Meet the 13 Dual Certified CTS-D and CTS-I Holders of the Middle East
Posted on Sep 10, 2018
The Middle East and its importance to the global audiovisual industry are no secret to the AVIXA community. The region’s dynamic AV landscape is evident in the flourishing entertainment centers and shopping malls that are integrating immersive technology to enhance visitor experience as well as in the educational institutions and mosques that are upgrading their AV capabilities.
On the talent side, service providers and end users across the Middle East are wasting no time to get professionally trained and certified to push ahead of the game. This region is adding more and more AVIXA-certified professionals every year. In the past two years, its number of newly dual certified CTS-D and CTS-I individuals is only topped by North America.
Of the world’s 360 AV experts who have achieved dual CTS-D and CTS-I certifications, 13 of them are hailing from UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Meet this elite group of professionals below.
- United Arab Emirates
Gerasimos Efthymiatos, CTS-D, CTS-I
Efthymiatos is owner of Greece-based technology solutions provider T&A, as well as partner and head of AV and acoustics for Salt-TS in Dubai. Projects he is involved with include acoustic and audio design for the Dubai 2020 Metro extension and the TH8-Modrian Hotel. Efthymiatos says the certifications have served to boost his marketing.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“Join the team, be part of this interesting journey. CTS certification is the best you can offer yourself and your career.”
Joy Johny Kundukulam, CTS-D, CTS-I
Operation and technical manager at Alpha Data LLC, Kundukulam says the dual certifications have won him respect and trust from clients and made technical collaboration much smoother.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“Invest one hour every day for your CTS preparation for two months without fail, do the online exams, and you will succeed.”
Kurian Thomas, CTS-D, CTS-I
Thomas serves as Sharp Middle East FZE senior manager, product management & development. He credits the dual certifications as a winning factor for his company in securing new projects, and have made his recommendations more convincing for his clients.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“It has given me more confidence and provided a key differentiator from my peers. I strongly recommend anyone in AV Industry to pursue dual certifications from AVIXA.”
Moses Dsouza, CTS-D, CTS-I
Dsouza is an AV consultant.
NS Krishnamoorthy, CTS-D, CTS-I
Now senior project manager for Singapore-based Sweelee Projects, Krishnamoorthy has 23 years of industry experience. He supported the AV system design and build for the New York University in Abu Dhabi and the New Doha International Airport. Upon receiving the dual certifications, he was immediately selected for promotion and to work on the largest Middle East AV project per the consultant’s request to prioritize CTS-certified experts.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“Implement the AVIXA standards in your project sites and join the CTS Prep courses. What you learn in the classroom will help you pass.”
Rodrigue Ibrahim, CTS-D, CTS-I
Having been with Extron Electronics Middle East for almost a decade, Ibrahim now applies his certification experience to work with end users in the education and vertical market. He says the test preparation process has greatly accelerated his learning curve and helped build his confidence.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“CTS certifications are proven means of differentiation among professionals in the AV industry.”
Vaibhav Gupta, CTS-D, CTS-I
Gupta is audiovisual solutions manager at Itelligent Technologies LLC in Dubai, and has worked on projects that include the expansion of Fashion Avenue in the Dubai Mall and At the Top of Burj Khalifa. He says the dual certification process has allowed him to address the lifecycles of complex projects more maturely.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“The AVIXA standards can help raise the bar of the AV industry in a universal way, not just in the west, but everywhere.”
- Qatar
Evangelos Petridis, CTS-D, CTS-I
Petridis is senior AV specialist at ASTAD. One incident clearly displayed the credibility that the dual certifications provided. During a first meeting, an AV supervision consultant in a project overseas saw his business card with the dual certification logos. “The collaboration from that point onward ran like a breeze as if we knew each other for years,” says Petridis.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“You are late already. If you feel like you have the knowledge, simply certify it, and ask for a better salary!”
Maged Yakob, CTS-D, CTS-I
Yakob says the dual certification gave him in-depth technical knowledge and led to a promotion to his current position as head of design at TechnoQ.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“It’s much more than passing an exam for the certification. Take it as a journey with endless technical knowledge that you are digging to the maximum.”
Sameh Abdalla, CTS-D, CTS-I
An independent AV services provider, Abdalla applies AVIXA standards to advise clients in system design, installation, and commissioning. He says dual certifications have enabled him to measure the development and delivery of an AV solution objectively with a clear standard.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“As a CTS-D and CTS-I holder, you feel responsible for continually developing your capabilities, keeping yourself up to date to provide the best possible level of quality. It just opens the doors for a whole new world of AV.”
Vikram Karamveer, CTS-D, CTS-I
An AV and automation architect at Mannai Corporation in Qatar, Karamveer was inspired by his dual CTS-D and CTS-I certified former supervisor to start his own journey. In addition to the CTS certifications, he has also completed certifications for operating systems from Crestron, Extron, and Biamp.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“Learn and attempt the exam. It will change your view for the work we do and the important value our industry offers.”
- Saudi Arabia
Ali Algharam, CTS-D, CTS-I
Algharam is senior low current systems engineer at Al-Matbouli Sound and Communications in Jeddah. For him, going through the certification process has compressed years of experience and learning into a short few months.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“Don't wait, go and get the CTS immediately.”
Hashmat Ali K, CTS-D, CTS-I
Hashmat Ali K is head of engineering and project manager at ICAD-KSA (Innovative Contractor of Advance Dimensions), and has worked on Jeddah Tower, which is set to open in 2020 as the world’s tallest skyscraper. He says his CTS-D and CTS-I training has helped him facilitate smooth AV design and cooperation throughout the project cycle.
Advice to other CTS candidates:
“CTS hopefuls should start by joining AVIXA offline and online classes and gaining day-to-day experience from AV design and project execution.”
About CTS Certifications
*CTS (Certified Technology Specialists), CTS-D (Design) and CTS-I (Installation) are recognized worldwide as the industry's leading AV professional qualification. Globally there are more than 12,000 CTS holders. And, now over 2,000 have a CTS-D (Design) or CTS-I (Installation) specialized credential.
All three certifications are ANSI accredited under the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ISO/IEC 17024:2012 General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Schemes of Persons program.
