Record-Setting Connect '23 Comes to a Close
May 10, 2023 by Peter Friesen
Erin Brokovich, left, speaks at Connect '23. Brokovich encouraged attendees not to wait for local help, but start the change they want to see themselves.
As the largest ever Tyler user conference, Connect '23 brought just under 6,000 people together for three days of learning, networking, and fun on San Antonio’s Riverwalk.
A packed schedule featured motivating guest speakers, thought-provoking panels, and hands-on labs and workshops with specific Tyler solutions.
Attendee Highlights
With all that Connect '23 had to offer, it had to be hard to choose a highlight, between the client appreciation events, training sessions, and one-on-one interaction at the Solutions Hub. “They’ve all been informative and helpful,” said Vanessa Cooper, from Rosemont, Illinois. “We definitely connected.”
Learning sessions were the highlight for Cooper, who was excited to see new features and hear about development plans for their longtime solution.
Rosemont sent four team members, including two IT staff, who were excited at the amount of information they could access.
“I would say it’s important for a user and behind the scenes (staff) as well,” Cooper said. “Some of the new features are definitely going to be helpful.”
Tyler team members explain new features of the My Civic app during a training session at Connect '23. There were more than 700 training sessions and labs offered for attendees.
Scintillating Speakers
Erin Brokovich – the real activist and consumer advocate behind Julia Roberts’ Oscar-winning performance – returned to Connect '23, with two energizing talks centered around her guidance to realize, assess, and motivate yourself in every facet of life.
Brokovich encouraged attendees to get involved in their own communities, without waiting for an agency or nonprofit to “save” them, to fix the problem. Embrace yourself, trust your own decisions, and let that be the key to a solution.
“We think a lot of things will magically happen,” Brokovich said. “Flip it, it begins with you and an action.
“You just have to make a start, and that is actually the hardest part to do.”
Erin Brokovich talks with attendees at Connect '23. Brokovich was one of many featured speakers, along with Jim “The Rookie” Morris, Polly LaBarre, and Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour.
Not just one, but two people whose lives were featured in famous films spoke at Connect '23 – Jim “The Rookie” Morris shared his personal journey after becoming a professional pitcher at age 35. Morris challenged attendees to surround themselves with people who are accomplished and inspiring – “dream makers.”
Along with motivation, author Polly LaBarre offered concrete thought leadership on how governments can become more resilient and weather changes that seem more frequent in our modern age. She centered her talk on creativity, collaboration, and change, through human connection.
More Highlights From Attendees
At the center of Connect '23 was hands-on learning, either in sessions or at the Solutions Hub’s demo desks. Attendees were able to get personalized help with their solutions and hear from Tyler team members who work on each piece of software.
Geraldine Breiz and Lea Petersen attended from Marin County, California. Their office rotates attendees, so it was Breiz’s first time at Connect.
“Just to see the whole picture was super awesome,” she said. “Getting to interact with the ERP team, with Tyler, and connecting with those that helped Marin County with our implementation was great.”
Tyler attendees fill the Lila Cockrell Theater in the Henry B. González convention center at Connect '23. The theater hosted three speakers for motivation and thought leadership.
Breiz and Petersen both loved the talk from Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, America’s first Black female combat pilot, who shared stories from combat and their relevance to public sector employees. They were motivated and ready to get back to work.
“She was astonishing,” Breiz said. “It pumped up the energy.”
Connect '23 on Social
Social media remains the best place to stay constantly plugged in with Connect, as many attendees and Tyler team members know. Following Tyler Technologies and using the tag #TylerConnect is a great way to connect during and after the conference and to see highlights from throughout the week. Post and tag pictures of yourself, your team, or other sights around Connect to be featured in Tyler’s Connect '23 photo album on Facebook!
A Paws for Service therapy dog offers some furry friendship to Connect '23 attendees. The roaming dogs were just one of the onsite perks, along with a massage room, table tennis, and a scavenger hunt.