ILTA Conference Blog

Today we’re chatting with Jenn Steele, Director of Information Technology at Morrison Mahoney LLP and Social Networking Coordinator at ILTA ’09.

What excites you the most about ILTA ’09?

Shockingly, I’m very excited about the way we’ll be using social networking to enhance the experience of attendees (and communicate with those who couldn’t come.)  We’ll have a board with a live twitter stream of the #ilta09 tag, a social networking community of interest, and lots of social-networking based sessions.

Is there a specific session that you’re looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to several sessions in the E2.0  track.  Specifically, “What is E2.0 and why should you care?”, the session on blogs, and the session on wikis.   These will give me great information to bring back to my firm, where the partners are starting to look at how we might use some of these tools.

When did you first start coming to conference?

I first came to LawNet 2003 in Boca Raton. I distinctly remember covering Henry Chace’s room with styrofoam bits while we were making the “Larry Bird” for the regional competition.

Conference is a whirlwind of activity; can you share your strategy or any tips to making it through and getting the most out of it?

1. Know thyself: I’m a morning person and have a tough time if I stay at the wonderful networking events past midnight.  Likewise, skipping breakfast = grumpy Jenn.
2. Have a plan: I’m nowhere near as elaborate as some of the other planners we’ve interviewed, but I do read through the sessions and put the ones I’m most interested in attending in my Blackberry calendar.
3. Have a goal: One year, I knew I needed to make vendor connections, so I occasionally skipped sessions in order to have some quality vendor hall time.  Another year, I knew I needed to chat more with other heads of IT for mid-size firms, so I made the time to do that.  This year, I care a lot about DR/BC, Business Strategy, and E2.0, so I’ll put most of those sessions in my calendar.
4. Prioritize: To build on #3, it’s impossible to do everything at conference.  Impossible!  For example, 11 sessions run at once.  Last I checked, most of us don’t have the ability to automatically replicate like Dr. Manhattan.  I make sure I act according to my priorities and forgive myself for having to let things go.
5. Take care of yourself: Sounds like a repeat of #1, I know.  Last year, on Tuesday morning, there was mysteriously nothing in the first time slot that I wanted to attend.  So I made a spa appointment, which helped me get through the week.  Granted, there’s never been a time slot like that in the past, and I can’t find one this year, but take care of yourself when you need to!

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

• ILTA ’06 Communications Track Chair
• Regional Vice President, New England Region (’06-’08)
• ILTA ’09 Social Networking Coordinator
• Incoming Regional Vice President, North Atlantic Region (’09-’11)
• Nominating Committee
• Bag Stuffer
• Speaker/Writer/Tweeter

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA?

Some of the people in Boston to whom I looked as my role models when I first became an IT Director in 2002 had served as volunteer leaders with ILTA.  So I kept looking for ways to get more involved.  After singing with the “LawNotes” and “ILTones” and serving as a track runner, Steve Skidmore and Eric Anderson asked me to be on the ILTA ’06 Conference Committee.  I loved it and went on from there.

Do you have a blog? If so, what’s the URL? What’s your Twitter handle?

I blog about geek leadership and various grammar gripes at http://leadinggeeks.blogspot.com and http://www.simmons.edu/reconnect/jenn-steele.  I’ve also been maintaining the very blog you’re reading right now!  My twitter handle is @jennsteele, and I also maintain the @ilta09 twitter account.

Filed under: 2009 Conference