Inside Supply Management Magazine

#ISM2017: Bitter-tweet Ending

May 24, 2017

As the ISM2017 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, wrapped up with a half-day of activity on Wednesday, some hearts and minds likely were already at one of Walt Disney World's theme parks. (Some attendees heeded Institute for Supply Management®'s recommendation and added a family vacation to their Conference experience.)

However, bodies were still on-site, and participants showed a desire to finish strong. Using the #ISM2017 hashtag, presenters, exhibitors and attendees shared thoughts from the Conference’s last sessions and said farewell until next year. ISM2018 is in Nashville, Tennessee, so we anticipate no shortage of cowboy hats appearing in tweeted Conference photos from the country music capital of the world.

On Wednesday, ISM2017 attendees shared impressions from that morning's sessions, as well as those from Monday and Tuesday.

If Twitter activity is of any indication, the keynote speakers —General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) on Monday, and David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, on Tuesday — were well received. Appreciation was still being expressed as the Conference came to a close.

Some savored quality time spent with procurement colleagues and friends.

Among the good-byes and thank yous:

Finally, ISM offered its farewell (and provided reading material on the way out).

As the supply management profession prepared to depart Orlando, this seemed to be a most appropriate final thought:

“Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.” — Walt Disney.