{"id":270974,"date":"2025-06-03T18:16:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/accounting\/expert-tips-for-attending-scaling-new-heights-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T18:16:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T18:16:14","slug":"expert-tips-for-attending-scaling-new-heights-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=270974","title":{"rendered":"Expert Tips For Attending Scaling New Heights 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Note: this article is a semi-annual rewrite\/update of my original one on QuickBooks Connect 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n

One of my favorite books when I was a kid was \u201cHail, Hail, Camp Timberwood<\/a>,\u201d about a girl who goes to summer camp for her first time. She\u2019s standing around, feeling (and probably looking) uncomfortable as all the return campers are running around, hugging each other, excited to be reunited. All of a sudden, someone runs up to her and gives her a big hug and says how happy she is to see her again. After a moment of total confusion, the girl leans in and says, \u201cDon\u2019t worry \u2013 we don\u2019t actually know each other. I was just feeling left out and figured I\u2019d join \u2018em.\u201d The two of them become fast friends and go off hugging others who looked out of place and letting them in on the joke. Before you know it, the entire place was full of everyone running around hugging each other and laughing.<\/p>\n

While I can\u2019t say this is likely to happen\u00a0exactly<\/em>\u00a0like that at the upcoming Scaling New Heights conference in Orlando, I also wouldn\u2019t be that surprised if it did. There will be heaps of people reuniting for the first time since last year (check out\u00a0my video blog about previous amazing takeaways<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0an article for Insightful Accountant<\/a>). But there will also be loads of first-timers attending (approximately 400 per Joe Woodard\u2019s recent webinar: Maximizing Your SNH Experience), who are nervous and out of their element. Find the other wallflowers and go up to them \u2013 tell them it seemed like maybe they didn\u2019t know anyone there, either, and do they want to eat lunch together or go to a vendor booth or grab a drink? You\u2019ll be delighted and surprised at how many of these folks you\u2019ll stay in touch with through the years. Remember, progressive accountants and bookkeepers such as the kind you\u2019ll find at SNH \u2013 especially those who go year after year \u2013 are excited you\u2019re there, and they want to help make your experience better. Introduce yourself to someone who looks like they \u201cbelong\u201d and say that you\u2019re new, and not sure where to begin. I am sure they\u2019ll point you in the right direction, take you under their wing, or introduce you to someone who might be a great conference buddy.<\/p>\n

For today\u2019s blog post, I\u2019m going to be that conference buddy, and share with you my Expert Tips for Attending Scaling New Heights 2025.<\/p>\n

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Tip One \u2014 PLAN AHEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Attend a prep session webinar or podcast for individual insights. Insightful Accountant will be focusing their Wednesday, June 18th QB Talks<\/a> on the topic of Prepping for SNH, with special guests Kim Noh<\/a> and Heather Day Satterley<\/a> (SNH Director of Education).<\/li>\n
  2. And Joe Woodard himself will be hosting one on Maximizing Your Experience at Scaling New Heights 2025 on Wednesday, June 4th, 3-4 pm Eastern, and you can register here<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  3. Plan ahead, make a schedule, but be comfortable diverging from it; that way you don\u2019t waste time figuring out what to do in the moment, but you also don\u2019t miss the organic opportunities that arise.<\/li>\n
  4. Make a list of vendors you\u2019d like to meet; they\u2019re often very busy during open Exhibit Hall time; it might be helpful to set up a time with them to meet during a session when the Hall is less busy. Bring a list of questions you\u2019d like to have answered. Narrow your scope\u2026 it\u2019s impossible to visit everyone. Pick a few areas of interest, look into which vendors serve those areas, and focus on them.<\/li>\n
  5. Connect on social media with others who will be attending, whether it\u2019s in a Facebook group like\u00a0Woodard Group of the Americas<\/a>\u00a0(check out their very active community chats) or\u00a0QB Community Live<\/a>, LinkedIn, or other platform, you can always use #SNH25 to find out who you already know that might be going. Engage and make plans ahead of time.<\/li>\n
