So I’m here in New Orleans, Louisana for the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference and the weather is HOT! The air is sticky and humid, but New Orleans is an amazing town and it’s been great to see all my friends from the SMB Community again! Make no mistake about it, the break-out sessions and the keynote speeches are all valuable, but the real value to these conferences in my mind is strengthening existing relationships, and making new one’s.

The GG and I are already having a great time, and the week is only just about to begin!

WPC itself starts today, and this afternoon see’s the first of two presentations I’m involved in.

The rest of the week has quickly filled up with meeting invites, requests to attend Round-Table get-tog ethers, and yes, the occasional after-hours party. :-)

If you’re not in NOLA (and in the current economic climate, I can understand that decision entirely) then you can keep up to date on what’s happening at WPC via Digital WPC - http://www.digitalwpc.com/

SMB001 - Increase your Service and Sales Opportunities in SMB with Windows 7 Professional

218-219 – 15:30-16:30 CST

Hear from Partners how they’ll use Windows 7 Professional to drive service and solution revenue by delivering greater value to their SMB customers. This session showcases Partner opportunities enabled by new features such as XP Mode and Advanced Backup and shows how Windows 7 Professional can help you more efficiently provide SMB-critical services such as increased data security, mobile and branch IT support, and streamlined PC migrations and upgrades..

SMB007 – The Power of Community

215-216 - 14:00–15:00 CST

Power of Community. Learn from esteemed peers who have successfully harnessed the “Power of the Community” in not only establishing better operational, sales, marketing and financial practices but greater work/life balance through execution of goals and accountability to their peers who become lifelong friends. Get ready to be personally challenged to aspire to greater things as you witness fellow SMB IT community peers who have called each other higher though a commitment to giving and execution.