2 - GBA Conferences === rYan: [00:00:00] Welcome back to the GBA podcast. It's day two of our 12 days of GBA series, which means we're almost at the finish line, Tiffany. T-Boss: Next to last day, I cannot believe how far this has gone. And today we're talking about one of my absolute favorite topics, GBA conferences. Okay. Seriously, I, I pretty much have said every one of these is my favorite. Right? rYan: I love it. I love it. T-Boss: Is it just a joke at this point? Should that go on the Bingo card? Which one's Tiffany's favorite? All of them? rYan: There you go. T-Boss: Yeah. If you've ever been to one of GBA's conferences, you know, it's more than just sessions and slides. It's about the people, the stories, and of course the legendary stay and play where we all have fun on the last day. rYan: I love it. And if you haven't been, get Ready. We're about to give you the inside scoop on why the conferences are the highlight of our year and why you should absolutely put them on your calendar now. T-Boss: Speaking of bingo cards, I feel like [00:01:00] I used to always say I love it, and now you've copied me and I can make fun of you now too. rYan: I, it was ironical. That's why I was doing it. T-Boss: Okay, fun side note for listeners. He did once pull clips of me saying I love it in several different episodes and mashed them all together and sent it to me to make fun of me. This is what we do to each other. I. rYan: it's amazing. T-Boss: Okay, so the GB. The GBA conference experience. Let's set the stage. GBA hosts two big events every year. The spring conference and the Fall Leadership Summit. Spring conference, it's packed with great presentations, networking, lots of fun. Fall Leadership Summit is a little more focused on leadership and the committee work. We've talked about that one quite a bit in this series. So today we're mostly gonna stick to the spring one. rYan: Yep. But both conferences have this energy that's hard to describe unless you've been there. It's [00:02:00] like a family reunion, but with more business cards and fewer awkward conversations about your life choices. T-Boss: A few, uh, you know, I still give you awkward conversations about your life choices. rYan: I love it. T-Boss: You're killing me. Alright. Every year there's something new at the conference. It's awesome, but one constant is the business snapshot. I love this session. You get a quick pulse on industry trends. It's super useful. Honestly, it's just one of many, many great presentations. rYan: But you know what really sets the spring conference apart? You've mentioned this as one of your favorites and one of mine, the round tables. These aren't just your average breakout sessions. T-Boss: No they're not. These round tables are really what I fell in love with at the first conference. It was amazing sitting there with people and just learning in small groups, but that's where the magic happens. You sit down with peers from all over the country. Dig into real [00:03:00] challenges, share solutions of what they're actually doing in their companies. And it's not just theory, it's practical, honest, always relevant. Every year I walk away from the round tables with new ideas and practical takeaways that I can actually use at work. rYan: And I think the best part is you get perspectives from every corner of the industry. Whether you're new or you've been coming for years, you're gonna learn something. I've seen people scribbling notes so fast, their pens run outta ink. T-Boss: Or their iPads run out of battery. But seriously, the round tables are one of the most beneficial parts of the conference. They're small, typically six to 10 people with a range of experience. Some of my best conversations were at a table with the CEO and a newer project manager where I'm getting varying perspectives on things like back to work or employee retention. So if you're looking for real value, do not skip the round tables. That's where you'll find it. rYan: Alright. We could talk [00:04:00] about round tables for an entire episode, I think, but we're here to talk about the GBA conferences and it wouldn't be a presentation about conferences without mentioning the presenters because there have been so many absolute legends on stage. T-Boss: Yeah, so one of my favorite top of my list, Jim Abbott, his story pitching in the majors one hand, like it left the entire room inspired. You could feel the energy and Rob Samuels from a few years ago. I get to talk about bourbon and business I'm in. He definitely knows both his story about his grandma, her role in the business. It was fascinating. I, I seriously don't know how GBA manages to line up such amazing presenters everywhere we go. rYan: And not just the presenters. These are always at amazing locations as well. We've met in Denver, Louisville, San Diego, Ponte Vedra, 2026 is in Phoenix, 2027 is in Vancouver, BC. [00:05:00] So great places to hang out. T-Boss: Yeah, I'm pumped about the next two. I always love going to Phoenix. I have friends there. It's just an amazing location, but I have never been to Vancouver, so I'm super excited. But I signed up for Phoenix already in time to get the early bird rate, and we'll definitely do the same for Vancouver. Are you signed up? rYan: Oh yeah, immediately. T-Boss: I think actually we were at fall leadership and you reminded me to sign up before I lost the early bird. Right? So I think you took care of me. rYan: That sounds right. Sounds right. All right. Back to the speakers. Kind of jumped ahead there to the locations. My favorite was John Acuff, I think that's how you say it, A-C-U-F-F. In 2020. His keynote had everyone laughing, rethinking their inner soundtrack. I even bought his book after that. That's the kind of energy you get at GBA. Big ideas, but always relatable. Always practical and actionable. T-Boss: Yeah, and it's not just the big names. Every year there are new voices, fresh perspectives, and stories that stick with [00:06:00] you long after the conference ends. rYan: Okay, let's talk about one of the unsung heroes of the GBA conferences, the stay and play. So if you stick around beyond the end of the conference, there's always this fun tradition of doing something as a group. And so let's be honest, it's perfect ending to a trip with GBA Friends. T-Boss: Yes, Ponte Vedra, the boat tour of St. Augustine, still one of my favorites. I know yours too, Ryan. The weather was perfect. The company was even better, and someone thought it'd be hilarious to hide my car keys and pretend they went overboard. Spoiler, they didn't. And I have photographic proof of who did it, but it was a really fun time. rYan: I'd totally forgotten about that. Yep. St. Augustine was my favorite too, and in Savannah, we ended up on a giant boat. That was a great time, especially watching the huge cargo carriers go by joking about what might be in them. There's just something about being out on the water with your colleagues that makes [00:07:00] for the best stories, and it's nice to relax at the end of the conference as well. T-Boss: Yeah, and every year there's a new adventure, whether it's a stadium tour, a boat tour, or just exploring a new city. The stay and play tradition is all about making memories and building connections outside the meeting rooms. rYan: All right, so why do we keep coming back? For me, it's the connections and the networking. You leave with new ideas, new friends, and a few stories you probably shouldn't tell on a podcast. T-Boss: So true, but it's also about the content. You get to see what's happening across the industry from business trends to the latest challenges and wins. It's the best way to stay connected and keep growing. And I also forgot to mention there are tons of technical presentations from peer companies. rYan: Honestly, it's just fun. You get to recharge, get inspired, and come back to work with a fresh perspective. T-Boss: Absolutely. Before we wrap up, don't forget the Fall Leadership Summit every October. It's a little [00:08:00] more focused, but just as valuable if you want to help shape the future of our industry. If you're looking to get involved, that's the place to do it. We have committee breakouts and special presenters specifically for the committee volunteers. rYan: Yeah, that's where we get things done. So whether you're in it for the learning, the laughs, the round tables or the boat tours, GBA conferences are where you want to be. T-Boss: And if you see me near the water, just hand me my keys. rYan: Oh boy. See you at the next conference. Bring your best stories and maybe a spare key chain. Oh, and go sign up for Phoenix now if you haven't already. Or tell a co-worker to sign up if they haven't. T-Boss: Don't forget, tomorrow is the final day of our Day 12 series. You won't wanna miss it. rYan: Bye. T-Boss: Bye.