then some. We are not saying that if an instructor is not a CAI that his or her class cannot be a good one; we simply want to make sure that guidelines are set to support success for both the instructor and the student. Also, as mentioned ear- lier, many states and organizations prefer and may require the instructor be a CAI. If the possibility of teaching for ALOA or other venues is in the back of your mind, then give it a try! Become a CAI. When Can I Do This? The time is now. ALOA will be offering the 3-Day CAI Training Class at the ALOA Convention in Las Vegas this July. Class size is limited due to the per- sonalized nature of this type of class, so make sure you register early if you plan to attend the convention. Our last class was at Lockmasters in Kentucky back in January. We happily graduated 16 CAIs, and several of them will already be teaching classes at our convention in Las Vegas this summer for pay. If you cannot attend the class in Las Vegas, we plan to have another CAI class, perhaps again in January. But, for now, the related course infor- mation at ALOA 2024 at the South Point Hotel & Casino is shown here to help you plan: 316/416/516: CAI Instructor Course (Three Days) - A LA CARTE CLASS Instructors: Christopher Meccia, CPL, CAI and Gordon P. Malczewski, CPL, LSFDI, CAI Class Content: 60% Lecture/40% Hands-On Class Limit: 18 316A Lab Fee - REQUIRED: $695. This is a standalone, a-la carte-priced class for one, NOT A PART OF CLASS PACKAGES. You may add a 2-day pack- age with classes. Dates: Wednesday, July 24 – Friday, July 26, 2024 NOTE: This class may run into the evening, and homework will be required. A computer laptop (with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint installed) is recom- mended but not required. Conclusion The ALOA Education Department hopes that you will want to share your secu- rity expertise with ALOA’s global mar- ket. If so, becoming a Certified ALOA Instructor is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. It’s not just about the title; it’s about the knowledge you’ll acquire, the skills you’ll develop, and the impact you’ll make on students and the indus- try. So why wait? We look forward to adding you to our ranks. See you in Vegas. 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 subject matter expert on IC for ALOA, and an ALOA ACE instructor, teaching classes on interchange- able 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. The CAI certification is like the ‘seal of approval’ that shows your instructor has what it takes … and then some.
