Virtual Event Redefines Political Communication
Newt Gingrich Featured at Guidon Virtual Conference Powered by ON24
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—September 20, 2010— ON24, Inc., the global leader in webcasting and virtual event solutions, announced today that the company has collaborated with Guidon Performance Solutions, a leading provider of business process management and performance improvement consulting, to offer “Business Beyond Boundaries.” Scheduled for September 23, 2010, this virtual conference on achieving operational excellence will feature a keynote presentation by Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and founder of the Center for Health Transformation. According to ON24, this is the first virtual show to feature an appearance by a national political figure.
“In addition, Guidon is one of the first consulting firms in our industry to offer a virtual conference,” said Ron Wince, Guidon President & CEO. “Given today’s economic realities and what many see as a never-ending recession, we decided that the time was right to offer valuable business operations insights in a virtual environment.” In addition to the keynote presentation by Gingrich, “Business Beyond Boundaries” will also feature a keynote presentation by Michael Wright, co-author of “The New Business Normal.”
Because of the convenience of a virtual event, Guidon was able to attract unusually high-caliber speakers for “Business Beyond Boundaries.” Wince added, “Participation in a traditional business conference by a national political figure like Mr. Gingrich, given his many commitments, would simply not be possible due to time and travel constraints. However, with this cutting-edge technology, presenters can participate without having to leave their offices.” He added that the virtual conference is also convenient and easy to access for attendees, encouraging participation and extending reach.
“To our knowledge, this is the first time a national political figure has leveraged virtual event technology to reach out directly to audiences,” said ON24 CMO Denise Persson. “Virtual communication democratizes outreach; this kind of technology can enable direct communication, providing access to political figures without editorial screening. Given today’s economic climate, hearing directly from national leaders is more important than ever. The implications for grass roots political communication could be significant going forward. We predict that ‘virtually’ all politicians will be embracing virtual communication tools in the foreseeable future.”
The complimentary Guidon virtual conference will also feature several webinars on achieving operational excellence; opportunities for sharing best practices and case studies; and new products and services in a virtual exhibit hall. “In today’s world, the phrase ‘business as usual’ takes on a whole new meaning,” Wince said. “Companies are no longer solely focused on merely surviving. Instead, they are seeking innovative solutions for the ‘new business normal.’ A virtual conference powered by ON24 is the perfect venue for this kind of summit, providing unprecedented access to thought leaders with the crucial business vision necessary for success in today’s business environment.”
“With its virtual summit, Guidon is providing a communications solution ideally suited for the today’s business leader,” said Persson. “Because ON24 virtual shows take place on a computer, busy executives can learn from experts like Mr. Gingrich anytime, anywhere—without the traditional media filter or having to travel long distances, wait in lines or fight crowds. The reality is that virtual events are the best solution for businesses wanting to get the most value out of their tightened communication and travel budgets. Ultimately, ON24 virtual events and Guidon are perfect partners—and examples—of the leadership necessary to thrive in the ‘new business normal.’”
The summit will be presented on September 23 from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. CDT.
About Guidon Performance Solutions
Guidon is a global management consulting organization that helps clients achieve rapid, sustainable improvements in operational performance and growth. Guidon pioneered the combined application of Lean and Six Sigma in the service sector and has a proven track record working with clients in financial services, healthcare, government, retail, technology and other service organizations. With a full spectrum of capabilities focused on people, process, and technology, Guidon provides strategic direction and hands-on implementation to guide cultural and organizational transformation. Guidon’s approach generates measurable results, including revenue growth, cost reduction, productivity improvement, increased customer satisfaction and innovation. For more information about Guidon, please visit www.guidonps.com.
About ON24, Inc.
The recognized global virtual events market share leader, ON24 provides webcasting and virtual environments for corporate communications and demand generation. The ON24 platform is a complete Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud offering; no deployment resources are required. ON24 offers fully integrated, enterprise-wide solutions for applications ranging from training, user conferences and company meetings to partner expos and trade shows. More than 750 organizations, including IBM, Cisco, CA Technologies, Merck, AstraZeneca, Fiserv, Credit Suisse, GE and Oracle, rely on ON24. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices throughout the world. For more information, visit www.ON24.com.