To my new friends attending the ACCED-I Annual Conference for the first time…
Wondering what to expect at your first ACCED-I Annual Conference? Well, everyone’s experience is unique, but this fact seems to always hold true:
You will meet great people, with a true understanding of what you do at work.
My first ACCED-I experience in Atlanta (2001) was unique in that I was one of three first time attendees from my university. Our poor boss had his entire office turn over the prior year, we each had less than 6 months on the job (and in the industry), and our first busy summer conference season was almost upon us.
What sticks with me most about the conference was how welcoming the people were. I remember being introduced to people who seemed to be highly regarded by my boss, yet they were totally willing to invest themselves and their time in this “new guy”.
While the networking opportunity was one of my favorite things about the conference, I also was impressed with the sessions and the amount of information I received. I was so inspired after my first annual conference that I submitted a proposal to present at the 2002 Conference in Milwaukee!
After 13 years, I still feel like attending this conference makes me better at my job. Not only do I return to the office with new ideas to implement, but I come back re-energized and re-focused.
I still think about the relationships that started over the course of those first few days of “real” ACCED-I membership. I hope that each of you will look back on your first ACCED-I Annual Conference and feel the same way.This association is very important to me. I’m grateful for the opportunities it has given me, and the friends I have made along the way.
Wondering what to expect at your first ACCED-I Annual Conference? Well, everyone’s experience is unique, but this fact seems to always hold true:
You will meet great people, with a true understanding of what you do at work.
My first ACCED-I experience in Atlanta (2001) was unique in that I was one of three first time attendees from my university. Our poor boss had his entire office turn over the prior year, we each had less than 6 months on the job (and in the industry), and our first busy summer conference season was almost upon us.
What sticks with me most about the conference was how welcoming the people were. I remember being introduced to people who seemed to be highly regarded by my boss, yet they were totally willing to invest themselves and their time in this “new guy”.
While the networking opportunity was one of my favorite things about the conference, I also was impressed with the sessions and the amount of information I received. I was so inspired after my first annual conference that I submitted a proposal to present at the 2002 Conference in Milwaukee!
After 13 years, I still feel like attending this conference makes me better at my job. Not only do I return to the office with new ideas to implement, but I come back re-energized and re-focused.
I still think about the relationships that started over the course of those first few days of “real” ACCED-I membership. I hope that each of you will look back on your first ACCED-I Annual Conference and feel the same way.This association is very important to me. I’m grateful for the opportunities it has given me, and the friends I have made along the way.
Walton K. Martin, CCEP
Director of Conference Services & University Scheduling
Office of Conference & Event Services | Rowan University
