Midwest Society of Professional Consultants
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This month's meeting will be held at the
East Bank Club
500 N. Kingsbury
Chicago, IL 60610
Pre-dinner Program: 5:20 P.M.
Taking Technology to Market
For the past decade or more, an inordinate level of focus has been placed on the process for commercializing new products - at the expense of identifying and encouraging leadership and critical functional capability. This talk will provide an overview of eight critical functional areas for success as well as the phases of product development beginning with concept assessment and ending with post-commercial evaluation.
We will also review the
challenges of markets/companies facing technology dependence, various
starting points for innovation in the value chain, high capital
components, significant environmental/regulatory issues, broad range of
target markets and possible products, and the need to understand and
embrace the value proposition. The talk is derived from a two-day
hands-on course developed and offered by a non-profit organization, the
Commercial Development & Marketing Association Educational Foundation
Presenter:
Ada Nielsen
Ada
Nielsen is Manager, Commercial Development, Licensing (Nitriles
Business Unit in BP Chemicals) with a strong track record in identifying
and extracting value from non-commercial inventions as well as
developing new products and new businesses.
Before she joined Amoco Chemicals New
Business Development in 1997, she founded Capstone International to
specialize in opportunity analysis, business development, strategic
marketing, technology transfer, market and competitive analysis, and
worked in marketing, sales, and finance positions for Fortune 500
companies. She served as
Vice-Chairman of Education for the Licensing Executives Society
International (LESI) Society (2001-2002), involved in licensing the
Fundamentals course developed by USA-Canada, and became a trustee of
LES/USA-Canada in September 2002, having had oversight for developing
the intermediate licensing workshops for the Professional Development
Program (PDP) for LES. As a Trustee she has responsibility for the PDP
courses and is a member of the Education Committee. She also
participates as a steering committee member for the Energy, Chemicals, &
Polymers Section. Recently she was named
to the Illinois Board of Natural Resources & Conservation and confirmed
by the Illinois Senate. She chairs the
Commercial Development and Management Association (CDMA) Educational
Foundation and the Chicago Chapter and was a recent board member of CDMA.
(CDMA is organized around business/commercial development in chemicals
and allied trades.) She also belongs to the American Chemical
Society, Association for Corporate Growth, Association for Strategic
Alliance Professionals, Association for University Technology Managers,
European Chemicals Marketing & Strategy Association, and Strategic
Management Association. After earning an A.B. in
chemistry from Wellesley College, she completed an M.B.A. in finance and
marketing from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business,
and studied theoretical physical chemistry in graduate programs at
Tulane University and Dartmouth College.
Amoco Chemicals, Chicago, Illinois
Announcements/Introductions: 6:15 P.M.
Break/Informal Conversations: 6:40 P.M.
Dinner: 7:00 P.M.
Structured Networking Program: 8:00 P.M.
Structured, Interactive, Networking -
Exploring Business Connections & Opportunities
This
structured networking session will provide an opportunity for all
consultants in the room to connect with each other. You’ll get to
exchange business cards with nearly everyone and you’ll have an
opportunity to practice presenting your 1-minute verbal business card.
You’ll learn to use elements of this process for future networking
opportunities, while sharing common interests, mutual needs, potential
relationships and business development ideas.
Facilitators: Nancy Abbate and Paul
Collins.
Nancy Abbate (Abbate Group Limited) is a
creative technical assistance specialist whose company does consulting
and contractual work in resource development and fundraising, human
service program design and government and community relations. Paul
Collins (Jordan-Webb) is a management consultant and facilitator who
helps management teams and work teams operate at high performance levels
assisted by collaborative techniques and technologies.
Reservations Registration
fee includes dinner and programs.
Early registration must be made by NOON the
Monday before the scheduled meeting:
Members/Spouse/Guests:
$35.00 Non-members: $45.00
Late registration or at the door:
Member/Spouses/Guests: $40.00 Non-members: $50.00
To make a reservation: 312-201-0596