  6. Check with your sales reps and vendors for the tools you love best \u2014 whether you\u2019re already using them or plan to implement this year \u2014 to see if they are hosting any customer dinners, happy hours or get-togethers. Same with professional associations you might be considering joining, like Bookkeeping Buds, Realize, Roundtable, or my own \u2018Ask a CPA\u2019 community<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Tip Two \u2014 DOWNLOAD AND USE THE MOBILE APP<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    1. The\u00a0training schedule on the Woodard website<\/a>\u00a0does a nice job of giving you a visual to see which sessions are held concurrently. It also lists the speaker, track, and topics at-a-glance, which the app does not. However,\u00a0you can only register for a session using the mobile app or the <\/strong>web app<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 not via the main website\u2019s training schedule<\/strong>, which is informational-only.<\/li>\n
    2. If you still have the app on your phone from last year, it will no longer work<\/em>, as they\u2019ve upgraded to a Woodard Events-branded version of the popular Cvent app.<\/li>\n
    3. You can download the new app from Google Play<\/a> or the Apple App Store<\/a>. Just search for \u201cWoodard Events\u201d.<\/li>\n
    4. The conference app is also\u00a0available as a web version called the Attendee Hub<\/a>. And YES, the web app and mobile app sync with each other automatically!<\/li>\n
    5. From either the mobile app or the web app, you can easily export each session to your own online calendar.<\/li>\n
    6. Both versions of the app have newly improved filters for dates, times, categories, and speakers; and the exhibit hall vendors are now sorted by type!<\/li>\n
    7. It\u2019s definitely helpful to the community if you register ahead-of-time for the classes that interest you (such as my two sessions \u2014 \u201cThe Tax-Ready Bookkeeper: A Year-End Review Checklist\u201d, at 2:10 pm on Wednesday, June 25th; and, \u201cBest Practices for 1099 Preparation Services\u201d immediately following, at 4:10 pm)! This is how they determine which rooms will be assigned for each one. If there\u2019s a lot of interest in a particular topic, they\u2019ll give it a bigger room, and that makes life easier for everyone.<\/li>\n
    8. You can\u2019t \u201clike\u201d or \u201cfavorite\u201d any of the other sessions at the same time, as is the case with some apps\u2026 you can only \u201cregister\u201d, and only for one per time slot. However, you can export as many sessions as you like from either the app or web version of the app to your calendar, which could be a workaround if you\u2019re interested in more than one and want to track them all.<\/li>\n
    9. The app won\u2019t let you register if it\u2019s full. But that doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t try to attend anyway! Lines will form for the \u201csold-out\u201d sessions, and they will let additional people in if there\u2019s capacity, which there usually is \u2013\u00a0get there early to be near the front of the line. There is almost always extra room and I\u2019ve rarely been turned away.<\/li>\n
    10. If you click on the session, it will show you the description and learning objectives, as well as speaker info. If you click on the speaker, it will show their bio and all the sessions they\u2019re teaching at the conference, as well as a link to their website. This is a great way to research which instructors you\u2019d like to hear.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      Tip Three \u2014 PACK WISELY AND COMFORTABLY<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      1. Wear comfortable shoes \u2013 this is the largest Marriott in the world! It can easily be a mile from your room to the conference center. (Plus\u2026 the occasional industry leader dance-off competition<\/a>, just sayin\u2019.)<\/li>\n
      2. Pack an extra collapsible duffle bag for swag if you\u2019re into it \u2013 but remember\u2026 you can also say \u201cno thank you\u201d. It\u2019s easy to get lost in the freebie frenzy, but do you really need another stress ball? That said, some of the stuff will be too good to pass up and you want to make sure you have room to carry it home.<\/li>\n
      3. The breakout rooms are often FREEZING! Bring a wrap, poncho or sweatshirt.<\/li>\n
      4. However, it\u2019s also Orlando in June and there\u2019s a pool, as well as a\u00a0full waterpark<\/a>\u00a0with a lazy river and waterslides. The main pool is included at no extra charge as part of the Scaling New Heights room cost, and the waterpark is available for an upgrade. Pack your swimsuit!<\/li>\n
      5. Bring a refillable water bottle (or reuse a plastic bottle) and\/or coffee\/tea mug; there will be dispensers, and also, the water in your hotel room is fine to drink.<\/li>\n
