Regal Tent Productions Ltd. has taken CAD to a higher level according to President Michael McCulloch: "We created this 3-D animation walk-though video to help our customers experience the structure over a year before the event!" Check out the virtual preview (click on the image below) of one of the hottest venues at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Want to become a part of the Olympics? Here is the inside scoop from Regal Tent Productions Ltd. President Michael McCulloch: "Although the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are fast approaching (Feb. 12-28), there are still opportunities to be a part of the games. And don't forget, 2012 is just around the corner." Become a vendor-- 1. Know your strategy: There are a couple of different ways you can get involved in the Olympic Games. One option is to work as a vendor for the Olympic Committee and the other is to work with the event sponsors directly. Knowing which group you are targeting will determine where you go to find opportunities and what to do to sell your business. 2. Build your story: Thoroughly understand the needs of your target - do they value price, breadth of services, ability to handle large projects, creativity or any combination of the above? Determine if it's a good fit for your business and if so, build your story. How do you deliver against the client's needs? How is your business unique? Also, don't forget to include value-added services such as social responsibility, green initiatives and innovation. 3. Monitor: Watch for opportunities. There are a few sites that you need to subscribe to if you're looking to build Olympic business. 2010 Commerce Centre is a site for all things Olympics - whether looking for an opportunity or listing your company as a potential supplier. Merx not only includes Olympic opportunities but also government bids and large project bid. With both sites you can sign up for email alerts when opportunities that match your criteria are released. 4. Partnerships: This will likely be your biggest source for opportunities so spend time nurturing relationships. Find other like-minded companies. Become a volunteer... Just getting the Olympics on your resume can be a career builder. So, why not volunteer your time? The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games are actively seeking volunteers - after all, they have approximately 25,000 shoes to fill.

Cranes lift upper members of the truss system into place. Because the site is a former landfill with a protective membrane that could not be penetrated, Karl’s had to attach 12 tons of weight to each arch. Photo courtesy of Karl’s Event Rental.

Karl’s Event Rental has worked on some of the largest events in North America (the last five Super Bowls; New York, Los Angeles, and Miami fashion weeks; NASCAR; PGA golf tournaments; and private events for Fortune 500 individuals).  However, the Oak Creek, Wisconsin-based company stuck an even bigger feather in its cap with the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. In Sept. 2008, the Vancouver Organizing Committee awarded Karl’s a contract to supply 550 tents for the Olympics (Feb. 12-28) and Paralympics (March 12-21). Karl’s immediately began designing, engineering, manufacturing and planning. More... Timing is crucial not only for Olympic athletes, but also for those preparing for the 2010 Winter Games. “Beating the weather is a priority,” says project manager Mindy McPherson. The largest tent—the dining hall measuring 45-by-95 meters—presents Karl’s with its most distinct challenges. More...

IFAI wants to publicize our member companies' nationally prominent project work from any field of endeavor (aeronautics, sports, medicine, entertainment, academia, etc.) on the IFAI.com home page. Contact: JoAnne Ferris, IFAI Director of Marketing, 651 225 6923. 

Science Stories go viral: Dupont developed a social media strategy using viral videos that feature safety and protective products.  View the popular video series which used some of their most spectacular archived video.

IFAI announces the 7th Safety Products Student Design Challenge: The Safety Products Student Design Challenge encourages training of designers for function, not just fashion, and the use of textiles in protective and safety applications. Register now... View the submitted and winning projects from the 2009 Challenge.

Read the
Member Spotlight
in every issue.
This month's feature:
IFAI member
Maureen Kelly, 
owner of The 
Design Loft (TDL)
in St. Louis, Mo.
Maureen Kelly
draws on her
tenacity and
talent to create
one-of-a-kind
fabric sculptures.

 
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2010 Buyer's Guide
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