Dr. Frank Soltis buoyed efforts by organizers of iManifest EMEA to re-launch the organization during an inaugural webinar April 12 titled "Call for Participation." 

Soltis gave the keynote speech and discussed the history of the iManifest movements in Japan and the Americas and rallied the troops and offered his thoughts on why the movement is necessary in EMEA and shared his aspirations for the platform in the future. 

The webinar also demonstrated fresh impetus and ideas. Presenters suggested sample targeted marketing and new certification ideas to give the organization more focus and value in the future. The movement also called for regional sponsors to support and coordinate marketing activities. Above all, the group asked for participation. While iManifest EMEA is moving rapidly, the movement is still at a stage where contributors can help shape its direction. The group intends to ramp up momentum with a follow-on webinar titled, "Why i" on May 17—the week before COMMON Europe Congress, May 23-25, in Milan, Italy. 

"Why i" also will be an online event and will focus on iManifest from vendors' perspective.  Feedback from the first webinar suggests iManifest EMEA could use this follow-on event to showcase additional marketing ideas and present a stage-one draft marketing plan. The aim is to have a cohesive EMEA marketing strategy for IBM i before end of summer. 

For "Why i," iManifest EMEA will be hosted by industry leaders including Paul Field, general manager of System i EMEA for Infor and Trevor Perry, vice president of COMMON and chief strategist for Angus Thinks. They will provide their own insight and perspective on the movement. Registration for "Why i" on May 17 is now open and attendees who wish to attend should click here. To view the recording of the first webinar, "Call for Participation," click here.