Some People You Won't Meet at SolidWorks World

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I think we can all agree that meeting new people (or seeing old friends) is one of the highlights of SolidWorks World.  It's next to impossible to meet everyone though, and there are some very cool folks that you will likely never have the opportunity to meet.

Laurie Davis and Kerry Healey are two of those people.  They are both a big part of the production staff that handles the general sessions at SolidWorks World.  I've had the priviledge of working with both of them for the past three years now, and I cannot begin to explain what a big part of the conference they are.

I first start hearing from Laurie right around October each year as the planning for the on-stage activities starts to take shape.  We're in constant contact as we move from planning to rehearsals to finalizing the presentations.  Laurie knows what is needed from all of us, but she's also very good at passing out advice and making sure that our portions of the general session will be complete and well received.  She also lives in Manhattan which makes her extra cool in my book.

I don't know Kerry that well because I only get to see her for a few minutes every year.  Over the past three years Kerry has been the person who helps keep me settled during the live rehearsals (I'm more nervous then than I am during the live show), and she's always quick with a compliment ("That was great") even as I fumble though my rehearsal.  This year Kerry was the reason I felt comfortable doing a little dance as I took the stage – she said it would be fun – that was good enough for me.

Laurie and Kerry spend the entire conference hunkered down in the darkest recesses of the general session room, running everyone through their presentations, getting those last minute changes we all have incorporated into the show, and making sure everything runs on time.  I've never seen either one of them without a smile, even though they have one of the toughest jobs to do.

Thank you ladies for another terrific show.  I'm looking forward to working with both of you again next year.

Richard Doyle

Richard Doyle

My official title is Senior User Advocacy & SolidWorks User Groups - but most people just call me "The User Group Guy". I've been a SolidWorks user since 1997, and was one of the founding members of the SWUGN Committee. Since starting the Central Texas SolidWorks User Group in 1999, my career path has led me to DS SolidWorks and a dream job supporting the SolidWorks User Group Network worldwide.
Richard Doyle

@https://twitter.com/swugn

Richard Doyle