The ICC Website is changing. As this transition is made, our new format can be found at www.pesicc.org/ICCWP. Please send any comments or questions to mvh@voncorp.com.
FAQ #1 - Can our company give a presentation in which we
describe equipment and/or procedures that our company has developed in order to
show what our engineering group can do or has done?
Answer
- This sounds like an advertisement for a company and its capabilities,
particularly when one says “what our engineering group can do.” Therefore, it
would be inappropriate. If the presenter wants to provide a technical
presentation that describes the processes that have been developed, how the
processes work, the advantages and disadvantages of the process, and the results
from using the process (no trade names, no comparison to competitor’s products
or processes), that might be acceptable. This must be strictly engineering, and
not a sales pitch.
FAQ #2 - Can our company give a presentation on a new
product we’ve developed?
Answer - ICC frequently
lets vendors show new products, as long as the vendor describes its function and
benefits without comparing it to competitor’s products by name. New technology
is something we want to pass along to our membership as “state of the art”
information. But it must be done from an “engineering” perspective rather than
a “sales” perspective. In this case, the presenter describes the function of
the product and how it could be used in a utility situation without saying that
the product was available through his company and without mentioning trade
names. This must be strictly engineering, and not a sales pitch.
To expand,
it’s okay that Company X says they have a new product, but it’s only okay to
mention “Company X” on the first or second slide and that’s it.
It’s okay
that Company X shows the test results behind the new product, and even compares
their product X to products A, B, and C, so long as they use those identifiers:
X, A, B, and C. It’s not okay for Company X to refer to the trademarked item’s
actual name anywhere in the presentation (e.g., “SuperDuper© Insulation”). And
it’s definitely not okay to reveal the brand names of products A, B, and C. In
this example, it is only okay to say “the new insulation, herein identified as
‘X’”.
FAQ #3 - When do presentations for ICC need to be
submitted?
Answer - Anyone interested in making a
presentation at ICC should write a brief abstract and submit it to the
Subcommittee, Working Group (WG), or Discussion Group (DG) Chair for
consideration at least 6 weeks prior to the meeting. If you are unsure which
Chair to submit the abstract to, then submit the abstract to the ICC Chair for
proper dissemination. If the Subcommittee, WG, or DG Chair approves the
abstract, an advance copy of the presentation needs to be submitted to the Chair
at least 4 weeks prior to the meeting in order to leave time for a review cycle.
In general, if the topic is considered acceptable, presentations are accepted on
a first-come, first-served basis. So the sooner an abstract and presentation
are submitted, the better.
FAQ #4 - Is it okay to have logos from Standards
Organizations or any other firm in my presentation?
Answer
- No. Any company name is only permitted on the first slide, or the second
slide if it has the team listed. This even holds true for not-for-profit firms
and universities, for example.
Guidelines for Presentation Material Published in PES – ICC Minutes
The linked quiz/presentation was given at the Fall 2010 Meeting, to help make these points, especially those on commercialism, more clear as they relate to preparing presentations. Everyone, presenters especially, are encouraged to review this presentation.
Additional Guidance on Commercialism
Return to the ICC Publications page
