September 17th, 2008 -The Internal Consultant’s* World: An Intimate Look Four successful Organizational Development consultants give us an inside look at their world as employees working to make their organization better.

A few of the questions these internal consultants will address in a fast-paced interactive session:

* Their toughest challenges and how they deal with them?
* How do internal OD consultants find the “juice” to keep going? 
* Where’s the joy for an internal?
* Employment Security—does it exist?
* What really bugs internal consultants?
* What does an external consultant need to know to get in the door to the internal’s organization?  (What internals would love to tell externals but rarely do)

Join us for an engaging evening of learning and laughter as we explore the future of OD from the internal's perspective.

NEW TIME/DATE: 3rd Wednesday

* Informal Networking: 5:30-6:00p
* Meeting: 6:00p-7:45p
* Discussion Tables: 7:45-8:15p
     (for those that want to continue the conversation/connection)

NEW LOCATION: PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY Market Square Building, Room 1054 1515 SW 5th Ave. Portland, OR 97201

Presented by Chris Sims and

A good consultant can make all the difference when your project could use an objective eye or some expert advice. Input from a bad consultant, on the other hand, has the capacity to be completely counterproductive! Join the Portland nonprofit and technology community for a discussion on the topic from some true pros, Tim Wilson of Western Arts Alliance and Ash Shepherd of NPower Northwest. It will be a fun, informative, and fast-paced talk on the essentials of working with expert advisors.

This is a great opportunity to network with other tech-savvy Portlanders (plus delicious complementary beverages and snacks are provided by local specialty shop, Foster and Dobbs)!

It’s the PDXTech4Good Back-to-School Special! Our September meetup offers three roundtables for a lively show and tell session on a topic of your choosing. Just like the first day of school, PDXTech4Good will focus the first fall session on getting to know you and your organization. We invite you to bring an idea, challenge, solution, or tip to share in one of three suggested breakouts—websites, databases, and social media. Got a topic not included in one of the breakouts? Bring it and we will work it into the mix.

CRM: "He Who Has the Data Wins" presented by Rusty Lee

Each of these questions will be presented from both the perspective of you as a business owner, and also as a consultant helping your clients make decisions.

What is CRM?
Why from a business perspective is CRM important?
How can it benefit my business?
What will it cost me?
What's the payback?
How can a small business have an effective CRM program that works?

Agenda: 6:00--6:20 Networking 6:20--7:00 No-host dinner 7:00--7:30 Introductions and announcements 7:30--8:30 Main Presentation (followed by Q&A):

Presented by: Rusty Lee lives in the Battle Ground area and has been supporting the IT needs of Small Business for the last 10 years as CEO for CallMyPcDr.com . He has presented to audiences large and small on a wide range of topics. In a previous life he was Director of Marketing for a manufacturing firm in Portland, responsible for sales and marketing worldwide.

During his over 20 years of Sales and Marketing experience he learned the old fashioned way about the importance of customer data. Back then it was called database marketing. He's kept in touch with his Marketing Roots and now can add the Technology Perspective to the equation of CRM.

OCCA Meetings are free and open to the public though food and beverages orders help keep the restaurant owners happy.

Agenda: 6:00--6:20 Networking 6:20--7:00 No-host dinner 7:00--7:30 Introductions and announcements 7:30--8:30 Main Presentation (followed by Q&A):

Title: My Favorite App - an Open Discussion

Come ready to share your favorite app (or two). We want everyone to contribute. Just tell us in 3 or 4 minutes what app you use a lot and think is wonderful. Any operating system. Any app type. We'll have a projector and attempt to get to a descriptive web page for each app. The goal is to present 15 to 20 different apps to give everyone an idea for software that could be useful for them and also for their clients.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - The three types of Professional Services firm and the management at each - The emphasis that clients and employees put on values and culture - Using your influence, passion, and vision to lead the organization We will also have a live thirty-minute Q&A period after the presentation.

This webinar series is a world-first: a dedicated professional services manager course with a dedicated focus on management—this exclusivity of focus is designed to strip away the redundant training that comes with other options, such as the MBA: - Eight 90 minute webinars covering the fundamentals of professional services management - Topics include areas such as estimates, engagement scheduling and KPIs - Available to watch online on all internet web browsers

About Kayne McGladrey I have always had the good fortune of not being the smartest person in the room. Much of my understanding of professional services management has come from mentoring by the vice presidents and senior partners I had worked with over the years. I am fortunate to be currently working with one of the three most influential mentors in my career. However, many of the hundreds of consultants and former professional services managers I have spoken with have identified a lack of available training to manage a professional services organization. I believe that the only way to demonstrate mastery of a skill is to teach someone else. I regularly write about my experience managing a worldwide professional services organization.

At this unique meetup, "I want to work for _ _ _ _ _ _", each month we introduce a new company through one of their star employees.

For September, we have a special and unique guest, Vik Ramnath. Vik and I worked at a tech company exactly for a year and became great friends.We shared many ups and downs while at that company and in our subsequent career quest.

Vik is a very empathetic and discerning leader. You will get to experience that right away when you meet him next Thursday!

Vik currently works as a Consultant at Slalom in their Delivery Leadership practice. Slalom is a .... Slalom has been named a best company to work for by numerous sources such as Forbes Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Consulting Magazine, Glassdoor, and various business journals and news publications

Slalom was recognized by Consulting Magazine as they earned the #3 ranking on the "Best Firms to Work For" list.

