Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/924542
JANUARY 2018 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 79 In an interview with I-Connect007, IPC Exhibits Manager Kim DiCianni discusses the IPC APEX EXPO 2018 app and how this powerful tool will keep attendees on track. She also highlights its usefulness for exhibitors. Stephen Las Marias: Kim, can you please tell us more about yourself and your role at IPC? Kim DiCianni: I am the exhibits manager at IPC. I handle all logistics, sales, operations, overall exhibitor tasks for the event as well as manag- ing registration, the agenda planner, the app, and most things that have to do with exhib- itors and attendees for IPC APEX EXPO. I've been with IPC for 12 years, and I've always worked on the show, so I've been growing with the event as IPC APEX EXPO evolves. Las Marias: Please tell us about the app. When was it first created for the APEX show? DiCianni: I started managing the APEX EXPO app in 2015. We created the app two years pri- or to that, but I don't know that it was as ex- tensive or had the capabilities that it does now. It has come a long way from that first year. Las Marias: How is the app helping the attend- ees? DiCianni: The app provides everything that at- tendees could possibly want or need for the event, including being able to look up exhibi- tors by specific categories. If they're looking to focus on a specific category, not only can they see what exhibitors are tied to that, they can see related tech conference and PD sessions, and any event related to something they're in- terested in. App users could fil- ter for "adhesives," and it will tell them what exhibitors are related to it, and what sessions might be of interest to them. Basically, what happens is when an attendee registers, they select their demographics. Their demo- graphics then go into our o line agenda plan- ner, which feeds the app. It gives them sugges- tions of any exhibitor that would be of interest to them, any session we have, and attendees can add those things to their planner. If they add it to their schedule, they're able see what time something takes place or what exhibitor they might want to see. They can browse ex- hibitors by name and product categories that the exhibitor selected. We have "What's on Now?" which shows anything that's going on at that moment or coming up soon. They can look at any speak- er's profile. They can see a list of attendees, or someone that might be of interest for them to connect with, and they can request a connec- tion to that person. We have the maps of the show floor and the meeting rooms area. Users can see virtually anything that we offer at the event right in the palm of their hand, and it's always the most up-to-date information. We have the show directory on site as well, but, as you know, once something goes to print, if something changes, it's no longer up to date. The app is always up to date. If some - thing gets canceled at the last minute, we can do push notifications letting people know, or if IPC APEX EXPO App is Where It's At Kim DiCianni IPC APEX EXPO 2018 PRE-SHOW SPECIAL COVERAGE