At the risk of sounding like an ESRI shill…
The FedUC starts on Wednesday and this year it seems to have a different feel to it. It feels like it’s definitely picked up some momentum over previous years. The sessions seem to be a little meatier and the atmosphere feels more purposeful and businesslike now.
I have been a proponent of the FedUC since it has started. First of all, I do a lot of work with ESRI products for the Federal government and the idea of having a major event (i.e. not a user group meeting) on the East Coast has been rather compelling. I’ve blogged a lot about the development I do but my company is small and I wear a lot of hats, including project manager, marketing, etc. ESRI’s federal team in Vienna, VA has put a lot of effort over the past few years into beefing up the FedUC, and it feels like that work is paying off this year.
I’ve had numerous meeting requests this year. In addition, there are a number of sessions I want to see as well as exhibits by some companies that I have been wanting to see. From a business standpoint, there’s a lot of return on it this year (for me anyway). For those west of the Mississippi, you can probably get a lot of the same benefits in San Diego but those in the East (particularly those doing federal work) may want to give the FedUC a closer look. This will be the first year that I will probably spend each day there from beginning to end.
@Dave
Sounds like my agenda. Maybe I’ll see you around the convention center.
I’m planning on being there, will be bouncing in and out, have a bunch of meetings all throughout the FedUC…
It has become a nice option for us out here, but I’ll be at both this year. We’re doing a booth in San Diego.
The FedUC is pretty much the ESRI UC for east coast folks. Our east coast GIS staff usually heads out there, but this year they are all coming to San Diego.