Thank you to our sponsors! @Kennametal @KoppGlass @BallyDesign @CarnegieMellon @newhazlett @MadeinSWPA @DraegerNews #amgresearch

Thank you to our sponsors! @Kennametal @KoppGlass @BallyDesign @CarnegieMellon @newhazlett @MadeinSWPA @DraegerNews #amgresearch

PDMA Pittsburgh Welcomes New Board Members

We would like to welcome two new Pittsburgh Chapter Board Members:

Eric Anderson is an associate dean for the College of Fine Arts and associate professor of industrial design in the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a co-director of the Master of Product Development Program, a unique program between the engineering, design, and business. He co-teaches the award winning Integrated Product Develop (IPD) capstone course for MPD along with faculty from mechanical engineering and business. He also teaches undergraduate industrial design studios.

Eric is a Chairman Emeritus for the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Board of Directors having served several years prior as an officer working with talented practitioners, educators and staff to shape strategy, policy and programs to improve the society and support the discipline. He is also a member of the IDSA Academy of Fellows. Prior to joining academia, he spent over a decade as a full time design practitioner for corporate departments and consulting firms based in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia and designed products that include medical instruments, tradeshow exhibits, corporate identities, and consumer products.

Connie Palucka is the Managing Director of Business Growth Services at Catalyst Connection and leads the consulting team that works directly with manufacturers to help them achieve their growth goals. She joined the company in 2005 and brings over 20 years of experience in the chemical, catalysis and nuclear power industries.

Before joining Catalyst Connection, she directed global sales teams, participated in and led product development programs, and successfully executed a number of strategic initiatives that included the development and commercialization of new technology, the improvement of various internal processes to build value-added capabilities, and the building of alliances to achieve strategic goals.

Learn more about the Pittsburgh PDMA Board of Directors

Sept16th Innovation Forum Focuses on Big Ideas

In a world full of problems, why are we so focused on redoing what has already been done? Can we really say that the world is better off because of our work? Could we do better work, more important work?

Join us at Catalyst Connection on Monday, September 16th for the next Innovation Forum - "Why Aren't We Doing Big Ideas Anymore?:  A Call to Arms For New Product Development Professionals" - presented by Chris Miller, Ph.D., NPDP. 

As innovation professionals we have a special responsibility to lead, to show the way, to make a difference. It’s not about process, though process is important; it’s not about voice of the customer, though those who choose to ignore the customer do so at their own peril; it is not about technology mapping, or open innovation, culture or cross-functional teams, as important as these things are. Success in innovation is driven by a passion to bring technology into the service of humanity in a meaningfully differentiated way.

Registration and networking will begin at 5:00pm and the presentation will start at 6:00pm.  The cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Register Early. Seating is very limited!

To learn more and to register, log on to www.pdma.org > Community > US Chapters > Pittsburgh > Events

The Fall Programming Schedule is being finalized and will be communicated soon. If you have any recommended topics or speakers, please email your suggestions to David Charlton, Vice President of PDMA Programming, at david@david-charlton.com.

Why Aren’t We Doing Big Ideas Anymore? A Call to Arms for New Product Development Professionals

Join the Pittsburgh Chapter next Monday, September 16th, for an engaging Innovation Forum presented by Chris Miller, Ph.D., NPDP: 

Why Aren’t We Doing Big Ideas Anymore?: A Call to Arms for New Product Development Professionals

Where:  Catalyst Connection, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
When: 6:00 - 7:00 pm; September 16, 2013

In a world full of problems, why are we so focused on redoing what has already been done?  Can we really say that the world is better off because of our work?  Could we do better work, more important work?

As innovation professionals, we have a special responsibility to lead, to show the way, to make a difference.  It’s not about process, though process is important; it’s not about voice of the customer, though those who choose to ignore the customer do so at their own peril; it is not about technology mapping, or open innovation, culture or cross-functional teams, as important as these things are.  Success in innovation is driven by a passion to bring technology into the service of humanity in a meaningfully differentiated way.

Registration and networking will begin at 5:00 pm.  The cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.  Seating is limited, so be sure to register early.  

REGISTER NOW

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Often called a cheerleader for innovation, a prolific author, Chris Miller deals with everything that helps us to bring technology into the service of humanity, from how we explore for ideas and the mental processes involved in innovation, to success blockers that get in the way of discovery engineering.  Miller calls on his audiences to step up to the challenges of innovation by engaging in rigorous repeatable processes many of which are fundamental to how people have worked together to bring about change for hundreds of years.

Miller is a past President of the Product Development and Management Association, on the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, formerly on the Board of Trustees for the Lancaster General Health Innovations Corporation, and an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner.

He is also an avid supporter of bicycle commuting, and of creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities.

LOCAL EVENT: 3rd Annual Energy & Innovation Conference | Sept. 17, 2013

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Energy & Innovation Conference on September 17, 2013 hosted by Catalyst Connection and the National Energy Technology Laboratory-Regional University Alliance (NETL-RUA).  

“The Energy and Innovation Conference brings together people who are driving technology development and creating new products in our region,” said Petra Mitchell, president and CEO of Catalyst Connection. “This year, our Conference will judge exciting new innovations. We’ll assess the next energy ‘game changer’ in this region while focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector today.”

Conference details are as follows:

• WHO: Manufacturers, business leaders, researchers, venture capitalists, and energy users. 
• WHAT: The event will showcase a search for the region’s next game changing innovation as well as sessions focused on innovation, industry partnerships and the challenges, needs and opportunities of key energy leaders.
• WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe,1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg, PA
• WHEN:September 17, 2013. 

Registration is available at http://www.cvent.com/d/3cq6xk. 


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PDMA Pittsburgh is a professional association dedicated to improving the effectiveness of individuals and organizations involved with product development, product management, and innovation. Want to share an upcoming event with us? We'd love to hear from you, email us now.