Read what prior CDI conference attendees are saying:

2009 - Orlando, Florida

- Watch Video Testimonials -

- Read Written Testimonials -

Susan Kelly Easton of Competitive Edge Career Services

& Deb Dib of Executive Power Brand 

"THE CONFERENCE WAS FABULOUS...Incredible doesn't do it justice. Every speaker  was terrific and every topic was relevant. I learned and learned and learned. I've got so many notes I don't even know where to begin. Saw dear old friends and made some wonderful new ones.

How much better can it get?"

- Marty Weitzman, Gilbert Resumes

* * * * *

"My first CDI conference was remarkable, restorative, and 100% useful!

As a long-time career industry veteran, conferences have always been a highly awaited chance for me to catch up with old friends, meet new colleagues, and learn some new things. As a "learning junkie" I always hope to come away with a lot of great info, but after 20 years in the industry, I am pretty satisfied if I takeaway 3 or 4 new concepts I can adapt to my practice.

After many years of trying to fit CDI into my schedule, I decided this year would finally be the time...location was convenient, property looked fabulous (and really reasonable$$!), and the program and speakers - focused much on social media - was enticing. I expected a good conference, good takeaways, and great colleagues (many of whom I'd never met but always wanted to).

What I got so far exceeded my expectations that I'm still on a people- and info-high.

I'm rarely at a conference where EVERY session is completely valuable. That was really surprising to me. Even the few sessions I thought were not for me, were so full of unexpectedly new and useful information that I quickly reminded myself to never pre-judge!

One of the best parts of the two-day "knowledge festival!" was meeting such great people. I have made a number of new friends who will, I hope, be valued life-long kindred spirits - if they like me as much as I like them!

I'm already eagerly awaiting next year!

Laura and team, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

- Deb Dib, ExecutivePowerBrand.com

* * * * *

"As a new member I was thoroughly impressed and thrilled about the many takeaways and learning received. I know I will implement some of them very soon. I am Soooo glad I decided to take the plunge and join this fine organization and attend the stellar conference. I look forward to a long association with CDI and the new friends I met.

Laura, there is no need to worry about topping this one - just match it and I, for one, would be a very satisfied customer. Keep up the good work!"

- Eleanor G. Farmer, Be Ready Resumes

* * * * *

"Economy- E-schonomy! I don’t think there’s anything else that I could do in the remaining months of 2009 that would top my choice to attend The Career Empowerment Summit! This was by far, the single most important investment I made in my professional growth this entire year! It is already paying dividends with new tools, new friends, and new ideas for growing and sustaining a successful business!"

- Cheryl Milmoe, Career Management Solutions

* * * * *

“It really made my day when Laura recognized me at the summit as a top CDI Advocator. I have been a member for 8 years now and truly believe I wouldn’t have been able to earn two highly respected industry certifications and make it past a very rough time with my business 3 years ago -- if it wasn’t for the opportunities and connections CDI provided me.”

- Darlene Dassy, Dynamic Resume Solutions

* * * * *

"This conference was very valuable!!! I have a long list of action items to work on. Thank you all for such thought provoking topics. I’m a newcomer, but I won’t be for long with such a wealth of experts and tremendous CDI resources available. I now see my business from a different perspective. The speakers were great. Laura and her team were awesome. The participants were friendly and helpful. Many thanks."

- Brenda Goburn Smith, Resume & Career Services

* * * * *

"I share the enthusiasm about the conference, feeling that I, as a newcomer, not only got solid information, but also was welcomed with warmth into this exceptional community.

I also want to send Laura and her team my gratitude, respect and affection. I look forward to future opportunities to meet."

- Estelle Rauch, Career Strategies Unlimited

* * * * *

"Thanks to Laura and everyone involved for putting on a GREAT conference. I had so much fun and, as another self-professed 'Learning Junkie' I learned and a have a great ‘to do’ list to work on. CDI's commitment to meeting the needs of all of us, at our different levels, is outstanding!"

* * * * *

"The conference was such a smashing success! Laura DeCarlo's presentation on Saturday (Move Your Website to Social Web 2.0 With Free Tools) was one of the highlights for me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and learned enough to keep me busy changing things up for a good while. It doesn’t get any better than that!"

- Jeri Hird Dutcher, Workwrite Career Coaching and Resumes

* * * * *

"Thanks for a wonderful conference…a fabulous success. CDI’s conference stands out for offering sessions with new material no matter what level in the industry you are in. By having sessions with forward-looking new material – current and future facing – we have all gained valuable information for the future."

