MINNEAPOLIS – Once upon a time, the only way to make a presentation to a large audience of your peers was to target various industry conferences and hope your speaker was selected for the program. Today, Ellerbe Becket is upping the odds by using new technology to showcase its expertise.

In 2003, the firm’s health sciences designers began using a “webinar” format to share the latest healthcare facility information via the Internet. They dubbed it, HealthCare Connections. Mike Hnastchenko, the firm’s director of technology, says it’s a great way to help clients better understand changes in the industry. “It also allows us to get in front of new clients, ” he said.

It’s FREE, and all you need is a link to the web and a phone (look for instructions at the end of this release). WebEx Communications Inc. hosts the monthly HealthCare Connections seminars. Ellerbe Becket is preparing for its seventh seminar, which to date have averaged about 20 participants each.

Topics have ranged from trends in patient room and emergency room design to innovative building delivery methods. This month the firm will host an event entitled, “To Russia With Love! ” Ellerbe Becket Senior Medical Equipment Planner Don Woodhall will compare and contrast Russian medical technology with current U.S. trends on May 18 at 11:30 a.m. CST.

The firm’s sports practice has gotten into the act this spring with a series of free web events of its own, Machine for WINNING. A June 1presentation on financing collegiate sports facilities is titled, “Donors Are Your Best Friends. ” It’s a joint presentation by Ellerbe Becket and Conventions, Sports & Leisure International.

“The feedback has been good,” said John Rode, vice president of business development at Ellerbe Becket. “We schedule the presentations at midday so people can participate from their desks over lunch. ”

And for those who miss the live presentations, Ellerbe Becket has contracted with Brainshark Inc. to record and post the presentations for on-demand viewing. “Once you are connected to the link, you can view the PowerPoint presentation one slide at a time on your own time, ” said Rode. The audio is broadcast through the user’s computer.

An added feature of the Brainshark technology is that viewers can type in questions using a Q & A tab. The questions are automatically emailed to Rode’s attention.

Ellerbe Becket CEO Rick Lincicome said the seminar series is part of the firm’s new “[SUCCESS] without limits” vision. “We don’t hide our knowledge, ” he said. “We celebrate it in hopes of continually improving the way buildings are designed and delivered. ”

To participate in the May 18 web-based event Healthcare Connections OR the June 1 Machine for WINNING event:

1. Go to the web link at https://ellerbebecket.webex.com
2. Select the date by clicking on the calendar icon
3. Provide registration information for the event

An innovator since its founding in 1909, Ellerbe Becket is a leader in architecture, engineering and the construction industry with office locations worldwide.

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Contact: news@ellerbebecket.com