INTA: INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK ASSOCIATION 2010 Annual Meeting — May 22–26, Boston www.inta.org/go/boston
Member talents were on display at an exhibit- hall art show at INTA 2010.
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A meeting for a group of lawyers and academics dedicated to “the support and advancement of trademarks and related intellectual prop- erty” might not sound like an opportunity for imagination, creativity, and beauty. But that’s exactly what the INTA 2010 Annual Meeting became, thanks to a display of members’ artwork— including painting, photogra- phy, and handmade jewelry —that was incorporated into the exhibit hall at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. About 30 members participated in the art show, and INTA expects “many, many more” next year, according to Stuart L. Ruff, CMP, senior meet- ings manager for INTA. “It provided a place for people to meet in the exhibit hall,” Ruff said.
“We provided lounge seating and recreated the feel of an art gallery. It was a calm environment.
It also brought an element of fun—peo- ple were excited to see their peers’ work. It showed another side to our members.” —Christopher Durso
How are meetings and conventions innovating?
Greg Van Dyke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, PSAV Presentation Services
“We’re entering an era of rapid technology changes affecting our industry. The conflux of social media, mobile communication, and the popularityof apps offers tremendous potential to change meetings—everything from their design, content, and attendee
engagement to sponsorship revenues. Hold on, it’s going to be a great ride.”
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What we’d really like you to get across to them is that we need them to look for the little stuff, too—opportunities in the work they do every single day.” My response: “Gladly.” Adopting the opportu-
nity mindset is not only about discovering the big stuff. It’s also about finding opportunities day to day. University of Massa-
chusetts professor Alan Robinson watched in amazement as a recep- tionist at an Ohio indus- trial company was awarded “Innovator of the Year.” After the cere- mony, he asked her how she had come up with so many ideas. “Simple,” she explained. “Customers call us all day long, and sometimes they are unhappy about some- thing we did or failed to do. Instead of getting defensive, I look at it as an opportunity. They tell me what we did to make them unhappy, and then I ask my favorite ques- tion.”
“What’s that?” Profes-
sor Robinson [asked]. “I ask them what we
should do to fix the problem so it never occurs again. And they’re more than happy to tell me. All I did was write up their sugges- tions and submit them to our New Ideas Pro- gram, and that’s how I got the award.” Start by identifying
opportunities right where you are—the smaller, the better. Seek opportunities to improve how you get your work done. Build your reputa- tion by producing tangi- ble results for your boss, your department, and yourself.