This presentations at this IEEE sponsored workshop will hone your business and networking skills, to help you succeed at technical and engineering consulting. Experienced consultants and entrepreneurs will explain the proven strategies that enabled them to succeed. Members of the IEEE-USA Alliance of IEEE Consultants' Networks Coordinating Committee (AICNCC) will be attending to answer your questions.

The workshop will be in Tektronix Building 38 from 8 am to 5 pm. A nominal registration fee between $20 and $45 depending upon IEEE membership. Registration at https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/meeting_registration/register/46824 is required. It includes a continental breakfast and box lunch of your choice. Be sure to make your selection when registering.

Program:

8:00am - 8:45pm ---- Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:45am - Welcome – By the Oregon Network Chair and the AICNCC Chair

9:00am – 9:50pm How to Stimulate and Hone your Networking Skills by Bob Krause P.E., IEEE-USA Alliance of IEEE Consultants' Networks Coordinating Committee (AICNCC)

The purpose of this workshop is to stimulate and hone networking skills. The session will cover the importance of networking, understanding the fundamentals of networking (who, basic process), strategies for networking (how to get what you want, Dos & Don’ts) and the ethics of networking. The session will include three exercises and audience participation will be required. Also, you will need to have business cards to participate in the final exercise.

10:00am – 10:50am How to Find Clients Using Networking & the Internet by Gary Blank P.E., IEEE-USA Past President

Dr. Blank is an experienced consultant. He will reveal all his secrets on how to find clients through networking and the Internet.

11:00am -11:50am Managing Risk for the Engineering Consultant, by Steve Wetterling, MSEE

Every business involves risks that should be identified and mitigated where possible. Mr. Steve Wetterling, an experienced engineer and project manager, will discuss Professional Risk, Business Risk, Client Risk, Legal Risk, Tax Risk, Core Risk, and Using Insurance to manage Risk.

Steve Wetterling owns and operates Servenger LLC, which provides customer solutions for product design, electronic design, project management for new production development, product introduction into manufacturing, solving problems with existing products and production and assisting with the resolution of organizational issues.

Prior to founding Servenger, LLC, Mr .Wetterling was with Tektronix as an engineer, manager and director, then with NEC America, NatSteel Electronics, and two start-ups. He has written three books on electronic design, holds two patents and three university degrees in engineering and business (from Stanford University and the University of Portland). He has recently added a Project Management credential to his toolset.

12:00pm – 1:00pm - Lunch (Make your sandwich selection when you Register.)

1:00pm – 1:50pm Creating the Business that's Right for You

This interactive session discusses the key life and business factors that a consultant needs to consider when starting their practice. Attendees will answer key questions which will help guide them into creating a business that fits the lifestyle they want, doing the activities that they want to do. Attendees will walk away with short and long term plans and action items to get their businesses started and going in the right direction. Jacob Beningo is an Independent Consultant and member of the IEEE-USA Alliance of IEEE Consultants' Networks Coordinating Committee (AICNCC).

2:00pm – 2:50pm How to Convert Your Ideas from Concept to Profit, by Dr. Chris Jacobs, PhD.

Dr. Chris Jacobs, a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and student of human nature, has owned and operated Jacobs Research & Development for many years, making money by producing or licensing his inventions. More recently he has become CEO and Chief Research Engineer at Genteel LLC, where he invented the first truly painless lancet for diabetics, the Genteel. Learn more at www.mygenteel.com.

3:00pm – 3:50pm Start-up Tactics by William R. Kassebaum P.E., Consultants' Networks Coordinating Committee (AICNCC)

This consultant turned entrepreneur will share his experience of going through this process. He will address: How to build a start-up company, Financing, Raising Money, Book Keeping and Valuation He will also cover issues like hiring/recruiting, dealing with employees, dealing with board members, business development, sales and marketing and What not to do!

4:00pm - 5:00pm - Question and Answer Session (All presenters available)

See https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/m/46824 for more information.

Registration: https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/meeting_registration/register/46824

There is a small fee, depending upon the registrant's IEEE membership status. The fees are: IEEE Members = $35, IEEE Student Members = $20, IEEE Life Members = $20, Non-IEEE Attendees = $45. The fee for this workshop includes a light, continental breakfast and a box lunch of your choice. Be sure to make your selection when registering. A vegetarian option is available.

We will have a panel discussion covering various remote access programs. Some for consultants to use with many clients, others for the clients to use to work on their office computers from home or elsewhere.

Remote access for Consultants:

Products: Teamviewer; GotoAssist, Splashtop Remote Support, Remote PC, Connectwise

Discussion points: Costs and what you get (multiple pcs, multiple consultants, how many clients can you have?) Ad-Hoc and unattended access File transfer, multiple screens and other issues Ease of getting clients onboard Experiences with reliability issues, speed, tech support Questions from audience

Remote Access for Our Clients: Products: Remote PC, Splashtop Business; Gotomypc; Logmein

Discussion points: Is it easy for clients to setup? - Any issues? Is it easy for you to setup for your clients? Does it run through a simple local desktop app or require logging in with a browser? Do your clients find it ok? (fast, have the features they need?) What complaints have your clients made about it and are they useful for distinguishing between products. Price options Questions from audience

Presented by The panel will consist of Tim Chalmers, Christian Martin, David Harold, Justin Swall and Jesse Black. But everyone will be encouraged to participate.