American Creativity Association
2007 International Conference

Conference Presentations and Presenters
2007 ACA International Conference
March 21 - 23, 2007 with pre-Conference Institutes - March 20, 2007
in Austin, Texas

Xtreme Thinking

Rolf Smith
Thinking Guide
The Virtual Thinking Expedition Company (vTx)
907 Alamo Road
Alamo Springs
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
 (830) 992-2153
basecamp@thinking-expedition.com
www.thinking-expedition.com

Colonel Rolf Smith (U.S. Air Force, retired) is managing director of The Virtual Thinking Expedition Company (Texas), a process consulting group, and the School for Innovators where he teaches innovation skills that transmogrify everyday heroes into change agents. He spent 24 controversial and innovative years on active duty with the U.S. military and NATO, and in 1986 created the first military Office of Innovation and a worldwide network of Innovation Centers. Rolf retired from active duty in 1987. Since then, his focus has been on helping organizations think creatively and differently. He worked with Exxon Marketing's Innovations Group as a contract executive for four years, and in 1988 founded The School for Innovators to kick-start Exxon's Continuous Improvement & Innovation initiative.

His passion lies in organizing and leading Thinking Expeditions into the unknown to explore uncharted areas and discover unusual opportunities. Since 1994, his Expeditions have brought back ideas, changes and innovations which have contributed to more than $1 Billion in bottom line business results in chunks ranging from $2.5 Million to $305 Million. He has also led a number of Thinking Expeditions for the Navy, Army and Air Force, and both Procter & Gamble and General Mills have sent five different teams each off on a variety of Thinking Expeditions with Rolf. He recently led the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on a 5-stage Thinking Expedition exploring and defining an Enterprise Information Technology Architecture - one of the largest in the Federal government.

He is the author of The 7 Levels of Change (2nd Edition 2002), a fieldguide for thinking differently for different results.

Xtreme Thinking

eXtreme is an all-volunteer eXtra program offered to individuals who want all they can get out of a conference.  It is only for those who are seekingways to think diffferent and personally maximize and document their learning experiences in order to return with practical and useful results. 

WARNING:  eXtreme is not for everyone!

eXtreme runs before breakfast and kick-starts eXtremists into thinking diffferent at the start of their day. It is based on tools, techniques and processes taught in the School for Innovators and that are used on operational Thinking Expeditions.  Join fellow eXtremists who want to push the envelope with insights and mindshifts that set the standard for “High Insight Learning.” 

Clip into the eXtreme sessions and discover ways to: