The NASPP Blog

Instead of the usual NASPP To Do List, today I have ten things for you to do at the 24th Annual NASPP Conference (in addition to going to the sessions, of course).  The Conference begins next Monday, October 24 in Houston, TX.  We are taking online registrations through this Thursday, October 20, and we are happy to accept walk-in registrations onsite.

Listen to the Know Before You Go Podcast: Can’t be bothered to read this list? I’m happy to read it to you: check out my podcast, Ten Things to Do at the 24th Annual NASPP Conference. It will only take less than ten minutes of your day. You can find the podcast in iTunes or your favorite podcast source by searching for “Equity Expert.”

Ok, here are my ten things:

1. Conference App: Your digital guide to the NASPP Conference, the app includes the attendee list, the agenda, session materials, speaker bios, and maps. But it’s more than that—we’ll use the app to push out important announcements about happenings at the Conference. Download the app today and can get started on the PhotoPlay game, which will earn you a chance at a $200 gift certificate or breakfast with Senator Wendy Davis.

2. Opening Night Welcome Reception: Start the Conference off on a high note by attending the opening night welcome reception, sponsored by Computershare and featuring the Purple Rain cocktail. Make new friends and catch up with people you haven’t seen since last year.

If you are an issuer attending for the first time, be sure to attend the First-Time Attendees’ Reception, just before the opening reception. You can meet the NASPP leadership, our chapter presidents, and get a head start on making friends.

3. Wake Up for the Keynotes: Don’t stay out too late, because you’ll want to get up early for our keynote presentations. On Tuesday morning, we’ll feature Wendy Davis, the former Texas Senator and founder of Deeds not Words. Then on Wednesday morning, I will unveil the NASPP’s new website and our new look. It’s going to be great and you don’t want to miss it.

4. Check Out the Presentation Arena: The Presentation Arena is a stage in the exhibit hall where we will host fast-paced, 20 minute talks during the refreshment breaks and the lunches—sort of conferencing for people with short attention spans.

5. Have a Discussion: Our small group discussions, offered during the breakout sessions, are a great way to connect with other attendees on the challenges you are struggling with today. Each session is a facilitated discussion among attendees. Come prepared to share your own questions and experiences—no panelists, no presentation, and no PowerPoint. Search for “small” in the app to find a handy list of all of them.

6. Get More Out of Lunch: The luncheon roundtable discussions on Wednesday are another great way to connect with your fellow attendees. Grab lunch, find a table discussing a topic you are interested in, and join the discussion.

7. Ask an Expert: The NASPP is the largest gathering of subject matter experts in the industry—if you have questions, our Conference is a great place to get answers. Consult an expert in the Ask the Experts booth or visit one of the nearly 40 other subject matter experts who have volunteered to be available for questions in their booths. These are not sales people; it’s an impressive list of subject matter experts who can answer technical and practical questions on stock compensation. There’s no reason to leave the Conference with unanswered questions.

8. Grab a Latte: You should also be sure to check out the NASPP Café. The Café is set up in the 4th floor HUB, outside of the exhibit hall and is a convenient place purchase a latte or other fancy coffee drink, relax for a moment, or have a conversation.  UBS has sponsored the Café and has worked with our event staff to create a coffee-house feel.

9. Visit the Smoothie Bar: New this year, we are introducing the NASPP Lounge, which is also located in the 4th floor HUB, outside the exhibit hall.  The lounge is another place where you can take a moment to relax, enjoy a conversation with a colleague, and buy a glass of wine, a soda, or whatever your beverage of choice is.   Charles Schwab, the lounge sponsor, will be hosting a smoothie bar in the lounge during the morning breaks on Tuesday and Wednesday.

10: Earn a Chance at $200 (and see the Monte Carlo Raffletron in Action).  One way to do this is to take the PhotoPlay challenge, which is a game included in the Conference app. It is sort of like a scavenger hunt that you complete by taking pictures.  You earn points for each challenge you complete. For each 50 points that you earn by 1:00 PM on Wednesday you are entered in a raffle to win a $200 Amazon.com gift certificate.  Some of the challenges are worth up to ten points—you could earn a raffle entry by completing as few as five challenges.

In addition, you could win the chance to have breakfast with Senator Wendy Davis.  The 15 players with the highest scores at the end of the opening reception will be invited to breakfast with Senator Davis on Tuesday morning.

Another way to earn a chance at a $200 Amazon.com gift card is to participate in the Passport game.  Your conference bag will include a passport that you can have stamped by each of the exhibitors.  Every stamp you collect earns you another entry in the raffle.

Aon Hewitt will be selecting the raffle winners for both the PhotoPlay and the Passport games using their nifty Raffletron 2400 at 2:30 PM in the presentation arena.  If you haven’t seen the Raffletron in action, you should definitely check it out.

I look forward to seeing everyone in Houston!

– Barbara