Certified Sounds of Maui is Expanding and Growing

WAILUKU, HAWAII, October 3, 2016 – Certified Sounds is an upscale specialist car electronics retailer on the Island of Maui in Hawaii. President and Founder, Derek Pace, is moving forward with long-term goals to expand and grow the company including a brand new, purpose-built facility and hiring a new GM to lead day-to-day operations.

Maui and all the Hawaiian Islands are well-known for outrageous real estate prices, something that can challenge the growth of any small business. “We purchased in 2015 after seeking a site for several years that would accommodate the facility we wanted to build from the ground up and still be accessible to the commuter traffic that frequents our area of the island. We finally found an ideal location and will be breaking ground soon. In all we’re investing over 1 million dollars” explained Pace.

In the new facility, which will be about triple the current size of his 2700 sq.ft. location, Pace plans to outfit the location with innovative display and work areas for his already successful automotive electronics business. “We will construct a client-friendly showroom that’s reminiscent of an Apple® store as well as a completely new custom wood shop, metal fab shop and upholstery room that’ll help us execute product demonstrations and more efficient labor utilization” says Pace. Certified Sounds does a great car audio business and will continue to grow the safety and driver assist categories for their client base. “Introducing new technologies with real-world demonstration capability will always be a priority for our clients’ awareness and experience” concluded Pace, whose CTA involvement in the Board of Industry Leaders (BIL) sparked the idea to broaden the store’s clientele reach.

In addition to the robust aftermarket car electronics business, Certified Sounds will also expand into product categories that bring in a broad range of new technology consumers. “We will offer a variety of select new consumer products including high resolution home audio and video, sound bars, portable and Bluetooth™ speakers, headphones, digital cameras, and eventually getting into health/fitness and wearables categories” continued Pace of the company’s future plans. He envisions Certified Sounds as a one-of-a-kind premier electronics and technology destination for Maui consumers.

To help drive this growth and development, Pace brought in an industry veteran Jay Oliphant to assume the role of General Manager and oversee daily retail operations. Jay has over 23 years of deep industry experience in installation, client relations and management. Among Jay’s career achievements are magazine and SEMA Show featured builds, IASCA and MECA judging, as well as deep expertise in OEM audio integration and system tuning with advanced DSP integration devices. Jay was most recently involved in a successful central California-based retail and B2B services specialty 12v retail store for the past 10 years before coming to Certified Sounds. “Jay will help evolve and shape our mission statement. Hiring a higher level employee like Jay is an investment into the business and in someone who has the same long-term goals and outlook as I have” commented Pace.

For more information and to follow the exciting company expansion, visit www.certifiedsounds.com or find them on Facebook at certifiedsoundsmaui.

Arlington, Va. -- Oct. 3, 2019 – The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® today announced Adam Devine, owner of Devine Concepts in Naples, FL, as the recipient of the Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) Technician of the Year.

A Master Installation Technician for four years, Devine has been certified for almost 18 years. He was selected by the Vehicle Technology Division of CTA and MECP-certified experts in the aftermarket industry for his dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction; his role as a mentor to many in the industry; and constantly striving to further his knowledge on complex elements.

“We’re excited to announce Adam Devine as the MECP Technician of the Year,” said Jeff Cantrell, MECP Committee Chairman. “The MECP program recognizes professionals who maintain industry best practices and seek continuing education in order to provide clients with outstanding service and installations. Adam has gone to great lengths to maintain and grow his own certification over many years, market the program to his clients, and maintain the highest standards in every installation.”

MECP, owned by CTA, is a certification program for installation technicians and salespeople of mobile electronics and aftermarket automotive equipment. It is the only nationally recognized program that certifies technicians on the installation techniques and capabilities of automobile information technology, entertainment, navigation and safety/security systems.

Devine will receive an expenses-paid trip to CES® 2020 and accept the award on the CTA Stage in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center. CES 2020 will take place Jan. 7-10, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV.

