I’m so excited, I just had to blog right now about the opening day keynote speaker at ISA Automation Week!  A benefit of being a faithful reader of this high-quality commentary is that you are now the very first to know – the press release hasn’t even been issued yet – THAT’s how hot off the press this is.

Anyway, get this: Mr. Greg Hale, Vice President and Chief Safety Officer of Walt Disney World will be speaking to a capacity crowd at the Orange County Convention Center to open the technical conference on Tuesday morning, September 24, at 8:00 a.m.  Mr. Hale is an engaging speaker who will cover automation technology as it relates to his industry, and the application of these technologies in the process and discrete industries.  In fact, he worked at a chemical (explosives) manufacturing facility earlier in his career, and has a unique viewpoint on how technologies cross industrial boundaries.

Wow!  I’m excited!  But…that’s not all!  Nooooo, not by a long shot.  We’re pulling out all the stops here.  ISA Automation Week conference goers will also have the opportunity to sign up for a specially guided technical tour of Disney underground.  If you’ve heard of these tours before, you know fascinating this unique look at the automation of a theme park can be. But here’s the thing: This is not a tour that just anyone can get at any time. This tour will open up to areas not usually open to tours, and groups will be guided by engineers who can speak peer-to-peer with ISA conference attendees and answer their technical questions.

Whew. Well, all that excitement has made me hungry. If you’re hungry for business prospects though, consider exhibiting at ISA Automation Week’s Solutions Provider Showcase and spend time networking with qualified attendees coming to expand their professional development and meet with solutions providers.

And…if you wear Mickey ears to ISA Automation Week, come show me. I  want to take your picture.

Ciao!

Our special events and receptions give you a chance to network with customers, prospects, ISA leaders, speakers, and special guests. Mark your calendars now to attend these fun-filled casual evening receptions while you’re in Mobile:

·       Wrap up your first full conference day with our opening night reception, featuring food and beverage, fun, and great conversation. Tuesday evening, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., Supplier Showcase Floor. 

·        Wednesday: Mardi Gras Reception—Celebrating FIRST®!, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., Supplier Showcase Floor.  This fun-filled networking event will celebrate ISA’s partnership with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Together, we will inspire kids to pursue careers in math, science, and engineering!  

I’m especially excited to announce some of our special guests that will be in attendance at the Mardi Gras Reception on Wednesday night: 

·        FIRST® President Jon Dudas, former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

·        Cirque du Soleil Executive Calum Pearson, vice presiden of technical and show support

·        NASCAR® Race Driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who will display her race truck and talk with attendees on a stopover before competing in the Talladega 250 race the following weekend – sporting both the ISA and the FIRST® logos on the race truck as a tip of the hat to automation professionals everywhere.

You’ll enjoy food, drinks, music, and attendees will compete to win prizes – but most importantly, you’ll be celebrating a cause that we all care about. Every kid deserves a chance to learn what it’s like to be in this profession – and our partnership with FIRST® is a big step in the right direction.

Thanks to our reception supporters for their generous contributions to this one-of-a-kind event:

Major Supporters:

• Honeywell Process Automation – Booth 616
  (ISA Corporate Partner)
• Siemens Industry – Booth 503

Supporters:

• ExperTune  – Booth 523 (ISA Automation Week Partner)
• Fluke – Booth 516 (ISA Strategic Partner: Test & Measurement)
• +GF Piping Systems – Booth 622 (ISA  Automation Week Partner)
• Hile of Alabama – Booth 222
• Kepware – Booth 615 (ISA Automation Week Partner)
• Mitsubishi Electric Automation – Booth 716 (ISA Automation Week Partner)
• Mustang Sampling – Booth 522
• Schneider Electric – Booth 417 (ISA Automation Week Partner)

ISA Partners also contributed to this reception. In addition to those noted above, we thank:

• GE Intelligent Platforms – Booth 614 – ISA Automation Week Partner
• OSIsoft LLC – Booth 517 – ISA Automation Week Partner
• ARC Advisory Group – Booth 514 – ISA Automation Week Partner
• GE Energy – Booth 617 – ISA Corporate Partner

Prizes were donated by Fluke Corporation, Data-Linc, and ARC Advisory Group.

Join us for a great evening of fun, food, and networking.  See you there!

That’s why responsible suppliers may ask themselves – what difference does it make whether or not I participate in ISA Automation Week? Aren’t all of these events pretty much the same? Aren’t I reaching this audience anyway, through other means? We have a website - do I even need to do any other kinds of marketing? Who will even notice if I’m not there this time?

I wouldn’t presume to know all of these answers for every supplier – but I do know this:

Automation and control buyers, specificers, and purchase influencers are the target segment of the manufacturing population that suppliers want to reach the most – and these aggressive, enthusiastic leaders are the ones who actively seek out the latest solutions, products, technologies, innovations, results, research, theories, systems, standards, training, associations, applications, examples – anything they can get their hands on to help them excel in their jobs and help their companies succeed. And that is the kind of qualified prospect you’ll find at ISA Automation Week.

