Why I'm coming to SEPG (again) this year - Reason #3

The #3 Reason to Attend SEPGNA: To Build Stronger Relationships with Key SEI Leaders

Howdy, Partners – Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies!  It’s time once again for my Top Ten reasons to go to the SEPG North America rodeo in Albuquerque on March 12-15.  If you read my Reason #10, Reason #9, Reason #8, Reason #7, Reason #6, Reason #5 and Reason #4, you know that SEPG North America is the place to be for anyone who is passionate about process improvement and the CMMI.

So let’s load up the chuck-wagon and get on with my list of Top 10 Reasons to attend SEPG North America 2012.

Drum roll, please!  Reason #3 is …

To build stronger relationships with key SEI leaders.

Introducing yourself to your hosts is not only the polite thing to do, it is one of the best reasons for going to the SEPGNA.  Especially this year, when several key SEI leaders will be in attendance.

Since I’m limited to 300-500 words, I can’t talk about ALL of the great folks over at the SEI, so today I’d like to call attention to four influential people that you’ll want to be sure to meet at the Conference.  They are:

1. Dr. Paul D. Nielsen.  Paul is Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEI. As you may know, part of Paul’s role is to visit with key customers to help keep the SEI aligned with the needs of leading companies and organizations, which is good for the Partners as well.  Talk to Paul about whether it makes sense for him to interact with your (or your client’s) management team.
2. Anita Carleton.  Anita is the newly appointed Director of the Software Engineering Process Management (SEPM) Program at the SEI – and one awesome lady as well! Meeting Anita will give you an opportunity to learn about her vision for the  program, and give you a chance to share your ideas as well.   Like Paul, Anita travels to companies and organizations to interact with their management and help improve alignment.  Both you and your customers will benefit from meeting Anita.
3. Rawdon (“Rusty”) Young.  Rusty is another influential leader in a new role.  As CMMI Program Manager (acting), Rusty is the person to meet if you would like to hear about the future of the CMMI, if you have some ideas for changes (don’t forget to fill out a change request!), or about anything else regarding the CMMI that you want to talk about.  He’s your man!
4. Lisa Masciantonio.  Lisa is head of the SEI Partner Network and is the main point of contact for all of the SEI Partners.  If you have any Partner issues, Lisa is the one to go to.  In fact, go to Lisa even if you don’t have any issues!  She’s aweeeeeeesome!

As key representatives of the SEI at the SEPGNA Conference, Paul, Anita, Rusty and Lisa are a big part of the face of a product line that is the best process model in the industry.  It’s up to us, as Partners, to get to know them, so that we can work more closely with them on reinforcing the brand.  The SEPGNA is the perfect place to do that.  Be sure to introduce your customers to these fine individuals.

While I don’t have space to write about ALL of the great people at the SEI, don’t forget to connect with Eileen Forrester, Will Hays, Mike Konrad, and many others.

If you haven’t already signed up, be sure to register – and we’ll see you in Albuquerque!

Need more reasons to go?  Check back soon for Reason #2. 

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students. 

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.