FAQ
What is Confab and who is behind it?
What does Confab cost and what does it cover?
How does the price of Confab compare to other conferences?
What is the ‘dress code’ for Confab?
How are speakers chosen?
I would like to be a speaker. How do I get on the list?
How do I choose which sessions to go to?
With three stages of consulting, am I limited to attending a particular stage?
How do I get the content of a session that I can’t go to?
Do you provide handouts in the sessions?
Is there a list of other participants?
What supplies I should bring?
Do I need a car?
If I do have a car, is there convenient parking?
Why is Confab in Reno?
Have you looked at smoke-free locations rather than a casino?
How do I get the content of a session that I can’t go to?
What is Confab and who is behind it?
Confab (kon’fab) v. To talk together in an informal way; chat.
Confab is a national conference offered by The Institute of Management Consultants (IMC USA). Founders decided to create a forum where consultants could get together to share ideas, and learn from each other. More than thirty years later, that mission is still the goal of Confab. Dick Pinsker, a founding member, was the conference Chair for a decade and continues to volunteer along with a committee of IMC member volunteers. Planning committee volunteers are all professional consultants with their own consulting practices who donate endless hours because they desire to give back to their profession and the enjoyment of working with peers. They combine long-time experience and the addition of new ideas to create Confab each year. IMC members receive a significant discount on Confab registration.
In addition, Confab is supported financially by business partners who sponsor Confab, or attend as exhibitors. This support helps defray our costs and allows us to offer an outstanding conference at the most reasonable rate of any conference you can find. Please support our sponsors and exhibitors as they support us.
What does Confab cost and what does it cover?
Your registration covers far more than most conferences, with several hosted bar networking sessions and most meals. Your Confab registration cost (http://www.confabusa.org/about-confab/rates-reservations) includes:
- Full conference registration and participation in all Confab events
- Your photo and practice description in the Confab Photo Directory (so you remember who you met and how to re-connect after Confab)
- Saturday “Welcome to Confab” Hospitality Event
- Sunday Technology Fair
- Sunday lunch and Sunday open bar cocktail party
- Monday breakfast, lunch and evening open bar cocktail party and dinner
- Tuesday breakfast and lunch
- Copies of Conference presentations (some speakers cannot release their proprietary materials)
How does the price of Confab compare to other conferences?
Compared to other professional conferences, Confab has a history of consistently providing great value for a modest price. Because of our relationship with the conference hotel, the volunteer time and efforts of both the Confab committee and our wonderful speakers, and the support of our Sponsors and Exhibitors, we are able to make Confab a high-quality yet affordable event. Unlike other conferences, Confab’s goal is to provide consultants with the best educational and networking experience and is priced to cover the costs rather than make a profit.
What is the ‘dress code’ for Confab?
During the day, business casual is the norm. Be aware that when you register on Sunday, your head shot photo for the directory of participants will be taken. Your head and shoulders are will be ‘captured’ in this picture, so you may wish to plan accordingly.
Monday evening offers dinner and networking. Participants dress in a wide range of styles, from business casual to business dressy. Some men choose to wear sports coats and ties and some women enjoy the opportunity to dress up a bit. So wear your daytime attire, or dress up a bit more formally – it’s up to you. We want you to enjoy Confab and be comfortable in what ever choice you make.
If you leave the hotel, you should prepare for a range of weather conditions. Because Reno is in the mountains, late October nights can be cold. We can have 60-70º temperatures during the days and below freezing temperatures during the nights. You may wish to check the weather on the internet to help your packing decisions.
How are speakers chosen?
Confab is fortunate to receive more applications than we need. Session speakers are volunteers who generously share their knowledge with their fellow professionals. The Program Committee strives to create a program that offers a balance of practice development topics, offerings for each consulting practice track, and presentations versus workshops. We are again excited about the sessions we’ve chosen for this year’s Confab!
I would like to be a speaker. How do I get on the list?
To be considered for Confab, please send your name with the subject line “please add me to the potential Confab speaker list” to info@confabusa.org. In addition, our Call for Presenters is usually posted to our web site www.confabusa.org early in the year, with a response deadline date in the spring.
Potential speakers must complete an application that describes their speaking experience and their topic, learning objectives and an outline. References are checked to determine the speaker’s ability, WOW factor, knowledge of the material presented, etc. In our effort to maintain the affordability of Confab, most session speakers are volunteers, although we offer a discount on their Confab registration.
How do I choose which sessions to go to?
The sessions are categorized by Consulting Practice Stage (Launch, Expand, Refine). First identify which practice stage best reflects your own consulting practice. This will help you narrow down your choices. For example, sessions designated as a ‘launch’ stage focus on helping consultants new to the practice of consulting get their businesses off to a good start.
With your three stages of consulting practice (Launch, Expand, Refine), am I limited to attending a particular stage?
No. The consulting practice stages were designed to help our speakers more closely customize their materials to the audience needs. The content of most of the sessions focuses on the business practices and not on the expertise provided by the consultant. While you can choose to attend to any session, most participants find that the sessions related to their consulting practice are most the most useful. If you do choose to go to a session that is different than your current stage, we ask that you hold any questions that aren’t related to the general audience’s level of interest until after the session.
Do you provide handouts in the sessions?
If you register before October 1 you will have access to session materials prior to Confab via our web site. This includes electronic versions of handouts and Powerpoint presentations provided by the speakers for the Confab sessions. Note that Confab does not print the materials for you. The session speakers may elect to bring materials to their sessions, but Confab does NOT provide copies of materials, slides, outlines, etc. This allows us to keep our Confab registration rates as reasonable as they are.
Is there a list of other participants?
Prior to Confab, you can visit our registration site to see who has registered for Confab and network online with fellow attendees on LinkedIn and Facebook. During Confab, a directory with all participants’ contact information and descriptions of their consulting practice is provided.
- Confab is a great networking event, so you should bring at least 50 – 100 business cards with you.
- Review the session materials and bring printouts of the session slides outlines and/or handouts to take notes on them.
- Some people bring their laptops to take notes. Please be aware that there are only a very limited number of electrical plugs located in the session rooms.
Do I need a car?
No. If you fly into Reno, the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino has a shuttle from the airport or you can take a cab. The hotel is in downtown Reno and all of the activities for the conference, as well as many restaurants, are in the hotel.
If I do have a car, is there convenient parking?
Parking is available in a covered garage attached to the hotel, and is included in your hotel room fee. If you are driving over the mountains to Confab, you should definitely bring chains unless you are driving a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Why is Confab in Reno?
The Reno Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino has been host to Confab for several years. Because of this, we have a strong relationship with the hotel and they provide us with great service and support. Repeated research of other locations causes us to return to the Silver Legacy because no other venue can match their price-competitive location with the same level of service quality and meeting facilities.
Have you looked at smoke-free locations rather than a casino?
All Confab committee members are non-smokers and understand a preference for a totally smoke-free environment. The Reno Silver Legacy has smoke-free hotel rooms and does everything possible to maintain the designated smoke-free area where Confab is located. Many times the committee has looked for an alternative location, but has not been able to find a price-competitive location that provides the same level of quality and functionality.
How do I get the content of a session that I can’t go to?
All registered attendees have access to presentation materials via a password protected link to the Confab presentation materials. You will receive the password in an email from Confab once final versions of presentation material are uploaded, typically in early October. If you do not receive an email with your password by October 15, please email ‘info@confab.org with a subject line ‘please send password’. For fastest response, please include your reservation confirmation number and your name as your registered it in your email.