- Robin Schlinger, FederalResumePros

* * * * *

"I would like to totally echo Robin's comments regarding the CDI Conference. Well worth the investment. Beautiful facilities and great networking opportunities! So much learned through informative presentations. Totally professional in every way. And let's not forget - a lot of fun and fun people!

I know my business will become substantially better having attended the conference.

You are a real winner in my book!"

- David Smith, Career Success Made Easy

* * * * *

"I thought the conference was worth every penny. Laura, her staff, the hotel staff and volunteers all did a fabulous job. I walked away with several ideas to improve my business and met several new colleagues. It's always great to learn from others and to get new ideas to help us move forward. All of the presentations were beneficial, and I learned something valuable from each speaker.

This afternoon I shared some information with my client about federal jobs from Barbara Adams' presentation which got special attention from my client.

So, a BIG THANK YOU for an outstanding conference!"

- Marilyn A. Feldstein, Career Choices Unlimited, Inc.

* * * * *

"The Summit was amazing and so were all of the sessions. Thank you for the time that you managed to offer me further insight with regard to the options available to help me grow my business. Saying good-bye to corporate is not going to be very difficult at all. Thank you so much for a fantastic 2 days!"

- Tina Kashlak, Resume Writer's Ink, LLC

* * * * *

"The conference was incredible. You and your staff did an amazing job in putting it all together. All the sessions were timely and informative.

I walked away with valuable tools that I can immediately put to work in my business. Thank you so much!"

- Cheryl Ann Harland, Resumes By Design

* * * * *

"I want to applaud Laura and her tireless team on a wonderful summit. I have attended all of the CDI conferences and this continues as a wonderful and valuable experience. 

I loved the facility (spacious and comfy suites), program, and extras. As always, I walked away with a notebook full of tips and suggestions I plan on implementing.

Thanks Laura and I’m looking forward to a trip West in 2010."

- Freddie Cheek, Cheek and Associates

* * * * *

"You did a truly amazing job with the conference! I am beyond happy that I attended. I can't wait to implement all the ideas running around my head."

- Laurie Berenson, Sterling Career Concepts

* * * * *

"I thought I would add a ‘vendor prospective’ on the Summit.

What a wonderful gift to have a conference offer vendors the opportunity to participate in the conference programs, as more times than not, we are placed in another room. It is wonderful that CDI recognizes the fact that we are also entrepreneurs in need of guidance as we build our business’.

Thank you to CDI for a wonderful conference and the honor of being the 2009 Career Innovator Award recipient.

I will definitely see you next year!"

- Val Matta, CareerShift, LLC

* * * * *

"I wanted to tell you that I took something away from every session and was thrilled to return home with a huge to do list of new ideas to implement. Everyone I talked to thought the conference was fantastic, so congratulations."

- Barbara Safani, Career Solvers

* * * * *

NOTE: Camille could not attend due to last-minute family emergency but had comments to share that were worth posting based on past conferences:

"It looks it was another fabulous conference. After attending the conference last year, I had no doubts at all. For those who have attended the CDI conferences, you already know they are more than a ‘summit’ or a conference. They are like a luxury vacation for the soul, yet total mind stimulation…because of the effort Laura and her team puts forth. It is really a special time when we can get together, support each other, learn, grow, recharge, renew friendships, make new friends, and continue to further our great industry doing what we love.

I’m raising my glass as a toast to all of you great people! I’m proud to be associated with all of you. I really missed seeing all of you and hope to see you next year!"

- Camille Carboneau Roberts, CC Career Services

* * * * *

"The BAD Things About the CDI Summit:

Now that everyone has heard the raves about the conference, I thought I should provide the negatives so you will have a balanced viewpoint. If you are planning to go next year, be prepared for the following:

1. Increased workload: You will have so many new tools and ideas for additional revenue streams to put in place for your business, you will certainly make more money and sales when you get home. Are you prepared to give up your free time to work harder? Your relaxing days will be over.

2. Sleep depravation: If you like getting a full night's sleep, don't attend a CDI conference. You will feel compelled to stay up all hours of the night laughing, having fun, and learning about your colleagues. And don't think you can sleep in to catch up, because you will be afraid you will miss out on more conversation and the hot bacon and eggs waiting for you. Did I mention food?

