“The Farewell Party
was AMAZING!
Already counting
down the days til
2019.”
— KrIstIna ValIanI
Ceo, tHe BeaUty of Hope
Chairman Garrett Mersberger delivered the lineup card, Casey Warr stole second base and Michael Pugliese threw out the first pitch
at the event, which was sponsored by Eminence Organic Skin Care and Groupon.
The Farewell Party once again proved that
the ISPA Conference & Expo is so much
more than just a Conference – it’s a family
reunion.
For longtime attendees, it’s natural to
view ISPA and its functions from an
insider’s seasoned perspective. But for
outsiders, the vantage point is quite
different. A lack of contextual knowledge
and experience lends itself to noticing
certain things that an ISPA veteran has
simply grown used to.
This was the perspective of Pacia
Anderson, the St. Louis spoken word
artist who blessed us with her breath-
taking talents during the opening General
Session. As she floated throughout the
Farewell Party, Pacia noticed something
special about the ISPA family. A writer at
heart, Pacia is naturally observant, and
fully recognized that she was experiencing
something special:
“I’m not into baseball, but I am into
new, cool experiences – and this was a
very cool, new experience for me. It was a
great chance to make friends and network
while being able to enjoy a part of
Phoenix’s homegrown culture under a
beautiful night sky. I enjoyed it very
much.”
Friendship. Networking. These are the
joys of being together as a professional
family, and they’re what make ISPA
special. As the family grows, so does the
joy of each reunion; it’s why we can’t wait
for next year’s ISPA Conference & Expo. n
November 2018
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