      6. Bring battery packs and chargers \u2013 often the rooms are in a basement and your cell struggles and chews up your battery; plus you\u2019ll want to be on the conference app, and your association\u2019s Slack or Circle apps, and you\u2019ll probably text a lot.<\/li>\n
      7. Conference hotels are pricey! Buy food & drink at a nearby convenience store if you\u2019re going to want snacks or a bottle or box of wine outside of the usual meals and parties. Keep in mind that the Marriott is a Pepsi products hotel, so if you need your Coke, best buy some as well. The closest 7\/11 is a mile away, so hit it up first-thing on the way from the airport so you get it all in one visit, or get a group of folks together to split the cost of a 6-seater Lyft XL. (While you\u2019re there, pick up some Epsom salts to soak your feet.)<\/li>\n
      8. Ordering grocery or restaurant food delivery is often a lot cheaper than eating at the hotel restaurants. I\u2019ve heard great things about\u00a0Vacation Grocery Delivery\u00a0<\/a>in Orlando.<\/li>\n
      9. Speaking of the hotel restaurants, the reservations book up very quickly. If you know you\u2019ll want to eat out on a given night, go ahead and reserve as soon as you can.<\/li>\n
      10. There are coffeemakers in the rooms, but only the kind that take those disposable pod-cup things. There is a Starbucks and a market but sometimes the lines are long. You may want to bring a portable tea kettle or coffeemaker;\u00a0this is ours<\/a>, and it\u2019s a lifesaver.<\/a> (I wish I had an affiliate link because I recommend this thing to everyone.) Works great for boiling water for instant oatmeal or ramen if you have a midnight hankering!<\/li>\n
      11. Carry small bills for tipping bartenders at the various happy hours, socials, parties and receptions. They work hard and many attendees don\u2019t think to bring cash.<\/li>\n
      12. Bring earplugs for sleeping and loud parties.<\/li>\n
      13. Many folks are participating in \u201cTutu Tuesday\u201d where everyone wears a tutu \u2014 in fact, Alicia Katz-Pollock<\/a> of Royalwise and the Unofficial QuickBooks Podcast<\/a> is giving out 100 blue tutus as swag at the Expo Hall! (Get there early.)<\/li>\n
      14. And others are wearing their best Star Trek: Next Generation costumes in honor of the theme, \u201cMake It So\u201d.<\/li>\n
      15. All that said: don\u2019t overpack. We\u2019re only there for four days and you can re-wear some of your clothing. You don\u2019t want to get stuck spending most of your final night re-packing your whole wardrobe. You\u2019ll probably need less stuff than you think.<\/li>\n
      16. There\u2019s usually a spot where you can store your luggage on the last day, after checking out (rather than with the hotel concierge). Either way, you\u2019re good.<\/li>\n
      17. Dress code: BE YOURSELF. Many people are in sweats and jeans, others are in power-suits or dresses, and some of us love dressing up in-costume and wearing tiaras (or tutus, or \u2014 spoiler alert: cow costumes) whenever we get the chance. Wear what makes you feel most like yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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        Tip Four \u2014 TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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        1. Mears Transportation offers shuttle service from Orlando International Airport to the hotel for $16 per person, each way.\u00a0Reserve in advance here<\/a>. Given that taxi fare is about $55, the shuttle is usually the better way to go, especially with luggage.<\/li>\n
        2. Included in the cost of rooms in the Scaling New Heights room block is daily scheduled shuttle service to all four Disney Parks & Disney Springs.<\/li>\n
        3. Plan for ample travel time while in Orlando, whether you\u2019re on foot or in a vehicle. The location is \u201cjust outside the entrance to Disney World\u201d but each property is so massive that it often takes half-an-hour to get anywhere.<\/li>\n
        4. Once you\u2019ve met a bunch of folks at the conference, consider coordinating to share a cab back to the airport when you depart, if the shuttle service timing doesn\u2019t work for you and you don\u2019t have too much luggage.<\/li>\n
        5. Check in early and skip the SNH check-in lines. Usually, they offer early check-in on Saturday from 12 PM-6 PM and again on Sunday starting at 8 AM. You can head to the Registration Desk near the Cypress Ballroom. Remember to bring your ID.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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          Tip Five \u2014 NETWORKING<\/strong><\/p>\n