3. Weight gain: No matter how much will power you think you have, it will be hard to resist the giant cookies, brownies, great restaurants, and pina coladas with cheese and fruit. It is pure evil, but don't say I didn't warn you. Strawberry daiquiri anyone?

On top of the above, you will now have so many new friends that you will have to call, email, twitter about, follow on Facebook, and have as resources to help you out when you need a shoulder - I swear it will never end.

Now that you have been warned, if you are still brave enough to go to CDI 2010, I'll save you a seat at my table. You're on your own with the brownies:-)."

- August Cohen, GetHiredStayHired.com

* * * * *

2008 - Seattle, Washington

"Thank you for the outstanding, over-the-top conference in Seattle. I am amazed at the meticulously planned details from the awesome speakers, fun vendor fair night, exceptional door prizes, the whacky “Duck Tour”, right down to the puzzles and items on the conference tables. I have never been to a conference that served so much food—wow…it was all yummy!

It was so nice to meet all the wonderful CDI members whose ‘names’ I have seen on the elist (nice to put faces with names). You also have an excellent staff. They really went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect.

I was a bit awestruck by the all the ‘industry career leaders’ I was sitting next to and in the same room with…we truly have an awesome camaraderie and compassion for each other, as well as a passion for the work we do for our clients.

As a first-time CDI conference attendee, I have to say that I hope to never miss another conference. It was well worth my time and money. There was something for everyone—from the new person in the industry to the veterans in the industry. I did not want to have to choose between presentations—they were all good! I learned so much from every single one!

The knowledge gained at this conference to give us a competitive edge in our industry is nothing short of amazing. I know that we and all of our clients will benefit from your vision and the information that was presented. In fact, I have been trying to come up with a way to write about the return on investment, but it truly is immeasurable for me.

Attending the CDI conference was definitely worthwhile. I could name so many other reasons, but seriously, thank you to you and your staff. I cannot wait to attend the next one!"

- Camille Carboneau Roberts CC Career Services

* * * * *

"Thanks for making my first CDI conference a great experience. I was impressed with the many members I met, the information presented and the incredible quality of the whole event. So many opportunities, ideas and ways to develop my business came from this. I can’t wait to hear what comes forward for the next conference.

From a satisfied and happy member of CDI, thanks again to the organizing committee who made this event possible. I am hoping I can lend a hand and become involved more with CDI."

- Karen Smith-Hanney, Destiny Career Planners

* * * * *

"Wow! I am so invigorated and feel so blessed to have met such a great group of professionals. Thank you for a great convention. My cheeks were hurting on the plane from smiling so much!"

- Anita Radosevich, Career Ladders

* * * * *

"CDI has, once again, done an excellent job with conference! It is amazing how these conferences seem to get better and better year after year; regarding the program! Every seminar was indeed full of new and interesting information that I can and will use. Everyone is willing to share what they know in order to help you better yourself, as well as your business. The one statement that seemed to keep coming up over and over again from first-time attendees was: Wow, I can't believe how friendly this group is and so willing to share!

...And this is why CDI is DIFFERENT and BETTER than any other organization!!!!! Need anyone say more!!!! Because our director cares about the members and is ALWAYS willing to go above and beyond to make US happy; help US cut costs, form alliances, and, of course, EMPOWER US, in order to help US succeed to reach our goals! Thank you, Laura, for thinking of US, the CDI Members!"

- Nona Pratz, Types Write

* * * * *

“Thanks for the great venue and opportunity to present my product to the attendees. I am thrilled to have met each of them and look forward to many more conversations. Easily the most worthwhile event I have attended in some time.”

- Richard Baum, Palo Verde Resources, LLC

* * * * *

"Nice work on the conference! Thanks for making every detail so outstanding. I possess more career and personal branding bling than most TGI Friday's people. I may not take off my name tag for awhile. Thanks for bringing in the heavy hitters from Washington's most prolific companies. For them to endorse the career people, resume writers and outplacement professionals like us really impressed me. It's funny how they totally get what we do and our uncommon value. For you to bring that to us first hand was a total highlight. Pike Street Market, Shawn Mullins at the Moore, my meetings with great colleagues, Seattle, the smell of caffeine and your recognition of everyone made this whole event world class."

– John O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.

* * * * *

"I firmly believe that Conference 2008 is the single best thing I have done for my business to date. I’m really fired up about the impact it’s had on me and I feel challenged to engage members who have never been to one. I’ll contribute whatever I can to make the next one an equally great, or greater, personal and business investment for attendees."

