Allocating the time and expense to attend an education conference has become a bottom-line focused decision. I am old enough to remember a bygone era when attending a conference like IASA was sometimes viewed as a perk, or reward, after the busy annual statement reporting period or the completion of a major technology installation. That perspective is rare these days, as resources have compressed.

Recognizing this trend, which was clear even before this most recent economic turndown, has been critically important for all IASA stakeholders. Without compromising our collegial and social culture, IASA has taken a business-like approach to quality- and value-driven, focused improvements to the IASA Annual Conference. Educational content upgrades, improved networking opportunities and high-value registration fee pricing have yielded continued strong attendance and record-setting, exhibiting and sponsorship support. So it's clear the result of our efforts has been a win-win for conference attendees and IASA alike.

We want each and every conference attendee to leverage everything IASA 2012 has to offer. Here are three simple reminders to help ensure you leaveSan Diegowith a solid ROI: