UnSummit – David McBride has managed to put on what is now going to become a must do/must see event leading up to Summit, Un-Summit. Just a few miles down the road from the Salt Palace on the campus of the University of Utah, Un-SUmmit pulled in a crowd of vendors, practitioners, students all in the same room to share with each other in 6-12 minutes chunks nuggets of wisdom and then engage in Q&A with the group and presenter. I was lucky enough to be asked to speak and I had a great time putting together a talk on the cold hard truths of Tag Management Systems.

Web Analytics Wednesday (On a Tuesday) – For years now, the unofficial start to Summit has been the event put on by ObservePoint and of course, Rob Seolas. I look forward to this every year and I was not let down. They had over 300 people registered and it seemed as if most of them showed up based on the crowd. It’s a great time to network and socialize with friends and colleagues outside of the formality of the conference.

Adobe’s Opening night reception in the Partner Showcase – The showcase this year is really taking advantage of the extra space they have with the conference moving to the Salt Palace. The Exhibit hall was more open and it was easier to move through the hall and see the partners without feeling like you were being herded through a barn. Highlight of the exhibit hall so far is the Ice Cream machine in the back that if you smile and let it take a picture of you smiling it gives out free ice cream. Who does not like that?