Best of Minnesota Conference Recap
The 2025 Annual Conference, held June 2-5 at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, MN, was a resounding success, bringing together professionals from various fields in local government. This year's conference offered a diverse range of engaging sessions, interactive activities, and valuable networking opportunities, leaving attendees with newfound knowledge and lasting memories.
Conference Highlights
Welcome Reception: This event kicked off the 2025 annual conference, providing attendees with an opportunity to relax, mingle, and get acquainted with their peers from across Minnesota, along with vendors and sponsors supporting local government agencies.
Vendor Show: The vendor show was a dynamic part of our conference, offering attendees the chance to network, win hourly door prizes, and learn more about vendor resources and services. It was an exciting and informative social event, filled with opportunities for learning and connecting. Attendees selected the Best Dressed Vendor Booth, whose decor best aligned with our conference theme. Counties Providing Technology (CPT) and Superior Consulting Services tied for this year's award. MnCCC will sumbit a donation in each of their names to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Stay tuned to see who they chose!
Golf Tournament: The annual Dan Whitman Legacy tournament is held each year, and brings together vendors and MnCCC members who enjoy golfing, and honors Dan's lasting impact on our organization. Golfers had the opportunity to showcase their skills on the green while competing for fun prizes donated by our generous vendors.
Taste of Alexandria: MnCCC partnered with Alexandria’s tourism bureau Explore Alexandria, and put together a punch card where participants visited the downtown shops that were listed, offering a fun and engaging way to network and support local businesses.
Awards Ceremony: MnCCC had the privilege of recognizing officers who generously volunteered their time and expertise to advance MnCCC's mission. We are proud of their hard work and dedication to their user groups and committees, their knowledge and skills help make a difference!
Family Feud Entertainment: Following the awards ceremony, conference attendees enjoyed a friendly yet competitive game of Family Feud. Participants responded to survey questions, and the team with the most points advanced to the big stage for the ultimate showdown. The event provided plenty of humorous entertainment and laughter, making for a memorable evening.
Session Highlights
In a post-conference survey, we asked what was the most valuable session you attended and why? From the soft skills sessions to Power BI, Tyler, and training, we had a great mix of favorite sessions, almost covering the entire range of sessions we offered. Here are a few notable quotes from respondents:
"The roundtables let conversation come out for a lot of discussions which were not planned or expected."
"All of them. I walked away with knowledge from all sessions I attended. Thank you!"
"They were all great! Each had their own benefits."
MnCCC Strategic Planning
We invited members to participate in a listening session where they had the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas for MnCCC's organizational review. Consultant Dave Unmacht led conversations exploring MnCCC's strengths, opportunities for improvement, and expectations. The information shared will help chart the course for the future!
MnCCC Award Recipients
Every year, MnCCC recognizes two outstanding members who have made distinguished contributions to MnCCC through their active involvement, enthusiasm, and leadership. These members have graciously volunteered their time to lead collaboration between local government agencies through the user groups they serve. The awards honor their dedication and commitment to MnCCC's mission of finding cost-effective, quality software solutions. Congratulations to our award recipients!
- Member of the Year: Jamie Bachtle, Freeborn County
- Techie of the Year: Adam Larson, Washington County
Election of New User Group Officers
Congratulations to our newly elected officers! We are grateful for your user group involvement and volunteer work. Your support helps propel the initiatives of MnCCC forward. We look forward to a great year of helping Minnesota counties thrive in providing public service.
Looking Ahead
Overall, the 2025 Annual Conference was a testament to the hard work and dedication of MnCCC members. The positive feedback and valuable insights gained from this event will undoubtedly contribute to even more successful conferences in the future. We look forward to seeing you all at future user group meetings, trainings, and events!
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