Two Seminars (free and open to all)

Certification:
New Product Development Professional (NPDP)
Speaker: Cynthia Gilmer
President, Opus Plus, Inc., and Certified NPDP

and

Software for Mobile Devices:
Palm, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, iPhone, and More
Derek Meyer, Wireless Consultant and Trainer, Data at Hand


Certification:
New Product Development Professional (NPDP)
Speaker: Cynthia Gilmer, President, Opus Plus, Inc., and Certified NPDP

Cynthia Gilmer has been involved in various aspects of new product development, primarily of software products, for more than 20 years. Last summer she was certified as a New Product Development Professional (NPDP) by the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA). She will share her knowledge and experiences regarding this certification, including--

• What is involved in becoming certified
• Topics covered and what you will learn
• The value of becoming certified

Join us to learn how this certification can help you learn more about the business of developing new products and services.

Speaker: Cynthia Gilmer has more than 20 years of experience growing technology product and service companies. Her product experience includes software and software-as-a-service (SaaS) products, and IT services from a wide variety of industries including government, telecommunications, enterprise applications, security, law enforcement, and intelligence/defense.

Before founding Opus Plus, Inc., Ms. Gilmer was product management director for iDirect, a satellite equipment manufacturer and global ISP. She established and served as the director of the Applications Product Development and Engineering organization for BroadBand Office, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) providing voice, data and applications solutions to small- and mid-sized businesses. In 1997, Ms. Gilmer founded Broadband Inc., a consultancy that helped cable companies and wireless providers transition into the Internet service business both in the United States and abroad. She helped lead BTG, Inc., into new business areas as co-founder of its subsidiary Community Networks, Incorporated (CNI), a pioneer in the broadband over cable TV service market. Earlier in her career, Ms. Gilmer developed custom software solutions for government and commercial clients with BTG.

As an active member of the Northern Virginia business community, Cynthia Gilmer serves on the board of the Business Alliance of George Mason University, where she leads the Investor Outreach committee and serves on the Grubstake Breakfast Selection and Coaching committees. She is a long-standing member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, where she has served as Chairman of the Emerging Business & Entrepreneur committee. Ms. Gilmer is a graduate of the 2006 class of Mindshare and an active member of Potomac Officers Club.

Cynthia Gilmer holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science from the University of Maryland and Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, respectively.

Opus Plus, Inc., is a full-service product development consultancy located in McLean, Virginia. It advances technology products and services from concept to market launch. Opus Plus assists clients in any one area of the product development process, or in full lifecycle support. 

Software for Mobile Devices:
Palm, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, iPhone, and More
Derek Meyer, Wireless Consultant and Trainer, Data at Hand

Audience: Anyone with a smartphone or other handheld computing device

Many people use a handheld device or smartphone without thinking of it as what it actually is--a pocket computer. And just as people load software on a desktop or laptop computer, it is easy to add software to a handheld device or smartphone, whether to replace built-in programs (e.g., calendar/contact management, e-mail, Web browsers), tweak existing functionality through utilities, or add new capabilities beyond what the device can do out of the box. There are programs for almost all of the major platforms, with more coming soon.

As a mobile technology consultant, Derek helps users choose the software that meets their needs/wants. He will discuss currently available programs and additional capabilities on the horizon.

Speaker: Derek Meyer, a consultant and trainer on wireless devices, has more than 10 years of experience in technology. During the last 4 years he has specialized in helping clients with smartphones, PDAs, Blackberry handhelds, PalmOS and Windows Mobile devices, a variety of cell phones, and their accessories. Working for Canon in his first year out of college, Derek did phone-based tech support for printers.

Born in Washington, DC, Derek Meyer grew up and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Speaking fluent French and Spanish, along with a little Japanese, he has been called a Renaissance man. Derek is still trying to find more time to devote to his additional interests in writing and computer graphics.

Derek may be reached via e-mail.

Location: One-half block south of the Cineplex Odeon Uptown movie theatre on Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Metrorail--Cleveland Park Station on the Red Line (on Connecticut Avenue, just 1.5 blocks north of meeting site) 

Parking: Very small lot, off Macomb St., to left of library. 

Free and open to all 

Several times a year a smaller group (usually about 8 to 12) goes to Nanny O'Brien's (directly across the street from the library at 3319 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 202-686-9189, open noon Saturday to 2 am Sunday) or another local establishment for continued conversation, networking, and refreshment following the meeting. (Participants pay for their own beverages and food.) 

Join us!

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