- Susan Easton Competitive Edge Career Services (CECS)

* * * * *

“As usual, you did a wonderful job … all of the little details that you did out of the kindness-of-your-heart to make the conference special – from the Branding Labels to the CDI Vendor Fair and countless other things. I was simply astonished to receive a personal follow up call regarding the conference – that just shows the level of dedication and caring about the members (and the industry as a whole) by your taking the extra time to do that, instead of just plugging along on your other immediate projects.”

- Darlene M. Dassy, BBA, CERW, CARW Dynamic Résumé Solutions

* * * * *

"Thank you for your warm welcome to this worthwhile event. It met all the criteria of a good conference:

• promoted networking among colleagues
• offered opportunities to learn & grow
• supported member feelings of self-worth
• encouraged "out-of-the-box" thinking & behavior
• not a marketing expo disguised as a conference.

I have recommended CDI to colleagues who are not yet affiliated with CDI. Mot of all, I would like to thank all of you for the warm and welcoming environment. I confess to feeling a bit of NIMBYism - I hope we can keep the cozy atmosphere as our heroic group grows in numbers."

- Karen P. Katz, M.Ed., CCM, Career Acceleration Network (CAN), LLC

* * * * *

2007 - San Antonio, Texas

"As for the conference, the thing I always love about your events is that they are edgy. Not only did I walk away with some golden nuggets of information, but the CDI presentations are always thought provoking and they foster healthy debate…to video resume or not to video resume…that is the question!!! Also, because it was a very intimate setting, I got to chat at length with people I didn’t know very well before the conference and I’m already thinking about ways to partner with a number of people that I met. Thanks again for everything, and once again, you produced an outstanding conference. I can’t wait to see what you have planned for Seattle!"

- Barbara Safani, Career Solvers

* * * * *

"The laughter, great conversations and developing relationships were wonderful treasures that I took away and will continue to reflect on. CDI’s vision for a conference that allowed us to learn, connect and have a whole lot of fun was most certainly actualized. I want to thank you for your attention to all of the details that made our experience unique and most of all for your ongoing dedication and commitment to the industry.”

- Heather Wieshlow, Turning Point Coaching and Consulting

* * * * *

"I thought the conference had a really great balance of fun and structure. From my theatre background, I really appreciated some of the more interactive elements, such as the table topic lunch, networking game, etc. I think the the ice breakers were fabulous from the get go of the badges with stickers. I started getting into a spirit of fun - selecting what I wanted to put on my badge. It was great!"

- Michael Kranes, Resume Slayer

* * * * *

"Going to the conference opened my eyes to the resources CDI offered, which led to my membership. After going through the mentoring program and soaking up CDI's resources, my Web traffic is up, revenue is up, efficiency up, and my frustration level is down. Now, if I could just improve my tennis game...I would be a happy girl. Actually I have more time for the courts...so there is hope for me yet."

- Tamara Dowling, ResumesByGeorge.com

* * * * *

Since last week's San Antonio conference, I find myself up and at ''em each morning with exciting new ideas of how to move JobRockit to the next level! I truly believe that the people I connected with at this conference will create a turning point in my life! It's hard to explain, but there's one thing I have learned *for certain* in this industry: we do not get to the Top ... alone.

It is a good thing that this is not the conference that I chose to sit out on because of financial reasons, or any other reasons. It would have caused me to miss once-in-a-lifetime opportunities!

Onward!

- Sharon Williams, M.Ed., CPRW, JobRockit

* * * * *

I have attended previous CDI conferences in Atlanta, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and Orlando that were great, but the conference in San Antonio was the best!

The speakers were top notch, and I learned enough to more than pay for the cost of attending. Also, the attendees were 100% caring, sharing & fun!

I was particularly impressed with the work CDI did in preparing the Mega Trends report. Nona Pratz deserves special praise as she devoted so much time despite the fact that she is from the New Orleans area and will continue to be dealing with the aftermath of Katrina for years to come.

I’m making my plans for Seattle!

- Grant Cooper, C.A.R.W., Strategic Résumés

* * * * *

Ditto! What an incredible time at such a beautiful hotel, located in close proximity to the River Walk. More importantly was the wealth of information from very accomplished associates. All very practical workshops, all very informative. Good choice of workshops. Yes, CDI has
pulled it off with aplomb, and has further equipped us and empowered us as resume writers and career development specialists.

