IAMCP Helps Partners Bridge the Talent Gap

If you still haven't joined International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP), its latest program offers value that you may not be able to pass up.

To help partners provide certification training for their consultants without interrupting billable time, IAMCP is offering after-hours training classes at highly discounted rates.

Training Versus Billable Hours
"One of the biggest challenges of being a Microsoft partner is keeping up with certification training," says Jon Sastre, president of IAMCP. "This program was designed to reduce that expense to partners and, most importantly, deliver the training outside of billing hours."

In response to member requests, the "Bridge the Talent Gap" program was initiated by past IAMCP President Rudy Rodriguez and Scott Akin, Microsoft's U.S. director of Partner Enablement and Learning Channel. Certified Partners for Learning Solutions (CPLS) that are members of IAMCP were recruited to recommend initial class offerings and timing of schedules. Through Microsoft's financial support, the training classes are offered at a deeply discounted price.

Microsoft Certified Trainers who work for IAMCP member Learning partners deliver the training classes during evening hours. Participants can attend the remote classes from home and not interrupt their regular consulting work.

"One of the great benefits of this program is that consultants are taking the classes exclusively with their peers," Sastre added. "Everyone who participates in this training works for a partner, so they have same objectives and shared experiences." 

IAMCP offers the discounted training classes to active members and companies who have signed a national membership agreement with IAMCP. The cost of membership in IAMCP is $195 for qualified partners. Registrations are first-come, first-served and limited to 20 students per class at the special price of $695 per attendee, reflecting a savings of $2,000. Classes offered in the coming months include: 

• Core Solutions for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
• Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 
• Advanced Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
• Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases 

For more information on the program, visit the Bridge the Talent Gap program's Web site.

While there are many reasons to join IAMCP, the savings from the Bridge the Talent Gap program alone justify the cost of membership. When you join, take advantage of the networking opportunities in addition to the training. The IAMCP community is a valuable network to build complementary relationships with other Microsoft partners.   

How are you keeping up with certification requirements? Add a comment below or send me a note and let's share your story.

Posted by Barb Levisay on April 23, 2014