Heading out to Colorado for this year’s LINK conference? (It’s the GIS conference that used to be called TUG, put on by the company that used to be called Telvent. They’re now called Schneider Electric (SE) and the conference is now called LINK. Yes, I know it’s a lot of names. But if you didn’t know this already, you’re probably not going to the conference, so you should probably just move on to the next blog post. Thanks for stopping by.)

Anyway, if you are heading out to Fort Collins, Colorado for the conference this week, I wanted to give you a rundown of some the highlights of this year’s big show. Some of this you may remember from last year’s article on the conference. But some of you will be new, so I will include it again. Here’s what you need to know:

Pre-plan using the agenda: Every year, Schneider Electric publishes an agenda of what’s happening during the week. This year, they even have some new options laid out for Day 1 – more on that later. Anyway, if you are going to the conference and you haven’t yet checked the agenda for what presentations are happening, you probably ought to do so now. And you are a real procrastinator, by the way.

Most conference attendees have some idea of what their utility needs most, or what implementations are possibly coming down the pike in the next year. There lots of different types of sessions focusing on different products and tools, from Designer™ and Responder™, to mobile options, Fiber Manager™, Server, etc etc etc. I’m told there are twenty customers presenting this year!!

You can really learn a lot on your chosen target. I know a number of you are particularly interested in the talks surrounding the famous Feeder Manager 2.0 (Wed, 3:10, River Birch C OR Thurs, 9:30, River Birch B, AND Thurs, 1pm, River Birch B).

This is about maximizing the return on investment in your existing systems and growing your GIS to be as productive and efficient as possible. There really are countless “secret” and “not-so-secret” tips and tricks discussed in these sessions. You WILL find yourself saying “ohhhhh… Now I get it.” Who wouldn’t want to come back to the utility back office a hero, armed with special knowledge that make your solutions hum like a well-oiled machine?

NOTE: Be sure to visit the presentation by Gene Ockinga from Douglas County PUD and SSP’s own Corey Blakeborough: “ArcFM™ to the Max – Customized and Integrated Operations” on Thursday (Day 3) at 8:30am in Track 3 (Goldenglow room.) This talk will explore the very integrated implementation – of ArcFM™, Designer™, ArcFM Viewer™ for ArcGIS Engine, Fiber Manager™, SSP’s Workforce Management and numerous customizations – which SSP and DCPUD partnered on over the course of 2011 and 2012.

Know the new stuff: A number of new things have been planned this year. Here’s a short list of new or semi-new stuff to look forward to:

• Mobile App: Last year, there was a new TUG website for mobile devices. This year, SE is taking it a step further with a custom mobile app for LINK. The app has a ton of features from customized schedules to surveys and sponsor info. (I’m sure you’re really excited about the sponsor info.)

  Much to SSP Consultant Corey Blakeborough’s despair, I’m told the mobile app works on all Apple and Android devices, but not Windows phones (Windows peeps, you’ll have to use the Web App).

  To download the mobile app, use your mobile device to click here.

• Opening day split sessions: SE has heard attendees’ requests for more vertical-focused sessions on opening day, and they are making a change. We will all still be in the same room for the morning session, but come afternoon, they have actually split up the attendees into five key verticals:
  1. Electric GIS: River Birch C
  2. Gas & Water (pretend you like each other): Aspen Daisy (includes a cameo from an SSP product!!)
  3. Telecom: Elderberry
  4. SmartGrid: Goldenglow
  5. RTU: Loveland A&B

     This way, the fiber-only folks don’t have to sit through electric demos, and so forth.

• Opening day customer presentations: this year, we’ll get a couple customer talks to go with the SE presentations on opening day.
• Snowberry Room stuff: This year, Snowberry room will host several different cool things. Much like Chili’s, it’s where business is done:
  • Support Center (formerly called Doctor’s Office): SE tech support will be available to answer any support questions. This center will also house the…
  • ArcFM™ Solution Lab (Formerly Telvent Labs): there will be three different lab locations where attendees can view and play with still-in-development tools from SE – Feeder Manager 2.0, Fiber On Server, and Orbit™ (the new SE mobile tool)
  • Innovation Garage: gives you a look at some of the more creative ideas the product teams are working on
• Espresso Learning is Back: Gone last year, Espresso learning is back. This program is a set of educational sessions, each 15 minutes in length, given in the hallways during breaks and lunch.
• Better Networking: This year SE will provide color-coded lanyards, split out by vertical, to help you determine who is there for what reason and to help find like-minded people.

Get out of your hotel room: Don’t waste time sleeping in, going to bed early, or catching TV. This is a once-a-year opportunity where hundreds of your peers from across the country (and world) congregate! Aside from the formal gatherings and presentations, there are many informal get-togethers. From meals to bowling, happy hours to huddling in the corner during a break… there is almost no point between 8am and 10pm on any of the LINK days where there isn’t something to do. If you’re out and don’t know where to go, ask around. If you like, ask me.

Network: Essentially, everyone at this conference either uses the same tools as you, or wants to help you use those tools. Pick the brains of other attendees. Get some informal free consulting from the variety of consultants and SE personnel that attend. Sit with new people at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make a goal for yourself – say, to make twenty new contacts that week – and stick to it. The friends you make now will help you become better at your job for years to come, by sharing information, ideas and solutions.

One of the best things about this conference is that while comprehensive, it still feels pretty intimate – you will see the same faces several times a day. This is a major plus, because it sets the right tone to have real conversations with your peers – you don’t feel overwhelmed with the masses.

Here’s a list of some sponsored social events that week:

Opening Night – Mon 3/11

• 6-9pm: Networking Social, games, hosted bar – this year all in one bigger room

Day 1 – Tues 3/12

• 4:30-6pm: Wine & Beer Social
• Evening: Game Room

Day 2 – Wed 3/13

• 9pm-12am: Bowling (bus leaves at 8:30! Don’t miss it!)

Day 4 – Fri 3/15

• 7am-8pm: Ski day!

A note for the newcomers: Introduce yourself to people. Start conversations with complete strangers. It’s worth it. No one will bite your head off, and most attendees are there to meet new people and hear new ideas. Remember, you already have something in common with every other person there: Schneider Electric.

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