- Judy Ware, Resumes for Careers

* * * * *

In short, WoW! They did it again....CDI, of course. What a wonderful conference, wonderful hotel, and wonderful food. I learned so much, as usual, and thoroughly enjoyed networking and visiting good friends and meeting new ones.

- Nona Pratz, Types Write

* * * * *

2006 - Orlando, Florida

"Dear Colleagues and all the new friends I was fortunate enough to have made at the conference, I wanted to let all of you who didn't attend know how much you all missed. It was without question one of the two or three best conferences I have ever attended. From the wonderful no holding back camaraderie, to the generous sharing of information on new technology, resume products/styles, how to sell and how much for, and the exchange of intellectual property, it was just nothing short of great!!!!!!!!!!.

There wasn't one speaker from whom this jaded old pro didn't learn something, and I am truly grateful to all the presenters, so if I leave out your name, forgive me (Don). I am already adding new revenue streams to my business and doing my new expanded Internet job searching coaching session on Tuesday for the fist time (Thanks Barbara)...as Jack Chapman would say KA CHING (resume speak for money). I picked up some great new resume styles and product tips from Tracy and Louise, and sales tips from Wendy Weiss. Since these are the areas I count as my "key" strengths I feel I received an unexpected bonus.

Already paid to go to next years conference in San Antonio and took advantage of the conference early bird discount. SINCE I KNOW I AM GOING FOR SURE, WHY NOT SAVE A FEW DOLLARS!

Laura.....my deepest appreciation and respect for your dedication and efforts and to the team that assisted you. I can truly empathize with the amount of work and time, and planning that went into this (I didn't get paid for this empathy Jack)."

  - Marty Weitzman, Gilbert Resumes

* * * * *

"This year's conference was the BEST. It was so refreshing to hear presentations on new topics and revenue generators. YES, I am raising my prices again! Don't you just LOVE it!!!

Best of all, I was able to meet new people and see old friends who are never afraid to share their wealth of knowledge. I am hosting a resume meeting this coming Friday for a group of Michigan and Ohio writers / coaches and I can't wait to tell them about the conference benefits. Sharon Pierce-Williams - you better be there!

Thanks to Laura and her great team for a job well done."

  - Deb James, Leading Edge Resumes

* * * * *

"As we 'age' in our business we sometimes feel we know it all (or at least all we need to know) so conferences become more about renewal, refreshment, and catching up with friends rather than new learning.

But at this year's CDI conference I took at least one golden nugget from every single presentation, and I'm ready to start doing a few things differently... to better serve my clients AND earn more for my expertise.

It was great to meet new people as well as connect with old friends - what a great group of people! See you all next year in San Antonio."

  - Louise Kursmark, MRW, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP, CCM, Best Impression Career Services, Inc

* * * * *

"Ditto to all Marty said! I'm so excited about using all I learned. Folks, you get an immediate ROI by attending one of these conferences. Start putting aside some bucks so you can afford to go next year. It's definitely worth it."

  - Ellen Mulqueen, A FutureLink

* * * * *

"Barbara Safani is a wizard when it comes to networking! Wendy Weiss taught me a few new techniques that will make us more effective this coming year. What can be said of Ric Lanham except "He nailed it." I never tire of learning from Jack Chapman and who knew he could play the drums so well?

Freddie Cheek and Ellen Mulqueen know more about working with those with special needs than I ever imagined. I find it really interesting how Louise Kursmark just gets smarter and smarter every year. She too taught me some "new tricks" we will apply this year.

I really enjoyed seeing all 7 Laura Decarlos (I KNOW there must be at least 7 of her because she does the work of at least 7 normal human beings) Laura deserves an award for making our conference so worthwhile and interesting.

I look forward to seeing you all in San Antonio next year. It's so nice to know so many nice people!"

  - Don Skipper, Career Beginnings, Inc.

* * * * *

"Ditto to everyone! Lisa and I thoroughly enjoyed the CDI conference and came away with a bundle of good ideas to implement within our writing and sales team. It never ceases to amaze me how much camaraderie and expertise there is within our industry. Thank you so much to all the presenters.

I always enjoyed seeing my old friends and making new acquaintances within the industry. All I can say is what an amazing group of people.

Laura, you and your team are truly amazing and we can't thank you enough for all your hard work. We definitely plan to go to next years conference in San Antonio."

