Tips for Attending NACE Experience 2024
NACE Experience 2024 is quickly approaching (T-minus three days!), and it’s officially time to get your game plan ready before you jet off to Denver. Whether this is your tenth year of Experience or your first, it’s essential that you go prepared to maximize your investment.
Pack + prep accordingly
First things first: pull out your suitcases and check the weather. Regardless of the conference, there’s typically a lot of walking involved between the conference itself and the additional events. Make sure you pack comfy shoes, plenty of chargers, and various outfit options. Have fun with the evening event themes (more on that later!), and just know that your business casual clothes might not fit the bill for everything.
It’s amazing that Denver is hosting us, but if you’re a stranger to the mountains, just be aware that those used to sea level might be prone to altitude sickness. Set yourself up for success with lots of water bottles and snacks, and keep the drinking and heavy exercise to a minimum until you adjust.
Craft your networking strategy
The secret to networking at NACE Experience is three-fold: connect with those you want to see beforehand to make plans on-site, stay flexible, and attend the events! If you’re serving on the Board, consider finding your counterparts from other chapters; this is a unique opportunity to enjoy some face time with those who know exactly what it’s like to do what you do.
Of course, don’t forget to register for this year’s NACE Foundation event, “Blackout and Bright Lights.” It will take place at the Four Mile Historic Park, where attendees can tour the Bright Lights Art Exhibit. The theme is black attire and bright-light tennis shoes, so dress accordingly (here’s some inspiration)!
Take advantage of education to the fullest extent
I highly recommend peeking at the education sessions this week to map out your time on the conference floor. NACE does a great job of including information about the topics and the speakers; don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone!
Bear in mind that the conference offers a total of (11) educational contact hours for CPCE and CMP certifications. CPCE (Certified Professional in Catering and Events) can give you a competitive edge as an event pro, and continued education can lend to more industry connections and better opportunities.
And if you find yourself free on Tuesday, July 23, between 10:45 am-11:45 am, I hope to see you at my talk, Trend-Setting with Lighting & Decor: Creating the Offerings that Clients Want.
Make time for follow-up
Don’t let your networking go to waste once you get home. Any connections you’ve made in Colorado should include follow-up, which can be as easy as a quick email to touch base. The same can be said for any educational content you’ve learned; make sure to introduce new ideas to your team and see what can be added to your existing workflow.
Your ROI from NACE Experience completely depends on you. The networking opportunities are amazing, but make sure that the time and money you’re setting aside for your trip are well well-spent.
Can’t wait to see you all in Denver!