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          1. Represent your tribe\u2026 for example, a couple years ago at Intuit Connect, the\u00a0Bookkeeping Buds<\/a>\u00a0all wore tiaras for one of the sessions where a member was presenting. I also always bring my favorite Bookkeeping Buds bag and use it instead of the conference one (it not only is a nice talking point, but it also is easier to find if you leave it behind somewhere). I bought custom-made badge ribbons and stickers for our \u2018Ask a CPA\u2019<\/a> group members who will be attending. Many folks love wearing t-shirts from their favorite apps \u2013 Kim Noh even has her own tee that has logos of her tech stack!<\/li>\n
          2. Stay connected via Slack, Circle, social media, and texts throughout the conference. Often folks in your group will save a block of seats at the mainstage presentations, or will give a heads-up when a particular session is fabulous or misses the mark.<\/li>\n
          3. Bring business cards \u2013 digital, paper, or a paper one with a QR code (or QR code stickers). I started using\u00a0HiHello<\/a>\u00a0a couple years ago, and I printed out a QR code and taped it to my phone case, which makes it easy for folks to scan, but also a great way for someone to find me if I lose my phone. These days the vendors usually just scan your badge to get your info, but they do sometimes have raffles where you can drop an old-school card in an old-school fishbowl; I have a different set of b-cards I use for these with an email that routes to a different folder.<\/li>\n
          4. Prepare your elevator pitch \u2013 who are you, what do you do, why are you here, what makes you different? What will I want to remember about meeting you?<\/li>\n
          5. SNH is practically taking over the entire hotel \u2014 so no matter who you run into, say hi and start up a conversation\u2026 95% likelihood they\u2019re with us.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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            Tip Six \u2014 TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF<\/strong><\/p>\n

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            1. Sleep well the week leading up to the conference \u2013 the sessions start early, the parties go late, and there\u2019s always something happening in the hotel bar.<\/li>\n
            2. Put your badge on the inside of the doorknob when you get back to your room, so that you remember to grab it on your way out. They are strict about not letting anyone in without it.<\/li>\n
            3. If you\u2019re getting groceries delivered or stopping by a 7\/11 or Walgreens, consider picking up some Epsom salts to soak your feet.<\/li>\n
            4. It\u2019s okay to skip the morning session if you were up late, or to take a nap during a mainstage or between events. Give yourself some grace.<\/li>\n
            5. But be careful about how late you stay up and how much you drink. You don\u2019t want to miss something valuable or feel sick just because you lost track of yourself. There\u2019s a cool \u201cbracelet trick\u201d I learned years ago\u2026 put as many bracelets on your left wrist as drinks you\u2019ll allow yourself. Move one bracelet to the right wrist with each drink. Once your left wrist is empty, you cut yourself off. Another trick is to re-use the same glass each time you get another adult beverage \u2014 filling it up with water between drinks\u2026 you have to finish the water before allowing yourself a refill. And this may go without saying, but make sure to eat a full meal to soak up the bevvies.<\/li>\n
            6. Consider arriving a day early or leaving a day late so you can see the sights or enjoy the hotel amenities. I find that every place I go has something to offer. Even Orlando.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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              Tip Seven \u2014 SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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              1. There is a \u201cNew Attendee Orientation\u201d on Sunday, June 22 at 9 AM (likely held in the Crystal Ballroom). They will place veteran conference-goers at each table to help guide rookies (400 of them this year!) and answer questions. There is a \u201cPractice Advancement Breakfast\u201d afterwards (likely in the Palms Ballroom Sabal Room). It requires an RSVP in the app, but is free of charge and includes a hot breakfast.<\/li>\n
              2. There are always seats up-front, even when a session looks full. Don\u2019t be nervous about walking right up there, even if it\u2019s a few minutes into the session. No one\u2019s looking at you, and no one cares.<\/li>\n
              3. That said, feel free to ditch a class if it\u2019s not what you were hoping for or expected. There are other workshops that will be better worth your valuable time \u2013 or maybe it\u2019s an opportunity to visit with vendors or network with colleagues.<\/li>\n