  - Barbara Adams, CareerPro Global Inc.

* * * * *

"I'm so excited! My supplemental 'Great Idea Book' from Laura is on my desk. I decided to try just two of the new ideas the first opportunity I had (Of course, I'll implement more ideas ASAP, including getting in touch with my accountability partners ) So, while doing my best to catch up on client contact from my absence and following up on some promises made to several colleagues from the conference -- and not finished yet --- (if you're on my list), I took a call from a job seeking prospect. Well, both new ideas from my Great Idea Book were used with this prospect and sure enough, this new client will be here on Thursday for a fee based consultation. I also did a "ball park" quote on her resume, based on the second idea in my Great Idea Book and I provided my highest price quote ever :-) Because of the wording of how my fees are structured, thanks to one presenter, the prospect quickly agreed it was a fair investment.

I'm eager to have more opportunities to use more suggestions and can't wait to share results after my appointment on Thursday."

  - Jane Roqueplot, JaneCo's Sensible Solutions

* * * * *

"As a first-time attendee, I was very impressed with the organization of the event, and I especially enjoyed meeting so many professionals in the resume writing world. I made some new friends, and learned many new things to add to my business. It was also great to meet Louise and Arnold in person, as I have resumes that will be published in their upcoming books. What a treat!

Thank you Laura for taking care of all the details, especially making sure I was well fed. I truly appreciate your sensitivity and all the hard work you put into making this a wonderful conference."

  - Marilyn Feldstein, Career Choices Unlimited

* * * * *

"It is exciting to be in my office today implementing new ideas, contacting new CDI members, and thanking everyone for moving us to the next level in not only our businesses, but in our hearts!

When attending conferences, I always set three goals. For this conference, the goals were to (1) find writers for the new launch of a virtual career center www.JobRockit.com (so far ... Ellen Mulqueen., Freddie Cheek., and Cory Edwards), (2) determine how to set up the website regarding numerous writers (thank you!, Louise Kursmark!!), and (3) learn new revenue streams (Barbara Safani, Jack Chapman, Louise Kursmark, Marty Weitzman ... on and on!!)

But, what I take away MOST from this conference ... the gracious hearts of Jane Roqueplot and Barbara Adams. Josh Groban has a great song called, 'You Raise Me Up' ... When goals are set for future conferences, I will make sure that one is set to "make a difference in someone's life" rather than all goals pointed toward myself!

As "Make a Difference Day" approaches Saturday, October 28, I think of Don Skipper's group as they move forward with the CCTC program ... lest we forget Cordell Tjaden who made an impression on everyone! Don, we are looking forward to seeing you on OPRAH! My family was touched by the good hearts of CDI members.

Oprah speaks of many things being 'in the details.' The Orlando conference was all about "the details." Way to go, Laura and committees, for creating a fun-filled, rewarding conference that moves us all to another level business-wise and heart-wise!!!"

  - Sharon Williams, The Resume.Doc

* * * * *

"I ditto everything everyone has said. For those of you who say it's too expensive or you can't afford it, coming from Katrinaville I said the same thing. But...you can work it out. I spent $800.00...which included everything... the conference, hotel room (I roomed with 3 other ladies - yeah guys it worked out well, our "networking" continued after our all-day networking), the luau, meals, some books, plane fare, and transportation to and from the airport! You can be on a tight budget and still enjoy yourself!

The friendship and sharing was excellent. The group we had was ready to share anything you wanted or needed to know. The seminars were excellent! And, of course, Laura had every detail covered. As we sat munching on M&Ms while waiting for a session to start, I mentioned to our table the group that if I know Laura, there is something written on the M&Ms. They laughed....well, guess who got the prize for knowing what was on the M&Ms!!!!! Chris (Laura's husband), does she ever sleep??? She made sure every last detail was perfect. Table toys???? What a great idea!! But the sessions were packed with so much information, we had to stay during the break to play with them.

Thank you Laura for such a wonderful time. It was great to see all of you again. Thank you all for your friendship and knowledge that you shared. I look forward to seeing all of you again in San Antonio next year!"

  - Nona Pratz, Types Write

* * * * *

"Colleagues, how can I top the fine words said by Ellen, Don, Marty, Malloy, Louise, Judy, Ric, and Barbara? First, one goes to these conferences to learn and network. That happened in gallons of gold, because Laura, Kate, Chris, and the gang all provided such a nice venue with all the accouterments of home. I got to finally meet in person the ladies of the Research Committee, Carrie and Nona. By the way, Carrie, you have such lovely children! That was a thrill, because we have been communicating on the telephone almost every month for about a year.

