Jim O’Rourke, regional contract sales manager at Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED), is always looking for ways to provide more value to his customers. That’s why he has his Lighting Certified (LC) credential, earned his NXT Level 1 designation, and is now nearly finished with NXT Level 2 training. And he urges the rest of his team to share his commitment to learning the latest in lighting.
When O’Rourke first heard about NXT Level, he knew it would pair well with his LC credential. “The designation adds credibility and shows I have a commitment to what I’m doing,” he explained. His positive experience has motivated other CED employees across 50 Northwest locations to seek their own designation.
“It is important for our clients to see that we do more than answer the phone or sell products,” said O’Rourke. “The best way to do that is by taking advantage of continuing education to stay up-to-date on energy-efficient lighting technologies and good design practices.”
O’Rourke is close to finishing his NXT Level 2 training, which he considers more challenging than NXT Level 1. “I’ve really enjoyed the interactive portions of this training,” he said. “The combination of online and instructor-led sessions lets me connect with others in the course. Being able to have discussions and listen to each other has been very valuable.”
“There are so many changes happening in our industry today,” he said. “For some, it can be daunting, but those of us who are at street level really enjoy it. It gives us a reason to keep learning and to tap programs like NXT Level to make sure we’re knowledgeable and doing a better job of serving our clients.”