Adding a new element to the proceedings, the team decided to make the event “hybrid,” meaning both live and broadcast out to the world, opening new possibilities for attendance, but also adding complexity and stress. Will the technology work? IBM’s Joe Cosenza stepped up to take on the tech support role for the team, and I can attest that all went smoothly, with presenters live in Sheboygan or beaming in from their home bases bringing inspiring stories and updates to benefit attendees no matter if they were online or in the room.
In person, I met attendees from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. On line, we saw people from all over the world in attendance. And there was a palpable mood of optimism and joy in being able to get together again. The Midwest User Group has always enjoyed a collaboration with IBM Business Partners, and Matt extends thanks to Genus Technologies, enChoice, Pyramid Solutions, and The Dayhuff Group for sponsoring lunches and breakfast and for sharing their experiences and expertise in Business Automation, AI and Cloud Migration.
It must be said that Matt and Acuity shared true Wisconsin hospitality and made everyone who traveled to Sheboygan feel welcome. Acuity World Headquarters reflects the values of Acuity and make it appear annually at the top of "Wisconsin’s best places to work." For example, at the end of the first day of meetings, all attendees were invited to the weekly Acuity Wednesday BBQ, which featured a live band, sumptuous food and drink, and is open to all employees and their families. Before our second day of meetings, Acuity hosted a tour of their sprawling campus, which offers employees a variety of creative work spaces, a hi-tech theater-in-the-round meeting hall, and art and sculpture everywhere you turn. There are also three NBA-sized indoor basketball courts, a workout gym, a full-sized Ferris Wheel, and a rock climbing wall – Oh, and a crazy medieval torture chamber that Acuity execs like to escort guests to after a meeting – just to see the look on their faces!
But seriously folks. One of the things employees are proud of is the campus also features the tallest flagpole in America (100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty) and the world’s largest free-flying American flag (70 by 140 feet). On the tour, we learned that the pole can sense wind direction and twist as needed to assure the least amount of stress on the flag and keep it flying free. For a meeting all about AI and Automation, it seemed very appropriate to have a flag using the same principles!
Click here to view the recordings and access the slide decks from Day One, August 24
Click here to view the recordings and access the slide decks from Day Two, August 25