Category Archives: 2018 Conference

Incorporate the Magic of Disney into your next IT Project!

2018 Conference, Professional Development

Disney Resort at NightAs we head into our 2018 conference, which happens to be located at Walt Disney World, we reflect on the magical experience of Disney and how Disney takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary.

Chas Grundy recently posted an article on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/magic-work-5-lessons-from-our-trip-disney-world-chas-grundy/) that talks about how he and his family went above and beyond the norm to turn a family vacation into a magical Disney experience. It was more than just a vacation to Disney, he found or made magic in the entire experience, from pre-planning to post vacation. From that vacation, Chas turned each element into a lesson that we can learn and use in other parts of our lives, including work.

If you have a moment, read his post and see how we can turn the ordinary into extraordinary in small, simple ways.

If you don’t have a moment, at least read his final takeaway:

The Big Takeaway

A vacation, like a project, product, event, or any other work experience, can be both stressful and exciting. It carries promise and anticipation, challenges and frustrations, and opportunities for us to learn and grow. Long after the frustrations have faded and the promise has delivered (or not), we will carry the memories of how it made us feel. Our customers and users will carry those memories as well – but we are in the position to shape the experience for them. Take a lesson or two from Disney and Universal and make it a little bit magical.

Now, take a moment and think about how a trip to SIGUCCS at Disney can inspire and drive you to make magical changes and moments at your institution – registration opens soon!

~Lisa Brown

SIGUCCS 2018 Site Visit

2018 Conference

SIGUCCS 2018 Core CommitteeThe 2018 Committee has recently returned from visiting next year’s conference location in sunny Orlando, Florida, and we’re pleased to report that the Coronado Springs resort and conference center will be a perfect home for SIGUCCS 2018. The site includes abundant open space for both formal and informal networking, presentation rooms all in the same area, and a bright atmosphere both inside and outside – plus that gorgeous Florida weather!

The resort is located just a short bus or shuttle ride away from the multitude of Disney parks and attractions. This includes Disney Springs, which offers dining, entertainment and shopping all with no entry cost. If you’re lucky, you may even catch the nightly fireworks on your evening riding to dinner. Finally, you can use the Magical Express shuttle service to quickly and easily get between the airport and resort, all for no additional cost to you.

The conference committee is excited to begin planning activities for you to enjoy during the conference.  Start planning now and save the dates: October 7-10.

We’re also ready to start working with you to build an exciting and informative program.  Watch for our Call for Proposals – coming soon!

SIGUCCS 2018 Conference Committee Introductions – Melissa Bauer

2018 Conference, SIGUCCS People

This article is part of a series introducing the SIGUCS 2018 Conference Core Committee. Each Committee member submitted answers to questions created by the SIGUCCS Marketing Committee.

Melissa BauerHow many SIGUCCS conferences have you attended?
16

Which previous SIGUCCS conference was your favorite, and why?
It’s hard to pick just 1 favorite after attending 16 of them. Some conferences I loved because of the location (Monterey, Portland, Providence, San Diego) and some I loved because of the educational value of a particular conference (Orlando, St. Louis, Seattle). And some because of the time I was able to spend before and/or after the conference with close friends I’ve made at SIGUCCS (San Diego, St. Petersburg, Denver Seattle). Also, I was chair of the 2010 conference in Norfolk – it went well and was a lot of fun. If forced to choose just one, I would pick Providence…my first conference was so good that I kept coming back. And, I fell in love with the city of Providence…so much so that I encouraged my daughter to attend college there and because she now lives there, I get to spend a lot of time in the area.

How did you get involved as a volunteer in SIGUCCS?
I met Lynnell Lacy (retired, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) on the shuttle to the hotel in Providence and she encouraged me to get involved so that I would get more value out of the conference experience as well as the SIGUCCS orgaization.

What’s an accomplishment that you are especially proud of?
I was honored to be inducted into the SIGUCCS Hall of Fame at the 2017 conference.

You could always stop and talk to me about…
Memory-keeping: photography and scrapbooking

What do you do for fun?
See above 🙂 But, I also love to travel, read, spend time with friends and family.

SIGUCCS 2018 Orlando … who is your favorite Disney character??
Cinderella

SIGUCCS 2018 Conference Committee Introductions – Alexa Calvin

2018 Conference, SIGUCCS People

This article is part of a series introducing the SIGUCS 2018 Conference Core Committee. Each Committee member submitted answers to questions created by the SIGUCCS Marketing Committee.

Alexa CalvinHow many SIGUCCS conferences have you attended?
6

Which previous SIGUCCS conference was your favorite, and why?
Memphis will always be special as my first SIGUCCS, but I really enjoyed this year in Seattle. Wonderful people, good food, lots of great sessions, and a rousing three hour game of Trivial Pursuit!

How did you get involved as a volunteer in SIGUCCS?
I was “voluntold” that they needed someone to help orient the First Timer’s for a conference, and it was great. They haven’t been able to get rid of me since. Volunteering is such a great way to give back after all this conference has done for me.

What’s an accomplishment that you are especially proud of?
Getting my “The Insane” title in World of Warcraft? Seriously though, I’m really proud of how much I’m able to do as an “IT Department” of just one. Supporting three independent projects is a challenge but I love it!

You could always stop and talk to me about…
Pretty much anything! I love to learn, and have a ton of hobbies so feel free to educate me on what you like, or see if we have some overlap. I’m a huge nerd though, so geeky interests have a high percent chance of hitting the mark

What do you do for fun?
I’m all over the place, I have so many hobbies and no free time! Video games, build/water cool computers, wire things to other things, hang with my pets (dog and cats), table top gaming, D&D/Rolemaster style RPGs, ride my motorcycle, watch copious amounts of Netflix, it’s a long list.

SIGUCCS 2018 Orlando … who is your favorite Disney character??
That’s a really big question. Probably Belle, she loves to read and is sassy.

SIGUCCS 2018 Conference Committee Introductions – Julio Appling, Program Co-Chair

2018 Conference, SIGUCCS People

 This article is part of a series introducing the SIGUCS 2018 Conference Core Committee. Each Committee member submitted answers to questions created by the SIGUCCS Marketing Committee.

Julio ApplingHow many SIGUCCS conferences have you attended?
Four

Which previous SIGUCCS conference was your favorite, and why?
SIGUCCS 2012 in Memphis, which was my first. I went in hardly knowing anyone and came away from it feeling like I’d been part of it for years.

How did you get involved as a volunteer in SIGUCCS?
I was invited by my boss and grandboss, who have both been conference chairs. At this rate, I’m projecting I’ll be the 2021 SIGUCCS Conference Chair.

What’s an accomplishment that you are especially proud of?
I’m a huge advocate for the use of social media for career engagement, and I’ve spoken on the subject for college workshops, conferences, and at local high schools.

You could always stop and talk to me about…
The San Antonio Spurs #GoSpursGo

What do you do for fun?
I am an upright bassist. Performing music is my very-time-consuming-somewhat-lucrative hobby, and it’s where most of my non-work hours go. In the little time I have left, my wife and I can be seen at comic and anime conventions—in costume, of course.

SIGUCCS 2018 Orlando … who is your favorite Disney character??
Kronk – The Emperor’s New Groove

SIGUCCS 2018 Conference Committee Introductions – Miranda Carney-Morris

2018 Conference, SIGUCCS People

This article is part of a series introducing the SIGUCS 2018 Conference Core Committee. Each Committee member submitted answers to questions created by the SIGUCCS Marketing Committee.

Miranda Carney-MorrisHow many SIGUCCS conferences have you attended?
11

Which previous SIGUCCS conference was your favorite, and why?
It’s really hard to pick a favorite! St Louis in 2009 stands out as special as that was the first year I volunteered on the program committee. Not only was my stint as a track chair an incredible professional development opportunity, but celebrating the success of the technical program with authors and other committee members was very special and brought home how uniquely special SIGUCCS conferences are as a professional development experience!

How did you get involved as a volunteer in SIGUCCS?
I started out presenting and then volunteered as a session chair to connect with other program authors. I often rotate attending SIGUCCS with other colleagues and started to volunteer on the program committee as a reader and track chair as another way to stay connected!

What’s an accomplishment that you are especially proud of?
I’m proud of the work I’ve done to keep the Lewis & Clark Annual Faculty Technology Institute relevant and engaging for our faculty.

You could always stop and talk to me about…
Vegetable gardening, Yosemite National Park, and epic fantasy fiction.

What do you do for fun?
Gardening, hiking, cheer on the Portland Timbers and Thorns, gaming, reading

SIGUCCS 2018 Orlando … who is your favorite Disney character??
Tigger