Every two years in Madison, Wisconsin, ETC hosts Workshop, an educational event
used to train and share new information with industry dealers, reps, and
distributors. This summer, for the first time, the event was opened internationally.
The week-long event started July 12th, and brought 313 dealers, reps, and
distributors from 34 countries to the ETC headquarters. “Workshop is ETC’s best
opportunity to bring our sales family together. This was definitely ETC’s most
successful Workshop ever,’ says Patti Tuttrup, ETC marketing events specialist.
A day of international sales meetings and tours of ETC’s Wisconsin-based
manufacturing facilities in Middleton and Mazomanie kicked off the event. For many
of the international Workshop attendees, this was the first time they had seen the
ETC factories in person. They were able to see where the products they sell come
from and meet the people who make them.
On Wednesday, July 13th, Fred Foster, ETC CEO, took to the stage with his keynote
address, Reflections on 40 Years of ETC. His stories began in 1975, with the birth of
the company and the creation of the first ETC lighting console. He quickly moved
through 40 years of ETC memories, touching on noteworthy installations and
company milestones, always crediting the large family of ETC dealers, reps,
distributors, and employees for the company’s continued success.
That evening, attendees were treated to a picnic at ETC’s headquarters that featured
local food carts, Wisconsin beer, and some friendly competition as attendees took
part in Tech Games that included assembling a Source Four® fixture, hanging and
focusing a fixture, and laying out keycaps on an Ion® console.
Classes on rigging, consoles, lighting fixtures, architectural control, and more, as
well as an additional keynote by Dr. Kevin Houser, professor of Architectural
Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, kept attendees busy for the remaining
days.
To thank the Workshop attendees for their hard work, commitment, and support
over ETC’s 40-year history, ETC hosted a banquet on the final evening at Madison’s
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Centre, overlooking picturesque Lake
Monona. “We’ve grown because of you,’ says Fred Foster, ETC CEO, to the
attendees. “You’ve embraced our products, our company, and our culture, and
helped the world see the passion we share for the industry. I cannot thank you
enough for that.’
The next Workshop for ETC’s reps, dealers, and distributors will be in 2018. Next
summer, ETC will bring back its popular CUE professional-development conference,
welcoming end users from around the world to Madison for a one-of-a-kind
experience. Dates for CUE will be announced soon. Visit www.etcconnect.com for details.