Be at the center of vehicle technology at CES 2020 and see the latest and greatest in self-driving vehicles, concept cars and connected vehicles.

Nashville, Tenn. - September 26th, 2023 - The Mobile Electronics Certified Professional Program (MECP) has launched a new career finder page on its website, which can be seen by clicking Career Finder in the menu on the MECP website.

The new page offers an industry-specific place for employers to post available job or career opportunities for free and the first easy-to-use way for candidates to search for opportunities by location, category, and even the expected pay rate offered by the employer. Opportunities can be "Featured" for a small fee, but any job of any type can be posted for free by submitting the form at the link on the page.

"Two of the foundational principles we have at MECP are the education of the workforce in this industry and to grow and foster a highly functional workforce for the retailers and manufacturers within it," said Kris Bulla, President of MECP. "It made sense for us to develop an efficient way for employers to post opportunities to attract new candidates and for the candidates to find and explore new opportunities easily on our site."

The engine that powers the page is custom developed to accommodate the many types of roles within the industry and to be able to sort and find them easily. From typical Retailer Technician roles based in a single store location to a regional rep or mobile fleet installation service that can cover one or more regions, it's a powerful way to get the opportunity information out and an efficient way to filter the results for job seekers. The candidate can see the description of the opportunity and its MECP requirements and view images of the workplace, links to the online company job description, an online application, and a detailed map of the location or coverage area if the submission includes those items.

Employers can submit a new opportunity by filling out the form here: https://bit.ly/MECPCareerOpportunity

Candidates can look for new opportunities here: https://mecp.com/career-finder/

For more information about posting a job or career opportunity, visit the website or contact the MECP team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

June 10, 2021 -- The MECP program has debuted the Vision Zero Automotive Network Certification course and exam in its online learning platform, and it is ready for access now.

“With the help of our very generous supporting vendor community, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this much-needed certification program to the industry,” said Bernie Sapienza, Executive Director of the Vision Zero Automotive Network. “This level of specialization can help create a deeper level of consumer confidence within our channel and strengthen our message as an industry. Emerging ADAS is clearly an opportunity for our industry, and additional training will clearly be a benefit.”

“The OEM and aftermarket ADAS categories have grown tremendously in recent years, and this content has been developed to focus on the sales, application, and installation of these types of products,” says Kris Bulla, MECP President.

The new certification is subscription-based, and access to the course and exam lasts for one year. If you are a currently certified MECP technician or specialist, or if you work for a store that is part of the Vision Zero Automotive Network, you can access the new course for a discounted price. The new course is open to anyone, regardless of their current certification or network status. Once the course has been completed and the online exam has been passed, a unique Vision Zero Automotive Network Certification certificate will be issued for display, and the credentials can be accessed, viewed, and displayed from the MECP online Portable ID profile.

“The MECP program has been around for over 30 years,” continued Sapienza. They are the undisputed premier certification entity in our industry. Their recent transition to an all-digital platform was clearly created at the right moment for VZAN to partner with them.”

To find out more about the Vision Zero Automotive Network or obtain your network member discount coupon code, contact Bernie Sapienza at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To get access to MECP courses, visit www.mecp.com, and click Get Certified. For assistance with your certification or get an MECP certified discount coupon code, contact the MECP Admin team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nashville, TN – October 9th, 2024 - The Mobile Electronics Certified Professional Program (MECP) understands the wide range of effects a catastrophic natural disaster or event can cause, from damage from wind, flooding, and excessive rain and moisture to business loss from consumers whose priorities shift from nice-to-have accessories to required food, shelter, and medical supplies.

The recovery and rebuilding process also has several phases, which can be complicated for business owners trying to navigate their businesses through the catastrophe, manage employees, and formulate a strategy to rebound.

MECP is offering free certification courses and exams to help those who are safe but waiting for their business or suppliers to reopen. We aim to keep you and your employees productive and engaged in job-related activities, even if they cannot be at the store. This support can be part of your strategy to reopen with a more efficient staff, demonstrating your commitment to serving your recovering customers more effectively.