We called several attendees who registered early for the conference and asked them to tell us what they wanted from the event – and every one of them said something like this: “to see new products and solutions – to find out what’s new in the marketplace – to solve an application issue – to see which suppliers can help with our upgrade – to talk to their experts”.  All these are variations on a theme, illustrating that the Supplier Showcase and the supplier’s role as a knowledge resource is critical, and that working with suppliers is of primary importance to attendees. 

So if you are not there – here’s who will notice:
Your competition.

Your competitor on the showcase floor will be in a position to supply these knowledge-thirsty end-users with everything they need.  And once they have what they need, there is very little reason for them to seek out other suppliers who were not present within the learning environment they chose - ISA Automation Week, an unbiased open venue for exchange of information, relationship building, and the advancing the profession.

Sales are made one at a time to people who can make the purchasing decision. Contacts are made and relationships are readily built over three days of networking and information exchange at ISA Automation Week, setting the stage for profitable B2B relationships. To start the conversation with prospects who can benefit from your products or service the most, put your company where they are seeking knowledge  and information - at ISA Automation Week.

A word of caution – If you are going to stand in your booth and wait for people to walk up and ask you “what you sell”, maybe ISA Automation Week isn’t for you. But if you want to actively engage with engineers, technicians, managers, executives, end-users, developers, and those who are in a position to throw business your way;  if you want to network, meet and greet, break bread over lunch with potential clients, host customers at the Mardi Gras Reception, or utilize the many other ways to interact with these prime prospects; if your company wants to be viewed as a technical resource for end-users; if you are looking to grow sales, revenues and profit – then reserve space now. Then get started talking to attendees by opening a dialogue on the event online community!

So – let’s get started! Contact me to see what spaces are still available on the showcase floor – and we will start promoting YOU to thousands of end-users!  See you in Mobile!

C-Shay Out.

Carol Schafer
cschafer@isa.org

Even a  decision such as to where to go for dinner is made by listing all the variables (distance to restaurant, type of cuisine, wait time (in milliseconds if possible), number of days since we last ate there, percentage chance we can park the Hemi in a safe area) and then weighting those variables. (If their dessert menu is good, we weight that with the Pi factor.) (Sorry.) Then, depending upon feedback from each other or from those going to dinner with us, the variables are adjusted before the final decision (“Forget it! Let’s just eat in!”) is made.

Sometimes decision-making can be very involved and fraught with variables, options, add-ons, analysis of charts and graphs – and it’s good to take your time and invest your energy in decisions that could go either way.  But deciding to exhibit in ISA Automation Week’s Supplier Showcase is much easier than that.  The flow chart wouldn’t even take up enough room to use a whole cocktail napkin – because the benefits of bringing a booth to Mobile are so easy to see.

At the risk of being called a geek (again), here are the promised 3.1416 reasons to bring your products to Mobile and connect with prospects and customers:

1.1416   Experts, legends, instructors, and peers have lent their considerable technical expertise to put together the highest quality conference program for automation and controls professionals anywhere to be found. The attendees in Mobile this fall will be aggressively seeking solutions to their automation challenges.  They’re seeking knowledge and education.  They are influential in their companies, have decision-making authority, and are passionate about their responsibilities. They’re just the people you’ll want to contact – and they can become your customers and business partners. 

2.1416   Seriously?  A 10′ x 10′ space with basic furnishings is about $3200.  Where else can you spend so little and get literally thousands of impressions in print, digital, web, and electronic formats in return - along with 3 days of face time with qualified prospects and customers?

2.1416.a   The Supplier Showcase is the central gathering place for attendees. Exhibits are open all day, and luncheon buffets, networking receptions, poster sessions, and theater presentations are all held on the showcase floor.  Shhhh — don’t tell anyone, but there’s a rumor that there will be a Mardi Gras Casino Party on Wednesday… shhhh…

3.1416  Showcase  passes are available for those wishing to visit the exhibition only. The promotional code is:  P12349B. Tell your customers and prospects to use that code during the registration process to get the free pass.

Well, I have to go find my slide rule.  Meanwhile, contact me about exhibit space, event sponsorship, or to ask questions (but not the question “What is the square root of the Erie Canal?” – it’s already been asked).  See you in Mobile!

C-Shay out.

919-990-9206

cschafer@isa.org

Follow me on Twitter: @carolpicker

Got 4 minutes? Can I tell you something, just between you and me? I can?  Cool. 

Take a break from the hard work you’re doing and read on for about 4 minutes. I’ll share with you 8 ways to easily and economically reach buyers and end-users who specify your products and services for purchase.

Leading automation professionals, along with some of the foremost legends in automation technology, will be gathering at ISA Automation Week – and you can network directly with them. 

