Doh! Sorry to be late getting this on the wire but the Heartland Developers' Conference for 2006 is has been announced. This year its in Omaha and runs from 26 October and 27 October. Hopefully I won't find myself in China again...
In its 3rd year, HDC06 is the largest independent annual professional Microsoft development conference in the nation, organized by user groups, and focused on .NET development and other emerging Microsoft technologies. HDC provides regional developers the opportunity to experience sessions usually reserved for Tech-Ed and PDC at a much lower cost while retaining the same nationally known presenters. Over 2 days, 23 sessions, 2 tracks, and several networking opportunities, HDC06 is where you’re find top knowledge experts that can prepare you for next level development.
For only $125 Early Bird/$175 standard, each Attendee Pass includes:
1 Conference pass to 2 keynotes and all 23 ninety minute sessions
- Meals including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and coffee breaks
- Access to the “Developer Lounge” expo and activity center
- Wireless internet access throughout conference area
- Pre conference networking party including drinks and food
- Thursday night “Developer Jam” including food, drink, and a casino for prizes!
- Attendee Kit and a chance to win a monster 64 Bit Alienware computer
The speaker list is looking awesome too: Microsoft's own Jeff Brand, Don Bryner and Jacob Cynamon. MVPs Dave Donaldson, Robert Hurlbut, Rocky Lhotka, Javier Lozano and Andrew Troelsen and community rockstars Craig Utley, Phil Wolfe, Robert Boedigheimer, Tim Gifford, Matt Milner and Nick Parker. I'm planning of giving a couple of talks on SQL Server 2005 for Developers.
Register here. And remember, we're talking a mere $125 one of the best Microsoft-focused technical conferences in the Midwest.
Blame the travel.
I'm finally back in Omaha for a few days before getting on the road again. The two week prior was spent in New York City. Not one of my favorite places but now that I've spent some time there, its more comfortable for me. And bizarely enough, I was staying at the Hilton New York the same weekend the NFL draft was going on at Radio City Music hall... not even 100 feet up the street. Dang it, missed that.
This morning I realized that it was just over 52 weeks ago that I did my first teach with DevelopMentor when I was working with the Company thats now ProKarma. I think I've learned 100 times more this last year than I knew coming in. Here's hoping that trend continues.
One thing that I've re-learned in my first year with DevelopMentor (more or less) is that travel isn't just hard on the traveller, its hard on everybody that's part of that person's life. Still, I love the job... its been a dream come true in many ways. But not everything is always perfect, even in dreams. Things will probably change for the better. "The best," as Gene Boe would say, "is yet to come."