You are eligible for this support if you work in or manage a store, distributor, or fleet technician team from Cedar Key through Ormond Beach on the Northern end and from Marco Island through Miami on the Southern end. We value your contribution to the industry and are here to assist you. Requests should be made by December 15th, 2024. You can request our assistance here: https://bit.ly/MECPhurricanemilton

Free course/renewal options include:

• MECP Product Technology Specialist (1-year)
• MECP Apprentice Installation Technician (1-year)
• MECP Skilled Installation Technician (1-year)
• MECP Autosound Specialist (1-year)
• MECP Security & Convenience Specialist (1-year)
• MECP Light Duty Fleet Services Specialist (1-year)

MECP has its Admin staff on standby to temporarily deactivate store locations in the Technician Finder Tool upon request by the Company Admin or to create your store location and link employees if necessary. Adjustment or linking requests can be made by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

All MECP courses and exams are available online and are easily accessible on any phone, tablet, or computer that has Internet access. It works great even on hotel, airplane, STARLINK, and mobile hotspot WiFi, so being removed from your normal area or connections should not impact your ability to access the content.

For more information, visit the website or contact the MECP team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

11-21-2016 -- Another exclusive MECP Masters Appreciation Dinner occurred November 3rd during the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The annual MECP Masters Dinner has become a “can’t miss” event for up-and-coming leaders in the aftermarket automotive electronics industry. With a new venue, Gordon Biersch Restaurant, and many new manufacturer and sales rep partners – the 2016 event was one of the best Masters Dinner yet.

Nearly 30 people in all attended the event. MECP Master Installation Technicians and their spouses, as well as industry guests from manufacturers such as Sony, Orca, Audio Control, AAMP Global, Metra and several sales rep firms. During the dinner, MECP awarded several achievement prizes and giveaways for the technicians in attendance. This year the bounty of prizes were generously furnished by Sony, Audio Control, Bojo Tools, CTA, Focal America, Heise Lighting, Mobile Solutions. Everyone was well fed and had a great time getting to know each other, or catch up with friends and industry colleagues.

Each Master technician in attendance received these exciting gifts from generous MECP supporters:

• Sony Notebook/Journal
• Audio Control, Focal and Mosconi T-Shirts
• Numerous Bojo Premium Pry and Scrape Tool Sets
• Audio Control and Focal T-Shirts
• iSimple Smartphone Charging Cable
• CTA Pens, Aluminum Luggage Tag and USB Wall Plug
• CTA/CES Stainless Steel Water Bottle

MECP achievement prize winners:

• Very First in Attendance to become MECP Certified: Bill Repicky (Metra/Heise). Bill became MECP Basic certified back in September 1994, over 22 years ago. Bill won a Sony MEX-MB100bt head unit.

• Longest Continually Master Certified in Attendance: Josh White (Firstech/Compustar). Josh has been an MECP Master since February 2008 and now works as a Technical Support Specialist. Josh won a Sony MEX-MB100bt head unit.

• Longest Continually MECP Certified in Attendance: Bryan Safford (Best Buy). Bryan has been an MECP Master since February 2009, but has held MECP certifications continuously without expiration (or having leveled-up) since July 2004. Bryan won a Sony MEX-MB100bt head unit.

• Leadership Award: Jeff Meece (Meece Car Audio). Since becoming Master certified in 2008, Jeff has opened and grown a successful independent retail business with many employees to manage and positively influence. Jeff won a Heise LED light bar, Focal ear buds and a Focal pry tool set.

• Entreprenuer Award: Jim Smyka (IDEA Solutions). Since becoming Master certified in 2006, Jim has started an expeditor-focused installation business as well as a few other businesses including his t-shirt company Warhole Designs. Jim won a Heise LED light bar, Focal ear buds and a Focal pry tool set.

