Making the Most of an ‘Endless Sea of Opportunities’ at DEAM19

by | Apr 30, 2019 | Networking and Education

DirectEmployers 2019 Annual Meeting & Conference (DEAM19) is just two weeks away and we are all but packing our bags to head to the beautiful beaches of Naples, Florida! With 18+ hours of learning, 14+ hours of networking, four amazing keynotes, and one great social event, we are so excited to share what we have in store! We know there’s a lot to take in, and to avoid becoming overwhelmed, we’ve put together a “cheat sheet” to help you make the most of your experience at our conference. Let’s dive in!

 

Get the App

First and foremost, be sure to download the DEAM19 app! We have a limited number of printed agendas, available only upon special request, so be sure to have the app downloaded on your phone to create a profile, view the registrant directory and send messages to fellow attendees, choose the sessions you would like to attend, provide session feedback, and get alerts and updates throughout the conference. Consider it your lifeline to all things DEAM19!

 

Sign Up for a Product Voice Session

We firmly believe the best products are those built with input and guidance from the individuals who use them each day. With that said, we invite our Members to schedule a meeting with representatives from our Product Development team. By signing up for this product voice session, your team will have the opportunity to share your collective experience using DirectEmployers tools and provide us with feedback on what works great, what needs improvement, and what additional features and functionality you’d like to see in the future. If you’re interested in taking part in one of these sessions, sign up today or reach out to your Membership representative to learn more.

 

Join Us for a Beach Party

After a long day of learning on Wednesday, May 15, we’ll leave the conference space and head out to the beach for an evening of food and fun! Decked in our best and brightest (tropical) attire, we’ll kick off the conference with a beach party that would make Jimmy Buffett proud! Join us for cheeseburgers in Florida, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes, cornhole and a DJ to play your favorite hits throughout the night.

Then comes the after party! Join us for more fun in support of our newest philanthropic venture, DE Serves. Enjoy mingling with fellow conference attendees, dancing, a variety of exciting pay-to-play activities, and even a silent auction that all support a good cause. Check your conference schedule for full details on these events!

 

Get Your Questions Answered

You know them from the OFCCP Week in Review (WIR) and now you will have the opportunity to have your questions answered directly by some of our OFCCP compliance experts, Candee Chambers and John C. Fox! Please click here to provide any compliance-related questions you would like to potentially have answered during their open Q&A session no later than Friday, May 3.

 

Power Up – AKA: Caffeinate

Late nights exploring Naples, early mornings, and long days attending sessions require coffee, and lots of it! Back by popular demand, we will once again have an espresso bar on site to make complimentary drinks for you to enjoy throughout the conference. This year’s espresso bar is kindly brought to you by conference underwriter, Joveo, so be sure to stop by their pedestal in the Demo Hall and thank them for keeping you alert. Now, speaking of the Demo Hall…

 

Explore Tech to Make Your Job Easier

Without our amazing underwriters, our conference wouldn’t be possible. With that said, they are there to help you discover tools and resources that can simplify your job. Each of our underwriters will have a pedestal in the Demo Hall where you can chat with them about what they have to offer. They also will be passing out Swag Bucks, which we’ll talk about next!

 

Earn Swag

Our Swag Store is back! Complete simple tasks to earn ‘swag bucks’ that can then be spent on conference-exclusive DirectEmployers items. We’re not talking about boring stress balls and pens. We’re talking about custom t-shirts, stainless steel water bottles, handheld fans (hello, Florida heat), and more fun items. Full details on how to earn swag bucks will be available at the conference, so keep an eye out!

 

Up Your Outreach Game

Aside from networking with fellow industry peers, we’re giving you multiple opportunities to connect with some of our diversity partners for your OFCCP compliance outreach AND recruitment efforts! Each of our partners that are in attendance will have a designated table during lunch on Thursday, May 16 where you can chat with them while you eat. Participating partners include Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN), C5 Consulting LLC, Maher & Maher, Cornell University, National Organization on Disability (NOD), Colorado Department of Labor, Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT), National Federation of the Blind, Wounded Warrior Project, and Corporate America Supports You (CASY). Be sure to bring plenty of business cards to share with partners and peers! And Members–be sure to record the details of your conversations in PRM!

 

Be Social

Stay up to date with the latest DEAM19 news, before and during the conference, by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. As always, we encourage you to join the conversation on social with the official hashtag #DEAM19. To stay further connected, you can also opt in to receive text updates on your phone! Text DEAM19 to 55678 to sign up for text alerts! (Standard text messaging fees apply)

Free coffee, free swag, and a beach party…who else is excited?? If you still haven’t registered to join us, it’s not too late! Register today, download the app, and start planning your conference schedule. As always, feel free to send any questions you may have to DEAM@DirectEmployers.org. We look forward to seeing you in Naples!

Kacie Koons
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