This year 40% of the IT Nation attendees were there for the first time, making this event bigger and better than ever! If you were unable to attend, you missed an amazing conference, but thankfully it all happens again in 2012: November 8th, 9th, and 10th. As a newer member of the ConnectWise team, I was also an IT Nation Newbie, so for any of you who have not attended yet, here are my three biggest surprises at IT Nation:
The Sheer Size of the Event
I was immediately amazed as I walked into the Floridian Ballroom for Thursday morning’s Keynote! The room was enormous, the backdrop was certainly attention grabbing, and almost every single chair was filled. I knew there was going to be about 1,600 people in attendance, but seeing everyone in the same room was so exciting. It wasn’t just the keynote – the schedule itself was big. There were so many sessions, guest speakers and hands-on labs it was impossible to see and experience it all. If next year is your first year, as soon as the schedule is live on the IT Nation website, start planning, because you’ll want to do it all!
How Much I Learned
My job at this year’s IT Nation was to be a breakout room monitor. Thursday and Friday from 1pm - 6pm I was stationed in one room for all the sessions. At first I thought it would be a little much sitting through back to back breakouts, but I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed them. Each speaker did an excellent job presenting important material, engaging the partners and doing plenty of Q&A . It was great chance for me to learn more about your business practices, as well as a few things I didn’t yet know about ConnectWise. If next year is your first year, I know it may be tempting to go relax by the pool, but be sure to fill your day with breakout sessions.
The Impact of Meeting You
I’m sure you’ve heard about the parties and the late nights, but what I enjoyed the most was getting to meet all of you. During lunch breaks and between sessions I got to spend time talking to you about your businesses, how you use ConnectWise and what you thought about the conference. It was great to spend time talking face to face, instead of over the phone during a support call. I asked a few partners what they liked most about IT Nation, and they all said “it’s connecting with so many new people in the industry.”
In short, if you haven’t made it to IT Nation yet, make next year your first year. I guarantee you’ll be amazed, be more educated and come away with strong business connections and a clear direction for the future of your business. I look forward to continuing to connect with you in the year ahead and if you were in Orlando, don’t forget to take the IT Nation 2011 Feedback Survey, which was sent to all partner attendees yesterday (November 17). There’s even a drawing for those who complete the survey by November 29th!
