Early Notice: The May meeting date is not the usual third Thursday of the month. This notice is being sent early to remind you to mark you calendars for May 6 - for this special meeting! You can register now or wait until the second notice for this meeting.

Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum Meeting Announcement

CIO Roundtable: Innovation

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Location: Black and Decker, Towson, MD

Please plan to join the CIO members of the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum on May 6! This is the last monthly meeting of the current Forum year. Following the tradition of the Forum, the May meeting is being hosted at a member site. This year the meeting is being hosted by Black & Decker. The May 6^th topic will feature the use of technology to facilitate and accelerate innovation. A two part program has been developed. The first part of the program will be an in-depth look at the use of innovation in a successful, competitive global business: Black & Decker. The second part will be a roundtable discussion of those present on the use or plans to use IT innovation in their respective business environments; examining the challenges, costs, strategies, experiences in implementations, and lessons learned.

Black & Decker is a global manufacturer and marketer of quality power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems. Black & Decker products and services are marketed in more than 100 countries, and it has manufacturing operations in eleven countries. Throughout its businesses, it has established a reputation for product innovation, quality, end-user focus, design, and value. Its strong brand names and new product development capabilities enjoy worldwide recognition, and its global distribution is unsurpassed in its industries. Black & Decker's objective is to establish itself as the preeminent global manufacturer and marketer of power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems.

This meeting will be held at the Black & Decker Training Center located on Joppa Rd in Towson. Black and Decker will explain and demonstrate how the current generation of CAD design software is used both for internal engineering aspects of tool development as well as the consumer focused industrial design perspective.

There will also be the opportunity to tour the Black & Decker University where associates are instructed in proper building techniques and how to use the appropriate tools to accomplish it.

Please join our members at the meeting! The meeting starts at 8:00 AM and ends by 1PM. Brunch and lunch are provided. Participation in this meeting is by invitation only. Every participant must have signed a non-disclosure agreement. Pre-registration is required. Meeting logistics including agenda, directions to the meeting place and parking information will be emailed to you after you register. For registration for this meeting, please contact: Bonnie Lawson at blawson@towson.edu or 410-704-4252.

To make inquiries about this meeting or about membership in the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum, please contact: