It is only a couple of weeks away!  It really snuck up on us for sure.  This is definitely going to be a week to remember.  This year we decided to set up a booth for Brainstorming, so we look forward to chatting with a whole bunch of great multifamily folks who are interested in education.  Come and see us at B-26.  The focus on this post is the overall apartment education we will all receive by attending both conferences.

It will be hard to list all the wonderful seminars that are up and coming, but I am going to highlight a few since they impacted me at the last Optimization Summits and Brainstorming, and their impact did not end there!  They are people who I have continued to collaborate with and will be at the conference this next month.   There are also some first timers that I plan on attending since the topics look very interesting and from their history it appears likely that they practice what they preach so that gives those two thumbs up for me.  So here we go!

Brainstorming

Geno Church from Brains on Fire is the keynote speaker on Wednesday.  I have not been able to get out of my head this phenomenal expression: “People are the killer app”.  He discussed that in depth earlier this year and I look forward to hearing it again at Brainstorming.  Brains on Fire recently came out with a book which I look forward to purchasing for myself soon.

Duncan Alney with Firebelly Marketing will be speaking on crisis communication which I have always found to be an interesting topic.  It takes very little for an onsite or corporate incident to spread like wildfire.  Duncan impressed me earlier this year with his thoughtful approach to making sure we as people and our companies are involved in the conversation and topics that are residents and customers are talking about.

Patty Morgan-Seager and Steve Matre will be chatting about time management.  This is an ongoing problem on all levels for all of us workaholics.  Patty and Steve always make me smile so I know that this seminar will do the same.

Kim Cory and Dan Oltersdorf will be speaking on student housing.  They both have proven themselves to be true veterans and pioneers of the student housing market.  Whenever I speak to them about their communities and ideas they have used and implemented, it completely blows my mind.  They made a cool Facebook page called “House Rules” which is dedicated to student housing topics.  This dynamic duo I know will bring some great info to the table.

Jay Ehret will speak about building an awesome brand by design.  Hearing Jay earlier this year, having numerous conversations with him since and hearing from multifamily professionals who have enlisted his services, it is quite apparent to me that he practices what he preaches and that it is effective.  Make sure you pencil this session in, if your brand identity is a topic for your company.

Those are just a smidge of topics that will be presented at Brainstorming.  I have the privilege of being on the idea panel on Friday with a bunch of very cool multifamily folks.  Coming up with those ideas was no easy task, so it will be interesting to see what a bunch of nerds in one room will have put together. Make sure you take the time to plan ahead for what you really need for education and don’t miss out on anything.

Optimization Summits

Brian Solis in many ways has been the pioneer for social media.  He will be speaking about the conversation prism which is one of my favorite visuals and topics.  Beyond the technical aspects of social media, there is much more to consider in social media which is why I look forward to attending his session.

Mack Collier’s session last time had standing room only and I know for sure that will take place again.  His concept of thinking like a rock star allows those brain juices to flow strong.  Since that session I have personally watched Mack engage his audience via his blog, twitter chat and regular online conversations.  What he teaches works! I hope there is a seat available for me.

Chris Penn from Blue Sky Factory will provide data about email marketing that just cannot be ignored.  If you are interested in saving money and delivering campaigns that have a broader and more effective reach, then this is the seminar to be at.

Mike Whaling had in some in depth Facebook sessions earlier this year and they have been brought back for very good reason.  Every single person I spoke to about his sessions could only express how impressed they were with the education.  This session once again I am sure will be all about “doing”.

Lauren Fernandez from Radian6 will be speaking about using social media too bridge the generational gap.  I do not know Lauren real well except for a few tweets here and there, but the subject is intriguing to me so I look forward to the education.

So that is a basic list for me to help with my overall educational objectives.  I could go on and on about the educational sessions that Tami Siewruk and her team have put together.  The point is you just need to be there! Check out Tami’s Brainstorming and Optimization Summits sites and make your educational decisions ahead of time.  Planning is important.  If you have any sessions that you plan on attending please mention them below in the comments section and tell me why.  I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Written by Jonathan Saar

For a quick throw back to earlier this year, check out our Why You Need To Be at Optimization Summits Video below.

Good day folks.  This is my first attempt at a video blog but I think it went well.  Optimization Summits taught me that sometimes you just need to make the jump and see what happens.  You will never learn anything without trying.  There are some great posts out there recapping highlights from the conference.  I am sure I missed some so please feel free to post any additional links in the comments section below.

Some Optimization Summits recap blogs

Mack Collier’s Blog

Geno Church with Brains on Fire

Ryan VanDenabeele from PCMG

Brett Duncan with Marketing in Progress

Christopher S. Penn Awaken Your Superhero

Jay Ehret with The Marketing Spot

Duncan Alney with Firebelly Marketing

My take on the whole conference is very personal as you will see in my video below.  This conference was completely about doing.  Make sure you plan for September when Optimization Summits will take place again.  I look forward to your comments on my video today.  Thanks for tuning in.

March 23^rd and 24^th in Dallas Texas, Tami Siewruk will be hosting an event like none other.  The workshops that will take place will cover every social media topic you can imagine.  After reading through the profiles and topics that will be covered, to me this event will be the A-Z’s and 123’s of best practices with the new and growing tools and methods of reaching our communities within the multifamily industry.

If you have not yet scrolled through the list of workshop leaders that will be attending, you can check them out here.  Make sure you come back though.  After attending seminars regarding social media, did you ever say to yourself, “Ok.. Now what?”  If you are attending this event you will be given hands on training on the subjects you want the most assistance on.  If you have not registered yet for this event go ahead and click here.  This is your opportunity to empower yourself and your team to take 2010 by storm and stop wondering about how to use social media, but to start doing!

There is also an opportunity to win a free trip!  This conference is having a contest called, “Be the Face of Optimization”.  Now, how fun is that!  The deadline is March 1^st, so get your creative juices flowing!

A special thanks to Tami and to her team who have worked very hard to coordinate and bring in some of the industry’s best.  The education and training is something the multifamily industry will not want to miss.  So what you gonna do?  Go to the Optimization Summits.. It’s easy!!!

The Training Factor put together its own contest promo video.  Special thanks to Mechelle Flowers the owner of The Training Factor for authorizing this project and special thanks to Brian and Emily Fieg, two of our in house production team, who took a concept and a vision and brought it to life!

Written by Jonathan Saar

Image credit to Optimization Summits Fan Page