Washington DC–Grant Mydland has been selected as executive director for the Electronic Systems Professional Alliance (ESPA) and will oversee day-to-day operations.
The Electronic Systems Professional Alliance is a non-profit organization that will deliver high-quality education and certification that is universally recognized as the path to a career in electronics systems industry. Founding partners the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), and National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) established ESPA in November 2006. ESPA seeks to help supply the electronic systems industry with a qualified entry-level workforce that meets the needs of the marketplace.
Mydland is responsible for strategic planning and business development, including licensing sales, finance and marketing, and moving the current operations from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Arlington, Virginia. He also serves as lead spokesperson for ESPA and its vision of building a qualified entry-level workforce for the electronic systems industry.
ESPAs mission is compelling and organizations that care about the future of our industry and its workers should get involved today, Mydland said. The electronic systems technician is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, so it is crucial that we provide qualified technicians with the basic skills necessary to become successful in this fast-paced and ever-changing market.
After moving to Washington, DC from his native California, Mydland served as a political appointee in two different presidential administrations and has held positions in several entrepreneurial ventures and trade associations. Mydland worked at the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) for eight years where he held numerous positions including director of government relations, and served as CompTIAs technology workforce policy expert at both the federal and state levels.
Mydland understands how vital information technology certifications are to the global economy and he looks forward to helping ESPA work with all stakeholders to build the low-voltage technician workforce sometimes referred to as the Fourth Trade.
Mydland earned his degree in political science from California Polytechnic State University and recently attended the Keller Graduate School of Management program.
