Dear LISA Members and Industry Professionals,

Electronic distribution enables more LISA members to obtain the Newsletter while increasing our industry-wide readership. Ultimately, this means that the Newsletter will improve as an industry resource and can also advertise LISA’s Industry Marketing programs in 1999 and beyond. Please take time to review Alison Rowles’ article on “Marketing the Localization Industry” in this issue. She underscores our strategic direction and suggests how members can be actively involved.

The LISA Forums have grown to encompass more topics and an expanded format. In fact, we have begun to use the word “conference” to describe these umbrellas for skills workshops, public relations, executive round tables, Press functions and social events, in addition to the traditional two-day forums and discussion sessions.

Two years ago LISA ran its first pre-forum workshop in Mainz, Germany. This month, at the Boston conference, we are offering three very focused skills workshops implemented by some of the leading experts in their field. This is part of LISA’s mandate to educate companies, professionals, clients and service partners on the fast-changing technical and business requirements of this industry.

To increase international representation, LISA has moved beyond software localization. For some years, forums have had a geographical and topic focus pertinent to the changes taking place. In May, we will be in China, noting at first-hand the progress since the 1997 Beijing forum. In Budapest, at the end of this year, we shall see what’s changed since our first Central European forum almost three years ago in Prague.

This year’s Annual LISA Conference and General Assembly meeting in Monterey, September 20-23, moves beyond software localization by focusing on the strategic importance of Integrating Globalization Across the Enterprise. It will host media events, executive round tables, workshops and networking sessions aimed at reaching a wider range of individuals responsible for localization related activities within their organizations. Please let me know if you have recommendations for the program.

I would like to end by thanking respondents to LISA’s 1998 Annual Survey, which expanded on some of the questions previously asked and increased distribution well beyond membership. The 112 responses we received provide you with a more cohesive picture of the industry’s growth, development and business trends. The final report will be available from the Web site starting February 24th.

Looking forward to more continued growth in every aspect of our industry, I remain

Yours truly,

Mike Anobile
LISA Managing Director