Five Days, Countless Connections: My First NACE Conference
Five Days, Countless Connections: My First NACE Conference
Written by Katelynn Harvey-Campos, DFW NACE Scholarship Recipient
Some trips are vacations. Some are adventures. And then there are the trips that leave you inspired, connected, and looking at your career in an entirely new way.
My first NACE conference was all of that—and so much more.
From flying alone for the first time to meeting people from chapters across the country, studying for the CPCE, learning about the future of our industry, and dancing the night away with people who started as strangers and quickly became friends, this was a week I know I’ll never forget.
Day 1: First Flights & First Connections
This trip was full of firsts.
It was my first time flying completely on my own, my first NACE conference, and, of course, my first experience having my flight change gates three different times before I even boarded the plane!
Thankfully, I wasn’t alone for long.
Once I landed, I met up with our NACE Chapter President, and together we headed into the conference experience. Almost immediately, I started meeting new people—including members of the NACE National Board.
What surprised me most was how welcomed I felt.
The conference hadn’t even officially started, yet I already felt like I belonged. Everyone was friendly, excited, and genuinely happy to meet one another. There was an energy in the room that made it clear this was more than just a professional conference. It was a community.
And I was excited to be part of it.
Day 2: CPCE, New Friends & Airport Horror Stories
Saturday was all about the CPCE Fast Track, and I had the privilege of spending the entire day learning from Patrick and Nicole.
They brought so much knowledge to the classroom, but what I appreciated most was how they put everything into perspective. The CPCE had always seemed overwhelming, but by the end of the day, I felt like I had a much better understanding of what to expect and how to approach it.
One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing just how diverse the group was. There were people from all over the country, all working toward the same goal and all bringing their own experiences from different corners of the catering and events industry.
Once class ended, it was time to reconnect.
I ran into so many of my Dallas Chapter friends, and naturally, the conversations quickly turned to our travel adventures. It seemed like everyone had an airport horror story to share!
And then there was the lobby bar.
It quickly became the unofficial headquarters of the conference. Everyone seemed to know everyone, conversations were happening everywhere, and new friendships were forming by the minute.
It made me realize that one of the things I was most excited about wasn’t just learning from NACE—it was building relationships with people from chapters all across the country.
Day 3: The Rivalry Begins
Day three was the first official day of conference, which meant it was finally time to see all of my Dallas people!
We started the morning at the Town Hall, where we heard from the NACE National Board and learned more about the direction of the organization and the industry.
But the highlight of the morning?
The Parade of Giving.
The Parade of Giving is the philanthropic portion of the conference where chapters donate to the NACE Foundation. It was incredible to see chapters come together to support something bigger than themselves.
And then I discovered something I probably should have known beforehand:
There is a serious rivalry between Dallas and Houston.
What started as friendly competition quickly became one of the most entertaining parts of the morning. There was pride, cheering, and plenty of Texas energy in the room.
As the sun went down, it was time to celebrate.
We headed to the New Orleans House of Blues for the NACE Foundation event, where we enjoyed incredible food, great music, and an unforgettable atmosphere.
It was one of those nights where you look around the room and realize just how special it is to be surrounded by so many people who love this industry as much as you do.
Day 4: Learning About the Future of Events
Day four started bright and early at 8 a.m. with educational sessions.
There were so many sessions to choose from, but I was especially interested in the ones focused on catering and the topics that are shaping the future of our industry.
Two subjects really stood out to me: Gen Z in the workplace and the use of AI in the events industry.
Both conversations gave me a lot to think about—not just as an event professional, but as someone who wants to continue growing and evolving in this industry.
The events world is constantly changing, and being surrounded by professionals who are actively discussing what comes next was incredibly inspiring.
That evening, we headed to Tasty Bites, the New Orleans Chapter's fundraising event. We tried incredible food, enjoyed the atmosphere, and even got to take in views of the Mississippi River.
And because no conference would be complete without some Dallas Chapter fun, we ended the night at Caesars Palace.
At this point, the conference was becoming about so much more than the sessions. It was about the people, the conversations, the laughter, and the memories happening between everything on the schedule.
Day 5: The Night I’ll Never Forget
And then came the final day.
The last day of conference was easily the most memorable.
The gala and award ceremony were unforgettable. It was amazing to see so many talented professionals recognized for their contributions to the industry and to celebrate the accomplishments of people who work so hard behind the scenes to create incredible experiences for others.
Once the awards ceremony ended, we headed toward the Fillmore.
I didn’t make it onto the charter bus with my Dallas crew, but somehow, that ended up being another one of those unexpected moments that made the trip special.
I walked over to the venue with NACE members from Seattle.
And once we arrived at the Fillmore?
Let’s just say the rest of the night is best remembered through dancing, laughing, and the people I had met throughout the week.
People who had been strangers just days before were now people I genuinely felt connected to.
More Than a Conference
Looking back, this conference was so much more than five days away from home.
It was my first solo flight.
My first NACE conference.
My first CPCE Fast Track.
My first time meeting so many incredible professionals from across the country.
But most importantly, it was the beginning of countless new friendships and connections.
There is something incredibly special about being surrounded by people who understand your passion for this industry. People who understand the long days, the last-minute changes, the behind-the-scenes chaos, the pressure to create something incredible, and the satisfaction that comes from seeing an event come together.
We spend so much of our careers creating memorable experiences for other people.
This time, NACE gave me one of my own.
I left this conference feeling inspired, encouraged, and excited about what comes next—not only for my career, but for the relationships I’m building along the way.
Five days ago, I arrived knowing only a handful of people.
Five days later, I left with new stories, new inspiration, new connections, and a whole lot of people I can’t wait to see again.
And if this is what my first NACE conference looked like, I can only imagine what the next one will bring.