Additional fantastic giveaway prizes at the MECP Masters Dinner included:

• Audio Control LC-4.800 Amplifier
• Focal Ear Buds
• Heise LED Light Bars
• Mobile Solutions PT9A and PT2 Polarity Testers
• Phoenix Gold RX65CX Coaxial Speakers
• Sony MEX-MB100bt Head Units
• A Sony RSX-G59 Digital Media Head Unit
• Stinger SPX 350.2 Micro Amplifiers
• Installation Technician T-shirts from Warhole Designs

MECP recognized Kris Bulla and Pete Daley as exceptional proctors who have been responsible for delivering many MECP exams throughout 2016 where retailers in their respective regions request a proctor. The two men are some of MECP’s greatest evangelists. Finally, MECP also took time to recognize the MECP Facebook group’s incredible growth and success which is administered/monitored by Master technicians Michael Abeita, Kris Bulla and Rick Costello.

For making the annual Master’s Dinner an extreme success, MECP would like to thank all the technicians, spouses and supporting companies who participate. When one looks around at these dinners, it’s clear that many current and future industry leaders are positively influencing the technical skills and career path of the 12 volt Installation Technician through their connection to MECP. The future is bright and technical knowledge is not going out of style in the aftermarket electronics category. If you’re an MECP Master, consider joining MECP at next year’s event in Las Vegas!

Nashville, TN - April 5th, 2024 - The Mobile Electronics Certified Professional Program (MECP) has launched a new App to purchase new courses, view courses and exams already purchased and progress through them for certification right from their mobile device. While the courses and purchase process has always been possible through these devices, a native app provides a better experience with viewing the content and the user experience than using a mobile browser in most cases. The Apps are available now in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

The Apps offer all of the same tools and content that the website courses have, but add new tools like study reminders, a stats page to view your real-time progress in your courses, and a resources page to jump quickly to your MECP Profile, the Career Finder, and the Verification pages on the site. Any courses you have already purchased and have access to in your online account are already in your App once you have signed in, and you can pick up your mobile device after working on the computer and pick up right where you left off.

"We’ve had a lot of requests for creating an App to be able to use on phones and tablet, and since our primary objective with the program is to make education and certification easier to access and easier to accomplish, it made sense for us to deliver this." said Kris Bulla, MECP president. “One barrier we had to figure out was overcoming the inflated costs charged by Apple and Android to sell through the app stores. We were creatively unique creative in how built the apps, to allow you to view any courses you have purchased on our site for our normal price, without having to purchase them in-App at the higher prices required on their platforms. You can purchase courses on our site, and they will be available on your app immediately, and you can get to that page on our site via a button on the Stats page in the app. It is the best solution we could provide while complying with their rules and imitations of in-App purchases.”

For more information, visit the download the apps or contact the MECP team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nashville, TN - April 3rd, 2024 - The Mobile Electronics Certified Professional Program (MECP) has launched two new Specialist courses and exams to provide education and certification for technicians highly focused on specific industry tasks or roles. The two new courses are on the MECP Learning Portal Courses page. In addition, new two-year certificate length options are now available for most certifications.

The MECP Light Duty Fleet Services Specialist is tailored for technicians who install, maintain, troubleshoot, or service standard fleet vehicles. The MECP Autosound Specialist is honed in on the audio upgrade and integration technicians. Both offer these techs the ability to increase their knowledge and grow their expertise in these areas without getting frustrated with other education areas they do not need for their job path or role. Each of these certifications will be supplemented with a higher-level certification version focusing on more advanced applications, like heavy-duty vehicles like tractor-trailers, buses, and farm equipment for the fleet side in the future.

"These new courses complement our long-standing Product Technology Specialist certification for sales specialists and our recent Security & Convenience specialist certifications, aligning what we offer with the expertise that retailers and technicians need to both benefit from and promote to their customers," said Kris Bulla, MECP president.

Access to the new courses and the new 2-year versions of the applicable certifications is already available on the newly refreshed Mobile Electronics Certified Professional (MECP) Program website. Click Get Certified! at the top of the page to see the available options, or visit your MECP Profile to upgrade at a discounted rate from one of your current certifications.

