{"id":300402,"date":"2020-01-16T19:59:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T03:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcnews&p=300402"},"modified":"2020-01-16T14:26:19","modified_gmt":"2020-01-16T22:26:19","slug":"release-ready-partner-commits-to-having-fully-certified-technical-staff","status":"publish","type":"arcnews","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcnews\/release-ready-partner-commits-to-having-fully-certified-technical-staff","title":{"rendered":"Release Ready Partner Commits to Having Fully Certified Technical Staff"},"author":5752,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","castos_file_data":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[11032,10382,10882],"tags":[157432,164892,19952,410672,386042],"arcnews_issues":[409212],"class_list":["post-300402","arcnews","type-arcnews","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-esri-partners","category-esri-technology","category-esri-training","tag-arcgis","tag-certification","tag-esri-technical-certification","tag-release-ready-partner","tag-true-north","arcnews_issues-winter-2020","arcnews_sections-news"],"acf":{"short_description":"True North wants to show that, at a company level, it\u2019s on the same page as Esri.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Esri partner True North Geographic Technologies knows the value of staying ahead of the curve. For 12 years, the Tennessee-based company has provided its customers with GIS implementation services to help them embrace location technology and apply it to their daily workflows. Now, with 20 employees and a customer base of sizable utilities that stretches from Texas to Massachusetts, True North is continuing to raise the bar.\r\n\r\nIn June 2019, True North CEO David Speight announced that the company\u2019s entire technical staff would earn Esri Technical Certifications. In just a few months, he expects these employees, which account for about three-quarters of True North\u2019s staff, to accomplish that.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe want to show that, at a company level, we\u2019re on the same page as Esri,\u201d said Speight."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Really Understanding Esri Technology<\/h2>\r\nTrue North\u2019s core mission is to help its customers solve problems. With a thorough understanding of Esri products, the company offers valuable insight into how ArcGIS technology should be architected, deployed, and used.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe're primarily a services provider, so the value of our time to our customers is based both on our domain expertise in various industries and our technical expertise in the platforms we support,\u201d said Speight.\r\n\r\nIt was in pursuit of this mission that True North decided to become a Release Ready specialty partner in 2018. The Release Ready designation is awarded to partners that adopt the latest Esri technology, migrate their offerings in a repeatable practice, and have a well-trained staff to support the latest Esri software releases."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":300412,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"\u201cCustomers want to work with an Esri partner that they know is in step with their primary technology provider,\u201d said Mitch Maddox, director of business development at True North.\r\n\r\nOne way to demonstrate being at the forefront with Esri is to get certified in ArcGIS technology.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s a good indicator that an individual has a solid understanding of the technology they work with,\u201d said Speight. \u201cI think a lot of times, you can know things at a surface level, but being able to pass a certification exam conveys that you really understand the software well enough to answer questions about scenarios that you don\u2019t typically encounter.\u201d\r\n\r\nEsri offers Desktop, Enterprise, and Specialty certifications, as well as exams for developers and administrators. Speight said he encourages employees to get whichever certification they want to pursue.\r\n\r\n\u201cI typically make recommendations, but usually they have something in mind that they want to achieve first,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a good mix of Desktop and Enterprise certifications at multiple levels. We\u2019re already looking at some of the new certifications coming out as well, and we\u2019ll be going after those.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

A Way to Inspire Customers and Employees<\/h2>\r\nAs an early adopter of Esri technology, True North is well versed in what it takes to inspire trust and confidence in the market. For starters, customers need to recognize that the company is an industry expert with proven solutions and services. Being a Release Ready specialty partner does this, but the commitment True North made to having a fully Esri-certified workforce sets it apart even further.\r\n\r\n\u201cWhen a Release Ready specialty partner\u2019s staff is certified, customers have the confidence that the partner has an in-depth understanding of Esri technology,\u201d explained Maddox. \u201cOur staff have the expertise to implement systems that will help customers overcome their business challenges.\u201d\r\n\r\nAnd while spurring customer confidence is certainly important, True North also seeks to inspire its own workforce. Part of True North\u2019s annual organizational plan includes training and certification opportunities for employees. The company encourages technical staff to make learning\u2014with a focus on technical certification\u2014a priority through financial incentives and recognition. And while this benefits the individuals on both a personal and professional level, it also pays dividends to True North and its customers."},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","image":300422,"text":"When a Release Ready specialty partner\u2019s staff is certified, customers have the confidence that the partner has an in-depth understanding of Esri technology.","author_name":"Mitch Maddox","author_profession_organization":"True North Director of Business Development"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"\u201cIt has been our experience when working with traditional IT partners, that a high level of emphasis is placed on acquiring and maintaining vendor-specific certifications,\u201d said Speight. \u201cParticularly in the private sector, certifications are often required on specific products and, in some cases, specific versions of that product. We see that requirement extending to GIS as well within organizations when GIS moves out of the departmental level and is adopted as an enterprise platform.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Displaying a Dedication to Achievement<\/h2>\r\nHaving a fully certified workforce demonstrates True North\u2019s commitment to adopting and maintaining current technologies to support not only its GIS business but also the GIS operations of its customers.\r\n\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty strong indicator that we know what we\u2019re talking about,\u201d said Speight. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 builder; it\u2019s a proven measurement of our knowledge base.\u201d\r\n\r\nThrough its involvement in Esri\u2019s Release Ready partner initiative, True North already has access to current technology and release resources. It can also connect its customers to industry-leading advice from Esri experts and share best practices with a broad audience. Partners aligned with the Release Ready specialty and the Esri Technical Certification program showcase their organizational achievements and dedication to helping customers attain their goals.\r\n\r\nIn addition, certification translates to the real world in verifiable ways. According to the 2018 Value of IT Certification survey conducted by Esri testing partner Pearson VUE, 33 percent of people who were self-motivated to get certified said that improving their professional standing and increasing their technical knowledge were the primary reasons they elected to become certified. And about three-quarters of all respondents said \u201cthey \u2018completely\u2019 or \u2018mostly\u2019 accomplished their objectives by becoming certified.\u201d\r\n\r\nSpeight believes that his staff is aligned in these views.\r\n\r\n\u201cAnytime you pass a test, it\u2019s a good feeling. It\u2019s a confirmation that you know what you\u2019re doing,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that snowballs, and you end up wanting to push yourself to do the next one. There\u2019s hopefully some cumulative effect where that continues.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Become Release Ready and Certified<\/h2>\r\nTrue North\u2019s success as an Esri partner comes not only from staying on the cutting edge of Esri technology but also from prioritizing training and certification as part of its long-term organizational goals.\r\n\r\nFor any organization looking to showcase its expertise, enhance customer confidence, and connect with Esri\u2019s best and brightest, becoming a Release Ready specialty partner and getting a fully certified workforce are effective means to those ends. Find out what it takes<\/a> to be Release Ready, and get more information<\/a> about Esri Technical Certification exams."}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"\nRelease Ready Partner Commits to Having Fully Certified Technical Staff<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"True North wants to show that, at a company level, it\u2019s on the same page as Esri.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcnews\/release-ready-partner-commits-to-having-fully-certified-technical-staff\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Release Ready Partner Commits to Having Fully Certified Technical Staff\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"True North wants to show that, at a company level, it\u2019s on the same page as 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