ELAN’s Dealer Support Programs Win CEA 2007 Mark of Excellence Award for Best Training and Support Programs

LEXINGTON, KY - ELAN® Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home control systems, announced today that its Dealer Support Programs were honored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) with the organization’s prestigious 2007 Mark of Excellence Award. The announcement was made today by Paul Starkey, ELAN's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Presented by CEA's TechHome Division, the CEA Mark of Excellence Awards recognize and honor industry leaders, in custom electronics products, services and installations, who are instrumental in changing the shape of the connected home and the home automation industry. Industry trend setters were honored in three categories - Supplier, System Integrators and Training and Support Programs. The CEA® honored ELAN Home Systems, and 19 other Mark of Excellence Award winners at an award dinner on Friday, March 9th in Orlando, Florida, during the 8th annual Electronic House Expo Spring 2007.

Mr. Starkey stated, ”We have worked hard to be innovative in the area of Dealer Programs, and being honored by the CEA with this Mark of Excellence Award is the ultimate industry wide recognition of our efforts. While several of our programs are ground breaking in and of themselves, the amalgamation of them all, aimed directly at our dealers, is where their real power lies.”

“Over the past four years, it has been our mission to be at the forefront of innovative dealer care programs. Our goal in doing so is simple - to be the very best in the business and create excitement and success within the ELAN Dealer family,” added Cat Fowler, ELAN’s Vice President of Marketing and Customer Services.

In addition to winning Best Training and Support Programs, ELAN’s V883 Component Video Switcher and Olé™ Film Interactive Touchpad were named as finalists for Mark of Excellence Awards in the Best Distributed Audio/Video and Best Human Interface categories, respectively. ELAN’s award-winning training and support programs are many. Here are just some of them:

ELAN University (ELAN-U): Since its introduction in July of 2003, over 110,000 ELAN-U on-line courses have been taken by ELAN Dealers & installers. This on-line training program provides Dealers with the ability to learn at their convenience and own pace–from their home or office; train on all ELAN products; gain new insight into ELAN products, programming and applications; access special tips and techniques for their installation success; save valuable time and money by avoiding travel to attend on-site training; and add to their company’s bottom line by reducing time on-site. There are more than 200 total courses available at four levels of expertise: Professional, Master, PHD and E2.

TRIO DEALER SUMMIT: TRIO is the only event of its kind in the industry. An extraordinary and exceptionally focused bi-annual event specifically designed for ELAN Dealers, it is easily the most productive weekend of their year. Uniquely dedicated to the three facets of a Dealer’s business – business, sales and technical – TRIO brings together close to 400 top Custom Dealers to participate in focused seminars, discussion groups and hands-on training. Also participating is ELAN’s entire network of Manufacturer’s Representatives, industry integration partners, and nationally renowned experts in the areas of business management and sales strategies. At TRIO, Dealers gain valuable insight from other Dealers, attend specially designed, business, sales and technical courses, and have the opportunity to interact and get to know the entire ELAN staff on a one-to-one basis.

TECH WEEK: On alternating years between TRIO, ELAN offers an intense three-day gathering geared solely toward Installers. Over 200 of the country's most qualified Technicians assemble together for a single purpose: to hone their skills and share knowledge. Three different levels of participation are offered to accommodate every Installer, and all levels include hands-on and classroom training. ELAN displays its newest products and attendees have the chance to spend quality time with key ELAN staff. Tech Week also offers elective classes where attendees can meet and train with ELAN integration partners in lighting, security, HVAC and more. In addition, Tech Week attendees get to share their ideas, tips and success stories with their peers and contribute their input on ELAN products directly with ELAN Engineers and Product Managers.

CORPORATE TRAINING: ELAN holds five-day training seminars twice a month at its corporate headquarters in Lexington, KY, and once-quarterly at its West Coast corporate training center in Carlsbad, CA. Training consists of several days of full Hands-On, System Design and Programming training developed specifically for new ELAN Installers that teaches them how to design, physically connect, and program an ELAN system from start to finish. Also offered are Advanced Programming classes that provide experienced ELAN Installers with an extensive look at advanced programming techniques and new software. ELAN’s new Corporate Training Facility features a dozen fully-loaded racks of ELAN equipment for trainees to work on, as well as product from our integration partners. The West Coast Training Facility features eight fully-loaded racks.

IN-FIELD SUPPORT: ELAN’s in-field Dealer support is unsurpassed in both quantity and quality. ELAN employs seven Regional Sales Managers responsible for specific territories around the country, plus an International Sales Manager. An industry first, ELAN also has seven Regional Technical Associates (one for each territory) who are responsible for bringing new Dealers up to speed, providing on-site troubleshooting any where, at anytime, within their respective territories, and for holding regional training classes. Additionally, ELAN’s network of independent Manufacturer’s Representatives are all fully trained and able to assist Dealers as individual needs arise.

WEBSITE SUPPORT: On the Internet front, ELAN dealers are granted private access to a large repository of downloadable documents, software, all documentation, marketing materials and the latest communiqués from the Company including its regular WIRE broadcasts. Archived for convenience, this backside access to ELAN provides a wealth of knowledge and resources for its dealers.

IN-HOUSE SUPPORT: ELAN has a full Inside-House Sales Team, with individual team members having responsibility for a particular territory. As a result, Dealers know exactly who to speak with at ELAN each time they call, and usually form a close one-to-one personal relationship with their Inside Sales Team member. ELAN also boasts a world-class, highly-trained, ten-member Technical Support team that can be reached Monday thru Friday from 8:00AM to 7:00PM EST and on Saturdays from 9:00AM to 2:00PM. ELAN has also stationed part of the team on the West Coast at Sister-Company Sunfire’s Headquarters, where Technical Support staff is available to accommodate the Company’s west coast Dealers and their three-hour time difference.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, digital imaging, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $140 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

About ELAN Home Systems:
ELAN Home Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home control systems. Based in Lexington, KY, the company’s systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use “whole house” experience. The company’s unique products provide complete lifestyle, feature-rich solutions, yet can be configured to fit the specific needs of every homeowner. ELAN products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

ELAN is a trademark of ELAN Home Systems, LLC, Lexington, KY. VIA! is a registered trademark of ELAN Home Systems, LLC. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Press Contacts:

Cat Fowler
ELAN Home Systems
Lexington, KY
t) 859-422-7161
f) 859-268-2132
e) cfowler@elanhomesystems.com

Steven Style
The Steven Style Group
New York, NY
t) 212-465-1290
f) 212-465-1299
e) stevens@stylegroup.com