HEADQUARTERS NEWS
We are delighted to welcome Jeameeka White to our Headquarters’ staff. Jeameeka is a New Bern native, which in itself is somewhat unique, given the number of transplants in this area (such as us). Jeameeka will be handling all matters related to the administration of our iNARTE certification programs, while Judy Sydow will continue to administer out FCC Licensure programs. Jeameeka is widely experienced and holds a Masters degree in Business Administration. You can contact her by e-mail at Jeameeka @inarte.us with any questions or requests you may have.
We also welcome Dr. Terry Welsher to our Board of Directors for 2010. Terry is the Senior Vice President at Dangelmeyer Associates, a training and consulting engineering company, specializing in ESD Control. Terry is also Vice President of the ESD Association this year, and with his help and guidance we expect to build a much stronger bond between the ESDA and iNARTE that should provide advantages for the members of both organizations.
FCC LICENSURE
iNARTE is a COLE Manager for the FCC Licensure programs. We are able to arrange FCC examinations for anyone interested at any of our almost 200 Authorized Test Centers. One of the most popular programs is the General Radiotelephone Operators License, GROL, which requires passing FCC examination in written Elements 1 and 3. The GROL is also accepted by iNARTE as evidence of knowledge in the telecommunications discipline and holders can apply for iNARTE Junior Technician certification without further examination. Possession of a GROL has also become a requirement for many engineers and technicians working on direct government contracts to supply electrical and electronic equipment.
In 2009 we saw a 20% increase in applications for this license and much interest in purchasing the latest training manuals and copies of the Element questions, many of which were changed and reissued by the FCC in 2009. Adding a GROL to your credentials is becoming of greater and greater value.
iNARTE is now selling the latest GROL study guide, GROL + RADAR, 2009 by Gordon West with Pete Trotter. This book contains the new FCC Question Pools released on the 25th of June 2009. It contains everything you need to study and pass the FCC MROP, GROL & Radar Examinations.
The book includes the complete, official FCC question pools for:
- Element 1, Radio Law, Element 3, General Radiotelephone Operator and
- Element 8, Radar Endorsement. Each with answers and explanations for every question.
THE ROAD AHEAD
While there are a few early shoots of optimism concerning the general economic situation, it is clear that consumer confidence has not yet returned. Without that market support, most corporations and companies are not going to be adding jobs any time soon. In fact we are still seeing job losses in many of the areas of technology served by iNARTE.
In decades past, Certification has been shown to provide improved earning power for individuals. Today it can provide a measure of job security, and when necessary a passport to another career. We recently received the following e-mail from one of our certified EMC Engineers who was able to get a new position, even though it involved a major relocation:
“Having iNARTE Certifications was a real factor in getting my new job. I will be the new EMI Lab Manager for a large defense contractor. I’m getting a pretty good sign-on bonus, relocation benefit and a significant increase in pay. I know it would have been a lot tougher getting this job had I not had my iNARTE certifications.”
We cannot guarantee such good fortune for everyone, but we do believe that certification provides an important, independent validation of an individual’s skills and experience. This may be all you need to avoid getting caught in the scaling back process, or perhaps to get that all important first interview for a new position.
Whether or not you hold an iNARTE certificate, it is important today to remain current with changes and advances in technology, specifications and standards. This year iNARTE will be helping you to do this by sponsoring and supporting a number of important workshops and tutorials, shown below.
Several other workshops are in the pipeline, so be sure to visit the iNARTE web site regularly to be sure not to miss those in your region or field of interest. 
