Inside ASI-AP

Week 9

I spent some time this week reviewing some concurrent user to named user migration scenarios for iMIS 15. Basically this involves take example customer licences and working out what this would convert to in iMIS 15 and any migration charge. I have been working with Marty to give feedback to the pricing committee. We had the monthly sales meeting with RMs on Tuesday which is a dinner on Monday night and a full day meeting in the Alexandria office on Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting is to review current sales opportunities and work towards getting a pipeline sufficient for targets.

I spent some time this week writing information articles to explain Customer Care to staff and customers via iMIS Insights (US), iTeam staff newsletter and some personalised informZ emails to North American customers from their Customer Account Executives. Generally we are trying to increase awareness of what Customer Care does and ensure that leads come directly to the right person.

Personally it was busy week too. Brian Lindsay was staying at the apartment and Ross was in Alexandria office being trained by Brian. Ross even managed to find a place to train for fencing too. Friday night I went to the Kennedy Center with Leon for a cultural experience … National Symphony Orchestra. Actually I think it is only the second time I have seen an orchestra and both times have been I the USA. It was really good, and I enjoyed it – It made me realise that people who like classical music just shouldn’t own iPods. They would never get anything close from MP3 and tiny speakers. :) (pictures attached)

Saturday I went on my first real tourist activity – I took the train to Philadelphia. It was about a 2 hour train ride from DC and I started early and got there about 10.20am. I learnt a lot about Benjamin Franklin, the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence. I did a walking tour, and trolley tour. One main thing I learnt, even if you only have a backpack with clothes for overnight and a laptop – drop it at the hotel first! Very exhausting carrying around about 15kg all day.

Summary - climbed the stairs of the Art Museum (known as the Rocky Steps), visited the Eastern State Penitentiary - saw Capone's cell and walked across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to New Jersey. Besides tourism there was also a bike race and a pride march down Market street – plenty happening. Funny thing happened when I went to get some snacks from the pharmacy – I found out that they sell “Aussie” hair products. No, I wasn’t buying any for my scalp – but I find it amazing that a kangaroo could be used to sell something produced in California. “Put some roo in your do” was the slogan.

A few photos are attached.

The train back was comfortable until we got to DC, when a Girl Scout troop got on – hmm singing on a train – glad I had my headphones off and I got off 15 mins from DC. Then I slept well – tired from all the walking.