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Dec. 3-5, 2012. This gathering is trumpeted as “the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training conference”. The Training, Simulation and Modeling Industry, we heard, has a very important job to do in providing the best of training, equipment and simulation technologies for the forces in the field. I/ITSEC as a conference strives to meet these important and ever-changing needs. Delegates at this event seem to understand that training is a core process in a successful and modern business. In successful organizations, training is continuous, pervasive and institutionalized, we heard. These players came to I/ITSEC to find the resources that they need to adapt to the new tasks and threats of tomorrow. There were over 4,000 attendees, plus over 8,500 Industry/Government/Academia personnel. 2,000 attendees were foreigners from over 50 countries. Hey, this is “computing without borders”, already…
Dec. 16-19, ICIS stands for International Conference on Information Systems. The major annual meeting of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), which has over 4,000 members representing universities in over 95 countries worldwide. It is a prestige gathering of academics and practitioners in the IS discipline, and provides a forum for the sharing of ideas and scientific work among Information Systems-related professions. Over 1,000 IS academic professionals from around the world participated in the conference program, which included about 60 sessions and 180 presentations, in addition to keynotes, CIO panels, and research panels. This year’s theme was Digital Innovation in the Service Economy. So it looks like digital is at the service of the economy. Nice to know….
Nov. 11-13, 2012. PLMA is the Private Label Manufacturers’ Association, and their annual meet also goes by Store Brands Decisions. An Innovation & Marketing Summit, developed with input from a Retailer Advisory Board, featured sessions on hot topics like consumer insight, product development, packaging innovation and digital media. Devoted entirely to innovation and marketing, the summit has become widely recognized as the premier educational and networking event for store brands retailers, manufacturers and solution providers. Panelists and speakers included executives from Kroger, Safeway, Walgreens, Ahold, Delhaize, Loblaw, Winn Dixie, 7-Eleven, and Supervalu. A sustainability seminar included a two-hour SP Essentials of Sustainable Packaging session, and a panel presentation featuring sustainable packaging success stories. There was “sustained” applause….
Nov. 13-16, 2012. IAAPA is the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, so holding their conference and expo a stone’s throw away from Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park was sort of appropriate. Indeed, a panel of theme-park industry “legends” debated an interesting question: What happens when the future catches up with Epcot as that “futuristic” icon celebrates its 30th anniversary? When objects, concepts and products the industry once dreamed about are now a reality …well, what’s a theme park to do? “What we think about Epcot now is not so much predicting the future, but inspiring generations to move into the future, make it their own, and have an optimistic view of it,” said Eric Jacobson, who oversees all of Walt Disney World’s creative development for Walt Disney Imagineering. So, those people who say the future isn’t what it used to be? They turned out to be wrong…
Nov. 9-12, 2012. NAR is the National Association of Realtors, and they apparently came to Orlando to “discover their Magic”… as in Kingdom, we assume. “Homeownership matters”, we heard, and five “Realtor Heroes” who showed devotion to the dream of homeownership were honored at NAR. One of those heroes was already in her home state of Florida: Tampa’s Connie Johnson, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Johnson had devoted herself to helping both people and pets. As 2009 President of Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB), she led an organization that repairs homes for people in need. RTTB typically remodels or rebuilds some 30 homes a year, but Johnson ramped up work during her tenure and remodeled 72 homes. ”“Realtors work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people in their communities, whether it’s through homeownership or other acts of kindness and generosity” said the prize speech. Sounds like magic was indeed discovered…
Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2012. The NBAA is the National Business Aviation Association. The key operators and industry leaders met in Orlando to conduct business, make buying decisions and set the stage for business aviation activity for the year ahead. While companies that rely on business aviation represent many different professions and locations, they all have one thing in common, we heard: the need for fast, flexible, safe, secure and cost-effective access to destinations across the country and around the world. There seem to be real advantages. Business aircraft allow employees to make a trip involving stops at several locations, then return to headquarters the same day. Savings can be made on hotel rooms, rental cars, meals and other expenses that would be needed to make the same trip over several days via auto, train or airline transport. A recent study suggested that small and medium companies in America using business aviation consistently outperformed nonusers. The advantage seems “plane”…
Sept. 21-23, 2012. This Expo is billed as the largest showcase of food service products in the Eastern US. Full title? The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Show. So you were welcome to stay on for some Lodging after you finished in the Restaurant. Besides board and lodging, delegates were invited to profit from the latest trends, charm their guests, inspire their team and reduce their costs … though not necessarily all at the same time. Delegates could get the keys to all aspects of a successful food service business from experts handpicked by Ferdinand Metz, Master chef and head of the Culinary Institute of America, or watch as professional baristas prepared their signature espresso beverages and compete for the title of Ultimate Barista. Could I get my coffee with a Betty Boop cartoon in the froth? She’s cute…
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