Here are just 8 of the many ways to reach these automation end-users:

1. Learn what your customers and prospects are interested in: Go to the technical sessions with them!  Two (2) full conference registrations are included with your exhibit space. 
2. Get your sales engineers in front of attendees:  Three (3) exhibit staff badges are included, too. (Need more than 3? Talk to me.)
3. Get face time with prospects.  There are networking receptions Tuesday and Wednesday nights and EXHIBITS ARE OPEN ALL DAY- EVERY DAY.
4. Get your clients complimentary entrance to see your display.  Just tell them to register using Promotion Code P12349B for an exhibits-only badge good for all 3 days!
5. I repeat. Exhibits are open all day. Every day.  And open late!!!
6. Break bread with your customers. Lunch tickets are included with your two full conference registrations.  Have lunch with a different client every day!
7. Promote your product in InTech (free!).  Send us a photo and write-up on your best product – we’ll put it in the event issue of InTech magazine.
8. Get known as a resource for customers. Apply to give an exhibitor presentation in one of the two Technology Solutions Theaters on the Supplier Showcase floor – and get in the spotlight – free.

Well, I could tell you more. But I promised you that you could read this blog in about 4 minutes. Way less time than it took me to write it!

To exhibit or inquire, check out the “Supplier Showcase” tab on the www.isaautomationweek.org website – or just contact me:

Carol Schafer – cschafer@isa.org – 919-990-9206

I’m here. Contact me. C-Shay Out.

We haven’t even published the final technical program yet (check it out – 8 tracks!), and end-users are already registering for the conference – and even more have registered just to go to the exhibition!

Why?  I’ll give you two good reasons:

1. It’s FREE – if you use the magic promotion code.  
   (or really, really cheap if you don’t. )
   It’s a good thing you know somebody on the “inside” (that would be ME) that can give you the magic promotion code.  Ready? 
   Just tell your customers and prospects to use Promotion Code P12349B when they register, and they’ll get free access to the exhibition hall on all 3 days.  This includes networking receptions, educational poster sessions, and supplier theater presentations, just for openers.  (Without the magic promo code – it’s $45 to attend the exhibition for all 3 days.)
2. (Here’s the REAL reason):   THEY WANT TO SEE SUPPLIERS.
   They rely on you!  During the 15 years that I have been at ISA, attendees have cited “learning about new products and solutions from vendors” as one of the top reasons they want to be there – every single year without fail.  Now, they are counting on you to be there, to support the end-users who look to you for help.

Face time with key prospects and customers leads to a healthy business and that leads to sales and that leads to profits. 

So come on down to Mobile and exhibit at ISA Automation Week – and get that all-important one-on-one time with the audience you’ve been advertising to, emailing, blogging, tweeting, chirping, trying to reach any way you can.  They’ll be there in person looking for you.  Will you be there?

For information or to reserve space, give me a shout out:

Carol Schafer cschafer@isa.org 919-990-9206

C-Shay, over and out.

In conversations with suppliers over the past week or two, I’ve found that some of you are under the impression that ISA Automation Week’s exhibition is for small tabletop displays only.  I can assure you – this is not the case!

Bring your booth property! 
Spaces are available in standard 10′ x 10′ increments.

The Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile is a beautiful, full-service facility, complete with a large exhibits area and concessions.  The floor plan for ISA Automation Week is laid out in standard 10′ x 10′ increments, and a 10′ x 10′ space is just $2950 (no additional fees for corner locations – so hurry!)  We have asked for a limit of 2 spaces per company; however, if you have a specific need beyond this, contact me and we can discuss alternatives that work for you.

Exhibits are OPEN all the time!
Yep, even during conference sessions!  That’s because there are exhibits-only passes available on Tuesday (free) and also on Wednesday and Thursday for exhibits plus theater presentations and poster sessions ($45 to attend both days – cheap!)  Need to bring in some VIPs?  Want them to get special attention?  Let us know – we’ll help.

OK, so here is the floor plan: 

We look forward to bringing all the best prospects and customers to see your booth and hear your theater presentations.  Contact me at cschafer@isa.org or 919-990-9206 with any questions you may have or if you wish to reserve space – lots of suppliers already have!

Ciao for now!

As Project Manager for ISA Automation Week: Technology and Solutions Event, it’s my responsibility to ensure that you, our valued exhibitors, have the tools and the opportunity to succeed. After the debut of ISA Automation Week in 2010, we sent you a survey asking for your thoughts and feedback. In response to the survey results, we’ve made some important changes to your 2011 event format.

If I were only allowed to tell you one, and only one, of those changes today, I would tell you this:

Invite your prospects and customers.
There are exhibits-only passes available at no charge on Tuesday, 18 October.  Exhibits-only passes for Wednesday and Thursday, 19-20 October, are available at a very nominal fee ($45) because there will be educational poster sessions and theater presentations occurring on the show floor on those days.

Okay, so I’ve never been accused of being short-winded, so I’ll have to tell you just one more tidbit.

The exhibition floor will remain open all day. 
After the keynotes each morning, the exhibition floor will open up – and STAY OPEN – until after the networking receptions on each of the first two days, and until the conference closes on the third day.

See?  I told you we heard you. 

And there’s more.  But I’ll save that for my next post.

Meanwhile, if you want the whole skinny, just send me an email at cschafer@isa.org and I’ll be glad to answer any questions for you.

Later!