Ellen Michaels Presents, Inc.

Lights Out -- Unexpectedly!

Lights Out The stage was set, the rehearsals complete, and 650 conference delegates were waiting in the foyer for the ballroom doors to open. Then, darkness.

Remember when San Francisco's lights went out last year for seven hours, virtually halting all business in the City by the Bay? The folks at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, Ellen Michaels Presents and 3Com Corporation certainly do. It nearly spelt the end of months of planning for a customized video and laser show to kick off a three-day conference for 3Com's Networks3 customers.

But just one hour after the power went off, plunging the city into darkness, EMP staff, using cell phones to contact Bay area vendors, found and installed a portable power generator. Partnering with the Westin, the EMP staff was able to rewire six breakout rooms and tap into the generator, and the conference went on.

Fortunately, the Westin's kitchens are powered by gas stoves and ovens, so 3Com's customers enjoyed their Chinese buffet luncheon.

"The Ellen Michaels Presents staff teamed up with 3Com executives to adjust the agenda, and thanks to careful planning and back up systems, no data were lost, no presentations were damaged, and no 3Com customers left disappointed."