For more information, visit the website or contact the MECP team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

January 21, 2021 -- The MECP program, previously owned and operated by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, has been purchased by the Certification Systems Technology Company™ (CTSC). This new company was founded and is operated by industry veteran Kris Bulla who has more than 25 years' experience with the MECP program and its operations.

In February 2021, the program will leap forward into an all-digital format. "The new all-digital format will make it far easier to get access to the educational material and take the logistical nightmare out of locating a testing center or trying to create a testing environment at your home or office. You can now learn from anywhere you have Internet access, at any time." Says Kris Bulla, Certification Systems Technology Company founder, and president. Learning content from the existing study guides has been transitioned to a new online learning platform that provides access to both the study material and testing from any computer, phone, or tablet with an Internet connection. This digital format removes the need to carry or use a physical study guide and eliminates the need to schedule and travel to a testing center. A new learning progress tracker allows learning at the user's pace and promotes higher-level certification achievement. Future improvements like a Technician Finder tool, account management, and expanded certification levels and content will provide far more value to those who have become certified.

The new program is subscription-based. If you are currently certified, your current certification is valid through the end of that particular certification, as indicated by the expiration date on your certificate. Your MECP account will reflect your current certification level through its expiration date as well for verification purposes. Once any current certification ends, or if you decide to upgrade to another certification level, you will be required to subscribe to that level within the new platform.

The changes and account access are expected to be available in early February. To learn more about these changes or to access your account, visit www.mecp.com. For assistance with your certification status or any questions you might have about these changes, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SOUTHFIELD, MICH., June 8, 2021– The MECP program has debuted the Vision Zero Automotive Network Certification course and exam in its online learning platform, and it is ready for access now. “With the help of our very generous supporting vendor and retail community, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this much needed certification program to the industry,” said Bernie Sapienza, Executive Director of the Vision Zero Automotive Network. “This level of specialization can help create a deeper level of consumer confidence within our channel and strengthen our message as an industry. Emerging ADAS is clearly an opportunity for our industry and additional training will clearly be a benefit.”

“The OEM and aftermarket ADAS categories have grown tremendously in recent years, and this content has been developed to focus on the sales, application, and installation of these types of products,” said Kris Bulla, MECP President.

The new certification is subscription-based, and access to the course and exam lasts for one year. If you are a currently certified MECP technician or specialist, or if you work for a store that is part of the Vision Zero Automotive Network, you can access the new course for a discounted price. The course is open to anyone, regardless of current certification or network status. Once the course has been completed and the online exam has been passed, a unique Vision Zero Automotive Network Certification certificate will be issued for display, and your credentials can be accessed, viewed, and displayed from your standard MECP online Portable ID profile.

“The MECP program has been around for over 30 years,” Sapienza said. They are the undisputed premier certification entity in our industry. Their recent transition to an all-digital platform was clearly created the right moment for VZAN to partner with them.”

To find out more about the Vision Zero Automotive Network or to obtain your network member discount coupon code, contact Bernie Sapienza at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For assistance with your certification, or to obtain an MECP certified discount coupon code, contact the MECP Admin team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.." style="color: #000000;">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Vision Zero Automotive Netwwork is accepting applications for their nationwide dealer locator. Retailers that feel they meet the requirements can fill out the Store Submission Form.

For more information on the Vision Zero Automotive network, please contact Bernie Sapienza, executive director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit our website at www.visionzero.us.

Vision Zero Automotive Network” is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity dedicated to educating and encouraging the saving of lives through the addition of life-saving technologies. Our mission, simply stated, is to save lives. Using several Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and technologies developed for the automotive aftermarket, we have the power to make an impact now. We want to use that power to every driver’s advantage. Not in ten years. Not next year. Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today, right this minute, the aftermarket consumer electronics industry have the products and the technology that can help drivers avoid deadly accidents. Our mission is to get those products into cars and trucks that already exist, now. And once we do, we can help avoid 10,000 deaths on U.S. roads.