Executive Director's Message 

by Bob Lowe

 

There are four topics on which I'd like to write: Rockwell's RSTechED 2009, Web 2.0 project, Peer Groups and Sales Excellence Council (SEC). 
 
Last week, Lynda Patterson and I were invited by Rockwell to have a table at the RSTechED 2009 Welcome Reception and also do a presentation on Monday evening. First of all, I want to publicly thank Rockwell for their hospitality and support of CSIA. The Welcome Reception is identical in format to the Partner Night at our conferences. We were one table among Rockwell's Encompass Partner's tables. Many SIs stopped to visit and were truly interested in our association, including several international members. By the way, interest in CSIA internationally is increasing. The presentation on Monday was attended by 56 SIs, many of whom requested a copy of the PPT.  This amazed me considering they spent all day in seminars and labs, but their presence indicates the growing interest in CSIA.  My next step is to contact them about membership in CSIA. Write to me if you want a copy of the PowerPoint. It focused on benefits of membership, particularly Best Practices and Certification. Read more.

 

We welcome four new insureds this month to our United States Property/Casualty Program. They are Avid Solutions of Winston Salem, North Carolina; Mission Controls Company of Gilroy, California Volo Technologies of Folsom, California; and New Dimension Controls of Honolulu, Hawaii. Welcome to you all and many thanks for your support.

This month we are proud to announce two new programs available to our membership. They are a Surety Bonding facility for our U.S.-based membership and a Professional Errors & Omissions facility for our non-U.S.-based membership.

First, The Bonding Facility. This has been arranged, exclusively for our membership with First Sealord Surety. First Sealord pass the prime requirement for providing services to our membership. That is, "They understand your business." On staff they have engineers with experience of working with control systems integrators. They have an appetite for your business and have already provided bonding for two of our members. One of the reasons we are so pleased to be partnering with First Sealord is the flow of "stimulus" money that will hopefully provide large quantities of work for membership. Such projects will require bonding, as do all Government projects, and many members who have not had this need will, going forward. Read more.
 

by Philippe Cesson
President & Founder, CESSON 2.0
 
Now is the time! With the world's economy reeling now is the time to take advantage of this golden opportunity to grow and prosper. Those who take these steps will be in a prime position once things start to turn around.

 

Here are some of the steps that you should take right now:

1) Utilize non traditional forms of Marketing. Right now is the time to think Marketing 2.0. It is all about using what were once considered "non-traditional" forms of marketing; they are now becoming the norm. Right now is a prime time to take advantage of them. These forms of marketing are significantly less expensive than the traditional versions, which make them a perfect fit in any economic situation. Major industries are just getting started with them, which makes it a perfect time for a small to medium size to start and have that advantage.

 

2) Silence is not golden. Right now most companies are shrinking their marketing budgets and thereby shrinking their presence. Silence is deadly, by getting out there and using your marketing dollars wisely you can make sure that your company is heard. The real estate business is a prime example of how to make this work. With all of the issues that sector has had they are out there daily shouting "NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!" They are smart, they are saying it enough and it is beginning to stick. Those companies that do not keep themselves heard may be in danger of disappearing from sight.

Read all six steps.