It's my first Dude U and I have to say what an incredible job done by a vendor to educate and interact with it's clients. I have been to functions and "training" where the emphasis was more about selling than educating.
Genius ! Great Concept - Great Excecution - Great People - Just plain GREAT!
Here I am back for a third year, enjoying myself and still managing to learn more about the product I use. It is a long way from Brisbane Australia to Myrtle Beach but the cost and time expended are well worth it.
I come every year thinking that Brisbane Catholic Education is going OK with the use of IT Direct but every year get challenged about improvements we can make in our use of the product and also in our processes.
I feel spoilt by the welcome I get but I recognise that it is a genuine reflection of the way that the Company operates. There is always a doubt being so far away and operating in a time zone that is 15 hours ahead of the support of the product that I will be disadvantaged but we have found a window of early morning for us/late afternoon for Schooldude that enables direct training to occur.
Another plus for me is that I know that I can send an email as I leave the Office in the afternoon and I will have an answer the first thing when I get to work in the morning. It is nice having a company work for me while I sleep.
Schooldude University has become a regular part of my year and the investment of time and money is very worthwhile. Thanks not only to the Schooldude staff, but also all the other participants for the contribution you have made.
Yes it is an enjoyable experience but one that also encapsulates personal and professional growth for me.
Hope to see all of you back here next year
Wow, what a great SchoolDude U 2008! Two days already have come and gone with so much excitement in the atmosphere here. I have met new "Freshmen" and other "classes" that have alot to offer to this group of school facilities professionals. Questions and best practices are being shared and answered. Comments about the growth of SchoolDude and the continuing Legendary Customer Service is so encouraging to hear as it is the foundation that continues to prove it's importance.
If you don't get excited about the SchoolDude solutions and applications, then wake up... we are all here to help each other become the best... no, the most efficient "Dudes" and "Dudetts" of your district and/or community.
Just walk up, introduce yourself to someone from your state or another state and share your experiences. You just might... no, you will have a new friend.
Enjoy the remainder of the SchoolDude U 2008 and know that you are part of a growing family.
It is so nice to be back here for SchoolDude University. It just gets bigger, yet better. Keep up the good work, SchoolDude!
I have been home 4 days now, and having fun using what i learned at School Dude. School dude started for me with a great golf outing on Saturday. I met 2 new friends, Cal from Chicago and Jason from St. Louis! I did have to watch the North Carolina State Basketball game after the golf outing while my Wisconsin Badgers were on another station! When in Rome you know!! My School Dude Rep Dan Gould is becoming a runner! How cool was it to run 4 miles on the Beach in March in 70 degree weather. I am from Milwaukee so i thought it was cool. And then breakfast was all prepared, all we had to do was serve our selves and find a table no one would mind having 2 guys that just ran 4 miles! (we ended up eating alone!)
I saw a lot of old friends, and met a lot of new friends. It was amazing that even on the flight home, i had School Dude attendees to visit with at the airport or on the plane. We were able to continue to talk about all the things we experienced at School Dude U.
Aside from the great food, weather, and hospitality i would have to say that School Dude University is a great conference to attend. The presentations were obviously relevant for School Dude clients, and they were very interesting. The round table discussions allowed for very interesting interactions especially when common issues and concerns were addressed. The computer lab allowed me to use immediatly what i just learned in a session. If i had a question there was someone there from School Dude, to be my hero, and help me through the process. The networking with other Facility professionals both in Higher Ed as well as the K-12 school districts from across the country is something that you cannot put a value on. That alone would have made attending this conference worth it to me.
This is my 3rd School Dude University! I am impressed with the value that i receive in a short time frame. I appreciate this School Dude opportunity that i have to learn and network!! I am very much looking forward to next year!
Does any one else have a huge amount of snow on the ground? I know my buddies at Wentworth do. I miss the 80 degrees and I miss all my SchoolDude buddies, Josh, Jamie from CA (lucky girl), Julie, Brad, Scott (times 2), and the list can go on. It's always a new adventure at DudeU and you always leave with the feeling that you can't wait until next year. Can't beat the southern hospitality!! See everyone next year and hope to see some new faces as well. Good luck with the rest of the school year or semester!!
This year’s SchoolDude University was informative, exciting, and professionally rejuvenating. A constant energy filled the hallways with people networking and sharing ideas during these past five days. This year’s session tracking format worked very well for me, as I was able to focus on my technology related interests and be able to jump to other sessions that interested me. The SchoolDude staff was, as always, helpful, informative, patient, and ever friendly.
The open lab seemed to be the hottest spot in town. The word is out, as I told people in my sessions and others by word of mouth, the lab is your best chance to implement a product with the experts at your finger tips. It seemed as though every time I walked through, empty seats were scarce and the dudes and dudettes were hopping. I will head home prepared to implement many of the things I learned about ITAM and ITD. I am eager to use the project and planning features of both of these products and I am sure they will help my department run more efficiently and will set the pace for the rest of my organization.
Thank you SchoolDude for putting on another classy and top-notch show. I am looking forward to next year and the new and exciting enhancements to come to your product line.
This year's University was nothing short of amazing. The sessions, the presenters, the topics and the available information were all spot on. I was amazed to discover the knowledge of the folks in attendance. The facility professional of today is equipped with state of the art software and solutions needed for success, mostly because of School Dude.
To those that attended my sessions I offer my thanks. To the countless people I met for the first time I thank them for their perspectives. To the folks I have met before, thanks for your kind comments. To the staff of School Dude thank you for realizing our needs and for providing solutions.
Everything about Dude University was top shelf. The integrity, honesty and dedication of all the Dude's personnel was cleary evident. We have gone from crude to Dude and all students, faculty and administrators will benefit.
I hope I'm invited back next year.
I have been attending DudeU from the start and this is so much more than any state or national conference I have ever attended...I know that is why you call it a University. Our last state conference we had 140 vendors and 70 school dismembers. Here we have over 800 folks doing what I do...Facilities Maintenance and Operations. I have shared informaiton but I have gained so much more. I always have enough to do back at the office but finding an better process or idea that is working in another school district is always time well spent.
I struggled with wanting to stop the moment I was introduced to a new or better process and walk out of class or out of the lab to contact my office to change a process using this new idea. (I did this once already)
My only regret is that is that I wish I had a couple more teammates from back home to share in this experience and have this opportunity.
I will work to bring a group next year.
Thanks SchoolDude another valuable University. T2
Service with a smile! Catherine was our hero one night when she took us for quite a ride!! "Braking, braking, braking....we are turning right!!!" As we made a quick right that led to a tour of Fire Station #3. What a ride!! Thanks, Catherine for the quick thinking and fun ride. It will be a time to remember. Lots of laughs!
