Pack and Prepare
Pack the following items to ensure you are prepared, comfortable and productive.Business Cards
Chances are that you’re going to meet a lot of people at the conference. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards to pass out. Pro tip: take notes on the business cards you receive from others, noting who the person is and what you talked about, just in case you want to follow up.
Comfortable Shoes
Oftentimes conference sessions will roll into networking events that roll into dinner. Pack shoes that can be taken from day to night and most importantly, that are comfortable.
Sweater/Layers
Conference rooms are notoriously cold. Even if it’s nice outside, consider packing a sweater or a light jacket just in case you get chilly. Check the latest weather in Columbus to get an idea of what you may want to bring.
Leisure Clothes
You may find that you have some downtime while at a conference and you don’t want to be sitting around your hotel room in business clothing. Consider packing a pair of sweats and some tennis shoes to lounge in.
Notebook and Pen
Even if you prefer to take notes on one of your devices, you may not always be able to, especially if you find yourself in a situation where it may be considered rude or be a distraction to others. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be prepared with a good, old-fashioned notebook and pen. Pro tip: Always bring extra pens. Fellow conference goers always borrow them and they can get misplaced easily.
Charger/Extended Batteries
Perhaps you’ll want to use your laptop or tablet to take notes during conference sessions. Or, maybe you’ll want to use your phone to live Tweet or Facebook information from the event. Conference days can be somewhat long and you’ll want to be prepared with a charger and/or extended batteries for all of your devices.
A Watch
Sure you could pull your phone out to check the time, but it’s much more discreet and far less distracting to simply check a watch.
Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration is important, especially when you are sitting and/or talking most of the day. We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with you to fill up whenever you need to. Fillable water stations will be offered throughout the center.
Snacks
Food will be provided at the Convention Center (see schedule below), the Icebreaker (heavy appetizers), and Zoo Day (lunch and dinner). However, you can never have too many snacks, especially during a jam-packed day of conference sessions and networking. Pack healthy and easy-to-eat choices such as granola bars, nuts and dried fruit.
| Tuesday, Sept 12 | Wednesday, Sept 13 | Thursday, Sept 14 | |
| Light Breakfast | 07:30 AM - 08:00 AM | 07:30 AM - 08:00 AM | - |
| Lunch | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM | - |
| Refreshment Break | 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM | 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM | 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM |
Important Cards
Always travel with your health insurance card and ID.
Stay Safe
Don’t wear your badge outside of the convention center, unless you are at a conference event.