Networking Session
Tuesday, June 17, 2003

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

• Individual Introductions
• Presentation by Dave Cady from the Minnesota Workforce Center and Scott Westin on  "Financial Issues to Consider During Transition"
• Lead Exchange and Individual Networking

Contacts: Sylvia Wiebe at swieb53hotmail.com or Joe Perzel at jperzelenrgi.com

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

Networking Session
Tuesday, July 15, 2003

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS) and Project Management Institute - Minnesota Chapter Career Networking Group, this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

Networking Session
Thursday, August 21, 2003

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by Project Management Institute - Minnesota Chapter Career Networking Group and the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

• Individual Introductions
• Presentation on "How to Market Yourself in a Competitive Environment"
  
  Whether you're in job search, or you know someone who is, or you are interested in networking to secure your next position, now is the time to learn the skills it takes to "sell" yourself in a competitive market in order to get the job you want
  
  Barbara Wahlrobe, VP and Senior Consultant with Lee Hecht Harrison, offers an interactive presentation on time management skills, developing your marketing plan, and the extra steps job seekers must take to land the next job in today's economy. This is worth your time because it's your career!  For more information about Lee Hecht Harrison, visit their website at www.lhh.com.
  
• Lead Exchange and Individual Networking

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, September 16, 2003

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, September 16, 2003

September 16 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Recap of Presentation     Pictures from Meeting    Presentation Bibliography

Original Annoucement

"Impacts on Information Technology"

Technology has been part of civilization for over 150 years. The difference between the past and the present and future is the speed of diffusion and the global reach across cultures, classes, and geography. What has changed IT from its euphoric recent past to the IT drought of today? This presentation will focus on what has changed in IT, what are some of the factors creating these changes, what are issues for IT today, and what are some of the future directions of IT.

Dr. Bernice Folz, University of St Thomas

Dr. Bernice Folz is the founder, program developer, and former Director of Graduate Programs in Software at the University of St. Thomas(UST). This program under her leadership was the largest program of its kind in the world with over 950 active graduate students in 2001-2002. It is one of the first four graduate programs in software in the U.S. Dr. Folz started her technical career as a Systems Design Engineer at IBM, Milwaukee, in 1956 and also worked with Unisys in the 1960s. She has actively led the internationalization of her graduate program by leading student and faculty groups to study abroad from the former Soviet Union, to India, Thailand, China, South Africa, South America and most recently Cuba. She continues to have a dramatic impact on the Twin Cities and surrounding areas in the high technology business community, training tomorrow’s leaders and shaping their world views. Dr. Folz has been very active in local organizations such as the Governor’s Task Force on the Future of the Computer Industry in Minnesota; U.S. District Court for the State of Minnesota Technology Committee; State of Minnesota Office of Technology Advisory Board; U.S. Department Education Advisory Board on Science and many others. She has been honored as Educator of the Year by the St. Paul Rotary Club, the Upper Midwest Data Processing Management Association; recognized as one of the Most Innovative Women in Minnesota in 2001, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mn High Tech Association; awarded the Outstanding Alumni award from the University of Minnesota and most recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of St. Thomas. She serves on three local Board of Directors and retired from UST August 31, 2003.

See sidebar for event details.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, October 21, 2003

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

• Individual Introductions
• Presentation: "The Job Search Process" by Terry Bonertz, President, involve I.T., Inc.
• Presentation: "Some of the Things They Look for and How to Respond to Questions", by Kathleen Curran, VP of Human Resources, Telex Communications
• Lead Exchange and Individual Networking

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, October 21, 2003

October 21 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Photos of Meeting    Presentation Images (889K PDF)    Recap of Presentation

Original Annoucement

"ITIL - What's It All About?"

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a set of best practices standards for Information Technology (IT) service management. ITIL provides enterprises with a scalable, vendor-neutral approach to improve the quality service through integrated processes. Hugh Pruitt will discuss what is ITIL, what is its purpose, where is it going, and who is adopting it. He will also address the emerging relationship between ITIL and existing practices in IT along with the value of ITIL certification. (I don’t know much about the relationship to outsourcing beyond the idea that "it’s difficult to give-away something you don’t understand".)

