Those of you who know me know that the Access Group Conference is my favorite professional event of the year. Why? First, it’s a great chance to reconnect with so many of my friends and longtime colleagues. It is hard to imagine that some of you have attended our conference for 22 years! I guess that makes me a rookie, since this is only my 16th conference. Second, I’ve learned so much from all of you throughout the years. Thanks for helping make this a wonderful event year after year.
Over the past two decades, we’ve celebrated the new millennium at the Greenbrier, watched armadillos race in San Antonio, ate alligator in Florida, and enjoyed our own Access Hollywood Party in Palm Springs where Tom Cruise showed up (thanks Bill Perez for the giggles). And who could forget all the Mrs. Howells walking around at our Gilligan’s Island party? We’ve also have enjoyed many nationally-recognized speakers, with Paul Begala, Mark Shields, Michelle Singletary, Alison Levine and Kevin Carroll being a few of my favorites. Now, I’m looking forward to seeing you again at the beautiful JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando Florida in just a few days.
We’re so pleased to be welcoming you to this year’s conference. We’ve been working with our volunteer conference planning committee for months on sessions that offer great educational content. We also have an impressive line-up of nationally-known general session speakers which I can’t wait to hear. I know I’m dating myself, but I’ve been a big fan of Edward James Olmos since his days on Miami Vice. Currently, he serves as the U. S. Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF and works as a humanitarian activist, in addition to his work as an actor, director and producer. I’m also a big fan of NPR’s Nina Totenberg and the Today Show’s Jean Chatzky, so you’ll find me sitting in the front for all of these general session events.
The conference is only a few days away, so, as you can imagine, we’re busy preparing to make sure everything is just the way you like it when you step up to our conference registration desk. I know I speak for everyone here at Access Group when I say we’re so pleased that you’re joining us for our 22nd Annual Graduate and Professional Financial Aid Conference!
Comments