Record Attendance, Thought-leadership Discussion, Hands-on Labs, Karaoke, & Ghost Hunting
Can you believe that EV Connect 2016 has officially wrapped? It’s bittersweet that an event the EV team spent months preparing for has successfully concluded and now our attendee customers are relaying back positive feedback on all aspects of the event. This year’s EV Connect included three days packed with sessions, networking, good food, and fun in this fabulous city of N’awlinz. We were especially excited this year to increase our attendees by double. Read more about EV Connect 16 in our press release: EasyVista’s EV Connect Conference Doubles in Attendance as ITSM 2.0 and Enterprise Mobility Trends Gain Momentum.
In case you missed EV Connect or just want to relive our good times in New Orleans, check out the following countdown of our top 10 highlights from the show.
10. The Food
As the home of gumbo, po-boys, bananas foster, and more, NOLA knows good food! Not only were the meals at the conference delicious, but attendees were treated to some of the best local cuisine in town at the dine-around dinners.
9. Partner showcase
Big thanks to all our valued partners, Flycast Partners, Navvia, FMX Solutions, Synergy ITSM, Scalable Software, and VerisVisalign, who sponsored the show! The partner showcase was located within the main ballroom and ran during break times, giving attendees ample opportunity to ask questions and network with the best in the biz.
8. Real-world presentations
Many thanks also go out to The Martin Agency, Freeman, and Creighton University who presented their ITSM success stories to a captivated audience. Additionally, our partner Scalable shared a demo of service dependency mapping.
7. Hands-on Technical Labs
The fully booked training sessions were specifically designed to help customers get the most out of their EV investments, covering the topics of “Upping your Service Management Game” and “Creating the Purpose-built Workspace.”
6. Networking – 2x the People!
A big draw for EV Connect attendees was the opportunity to share ideas and discuss service management challenges with other customers and partners and EV execs from around the world. With double the number of attendees, customers had even more opportunities to connect in the meetings, on the show floor, and at the evening dine-arounds.
5. Sessions
It’s always been our mission for every EV Connect attendee to walk out of the show with a wealth of knowledge on EasyVista, ITSM industry trends, and best practices that can then be applied to their own organization. Our sessions were carefully crafted to cover detailed, “must-know” information including:
- EV updates on vision, strategy, and product roadmaps and demos
- EV support, services, and education
- Customer case study presentations
4. Karaoke at The World Famous Cats Meow
You can’t visit New Orleans without a night out on Bourbon Street! This year we kicked off EV Connect with a big party at the Cats Meow karaoke bar. Various groups of EV customers, partners, and employees hit the stage to show off their musical skills and dance moves. A special shoutout goes to EasyVista’s own Jon Ryman and Sherry Pongrac for their fantastic performances. Jon serenaded the crowd crooner-style with “Just a Gigolo” while Sherry nailed all the verses in The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.”
3. Executive Q&A Panel
Where EasyVista execs engaged in open discussion to share ideas, get candid customer feedback, and answer pressing questions.
2. Haunted Hotel
This year’s EV Connect was held at the world-class Hotel Monteleone, a local landmark in the French Quarter. Built in the late 1800s and a favorite among literary legends such as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and William Faulkner, the hotel holds immense historical significance—and some of that history is haunted. A few brave EV Connecters put the stories to the test by ghost hunting on the 14th floor. No activity was reported although the turn down service gave a couple of EV employees a late night fright!
1. Attendee Awards
It was very important to us to recognize a select group of EV Connect attendees for their ongoing support and commitment with awards and prizes. Check out the categories and winners below!
EV Connect Forum
- Highest # of points: Sarah Schumacher (Westfield)
- Article with highest # of views: Daniel Gonzalez (Kenco)
EV Voice
- Highest # of suggestions: Kent Shiver (Synergy ITSM)
- Article with highest # of votes: Debbie Rusolo (Associated Press)
General
- First customer to register for the conference: Robert Aki (Creighton)
Support
- Best ticket documentation: Jack Reeder (FMX Solutions)
- Early adopter: Chris Caton (Youth Villages)
Next Steps
Check out all the fun pics from New Orleans on EasyVista’s Facebook page – there are some fantastic ones from the Cat’s Meow!
Did you attend EV Connect 2016? We’d love to hear your favorite things about the event in the comments.
