WebProNews

Jim - interesting piece, one that I am sure you know is dear to my heart. Throwing an educational conference like Search Engine Strategies is no easy task - somewhere between starting a University and hosting a Broadway play. There are so many variables and attention must be given to each as if one fails the whole event can fail.

That said I really do wish the founders of SEM Canada had approached me about the show before they launched... Other than the fact that I represent a long running SEM event in Toronto, its next week actually, I would have loved to figure out a way to collaborate with them on this launch. As you and they know, as you are all colleagues of mine and have attended many of the global SES events in the past, SES is a collaborative event one that relies on the input of many SEM experts to program, in addition to picking locations and times, so many in fact that there is rarely a consensus as most everyone involved knows (that said, all opinions are taken into account). Supported by a team of logistics and marketing savvy event veterans SES continues to bring a quality brand heavy delegate base to the table, pleasing delegates, sponsors and speakers alike. Canada is a growing market and I would have enjoyed, and would still enjoy, discussing with each of the individuals listed above about the viability of a 2nd Canada SEM event. What we call it, where it’s held, date/time, and all the other hundreds of variables one must execute on to hold a successful event are up for negotiation.

I look fwd to seeing you next week at SES Toronto, it promises to be a fantastic event with special guests including Kevin Ryan, Andrew Goodman, Frederick Marckini, Greg Jarboe, Anne Kennedy, Andy Atkins-Kruger, Alicia Morga, Motoko Hunt, Kerstin Baker-Ash, David Degrelle (coming all the way from France!), Mike Grehan (UK!), Mitch Joel, Dustin Rideout, Andy Renieris, Heather Dougherty, Bret Grinslade, Adam Goldberg, Brent Bernie, Guillaume Bouchard, Eric Morris, Ken Headrick Martin Byrne, Ian White, Nick Patsiopoulos, Candice Faktor, (the beautiful) Mona Elesseily, Jeff Lancaster, Bill Tighe, Adam Muscott, Jill Whalen, David Szetela, Josheph Thornley, Jim Hedger (that’s you!), David Snyder, Lee Odden, Chris Winfield, Bryan Eisenberg, Matt Van Wagner, Rick Brown, Bill Barnes, Jim Beretta, Mike McDerment, Mitch Joel, Richard Zwicky, Gord Hotchkiss, Pavan Lee, Alan K’necht, Christine Churchill, Louis-Dominic Parizeau, Michelle Pruitt, Amanda Watlington, Ken Jurina, Julien Raby, Ian McAnerin, Cam Balzer, Stephan Spencer, Li Evans, Marty Weintraub, Debra Mastaler, Jeff Quipp, Jane Motz Hayes, Joseph Dolson, Chris Adams, Chris Smith, Ambles Kwok, Lyndsay Walker, Larry Bailin, June Li, Carolyn Cramer and Jason Dailey... I hope I didn’t miss anybody!   

Let’s not forget the official after party generously hosted by the folks at Yahoo! and Epiar (thank you Maor Daniel and Ken Jurina!) – Matt

PS – How’s the office? Have you recovered from the fire yet?