IEEE CHICAGO/ROCKFORD CONSULTANTS' NETWORK

** A joint Affinity Group of the IEEE Chicago and Rock River Valley Sections **

Consultants in Private Practice Serving the Public

The Chicago/Rockford IEEE Consultants' Network will be meeting on

Monday, February 1, 2010, from 6:45 - 8:45 PM

Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine, IL 60067, 847-358-1216.

Do you know that networking is responsible for most consulting assignments and professional employment? We welcome those who are consultants, those who may be considering becoming consultants, those who are employed, and those who are not employed. Membership is not required to attend. There is no admission fee. We spend time at each meeting networking. Remember to bring business cards for networking! Attendees may earn 1 PDH.

PROGRAM TOPICS Topic: “Setting up your Consulting Contract” by Joseph Auer.

Successfully winning a consulting contract is highly dependent on the attractiveness of your offering in terms of the thoroughness and compliance of your proposed solution to the customer requirements, and the cost of that proposed solution. Your success in continuing your business long-term will be based in part on how effectively your contracts protect your intellectual property and bound the impact of unexpected events and conditions, as well as how you perform to that contract. Your success in achieving the respect and recommendation of your clients will be influenced by your ability to achieve an equitable consensus on your statement of work and terms and conditions. During this discussion, we will look at recommended elements of a consulting contract and the nature of their contents. Consulting contracts are NOT cookie-cutter documents. However, an initial consulting contract framework will be presented to lead into a round-table discussion to allow fellow consultants to contribute their successes and cautions from their contracting experiences.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Presenter: Joseph A. Auer, Jr. is a Director and current Chair of the IEEE Chicago / Rockford Consultants’ Network. He has over 35 years of progressively challenging high technology management roles, with expertise in program and engineering project (including software) management, business planning, systems engineering, proposal development and process improvement.  He has extensive experience in industry, military, academic and not-for-profit environments.  Joe’s sole proprietor consulting practice, JAuer Consulting Enterprises, provides timely, world class solutions for program management, engineering management and business planning requirements.  His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Planetary Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  Joe has taught physics and astronomy at local community colleges and is also serving as Chairman of the Board of the Planetary Studies Foundation, a science education not-for-profit organization.

MEETING LOCATION

Meetings are held at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. generally held on the last Monday of odd-numbered months.  Occasionally additional meetings will be announced. Preceding the meeting we get together for an optional group dinner. Members and non-members are invited to both the meeting and the dinner.

DINNER LOCATION

Optional Dinner: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, before the meeting (meeting starts at 6:45 pm and ends at 8:45 pm), at Bakers Square, 270 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL 60067. It is two blocks south of the Palatine Library. Reservations are not required. Everyone orders from the menu. Guests are always welcome, both for dinner and the meeting.

NETWORK INFORMATION:

The objective of the Network is:

• To foster and promote the interests of its members with respect to the business of providing professional and technical consulting services.
• To maintain, publish and distribute a directory of the members and the consulting services offered by each.
• To arrange for and provide technical and management talks, tutorials, and special seminars and workshops on subjects of interest to members professional development.
• To provide a networking forum for personal interaction through meetings, social functions and other events.
• To publicize the contribution to society by its members.

FUTURE MEETINGS:

• March 29, 2010, Palatine
• April 29, 2010, Rockford
• May 24, 2010 Palatine

For more information, please visit: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/r4/chicago/cn/