IRDC

There's a strange energy that settles over the office here the week before IRDC. There are all kinds of last-minute details to be ironed out, so we're buzzing around taking care of those, but there's also (at least for me) an eerie, electric calm. For the most part, it's out of our hands now. All the major pieces are in place, and now the thing just needs to happen.

I feel like I've got Red Bull flowing through my veins, even though I don't touch the stuff. I'm really excited to see everyone, all the familiar faces and the newbies as well, and eager to hear the presentations we've been planning and discussing for months. I love that first day on site, before all the attendees and speakers get there, watching the stage (thank you, Octanorm!) and signage go up and playing with all the props and materials ZenGenius brings for the Iron Merchant Challenge. I always feel really proud of the VMSD editors and ST Media staff, too, because we put a lot of work and heart into this every year, and the people behind the scenes are immensely talented.

So, if you like IRDC and enjoy this year's event, do me a favor and stop by the registration table and thank Kristy Lohre, our event manager, and Sandi Luppert, our marketing director, for the innumerable details they tend to all year long. You won't see them on stage or mingling much at the party (they both prefer to stay out of the spotlight), but they're indispensible to the process. 

See you all next week! Be sure to find me and say hello, and please, if you have any feedback on the event, good or bad, let me know. I'm already thinking about next year's IRDC in Toronto.

--Kristin