Overwhelmed by interest and great feedback

Jeff Jones, Research Fellow

Those folks at a la mode sure know how to throw a party!

This month I'm taking a break from the usual technical subjects to comment on my impressions of the 2007 a la mode Annual Convention. Having attended every past convention to date in one capacity or another, I can honestly say this was, by far, the best one yet. The three day event included unusual classes, exhibits and parties but this year was highlighted by exciting new product previews, candid discussions of past as well as future endeavors and the a la mode labs interactive kiosk.

My experience was especially unique because I was not only present as an attendee but also as an exhibitor and a member of the labs project. In addition, I once again had the honor of serving as a guest instructor at the invitation of a la mode . My time was spent between the Labs exhibit answering questions and demonstrating new technology, at my exhibit hall booth marketing my company's services and teaching four classes over the course of the three day event. Needless to say, that schedule left little time to actually attend many of the other classes offered during the day.

But I'm not complaining. I took more away from this convention than the accumulation of all years past. The feedback was amazing and the excitement over the new products was overwhelming. You could see it in the faces and hear it in the comments of both attendees and a la mode associates. This year will prove to be one of the best!

From the prospective of a Research Fellow, I hoped for but certainly never expected the overwhelming interest in all we had to demonstrate at the show. The booth was high–tech and very well designed. It allowed plenty of room to move around from station to station and its open plan encouraged attendees to step inside and check out the emerging technology. Each person I encountered was genuinely interested. They asked insightful questions, made useful suggestions, gave feedback and challenged me as a labs Research Fellow. It was a learning experience for everyone.

Over the course of the show, attendees became accustomed to the "guys in the white coats" and actually would seek us out for advice, to give feedback and to offer suggestions. If the response we received at the show is any indication, not only are the Labs projects currently on the table going to be a big hit but the same will hold true for the labs as a whole. I applaud a la mode for their decision to preview Armstrong, WinTOTAL version 6, and, even more so, to release DaVinci for all to try.

Armstrong shows a la mode is on the right track by starting with a solid formfilling foundation and building off that, while DaVinci is, without exception, the most innovative mobile product the appraisal industry has ever seen. Its ability to be customized to suit individual users' needs is extraordinary and the integrated sketching application is nothing short of amazing. This is what the labs are all about and I'm proud to say I'm a part of it.

On a separate note, this was my third year attending the show as an exhibitor. From that perspective: Again, the best convention ever. It appeared there were more exhibitors than in previous years and the volume of attendees though the exhibit hall was very good. The hall was actually part of the show and located central to all of the action. The space was well planned and lent itself well to foot traffic.

From an exhibitor's perspective, that is the key. Due to my schedule, I was not able to spend a lot of time in the booth but fortunately, I had others there to help. We had a great amount of interest in our products and services, received a lot of exposure and had a great time. Each year, the amount we invest comes back to us over and over in sales directly attributed to the show. We can count on it. So much so, it's our biggest marketing push of the year. No doubt, we'll be back next year.

In addition to my duties as a labs Research Fellow and exhibitor, I also got to see the show from an instructor's point of view. Most other Vegas conventions include some type of education and these classes are usually used to fill empty time slots in the show schedule. Classrooms are close to empty as all of the attendees are out by the pool, at the tables or taking a nap in their rooms. I've seen this first hand.

Not so at the a la mode events. Classes are at or near capacity. Attendees plan their days based around attending those classes that are most interesting to them. The schedule allows for flexibility and classes are repeated at least twice in order to allow everyone who is interested to attend. The classes I taught were full of people who genuinely had an interest in what I had to say. A dialogue was opened. Questions were asked and each person took part in the exchange. I hope the feedback was positive because I truly enjoy teaching at the a la mode Conventions.

The bottom line is I look forward to this event every year. It's a lot of fun. Everyone learns something and the folks at a la mode are excellent hosts. I get to see some good friends that I only get to talk with on the phone the rest of the year and I get to put faces to many names. It's nice to know there is someone out there who is truly in the appraiser's corner.

With the release of DaVinci, the introduction of Armstrong and the labs project, this year stands out as the best ever. I see many of the same faces year after year but I also see many new ones. If you have never made it out to an a la mode Convention, I strongly encourage you to start making plans for next year. Take it from an IT guy who knows: This is not your average software convention.