Why I Attend the AIIP Annual Conference – Two Perspectives
AIIP members share their insights and experiences from attending AIIP’s Annual Conference. Our next conference is April 27-30, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Virtual attendance options are also available. Conference registration is now open.
The first AIIP conference I attended was in Irvine, California in 2015. I had been working on my own as a contractor/consultant in the information management space since 2009, but after the birth of my first child in 2013, I decided to get serious about owning my own business. I enjoyed the flexibility of being independent and was introduced to AIIP at a Special Libraries Association conference in summer 2014. I decided to join AIIP and attend its next conference, only an hour south of my home at the time.
Walking into that conference, only knowing a handful of folks, instantly changed my life. We were fortunate that Roger Summit, founder of Dialog Information Services, attended; and we had the chance to speak with Roger Summit Lecture Award winner Elizabeth Trudell about the early days of Dialog and their experiences developing the product and service for clients. Other presentations focused on ways to be a better business owner, including optimizing productivity and expanding your energy; how to grow your business through collaboration; and the keynote address “Get it Done: from Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 minutes a Day.”
Every session was valuable, and the ability to network with like-minded entrepreneurs was invigorating. Fortunately, AIIP members report on nearly every session at the conference, and they are documented either on the AIIP Connections Blog or the precursor newsletter, Connections. Summaries of sessions from past conferences are always available for review.
At later conferences I have attended, I have deepened my connections with other independent business owners and found collaborators to partner with on projects to help our businesses grow. Each year during the annual conference, I have continued to strengthen bonds with my fellow entrepreneurs, and I always find fresh insights and valuable takeaways to immediately apply to my business. In fact, my business acumen has grown exponentially since joining AIIP and attending my first conference in Irvine. I look forward to continuing the learning and networking at the next annual conference online and in person in Milwaukee in April 2023.
As solopreneurs, particularly if we focus on research, we spend a lot of time working independently in front of computer screens. That’s why it’s so important to attend the AIIP conference in person. Not only is it a chance to break up the pace of working independently, it is an opportunity to network with others who have built careers and businesses doing the same kind of work we do.
Being a good researcher, writer, editor, content creator, or other independent information professional is one thing, but running and growing an information business is another story. That’s why AIIP membership and conference attendance are so valuable. Each year I learn so much from other independent businesses owners on some of the most common questions I face as an infopreneur. I get to network, learn, and share from others’ experiences.
Infopreneurs and independent information professionals are a unique breed, and whether you’re just starting a business or have been in operation for decades, the AIIP conference is an unmatched opportunity to learn, share, grow, and network with others who just “get it.” There are many nuances to running an information based business, and typical marketing, sales, and business development curricula apply only so much to our distinctive niches. That’s what makes the AIIP conference so valuable – it is modeled specifically to help business owners with a unique specialty in information.
AIIP conferences are interactive, engaging, thought-provoking, and most importantly warm and welcoming to all. Attending in person gives me the opportunity to take part in interactions and conversations that would not be possible otherwise. One of my favorite conference features is the “dine around”, where you can chat with a small group of infopros over a lovely meal out on the town. It’s a great way to meet, learn, network, and explore, all at once.
Jennifer Pflaumer launched her information management consultancy, Paroo, in 2009 after realizing the need for concentrated information management solutions for businesses across all industries. Her expertise includes liaising between key business groups and IT departments to manage digital assets, creating information strategies and performing systems analysis and design.
Edward J. Ajaeb is the president of Nighthawk Strategies based in Washington, D.C. specializing in private investigations, background checks, social media and online investigations, and open source intelligence. Ajaeb has been featured in Forbes, NBC, CBS, U.S. News & World Report, PI Magazine, and other acclaimed outlets. Ajaeb serves on the Board of Directors of the National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS) and is a past board member of AIIP.
