First-Time Attendee Workshop & Regi-ception
I arrived early on Sunday, May 22 to allow myself time to settle in and prepare for the pre-conference activities in the afternoon and evening. Registration was very well organized and laid out to grab and go quickly and easily. The station was equipped with various ribbons for attendees to distinguish themselves, for example: “first-time attendee,” “presenter,” “APMP certification level.” Next, I attended the First Time Attendee Workshop, where I was pleasantly surprised to see so many other first-time attendees! The session was full of helpful information, along with being a fun and creative social event! Additionally, many regional APMP chapters were represented, including my own Carolina Chapter. It was wonderful to meet some of my local chapter members. I highly recommend to future first-time APMP BPC attendees to make time to attend this workshop. The next event I attended on Sunday was the Regi-ception held in the exhibition hall. I had to the opportunity to visit several vendor tables while meeting and socializing with other attendees.
Conference Kick-off
I arrived at the breakfast and Conference Kick-off & Opening Keynote, where speaker Dr. Jackie Freiberg gave an invigorating speech likening Proposal Managers to sherpa's coaching response teams to a successful submission. Then it was off to the main event! I was fortunate to be attending along with my colleagues, and we took the opportunity to plan before the conference and “divide and conquer” as much as we could during the conference. With more than 20 sessions per day (as many as six in the same time slot), deciding which sessions to attend can be challenging. The good thing is that there really is no wrong decision, and in any session you attend, you will leave with some valuable information. Additionally, there were several sessions covering similar topics, so if you miss one with a topic of interest, there is probably an opportunity to attend another. The lunch break provided a great opportunity to connect with people. I know that my colleagues and I met several folks and our dinner groups kept growing!
Conclusion
Overall, the APMP BPC was a well-attended and well-organized event! The event space was top-notch and included many conveniences for attendees. The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center was beautiful and it was easy to get around. My colleagues and I enjoyed the time we were able to spend at the end of each conference day along with our new acquaintances. During the conference, many (myself included) were using LinkedIn to post daily updates and photos and make connections #ProudtobeAPMP #BPCDallas2022. I look forward to attending future APMP BPCs!