Hugh Pruitt
Computer Associates

Hugh Pruitt has more than 10 years of experience in information technology, including corporate IT and consulting. He has a proven ability to develop and integrate business process and IT process and methodology. Hugh is ITIL Foundation-certified, and is one of the contributing authors to ITIL curriculum at the University of Minnesota College of Continuing Education along with being one of the leading members of the Twin Cities IT Service Management Forum (itSMF).

See sidebar for event details.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, November 18, 2003

November 18 Pre-Dinner Session Follow-up

Lockner Presentation Outline (68K PDF)     Perzel Presentation Outline (61K PDF)

Original Annoucement

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

• Individual Introductions
• Presentation: Bridging the Gap from Resume to Job Description and the Hows and Whys of the Interview Process, Seth Lockner, HR manager from Capella
• Presentation: The Dos and Don'ts of Independent and Sub-Contracting, Joe Perzel, enrgi Consulting
• Lead Exchange and Individual Networking

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, November 18, 2003

November 18 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Photos of Meeting    Presentation Handout (489K PDF)

Original Annoucement

"The Many Faces of Databases"

Exploring hierarchical, network, relational, ANSI SQL (1992 and 1999), object-oriented DB, data warehouses, multidimensional DB, Star (join) schema, snowflaked DB, object role data models, and finally, where normalization fits into all of these.

Anyone with an interest in databases will not want to miss this discussion. We will cut through some fuzzy thinking and get down to the "truth" (a la Everest)! Come with your questions, things that have puzzled you in your dealings with databases.

  Dr. Gordon Everest

Dr. Gordon C. Everest is Associate Professor of MIS and Data Management in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. He has published a textbook entitled: "Database Management: Objectives, System Functions, and Administration" (McGraw-Hill, 1986, and remained in print until 2002!). He is also a contributing author of the CODASYL Systems Committee technical report entitled: "A Framework for Distributed Database Systems: Distribution Alternatives and Generic Architectures", and of the final technical report of the ANSI ASC X3 SPARC DBSSG Object-Oriented DBMS Task Group, released in 1991. He participated in the ANSI standards community on developing a Common Unified Data Modeling Scheme and investigating Object-Oriented Database Management Systems. Gordon's lecturing and research interests include logical database design methods and diagramming conventions, high-level data languages, selection and use of database management systems, object-oriented databases, data warehousing, CASE tools and the repository, data-centered systems development, client-server architectures, organization and functions of database administration, data privacy and security, and the legal aspects of computing

.See sidebar for event details.

AITP Dinner Meeting
Thursday, December 4, 2003

MnIPS will not hold a December meeting.  The Northwest Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals has invited all MnIPS members to attend theirs.

See AITP website for event details.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, January 20, 2004

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

• Individual Introductions
• Presentation: "How to work with a Recruiter", by Douglas Bartz.  Founder of Bartz & Partners, Doug has twenty-two years of experience in recruitment of executive and professional level positions specializing in Information Systems Technology. Doug has been nationally recognized for his success in Information Systems related staffing and has completed searches in a variety of industries. His ability to deliver quality service has rewarded him with many clients that have worked with him exclusively for many years. Doug is well known for his expertise in recruiting CIO, CTO, Vice President and Director level talent but the bulk of his work is at the staff level including Developers, DBA’s, Business Analysts, Project Managers, Technical Architects, Quality Assurance Analysts, Security Analysts etc.
• Presentation: "What to do when you get your foot in the door",  by Michele Spencer. Ms. Spencer is a Human Resources Manager at Telex Communications, Inc. She has been with Telex for 5 years. Prior to that she spent 2 years as a Recruiter for Allina Health Systems, and before that she was a Recruiter for 2 years at Robert Half. She earned her B.S. in business with a concentration in Human Resources at Northwestern College in Roseville.
• Lead Exchange and Individual Networking

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, January 20, 2004

January 20 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Recap of Presentation

Original Annoucement

"Outsourcing: Economic Trends; Business and Personal Considerations"

Chris Adams

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, February 17, 2004

February 17 Pre-Dinner Session Follow-up

Pictures from Meeting

Original Annoucement

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, February 17, 2004

February 17 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Pictures from Meeting    Recap of Presentation

Original Annoucement

"Legal Issues Ferment for IT"

• Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act
• Reducing SPAM
• Sarbane/Oxley
• Digital Rights Management

Gary Weinstein

.Note: Gary is enthusiastic about giving this presentation but cannot absolutely assure that he will be available if a critical client need intervenes. It is remotely possible that another IT lawyer from Faegre & Benson will substitute.

