Preparing for the IPMA Conference

By Dwayne Magee

In May I attended the Toshiba LEAD conference in Las Vegas. It was a very short trip but I was able to make the most of it by planning ahead. Here is a list of some of the things I did to prepare for my trip:

I arranged an early flight the day before the conference. I wanted to cross something off my bucket list while I was in the southwest. I left Harrisburg at 4 am Eastern Standard Time and by 3 pm Mountain Time I was hiking in Zion National Park.
I printed out the conference schedule and decided ahead of time which sessions I wanted to attend.
I also decided which sessions I did not want to attend. I find that conference experiences tend to go better if I allow some free time for networking, exploring and some spontaneity.
I printed out a list of all the sponsoring vendors and reviewed each of their web pages. I made a list of the vendors I wanted to seek out and converse with.
I contacted my peers to see who else from higher-ed would be at the conference. I try not to miss any opportunities to hear how things are going at other in-plants.
I searched online for information on each of the keynote speakers. I wanted to see who they were and what they were about. If they had written any books I wanted to know what topics were of interest to them. If they were going to offer a chance for Q & A, I wanted to be ready with my questions.
I downloaded the conference app and my airline’s app for my smart phone. This gave me access to maps, schedules and speaker bios. The apps gave me advanced access to information so I could make better, well-informed decisions.
I made sure I had the cell phone numbers of my Toshiba sales representatives logged into my cell phone’s contact directory. I was able to text them and sit with them during meals.

Because IPMA 2016 in Denver is just days away, I wanted to share this information in hopes that it will help you as you plan for your time in Colorado.

Here are some links that may help:

Grab the IPMA2016 conference app from your app store now by searching for IPMA2016.
Get access to a list of IPMA 2016 sponsoring vendors and their booth locations here:
There is a schedule for the conference posted here:
A list of speakers can be found here:
Travel arrangements to and from the airport can be made here:
And for those of you who may seek out a craft beer or two before bed time, you can find a link to the menu for the Omni Hotel Tap Room here:

I recommend the Mojo but John Sarantakos would steer you towards a Fat Tire.

I hope to see you all next week. I wish you safe travels and a positive, productive conference experience.

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Dwayne Magee Author's page

Dwayne Magee is now in his 17th year as director of Messiah University Press and Postal Services. His department was recipient of the 2018 IPMA Organizational Impact Award, the 2015 IPMA Innovation Award, the 2017 ACUP Green Service Award, and the 2015 ACUP Collaborative Service Award. Prior to joining Messiah, he worked for 17 years at Alphagraphics as an assistant manager and ISO coordinator. He is president of the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He is currently an English major (part-time) with a concentration in writing at the college where he works. Outside of work, Dwayne enjoys exploring spiritual, environmental and social concerns through creative writing and the arts. He can often be found speaking on the topic of diversity in bookstores, public libraries and elementary schools, where he makes use of his award-winning children’s book “A Blue-Footed Booby Named Solly McBoo.” His travel writing and fictional essays have made appearances in various publications including the Northern Colorado Writers Anthology and the Goose River Anthology published by Goose River Press. Dwayne is the father of two boys and he resides in Mechanicsburg, Pa., with his wife Sue and their two dogs. Contact him at: DMagee@Messiah.edu