COMMON... Customized

As the largest users group of IT professionals using IBM and IBM-compatible midrange technology, COMMON has been providing quality education for decades in the form of two large conferences every year. Beginning in 2007, COMMON has expanded its education options to meet the increasing needs of its membership. You can select, or customize, your education to suit your needs, work style and lifestyle. Thus, the new model is called "COMMON... Customized."

Education options now include:

COMMON Annual Meeting and Exposition

• The premier Power Systems-related educational conference and annual meeting of the COMMON membership, it provides attendees with over 300 educational sessions to choose from over four days.
• Coupled with all-day pre-conference workshops, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to gain in-depth and wide-ranging education that will immediately impact your daily work.
• The Exposition at the conference is the largest of its kind, giving you the ability to supplement your education with the latest Power Systems-related solutions available to you today.  With over 90 vendors present, you have the unique opportunity to experience first-hand the next generation of technologies and solutions that you can implement immediately.
• The conference provides you with extraordinary networking opportunities with other members of the COMMON community, allowing you to have fun with your peers, renowned speakers, IBM executives, and fellow members.
• Learn more about our upcoming Annual Meeting and Exposition.

View a listing of past COMMON conferences.

COMMON IT Executive Conference

• The COMMON IT Executive Conference is an exclusive event for high-level IT decision-makers that want to maximize their Power Systems investment.
• Taking part in this event enables IT executives to learn about the latest industry updates and available business solutions directly from IBM executives and other industry experts.
• The small group setting allows attendees to network and interact with peers to learn best practices - understand the leading edge developments in IT and Power Systems that can revolutionize your business.
• Attendees also create invaluable relationships with fellow IT decision-makers, industry experts and IBM leaders.
• Learn more about our upcoming COMMON IT Executive Conference.

COMMON Fall Conference and Expo

• A brand new conference offering designed to meet members' needs and based directly on feedback from our members about what they need in this economy.
• Keep up-to-date on leading Power Systems education with over 100 sessions to choose from at this three-day conference on hot topics such as AIX, Linux, PHP, RPG, DB2 Web Query, IBM Rational Software, and Upgrading to IBM i 7.1.
• Learn directly from leading solution providers on products you may be using, or are considering, at vendor-led sessions.
• An Expo that provides hands-on access to the latest products and solutions available to your company.
• Access to expert speakers and fellow peers to have your questions answered, share tips and tricks, and make contacts.
• Extraordinary networking opportunities during sessions, at the Expo, and during the nightly Power Down events.
• Learn more about our upcoming COMMON Fall Conference and Expo.

Seminar Series

Seminars are one-day workshops that combine lecture and live demonstration on leading edge topics to meet the increasing educational needs of attendees. They are offered in a number of cities across North America , allowing COMMON to bring education closer to the Power Systems community. Many of the COMMON Seminars are offered in partnership with Local User Groups helping serve their local membership. Learn more about our upcoming Seminars.

If you would like information on how to offer a one-day seminar for your group, contact Elise Stredney.

Webcasts

COMMON Webcasts are one-hour long webcasts on leading edge topics to meet the increasing educational needs of COMMON members. COMMON Webcasts are designed to enhance the educational opportunities for Power Systems professionals and bolster their daily workplace needs. They are conducted by industry-leading experts and provide focused education at no cost to COMMON members. Learn more about our upcoming Webcasts.

Webinars

Webinars are a series of live web-based seminars on leading edge topics to meet the increasing educational needs of attendees. Delivered over a 4-6 week span and conducted by industry-leading experts, COMMON Webinars provide focused education at a minimized cost. Learn and interact with the presenter right from your desk! Learn more about our upcoming Webinars.

Receive the largest return on your education investment
COMMON delivers a huge return on your investment. You'll save your employer significant amounts of time and money by improving your skills. Get answers you’re looking for at conference, in a regional seminar, or via the Web. Top consultants, practitioners and vendors show you how to get the most out of your existing systems, and how to update them with money-saving technologies.

COMMON... Customized is based on an extensive 2005 survey of COMMON members and other professionals in the industry, and on the innovative recommendations of COMMON's Strategic Education Team (SET).