First-Time Attendee FAQs
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📣 Make sure to join us Wednesday, April 15 at 4:45 PM at Commons on the Vine for the First-Time Attendee Meet Up prior to the Welcome Reception!
When in doubt, choose to be slightly overdressed. It’s always better than being underdressed.
● Technical Tours: For tours, think casual and comfortable. Especially for active tours like walking or biking, wear something similar to a company picnic. For a bike tour, go ahead and wear your regular biking gear.
● Technical Events (Sessions & Keynotes): The dress code is professional, ranging from business casual to business professional.
For Men: Business casual means a polo or dress shirt with slacks. No tie needed. Blazers, sport coats, or a full suit are also great options.
For Women: Think polos or blouses and slacks or skirts, or a business dress or suit.
Tip: Conference rooms can get chilly, so bring a blazer, sport coat, or cardigan. Choose comfortable, professional shoes since you will be walking a lot, and avoid heels over about 3 inches if possible. If you carry a bag, you may end up holding it in your lap or placing it on the floor.
● Speaking at the Event: You will want to feel confident, and it is best to be slightly overdressed. Aim for business professional, a suit with or without a tie for men and a business dress with or without a jacket for women.
● Social Events: You can relax a bit. Casual clothing is acceptable, and most people change out of their technical session attire. Darker denim without rips, an untucked polo for men, and clean sneakers are all perfectly fine.
● After-Hours Outings: Keep it simple and wear the same casual attire from the social event.
● General Clothing Tips: Check organizational websites like MCDITE for pictures from prior years if you want a visual reference. Feel free to wear company pride; branded polos, casual wear, or lapel pins are great conversation starters.
● For Notes: Bring a way to take notes, whether it is a folio or a tablet. You may not always have a table, so be ready to take notes in your lap.
● For Networking: Bring business cards if you have them. People still use them more than you might expect.
● Hotel Check-In: Give yourself extra time to find parking and navigate the hotel since some venues are large.
● Technical Sessions: Arrive a few minutes early. Five minutes early is perfect if you want a good seat.
● Women’s Breakfast: Aim for about 10 minutes early so you can grab food and settle in.
● Lunch: Arrive right at the start time, typically coming straight from the previous session.
Most hotels will hold your luggage for free. Just ask at the front desk and they will give you a claim ticket.
This is where you separate just attending from actually getting value.
● Set an Intention: Before the session, identify 1 to 2 things you want to learn.
● Listen Critically: Focus on the why and how, not just the slides.
● Engage: Prepare one question for Q and A.
If you do not get to ask your question, introduce yourself to the speaker afterward. That is often where the most valuable conversations happen.
Yes, it is completely fine! Just:
● Leave during a break between speakers, when possible
● Exit quietly through the back of the room
Tip: If you know you will leave early, sit near the back of the room
Walk in quietly, gently close the door behind you, and find a seat or standing spot near the back.
The best way is to put yourself out there! Simple and direct works best. Since everyone is a transportation professional, you already have common ground.
Try questions like:
“What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on recently?”
“What session are you most looking forward to?”
Standing ear coffee or food is a great, low-pressure place to start a conversation.
If you are joining an existing group, the key is a smooth, non-disruptive entry.
● Stand near the edge and listen briefly
● Wait for a natural pause in conversation
● Add a short, relevant comment
Example:
“That’s a great point about model calibration. We have run into something similar on one of our projects.”
Then introduce yourself:
“By the way, I’m [Your Name] from [Your Organization]/”
A quick nod or shared laugh can also help signal you are engaged.
In a professional setting, asking for a business card is the most common approach.
● If they do not have one:
“Would you mind connecting on LinkedIn? I’d love to follow up on this.”
● Add context when possible:
“I’d love to share our presentation slides with you”
“It would be great to stay in touch about that project we discussed”
When talking to someone you do not know well, especially outside your organization, it is best to avoid:
● Hot-button topics like politics, current events, or religion
● Non-public company information such as financials, salaries, performance issues, or sensitive project details
Think professional lunch, not a wedding reception.
● Seating: Tables near the front may be reserved, but otherwise you can sit anywhere. Always ask, “Is this seat taken?” before sitting. Try to face the front of the room.
● Utensils: If preset, work from the outside in. Utensils above the plate are typically for dessert.
Social events usually have enough appetizers and snacks for most people. If you typically eat a larger meal, it is a good idea to grab something small beforehand just in case.
You are generally allowed to work, but whether you should depends on your company and workload.
Strong suggestion: Avoid working during presentations or keynotes. It can be distracting and takes away from the experience.
Better options: Use hotel lobbies, breaks, or time before or after events to catch up if needed.