TEKFest23 - The Thank you!

Words can’t describe how incredible #TekFest23 really was.?Over 150 attendees from across the country traveled for our very first event and it was an absolute success on every single level. Bringing an event like this together in such a short period of time with all of its moving parts is a feat in and of itself – but we pulled it off with the help of some incredible folks like yourself... and we raised nearly $12,000 together!

First and foremost - We NEED to extend special thanks to Tharron Forquer for being the guy connecting our community with all the event exhibitors and sponsors.?Tharron has always been the official liaison for our community since the beginning – and he took this event and made it something that we are so very proud of. TKW doesn’t have TekFest w/ out Tharron leading the Cable & Connections team and taking charge of the million things he was responsible for. Tharron spent HUNDREDS of hours working with every partner and local vendor we had to make everything happen as well as making sure every person that attended felt as though they were a part of something much larger than themselves.

Cable & Connections , David Utterback & Darren Krych – thank you for being the partner that you are – for believing in our mission and allowing us a place to hold the very first TekFest. When we first built this community, you were literally the first to say to us “we believe in you, and we trust in what you are doing” and you allowed us to build a solid foundation of trust and transparency with your team and all the partners you brought along with. We re-established and rebuilt trust w/ each and every one of our partners – and it is because you helped us show them what TRUE community looks like.

To all of our TekTalk Presenters – Rob Whiteside , Ray Cline , Jeremy Gable, Chuck Bowser III, RCDD, TECH , Mikail Ocasio , Justin Colantonio & Pearce Smithwick the sharing of knowledge, skill & technique is a core element to the community – but taking the time to share your topic, plan the time to present and share that with a room full of your peers for FREE is something that will be remembered and shared for years to come.?We’ve all learned so much from participating in these TekTalks and we’ll take that gained knowledge and share it with others.?

To all the exhibitors & partners that contributed to TekFest – we hope you know that you’re an integral part of the team – you are all so much more to us that exhibitors at an event, you are our connection to the future of continuing the mission of giving back to the MANY projects we’ll do together.?Thank YOU for taking the time to show us your products and services as well as listening to our members about things we really want and need to be successful as individuals as well as a successful community.?

To the newly appointed TekAdvisory Committee – most especially, Tricia D. , for keeping us together and on task – your help, guidance and participation are so welcomed and appreciated. It literally takes a village to bring things together, and we are so lucky to have each of you helping guide the community for years to come. Each of you has a unique skillset and perspective which helps guide the team and allows the voices of the entire community to be heard.?

Finally – to the TKW Community members – you’ve been patient, understanding and believed in the mission and community we’ve been building together. Together, we’re elevating multiple industries by teaching others by example and showing the world what REAL #communityovercompetition truly means. Together we embody the mission – we embrace the work needed to make impactful change and we do it in a way that that makes others want to be a part of it. Simply put – you show up and do the thing – your dedication and enthusiasm really are why we’re able to do the amazing things we do.

Simply thanking folks isn’t enough – Actions speak louder than words,?so we’ll continue to keep living and embodying the promise and the mission that we set forth just under 2 years ago. Stay tuned folks, this is just the beginning!

TekAdvisors - Abe Brown Brent Anhel , Daniel Higdon , Dave Johnston Jeff Day , Mikail Ocasio , Rob Whiteside , Stephen Klenert , Steven K. , Tharron Forquer , Tricia D. , Baer Halvorson PSP?

Exhibitors / Sponsors - Cable & Connections Vertical Cable Hammond Manufacturing , Brother USA Simply45 LLC AEM , NetAlly , Pulling Paul, Manhattan Products , Intellinet Network Solutions , UNV Technology USA LLC , The Light Connection, D-Line USA Inc. , Sera4 , Lynn Electronics Sales & Service , Platinum Tools - NSI Industries Brand , NSI, Techlogix Network, 伊顿 , ZKTeco , EXFO Sumitomo Electric , TREND Networks