Posted on Thu, Apr 30, 2009 @ 10:12 AM
PowWOW 2009 Re-cap!
So another PowWow is in the books...our 5th one!
Thank you for being there, and if you could not make it, here is a short video clip!
If you want more, here are some great pictures:
View Pictures! (also availble from Support Center)
Key Highlights!
- 2 keynote addresses by guest speakers from Nice Enterprises
- 15 Best practices presentations by customers
- 12 Presentations by Passageways Staff
- Over $11,000 donated to charities by Passageways family
- First batch of 35 Passageways certificated awarded
- Highly Successful Inaugral "How-To" Lounge
- 2 stand up comedians putting together 2 hours of laughs
- 2 hours of rock band and other video games
Congratulations to all the Annual Best Practices award winners!
All presentations are already available to customers from our Support Center (under Learning Center, click on PowWow 2009 logo)
Comments from Attendees!
I wanted to send a follow-up today to let you know once more how very impressed I was with PowWow 2009 and the Passageways team. The conference was filled with interesting material and FUN, which I think is important for a conference that has potential to be filled with a lot of technical content. (not that I was "personally" bothered by that). The development track was very good, and I was impressed with Steven and the certification course. The accommodations were absolutely awesome! I think you ought to look at the Embassy Suites every year for this venue.
In short, I really didn't see anything at the Conference I would have recommended be changed -- except maybe more people show up at the hospitality suite! :) But I made some great new contacts; I also thought making all (or most all) of the staff available at this year's gig TOTALLY rocked! Overall, a wonderful experience and I look forward to coming next year and every year thereafter. Congratulations to you and Passageways for a superb time. Thank you for being the great company you are. It was a pleasure and privilege to meet each and every one of you in person.
Jon Guenther (Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union)
I attended my first PowWow and this is what I liked best.
Accommodations - They couldn't have picked a better place, the suites, the food and the service A+++
The Passageways Team - the friendliest, smartest, enthusiastic group I've ever met.
The Conference - Best Practices was really good, seeing the pride in what they had accomplished and the creative talents was inspiring...(I loved Ken's presentation the most - LOVE HIM!)
The session led by Nathan & Anna was the coolest...their opening request that everyone open up and communicate their thoughts and ideas really engaged everyone and it felt more collaborative.
The How To Lounge - Thank you!!!!!!! Loved It
Stephanie & Steven provided us with some real meat and potatoes to take back to the office.
And the best part of PowWow.....MEETING DAVE SHOCKEY IN PERSON!!!!!!
Bridget D'Arcy Mahrle (Telcom Credit Union)
Ditto on the above, but sadly, I did not meet Dave Shockey. However, I did meet Gail a couple times. I absolutely think the best parts for me were the demos during two of the afternoon sessions. The Board Portal and the session on Communication - great! All of it.
I liked all of it. I am so glad I was able to attend. Next year will be even better because I will actually know people who connect online through the year.
Jane Anderson (CU*Answers)
As always a lot of good ideas to bring back with me, now to find the time to work on this and get us ready for P4. All at Passageways did a great job on the conference.
Mary Slonecker (IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union)
Now for some Wow moments from our Team:
Chuck Sigo - I'd have to say my moment was sitting in on Chris' session on UI design. It was like I was hit by a wave of inspiration and had to write down all of the ideas before they were swept away. I think Chris has a strange superpower to radiate inspiration for geeks.
Dave Shockey - My Favorite PowWOW memory was getting to spend time with the amazing customers I worked with throughout the year, and finally meeting them all face to face!
Anna Happ - the video of the PowWow on Wednesday is the "WOW" for me. The entertainment evening was truly memorable.
Andy Mills - I guess it would be all of the customer interaction in the lounge. IE...talking about new products/projects, demoing products, getting to know our customers on a personal level.
Bill Connors - my WOW was the unsolicited feedback I received from our customers and prospects about our great staff and the "over the top" service they provide and the quality and scope of our products.
Paroon Chadha - Chris's session on Play doh, and the need to do more of play doh stuff while we work and the contributions we made to charities
Sarah Moss - Seeing the customers interact with one another, share ideas and feedback, and learn from one another was definitely encouraging and enlightening. I continue to be "wowed" by the level of enthusiasm that our customers have about our products.
Nathan Deno - Hospitality suite with customers was great. We all had a good time telling jokes and stories. It was really low-key we just had a few drinks and maybe a couple of horrible mixed shots (by me)..... Shane, Steven, and I were there along with Mylinda from Fort Sill, Julie H from City National, Michael Douglass from Northrop Grumman, and Chris from Christian Community.
Cheers to everyone to made it so memorable!