April 1997 € Volume 24 € Number 2

INFORMS to Make a Big Splash in San Diego

The INFORMS Spring 1997 meeting, scheduled for May 4-7 in San Diego, has as its theme, "Managing Services in the Next Millennium." Meeting and hotel registration forms appeared in the special supplement mailed with the February issue of OR/MS Today. For further information, call 1-800-343-0062 or (401) 274-2525. Additional information can also be obtained at http://www.csusm.edu/INFORMS97.

Meeting highlights include the keynote and plenary addresses, three workshops and 16 invited tutorials, the concurrent Joint Conference on Information Systems & Technology, two plant tours, and more than 1,600 presentations in 35 parallel tracks.

Speakers. The keynote speaker, James Hudak, from Andersen Consulting's Strategic Services Practice, will discuss marketplace issues affecting healthcare in the 21st century.

The plenary speaker, Nobel Prize winner Harry Markowitz, from the Harry Markowitz Company, will discuss "Principles of Inference: In Theory & In Practice." Meeting registrants are also invited to attend any of the three workshops and 16 tutorials scheduled throughout the conference.

The workshop and tutorial schedule appears on pages F12-F15 of the February 1997 supplement to OR/MS Today. While the tutorials are free to meeting participants, the workshops require an additional fee to cover the costs of instructors and materials.

Professional Network
The intent of the meeting is to stimulate an exchange of ideas and experiences among researchers and professionals. The following events will be of particular interest to business professionals. For details, and to register, visit INFORMS Online: http://www.informs.org/conf/SD97/

Technology update and exhibits. Software tutorials featuring in-depth presentations will show how cutting-edge software systems can help you solve your business problems. The software demonstrations will be complemented by exhibitors showcasing the latest in complex software products, technical reference materials, and specialized services.

Edelman Award. The 26th Annual Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in OR/MS will be held May 4.

The six finalists, representing a wide range of companies and business sectors, will vie for the 1997 award which recognizes outstanding implemented work that has had a major impact on the performance of the client organization. This day-long event, which includes lunch and a reception, is a must for professionals interested in the practice of OR/MS.

Practice-Focused Presentations. Several sessions and tutorials, especially in the areas of Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Health Applications, Transportation and Tourism, will explore recent advances in technology, business strategies, and examples of implementations.

Workshops. Workshops include "Introduction to Visual Basic in Excel," "The Selling of OR/MS Concepts & Analysis," and the popular "CPMS Isolated Practitioners Workshop" which addresses the challenges faced by the sole OR practitioner within a management team.

Information Systems & Technology Conference. The conference, held in conjunction with the San Diego Meeting and sponsored by the INFORMS College of Information Systems and the College on Artificial Intelligence, provides a forum for all groups related to information systems and information technology to present and discuss their views, issues and research results. For more information, visit: http://www.cba.ufl.edu/dis/istc/

Plant Tours. Tours are scheduled to Sony and the Naval Supply Depot. The Sony manufacturing plant is one of the largest television plants in Southern California. The naval supply tour will include the depot's storage facilities and shipping docks.

Personal networking. The general reception on Monday evening and coffee breaks each day provide opportunities for meeting with business professionals. A meeting pre-registration list (sorted by organization) and colored badges will help identify others working in your industry.

Guest program tours. A continental breakfast is provided for registered guests on Monday through Wednesday. Two tours are being offered: "Behind the Scenes at the San Diego Zoo" and the "Tijuana Shopping" tour.

Some special events and tours have supplemental registration fees.

Employees or employers can register on-line with INFORMS job placement service at www.informs.org/JPS. Fees: $150 for employer listing and opportunity to interview on-site in San Diego; $25 for regular members; free for students.

E-mail to the Editorial Department of OR/MS Today: orms@lionhrtpub.com

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