See sidebar for event details.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

Clare Pitera has 9 years of recruiting and Human Resource experience. She has worked primarily in the IT industry and all her experience in recruiting has been in a corporate setting. She has recruited for GE Capital Consulting, BORN (both Information Technology Consulting Firms) and Espiria, an information security consulting firm. More recently, she has been functioning in an Director of Human Resources at Capek Corporation, a flexible package manufacturer.

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

March 16 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Pictures from Meeting  Presentation Handout (147K PDF)

Original Annoucement

"IT Doesn’t Matter Anymore … or Does IT?"

In a controversial article in the Harvard Business Review early this year, Nicholas Carr proposed that, since IT is an affordable commodity available to all, businesses should no longer try to view IT as the basis for competitive advantage. That is, they should spend less on IT, follow competitors, and focus on risks rather than opportunities. Dr. Bahn will explain the rationale behind this idea and offer his views on when it is the correct approach and when it isn't.

Dr. David Bahn, Metropolitan State University

See sidebar for event details.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

Chris Beaver is the Metro Market Manager of Consulting Operations for Robert Half International. Chris currently manages two distinct divisions of Robert Half Technology, specializing in the placement of application development, database administration, infrastructure support, and project management consultants. Chris started his 7+ year career in recruiting and sales within the Robert Half Technology division, and currently focuses on career development and recruitment of Robert Half's internal Recruiters and Account Executives.

Contacts: Reservations preferred but not required. For reservations contact reservations@mnips.org or jperzelenrgi.com.  For questions contact JPerzelenrgi.com.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

April 20 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Pictures from Meeting  References Handout (5K PDF)   Presentation Recap

Original Announcement

"BioInformatics - Information Technology meets Life Sciences"

Bio this Bio that .. what does it mean? Mr. DuBay's presentation will take the audience through the very broad-macro Life Sciences world and conclude at a Bio-Informatics hands-on interactive level; eliminating the WallStreet financial hype and discussing core medical advancement technologies for their true values.

DB DuBay

Mr. DB DuBay has a very diversified background, specializing in financial and technical business operations since 1986. Currently he is the Midwest General Manager for aKshon Advisory & Holdings, LLC and an Adjunct Community Faculty member with Metropolitan State University. His Life Sciences responsibilities with IBM Global Services included Biocontent/Bioinformatics, Pharma Research & Development, BioTech Products, Devices & Diagnostics, AgriSciences Research & Development, and e-Health markets. Prior to IBM, Mr. Dubay held several US Department of Defense appointments related to biochemical warfare planning, counter-attacks, and disaster recovery. He has earned Bachelors Degrees in Finance and Marketing; both his MBA and Masters Degree in Computer Information Systems prepare him to initiate a PhD in Health Sciences.

See sidebar for event details.

Seminar Thursday, April 22, 2004 "Enterprise Wireless Technology"

April 22 Wireless Seminar Follow-up

Pictures from Seminar      Available Presentations and Handouts

Original Annoucement

From complete wireless offices to on-the-road, at-the-moment service for your outside personnel, wireless technology is changing the IT world. This seminar is designed for Managers, Architects and Sr. Developers who are responsible for implementing and securing their corporation’s wireless initiatives. Attendees will be presented a comprehensive, interactive look at wireless trends and issues in today’s complex, enterprise world.

See seminar detail page for more information.

AITP Breakfast Meeting
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

MnIPS members are invited to Association for Information Technology Professional's complimentary roundtable breakfast on May 5th. It will be jointly hosted by AITP and Robert Half Technology at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel (at the Xenia exit of I394).

"CIO Panel Discussion on Maximizing IT Resources"

Discussions will center on strategies to help maximize your IT resources, including insourcing, outsourcing, shared services and resource optimization.

Panelists: Alan Abramson, CIO HealthPartners; Dave Albright, CIO Travelers Express / Moneygram; Mark Losee VP Core IT Solutions Medtronic; and Beth Nordin, SVP IT Pearson

Moderator: Neal St. Anthony, Columnist for the Star Tribune

See AITP website for up to the minute details.

