Getting Ready for Phoenix & IPI

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Getting Ready for Phoenix & IPI

How to Get the Most Out of Your Conference & Expo Experience

The IPI Conference & Expo will provide you with a 24-hour environment where you will learn and be able to implement ideas upon your immediate return to your office. It will expose you to new innovative concepts and solutions from industry leaders, peers and counterparts and a host of diverse technology/solution partners on the expo hall floor. It will provide opportunities to make valuable connections with industry professionals and develop an exclusive network of resources. Ultimately, it will prepare you for further enhancing your organizations efficiency, effectiveness and overall interaction with your customers. In just four days.

Below are some helpful tips to get the most out of your experience:

Plan Ahead of Time
During the Conference
Back at the Office

Plan Ahead of Time

Take a good look at the conference schedule and plan what you will attend—and which exhibitors you need to visit—ahead of time. Use the Attendee Service Center and Business Connection Portal to help you get organized.
Read the conference agenda thoroughly, and select the sessions that will be most likely to improve your skills. There are a lot of education sessions to choose from. To narrow it down, choose topics or areas where you need solutions for an existing challenge, not just what sounds good or something you could almost teach yourself. Coordinate with colleagues what sessions you each will attend and then share the session information with each other.
Bring colleagues and enjoy $100 off every 3rd – 10th registration!
There are more than 200 solution and technology providers on the show floor – maximize your time and effort by using the Product Matchmaking tool through the Business Connection Portal to locate and reach out to those that you want to guarantee to visit on the show floor!
The expo hall provides plenty of opportunity to win some great prizes provided by our vendors – be sure to check out the Booth Prizes page and plan which companies you’ll want to visit!
Remember, if you register by December 2, 2011, you are eligible to receive all 40 industry expert led educational sessions in audio format! This is a $750 value and provides maximum ROI. Share with colleagues back in the office who weren’t able to attend.
IPI has negotiated special savings with SuperShuttle. Make your reservations online for your roundtrip transfers to/from the airport to save 10% plus earn points on qualified airline frequent flyer programs.
Make sure you are receiving the electronic updates on the conference where we’ll share exciting late breaking news, new features and spotlight some of the must-attend events and product/service providers leading up to the show!
Sign up and engage other attendees and professionals through IPI’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Pack comfortable shoes, business casual and plenty of business cards!
Look out for special promotions and discounts available for conference attendees.

During the Conference

If you are a first-timer conference attendee, plan to attend the First Timer Orientation on Sunday, June 10, 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. There will be seasoned professionals who will give you some insight tips on truly gaining the most from your experience.
Stay for the entire conference. You never know what good information you might miss by arriving late or leaving early.
Become an active participant, asking questions and making comments. The topics will take on new life for you.
Talk to the people sitting next to you. When you walk into a seminar, take the time before the presentation begins to say hello to the people seated around you. Once you have said something as simple as “hello,” it will be easier to talk with them later in the week if you see them again.
When attending evening parties, get there early. That way a cluster of conversation builds up around you and you don't face the challenge of working your way into other clusters like you do if you arrive late.
Ask questions of people you meet. Never lead with your “elevator speech.” People are more interested in themselves than they are in you, so ask them questions to help them get to talking.
Be aware of your behavior. Just because you are miles away from your work doesn’t mean you are off duty. Thoughtless talk or behavior could jeopardize your job, your reputation, or worse, your company’s reputation! Enjoy the occasion, but remember your reputation.
Ask a professional colleague to become your conference buddy, so you can share what you learn. This collaboration will bring special benefits when you talk about presentations that only one of you attended.
Never pass up an opportunity to go out with a group to eat, especially in favor of a gathering with “more important people” that may or may not occur.
Visit the IPI Membership booth to get your CAPP informational packet and application.

Back at the Office

Apply the information you learn. Come back with at least five ideas you can apply immediately to your operations. Make a commitment to apply one idea within two days of returning.
Consider offering to prepare and deliver a short presentation to your colleagues to share what you learned once back in the office. Most people learn better when they are going to become the teacher.
Remember to continue to engage with your peers before, during, and after the meeting through our social media like Facebook and Twitter.
Complete the conference surveys as your opportunity to provide valuable insight as to your experience and enable us to continue improving the show!