The second annual ORX Big 10 Summit literally turned the tables on typical exhibit hall interactions. During the reverse trade show format, more than 80 leaders from the nation's top-volume surgery centers and hospitals sat in booths while representatives from leading healthcare manufacturing came to them for a series of 5-minute one-to-one presentations.

"The rapid-fire format is awesome. It forces everyone to present key information right away," says Kenny Ellinger, RN, ADN, administrator of the Surgi-Center of Central Virginia in Fredericksburg.

Laura Gayton, RN, BSN, MHCA, CNO, says she's too busy to meet with vendor reps back at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. "Sitting here and meeting with reps for 5 minutes," she says, "I learned about products that are very useful."

Caroline Ivanovski-Hauser, CASC, appreciates the face-to-face meetings. "When I go to a conference and approach a booth, there's often a crowd and I can't get to a salesperson," says the administrator of the Bergen-Passaic Cataract Surgery and Laser Center in Fair Lawn, N.J. "Not here. I saw a couple things I'm really interested in."

The vendors loved the format, too. AIV's Jeff Taltavull says it was a well-organized event that "gave us an opportunity to hone our message with prospects we'd otherwise never be able to see in their facilities."

◙ EAT AND GREET Leaders from top-volume hospitals and surgery centers gathered for a welcome reception the night before the event.	◙ SALES TALK Susan Comp, RN, BSN, MHA, RNFA, CNOR, vice president of surgical services at Pinnacle Health Hospitals in Harrisburg, Pa., chats with Matthew Rotterman of Enthermics Medical Systems.

◙ FIVE SPOT Synergy Health's Rachel Pocock visits with Steven Wentworth, BSN, MBA, RN, CNOR, system director of surgical services at Saint Vincent's Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla.	◙ SHAKE ON IT Ellex's Marcus Allen and Dawn Dormitorio, RN, BS, from the DMG Surgical Center in Lombard, Ill.