SHRM San Diego, Day 3: Military Help, a Keynote Hint, and Prepping for Vegas


As SHRM’s 62nd Annual Conference & Exhibition winds down today in San Diego, here are a few wrap-up thoughts and observations as everyone tries to recover and head home for the long Fourth of July weekend:
So, how would I describe this year’s conference? Overall, the vibe was pretty good. People were positive, upbeat, happy to be attending. Yes, you can say that about a lot of SHRM conferences, but there was less of the wild rush for swag in the exhibit hall and overall party atmosphere, and, more of a sense of seriousness about hitting the educational sessions and getting exposed to some smart thinking.
The big difference this year, for me, was a greater sense of perspective by the attendees. After a down year economically in 2009 (and a pretty downbeat SHRM conference in New Orleans), people seem really appreciative that the economy is a little better and that they’re traveling again. SHRM attendees seemed a lot more focused on buckling down and getting value out of the conference than they did in past years, and although it’s always great to have fun, this new-found seriousness made for a lot stronger conference environment.
It’s not a bad idea. A West Point graduate, Army Ranger and member of the Army’s Special Forces, Jefferson also has a Harvard MBA and was a White House fellow. I’d rather hear something fresh and passionate from him than more of the same old stuff from Marcus Buckingham again.
Vegas is a big draw (yes, you know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas) because of the night life and other extracurricular activities that aren’t available in places like Orlando, Chicago, or Washington, D.C. However, you lose the ability to casually walk from the hotel to the convention center and back that you have in a city like San Diego, and that casual back and forth from conference to hotel may be one of the reasons SHRM conferences in San Diego always seem to go so well.
You can’t do that in Las Vegas, of course, because most of the big hotels aren’t near the convention center, and no one is up to a stroll in 108 degree heat anyway. Still, it will be interesting to see how well attended SHRM 2011 in Vegas is since SHRM 2007 there was such a huge event. I have a feeling I’ll be there again to let you know how it goes.