World Event 2007 Scores a TEN

Focus on Training, Education and Networking

By Rick Snider, PTC/USER

Tampa Convention Center, home of the World Event 2007.

The PTC/USER World Event is the premier conference for professionals using PTC software, including Pro/ENGINEER®, Windchill®, Arbortext®, Mathcad® and ProductView™. The 2007 event, to be held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida on June 3–6, builds on the momentum from last year's record-breaking conference and continues the theme of “Training. Education. Networking.” Responding to unprecedented demand by conference attendees, PTC has added significantly more training this year, not only during the conference (doubling the number of free Pro/ENGINEER class sessions for example) but also following the event with heavily discounted Precision Learning™ training. The educational curriculum is greatly enhanced this year with more expert presentations from community members, and a broader coverage of all PTC product families including Mathcad and ProductView. Look at all of the content this year that makes this conference a “TEN”:

Training . More than ever, training is a key component of the PTC/USER World Event. Our flexible approach is designed to suit the needs of every type of learner.

• Instructor-led Sessions .   PTC will operate four classrooms offering Precision Learning hands-on instruction. Topics spanning all PTC product families are presented in a two-hour format that includes both lecture and laboratory time.  

• Self-paced Learning. If a flexible format is more to your liking, visit our eLearning Lab. Open daily until 10 pm, the lab provides full access to the entire PTC University online curriculum, delivering over 500 hours of web-based training content. Explore any class at a time that's convenient for you.

• One-Day Intensive Courses. For a more in-depth training experience, register for a special eight-hour PTC Precision Learning session. Courses will begin immediately following the conclusion of the World Event and are priced at only $269, a 40 percent discount. These sessions allow more personalized attention with small class sizes and one student per workstation.

Education. Information sharing is the World Event's raison d'etre. Each PTC product family is represented in the curriculum, with comprehensive programming to teach you how to improve your use of today's software and prepare for the tomorrow's enhancements.

• Technical Presentations . The mainstay of the conference, these sessions bring you together with experts from the user community, PTC, and industry partners. Attendees can choose from over 160 sessions in the main product areas, as well as a new cross-product category that addresses process issues.

• Ask The Experts. These panel discussions focus on technical concerns raised by either the audience or panel members themselves, and draw upon the knowledge and experience of community experts and PTC Technical Staff to solve challenging problems.

• Usability Labs. Three usability labs—for Pro/ENGINEER, Windchill, and Mathcad—let you help evaluate PTC's newest product updates in an interactive, task-based setting where you work one-on-one with software developers. “The Usability Lab is especially valuable for novice or infrequent users since the testing can quickly identify areas that require improved feedback or workflow. We have a significant number of infrequent users at our company and if we can affect software usability prior to release, it makes user training and adoption much easier,” says Evan Caille, past president of PTC/USER.

• Learning Centers . These laboratories provide in-depth presentations on selected products. This is an opportunity to see live demonstrations and talk directly with PTC's product experts.

• Keynote Speakers . PTC/USER keynote speakers are industry leaders drawn from diverse fields, from science and engineering to sports and entertainment. Former speakers have flown NASA spacecraft and directed deep-space exploration, authored best-selling novels, piloted watercraft at death-defying speeds, led race teams to success at the Indianapolis 500, designed world-class products from cellular telephones and watches to sports cars and robotics. From their unique perspectives at the top of their fields, they share their insights about leadership and excellence to inspire us to achieve our own goals. The 2007 keynote speakers will be announced soon.

• PTC Executive Presentations . This is your chance to hear directly from PTC's most senior management, including an annual update from CEO and President Dick Harrison on the state of the company. Jim Heppelmann, Chief Product Officer and Executive Vice President of Software Products, is an industry expert in his own right and will share his vision for the PTC product suite and product development. Brian Shepherd, Senior Vice President of Product Management, will discuss the formal roadmap for PTC products. All three executives will participate in a question-and-answer session on the first day of the conference.

Networking . Whether you're seeking peers in your industry, geographic region or technical discipline, the PTC/USER conference is an unmatched opportunity to exchange ideas and expertise with colleagues from around the world. In both formal and informal sessions, you'll have many chances to share interests with other knowledgeable professionals.

• Exhibit Hall .   An enormously popular feature of the World Event, the Exhibit Hall returns bigger and better than ever, with over 100 exhibits from our industry partners as well as a large demonstration area sponsored by PTC. You can see the latest innovations in software, hardware, and services designed for the PTC marketplace. Many exhibitors offer huge discounts available exclusively to attendees. The Exhibit Hall will also feature a Product Showcase, highlighting great products from world-class companies using PTC software.

• Special Interest Meetings . These small group sessions promote informal networking with colleagues that share interests in a particular technical area or industry. You can join a meeting that's already scheduled or sponsor one of your own.

• Meet Your Regional User Group (RUG) & Meet Your Technical Committee Breakfasts .   At the RUG breakfast, you can connect with your colleagues from your home area. The Technical Committee breakfast is the place to meet the volunteers who form the backbone of the teams that, together with PTC product managers, shape future software development.

• Evening Receptions . The receptions on Sunday and Monday nights provide casual settings to chat with a mix of colleagues, friends, and PTC/USER Industry Partners.

• Wednesday Convocation .   For the final assembly of the conference, we'll have lunch and then announce the winners of the Best Presenter Awards. We'll also have some special surprises that you won't want to miss.

Rick Snider is Conference Manager for PTC/USER.