              4. There are three special types of talks that you might want to keep in mind. First: Vendor breakfasts, which are sponsored sessions you can enjoy while eating the hot breakfast that\u2019s included with the conference; they are not<\/strong> sales pitches, and they are very transparent about being sponsored slots. One in particular I\u2019d recommend is Valerie Heckman<\/a>\u2018s Unlocking The Power of the Ta-Da List: A Workshop with OnPay<\/a>. Her keynote last year was truly inspiring. Secondly: Woodard Theater sessions \u2014 15-20 minute mini-sessions in the Expo Hall on specific topics where a presenter is excited to share their expertise, like my Tuesday morning session on How to Protect Your Clients from Reasonable Compensation Myths<\/a>. And finally: themed Walking Tours of the Expo Hall; these one-hour sessions were developed by CPA Practice Advisor Editor Gail Perry<\/a> years ago, and Woodard has brought them back! Only available for PLUS Pass holders and Woodard members. Hope Brown<\/a> and I will be leading one on tax tech Monday at 2:50 pm.<\/li>\n
              5. Take lots of notes \u2013 notebook, e-ink pad, tablet, laptop\u2026 however works best for you. (In fact, as a paper-note-taker, I plan to check out my friends\u2019 Remarkables and Supernotes as one of my research goals for the conference.)<\/li>\n
              6. In that notebook, keep one page aside for notes that are about\u00a0client-specific problems\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>that you will solve when you get back home; and another for\u00a0non-client-specific items<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0you will address. Try to restrict that second list to only 2-3 things \u2013 it\u2019s impossible to implement every shiny new idea you come across. Those will hang around in your head and you\u2019ll get a chance to learn more at the next conference, by which point maybe you\u2019ll have a new set of goals.<\/li>\n
              7. Woodard is holding a special fundraiser and volunteer event on Saturday for early arrivers \u2014 the Build-a-Bike event for at-risk youth will be held from 3-5 pm.<\/li>\n
              8. There are also themed \u201cmeet-ups\u201d at various times throughout the conference, which are listed in the app. If one of them sounds like people you want to meet, then this is the perfect time to do it! They\u2019ll be held in the \u201cPlan Guru\u201d meetup space.<\/li>\n
              9. Forwardly<\/a> \u2014 proud sponsor of the \u201cShe Counts\u201d podcast<\/a> hosted by Questian Telka<\/a> and myself \u2014 has compiled an SNH Primer<\/a>: a list of their favorite events and sessions. We\u2019re especially delighted to announce that we\u2019ll be hosting a meet-and-greet at their booth on Tuesday, June 24th at 3 pPlease come visit and pick up your Forwardly and She Counts swag.<\/li>\n
              10. Jennifer Dymond<\/a> and I will be hosting Cow-a-BINGO at the Keeper<\/a> booth on Monday at 11 am! In cow-stumes. No, really! Come join us for fun times and prizes.<\/li>\n
              11. Most mainstage and breakout sessions will be recorded, but only Woodard members and PLUS pass holders will have access (for 6 months; can be shared with other members in the same company, to spread the love). They will even apply the cost of your conference admission to your membership! If you\u2019re interested, reach out to Shirley Koss<\/a>, Woodard Community Manager.<\/li>\n
              12. It\u2019s natural to be nervous, but you can do this! Even extroverts struggle with meeting new people sometimes. Move through that shyness or fear and lean into the fact that almost everyone here came alone; everyone had a first conference where they didn\u2019t know anyone; and everyone is here to meet other people and develop their practices. We have so much in common\u2026 sit at a lunch-table where you don\u2019t know anyone and introduce yourself. Ask why they\u2019re here and what they\u2019re enjoying most. Find out where they\u2019re from and what their specialty is. Tell them your goals and ask if they have advice. Ask them what their tech stack is and share your struggles with your choices and vendors and all the things. We will never run out of topics to talk about with each other, because there is so much to learn in our industry. Plus, chances are that these are folks who are as passionate about what they do as you are, or they wouldn\u2019t be here in the first place.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Now, if this was helpful, your next steps are to: go\u00a0register<\/a> for Joe Woodard\u2019s \u201cMaximizing Your SNH Experience\u201d Q&A on Wednesday, June 4th, 3-4 pm Eastern; download the mobile app or go to the web app<\/a> and register for your sessions (especially my three<\/a>!); download some good podcasts to listen to on the flight; and start packing.<\/p>\n

                See you soon at Scaling New Heights!<\/p>\n

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