MacDirectory Magazine

Fall-Winter 2011

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/49191

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CLOSER LOOK FUTURE MEDIA CONCEPTS >TRAINING INTO THE FUTURE WORDS BY JONE DEVLIN It has been a long road for Future Media Concepts. Founded in 1994 as the world's first Avid Authorized Training Center, time and technology has since seen the company evolve into the foremost provider of digital media training. Providing authorized training for With a customer list that includes such prolific software providers as Appledobe, Adobevid, DigiDesign, Avid and Autodesk (and others) and Apple, most would wonder how FMC manages to keep up. According to Jeff Rothberg, president and co-founder (along with co-founder Ben Kozuch), the answer is by having a highly educated workforce. "Future Media Concepts' trainers hold manufacturer certifications; have extensive teaching experience, and an intimate knowledge of their discipline obtained through years of practical application." According to Rothberg, as new software is released into the marketplace, FMC's instructors immediately "recertify to stay current with the technology." Additionally, most of FMC's instructors hold New York State Department of Education teaching licenses. This provides another level of distinction, and,that when they are not in FMC's classroom, they are working as "video and film editors, CD-ROM authors, animators, digital illustrators, web-site designers, programmers, authors and consultants." Yet it is not only the instructors that keep FMC in sync with all the latest advances in digital technology. The dual impacts of certification and students that have to become quickly familiar with more types and flavors of software in order to be marketable in today's workforce are also key drivers in FMC's training offerings. As Rothberg explained, "While certification is more established in the traditional IT space, there has been a dramatic increase in certification in both the Pro Application space and in Apple OSX. Most major manufacturers such as Adobe, Avid, Autodesk and Apple offer a certification path for the software. Apple has been the most proactive in this with Snow Leopard and…Lion." As for the workforce impact, "Benefits of certification include recognition of your technical expertise and (are) an excellent way to stay competitive in the event of unforeseen employment changes. Properly trained students increase productivity in the workplace and reduce downtime." FMC welcomes students at all skill levels and offers classes in a variety of forums from onsite to online. Because they do not sell any products or software, the company is able to completely focus on training. The result of this focus is high quality, consistent, and accessible training, achieved by offering a small class size (eight students), certified trainers and flexible scheduling. Apple users, meanwhile, will be excited to know that FMC is one of a select few companies that are recognized by Apple as a Gold Level training center, an honor, Rothberg told , "that has been held as long as the program has been in existence." As for what both new and returning students can look forward to from the company in the future, Rothberg remarked that it was hard to point to just one thing, "We are working on a lot of projects at the moment. Besides the recent opening of our office in Mumbai, India, FMC is producing several training boot camps, based on the recent success of the first Apple iTraining boot camp." The second iTraining boot camp has been scheduled for next year, with more information (and sign up) available at . The company will also be offering an Adobe boot camp in January in Orlando. Meanwhile, FMC continues to provide its highly successful IOS training for such devices as the iPhone and iPad. Noted Rothberg, "The demand for these classes has grown considerably with the advent of IOS5." For those interested, FMC offers Introduction to IOS programming, IOS apps for Gaming, and a development course that is designed to teach IOS app development from the ground up. So if you want to update your current skills, learn something new, or finally get that certification you've been thinking about forever, take a look at FMC. Both you and your career will be glad you did. Visit Future Media Concepts at . 82 MacDirectory M a c D i r e c t o r y

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