The Return of Chris Oliver
Manage episode 482243756 series 3597547
Chris Oliver joins us to discuss his experience co-chairing the final RailsConf and provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to organize a major tech conference.
• Co-chairing RailsConf with Ufuk was an opportunity too good to pass up for the final Rails conference
• Site visits to Philadelphia's Sheraton included evaluating spaces for keynotes, breakout rooms, vendor areas and social events
• This year attendees will explore Philly for lunch rather than having catered conference meals
• Reading Terminal Market is just a 10-minute walk from the venue with incredible food options
• The CFP process involved reviewing 250 submissions to select just 29 talks
• Initial proposal reviews were anonymized to reduce selection bias
• Creating the conference schedule required balancing competing talks across three simultaneous tracks
• Booking rooms at the conference hotel supports the event financially and creates more networking opportunities
• Meeting people at conferences is easier when you remember everyone shares a passion for Ruby and Rails
• Ruby Central maintains critical infrastructure including RubyGems and Bundler beyond organizing conferences
Use code ODE2RAILSCONF at checkout to get 10% off at GoRails.com
Chapters
1. Introduction and GoRails Sponsorship (00:00:00)
2. Countdown to the Final RailsConf (00:00:37)
3. Conference Co-Chairing Experience (00:01:54)
4. Philly Venue and Food Options (00:09:15)
5. CFP Selection Process (00:12:56)
6. Conference Schedule Planning (00:25:34)
7. Building Community at Conferences (00:30:22)
8. Supporting Ruby Central's Mission (00:38:55)
9. Final Countdown and Invitation (00:45:10)
43 episodes