Also, Grant deserves a special kudo for dressing in a tux. Naturally, the two stories about Katrina from Nona and Grant made a deep impression. It is the people who helped them who deserve special thanks as well. I am glad both these treasured members are able to get back on their feet again. Having gone through two earthquakes, I can somewhat empathize with their concerns.

One presentation after another from Thursday morning on moved so quickly, and one wanted more time on each one. The Luau was particularly gratifying, because so much camaraderie was expressed. I will never forget the conversations with Susan Guarneri at the table topics about blogging and personal branding.

Today in our first-year seminar we talked about the importance of memory in college and related SAVE (Selectivity-Association-Visualization-Effort) CRIB (Concentration-Recitation-Interest-Big and Little Pictures) FOTO (Feedback-Organization-Time on Task-Ongoing Review). In most examples I used my well-spent time in Orlando to explain to the students how important it is to remember people's names and something about them. Sharon Pierce-Williams and Laura, yes, we even talked about lunch reviews and their etiquette. You can see I could have networked for another week. It is hard to get back to the classroom after meeting so many friends and new friends who have so much to offer.

The time flew by!"

  - Jay Christensen, CECC, CFRW, California State University, Northridge

* * * * *

2005 - Las Vegas, Nevada

“So much fun, so much great information, and such wonderful camaraderie!

Yesterday - my first day back - I immediately sold 2 new service offerings that will bring me $200 pure profit at no expenditure of time. I proposed about $500 of additional (new) services to a top executive client, and I'm confident this is just the start of something wonderful (for them and for me). And I'm revamping an upcoming workshop to include some of the great tips and tricks I learned - again, wonderful for my audience and fun for me.

It was great to meet new friends and reconnect with familiar faces. What a great group! I look forward to next year!”

  - Louise Kursmark, MRW, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP, CCM, Best Impression Career Services, Inc

* * * * *

"Spectacular, Informative, Enriching, Rejuvenating and Profitable are some of the words that come to mind following this great conference! As a regular attendee to some of the largest career conferences and events, I have never been to a conference with such high-quality sessions. I learned something from each presenter. I have 2-pages of immediate To-Dos and 4-pages of ideas to implement to provide better services and make more money. If you missed this conference, you'll want to make sure to make Conference 2006 in Orlando! You won't be disappointed!”

  - Cory Edwards, CRW, CFRW, CWPP, CECC, CCMC, Partnering for Success

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"Wow! What can I say - the conference in Vegas was just awesome. This was a very special time for me, meeting people I'd met at the New Orleans conference plus lots of new people too. We all have so much to learn from each other. The presentations were fabulous and each one of us will have learned something to introduce into our business and for our clients. I met so many wonderful people and I thank them for sharing their 'secrets'. Thanks again to everyone for making this conference awe-inspiring."

  - Carolyn Broomfield, CRW, CEIC, First Place Resumes, Australia

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“The speakers and content were fantastic. Kendall's opening 4-hour presentation started the conference off with a BANG !! What valuable marketing information!!! It only got better from there. The mix was wonderful - from an interactive panel discussion to an informative presentation by Aussie Carolyn Broomfield. WOW !! I'm really looking forward to 2006 in Orlando.”

  - Deborah S. James, CCMC, CPRW, Leading Edge Resumes & Career Services

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“After attending Vegas this year, I can honestly say that I have rarely participated in a conference where the sessions were so worthwhile (and this was probably my 30th conference).

I have attended the CDI <PRWRA> conference for the past four years. Not only have I had a wonderful time but, more importantly, I have greatly benefited from each experience.

What have I gained?

• A lucrative relationship with a business for which I now subcontract.
• Information that I have used in materials I have written for publication.
• Invaluable tips on conducting my business.
• Visibility and networking with peers whose expertise I value.
• Ideas for presentations I have given.
• The best client management tip I have ever received and which I have passed along to almost everyone I know.
• A chance to meet colleagues whom I admire and very much wanted to share time with.
• Materials, including a resume critique program, that I use almost daily to make my job easier.
• Writing and grammar tips that I have shared with members of other associations.

And that's just a partial list.

Okay, I must admit I have had fun, too. The food has always been top notch and the accommodations have been superior. I have always felt a part of a bigger family of colleagues. I have even walked away each year with a suitcase full of door prizes and giveaways.