Pre-Dinner Session
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

May 18 Dinner Meeting Follow-up

Presentation Handout (80K PDF)   Presentation Recap

"Data Warehousing Implementation -- A Success Story"

Data Warehousing (DW) implementations are becoming increasingly common but have a blemished track record on delivering all the benefits that were hoped. Pat Redding will share her experiences with Imation's highly-successful ERP-centric Data Warehouse. Her presentation will include:

• creating the business case,
• ROI justification,
• implementing a packaged DW solution,
• "Extracting, Transforming and Loading" (ETL) tools,
• loading and refreshing,
• staffing the DW,
• competing with "spreadmarts",
• successful data mart examples,

and more.

Pat Redding, Imation

Pat Redding has been the Data Warehouse manager at Imation Corp for the past seven years where she has lead the effort to build a complete ERP based Data Warehouse that now is the mainstay of Imation's reporting and analytical needs. Prior to Imation, Pat was a project manager and consultant at several Twin Cities companies prior to working at Imation.

See sidebar for event details.

MnIPS Booth
at Strictly Business Technology Expo
Wednesday June 9 to
Thursday June 10, 2004

MnIPS will have a booth at the Strictly Business Solutions Expo Wednesday, June 9th and Thursday, June 10th. MnIPS needs volunteer help at the booth to meet attendees, explain they should become a member of MnIPS, and invite them to join.  Please volunteer for booth time periods starting at 9:30AM and going to 4:30PM on Wednesday and  9:30AM to 3:30PM on Thursday by contacting:

Dennis Cummings 651-205-2632 or email at dennis.cummings1usbank.com.

If you can't volunteer, stop by Booth 418 and chat while you are touring the show.

Strictly Business is a 22 year-old resource for collecting IT trends and strategies essential for developing efficiency, increasing revenue, and providing comprehensive customer service in today's competitive marketplace. IT professionals from established companies and start-up companies alike will find a wide-range of practical solutions for the most demanding business challenges. Join us this June at the region's only technology expo for another exciting year of innovations and connections.

For details and to register FREE today, visit www.strictlybusinessexpo.com

Networking Session
Tuesday, June 15, 2004

"Networking for IT Professionals"

Already restructured, downsized, right-sized IT Professionals, as well as those concerned about their future, can learn how to improve their networking skills by attending the Networking for IT Professionals seminar. Hosted by the Minnesota Information Professional Society (MnIPS), this event will showcase IT staffing professionals and networking experts that will share their tips and techniques to find a job or stay current with events and technology

So, you have been terminated from your employment. You have reached an enormous fork in the road – you have a choice to either turn this situation into the most positive thing to ever happen to you or to continue to let it attack or damage your self-image. This highly motivational seminar will assist you to:

• Identify and review your unique abilities and passions.
• Help you identify more clearly your lifetime goals and develop an action plan to obtain those goals.
• Uncover and acknowledge your existing skills and talents that you may have unconsciously been honing for years.
• Focus on the positive side and stay motivated and encouraged through the job search process.
• Focus on opportunities and refuse to be a victim.

Peter McClellan’s passion is people. His unique abilities are found in establishing and maintaining relationships built on trust and giving seminars to clients and community groups. Peter has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. In 1996, he founded his own financial services office and has continued to grow the company over the last seven years. Peter is a Registered Principal with FSC Securities Corporation and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Peter holds a BA from the University of Delaware and a Masters Degree in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management. He has provided motivational and educational talks on a variety of topics for the a number of local job search groups.

If you've ever lost your job, you know about the stress that comes with it. This meeting is intended to ease some of that stress during this transition while helping people make valuable career contacts.

See sidebar for event details.

Golf Outing and Dinner
Monday, June 21, 2004

June 21 Golf Outing Follow-up

Pictures of Outing

The ever popular MnIPS golf outing (http://64.55.241.47/mnipsgolf ) is set for Monday, June 21st at the beautiful Mississippi Dunes. The charities benefiting from this event are the Fairway Foundation ( http://www.fairwayfoundation.org ) and the Southern Valley Alliance For Battered Women (SVABW - http://www.southernvalleyalliance.org ). Traditionally, this outing fills up fast, due to the large numbers of prizes and chance to win a Hummer H2. Please signup early to guarantee a spot in the 5-person scramble. For more information, visit the website or contact Jeff Hemauer for golf reservations ( MrMauercomcast.net ) or Joe Perzel for vendor sponsorship  ( jperzelenrgi.com ).

See Golf Outing Page for event details.