The biggest conference in the title industry begins this week. ALTA ONE takes place in Austin, Texas this year, and if you’ve never been or aren’t going to attend this year, the FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, especially after my talk with Lauren Dollerschell, Director of Meetings at ALTA, and Deirdre Green, Director of Professional Development at ALTA.
For those of you lucky enough to already have your golden tickets, there are lots of treats in store. Even if you aren’t attending, there are lots of opportunities to be a part of the conference. Listen to my conversation with Lauren and Deirdre to learn more.
What is ALTA ONE?
ALTA ONE is one of the largest national conferences for title industry professionals. Originally known as ALTA Annual Convention, Lauren explains that what you see today is a result of a new focus on the attendee experience. “In 2016, we debuted ALTA ONE with a fresh look on what it is to attend a conference and the makeup of a conference… So we think a lot about everything from your arrival experience to the check-in experience, your interaction with the exhibitors… and the types of education we offer. We offer traditional, lecture-style keynote speaker or panel, and we’ve also got engagement labs that are more interactive.”
There are lots of options to learn at the conference in various settings from the typical keynote speaker to inspire the audience to smaller engagement labs that will give you action-oriented knowledge to apply to your title business. Many of the sessions are approved by your state’s Department of Finance for Continuing Education credits for title agents and agent attorneys as well.
What will you learn at ALTA ONE?
Depending on your role and goals, there are probably specific courses that will appeal to you. The hottest topics like cybersecurity and wire fraud, the legality of working with transactions for marijuana businesses, and remote online notarization are represented within the schedule.
The topics for break out sessions are divided into tracks including:
- Innovation and technology
- Commercial
- Legal
- Operation
- Sales and marketing
- Talent and culture
Deirdre recommends viewing the tracks as a guide, not a hard and fast rule. Attendees are encouraged to take a multi-discipline approach when choosing their break out sessions.
The engagement labs are a hidden gem to not only learn but to build your professional network in a less stressful environment than a loud and crowded reception hall filled with thousands. This is the perfect opportunity for more introvert personalities to shine in a small group of about thirty professionals.
Vendors are also encouraged to attend the engagement labs to share their knowledge and connect with attendees through education instead of a hard sell at their booth. “Really go beyond that sales-to-client mentality and build a bigger more meaty relationship, exchanging information with each other,” says Deirdre.
Listen to the interview to learn more about:
- The “can’t-miss” sessions of ALTA ONE 2019.
- Recommendations for First-time Attendees.
- Why you shouldn’t miss the Grand Opening Ceremony with Diane Tomb and Cynthia Durham Blair.
- Where to go to receive a big Texas welcome with live music and libations.
- Where to go to see the best of Austin entertainment.
If you’ll be near Austin this week, it’s not too late to come to ALTA ONE. Late registrants are welcomed. “This is the place for big creative ideas, everyone to come together. We at ALTA believe that together we are stronger,” explains Deirdre.
Important Links:
See the full schedule for ALTA ONE. For those of you who won’t be able to make it, you can still be a part of the conference by joining the Facebook live streams below.
Livestreams:
***All times are Central Daylight Time.***
Tuesday, October 22
5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Grand Opening Ceremony
Wednesday, October 23
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Keys to Success in a Commercial Transaction
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Building Your Bench: Eight Talents to Look for in Your Next Recruit
Thursday, October 24
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Proposed ALTA Policy Forms: What’s Covered, What’s Not?
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. 8 Legit Ways to Market Your Culture to Humans Under 40
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Preparing for Cyber Attacks
Friday, October 25
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Evaluating Technology Investments That are Right for You
Other links:
Be sure to follow all the official ALTA accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates this week during the conference.
I also highly recommend the Overheard ALTA Twitter account for a humorous inside look.
You can find more information on the upcoming Digital Bootcamps here. Not an ALTA member yet? Learn more about memberships here. Tell us what sessions and events you’re looking forward to this year in Austin!