Congratulations to the whole conference team. I am already looking forward to Orlando in 2006.”  

  - Freddie Cheek, M.S. Ed., CCM, CPRW, CRW, CWDP, Cheek & Cristantello Career  

    Connections

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“The conference was so stimulating, my head is bursting with ideas. Folks, start saving your pennies for next year. I think it was Grant who said, in an earlier email, that within a couple of months, he'll earn back the money he invested in the conference. That can be true of everyone. If you can put away just a little each week, you'll be able to afford conference costs without any burden.”

  - Ellen Mulqueen, MA, CRW, The Institute of Living

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"The Las Vegas meeting was one of the very best and most informative I have had the pleasure to attend over the past three years.

I and my staff all learned much at this meeting. I personally formed two alliances and am working on a third alliance that I believe will handsomely reward all four of us.

It was also rewarding to learn new material and to be exposed to new ideas and ways of approaching problems. In addition to my alliances, I have returned with three implementable ideas that are being worked on at this writing.

Of course, as always, I had the wonderful opportunity to rekindle old friendships and to make a few new friends as well. Isn't that one of the heart, not head, reasons we attend these things anyway?

To all of those who did not attend, you REALLY missed some outstanding programs and ideas. See you in Orlando in October - 2006.”

  - Fred Coon, Chairman, CEO - Stewart, Cooper & Coon, Inc.

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“Having attended conferences with four different career associations, I have to say, hands down, CDI <PRWRA> puts on the best show, from the awards to the food and content. It may not be the biggest, but I'm all for quality over quantity.

I recently entered my fifth year in business and I don't believe I could have made it this far without conference attendance. I learned a lot, and made some new friends along the way. I've never experienced a camaraderie in the workplace with colleagues as I have in this business, yet we compete for the same clients everyday.”

  - Susan Geary, 1st Rate Resumes, CERW, CEIC, CPRW, CRW, 1st Rate Resumes

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"How do we begin to say thank you for such a well-done job of organizing and running such an important conference! The food was so . . . good; the sessions were so . . .excellent. Especially, I value the time meeting long-time members and new members. Enthusiasm was contagious everywhere. The days went fast, and I was sorry when the conference ended.

The thanks just keep coming for you provided the inspiration. None of us will ever forget the Fremont Street Experience either."

  - Dr. G. Jay Christensen, PhD, CECC, CFRW, California State University, Northridge

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“Fantastic conference and fantastic association. The dynamics of this organization is responsible for the really useful and fulfilling conference you presented. Sans politics, sans status seeking, I witnessed a group of folks sincerely interested in helping one another.”

  - Janice Worthington, MA, CPRW, CEIP, JCTC, Worthington Career Services

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“Here's just another take on what turned out to be a superb conference! As VP of International Relations I was pleased to have not one but two international speakers agree to present at our Las Vegas Conference! Audrey Fields and Carolyn Broomfield did an outstanding job bringing an international flavour and prospective through their presentations. This truly sets us apart and enriches our membership with a worldwide prospective.”

  - Nicole Miller, CRW, CCM, CECC, IJCTC, Milroy Consultants

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“I had the opportunity to attend the conference this year and have to echo the sentiments that so many of you shared already. I was delighted! I have attended several conferences all of them being much larger and wasn't sure if the quality would be the same with a smaller group. What a wonderful surprise! The smaller group format was excellent because the speakers were really able to personalize the material and our burning questions were answered with insight and depth. This was a new experience for me and I found the information to be extremely valuable and have already started to use it with my clients.

Congratulations on putting on a great conference!”

  - Heather Wieshlow - Turning Point Coaching and Consulting

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“I have been in the resume business for 16 years and this is the first conference I have attended. What a wonderful experience! I learned something - usually many things - from each session and every single member I had the privilege of meeting.

My sincere thanks to President Laura, an inspiring leader, who made this career-boosting experience possible. I will see you all in Orlando in 2006!”

  - Nancy Rosenberg, MBA, A2Z Resumes

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“This was my first conference and I learned so much and I intend on putting new strategies to work immediately. It was really nice meeting everyone and I enjoy belonging to a genuine, supportive organization. I am supercharged and ready for action.”

  – Abby Locke, CRW, CFRW, Premier Writing Solutions

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What do you have to say? Join us at our next conference to see for yourself what all the talk is about!