Caitlin McDiarmid

I think if I had to identify my favorite part of my job it would be the work I do with the volunteers at Conference and throughout the year. It wasn’t always that way, and I have to credit them for making me grow as a manager, and become a better person over the last ten plus years. I never thought I would be a good mentor, but now I feel like I am one.

In the months leading up to Conference we had a record number of “love” volunteers come forward and, strangely enough, they all wanted a schedule to commit to volunteering. We have always had a good group of helpers, those who volunteer for the sake of volunteering and giving back with nothing in return, but usually it’s for limited hours or on a drop-by basis. A lot of times they are unable to commit in advance of  Conference, so they are a help in the trenches but I can’t schedule them for shifts. This year, it was different.

We also had a rough year, especially our SUPERS. Many of them were not able to make it due to emergencies, family issues, medical concerns, and financial considerations. Our team missed them horribly, and we hope they return. But when all was said and done, we made it—and this year every single volunteer was critical to that success, and everyone performed extremely well.

We had even our “love” volunteers go through online training in advance of Conference, which was new this year. Our SUPERS went through even more extensive training online and, in some cases, one-on-one. We have hit critical mass with the workload, and I am delegating as fast as I can, this means  many of the SUPER volunteers took on training responsibilities.

Once on-site, they stepped up even further and honed their management and supervisory skills. I am forever grateful to my ducklings who DID manage to find their way home this year:

Our Booth & Classroom SUPERS:

• Aaron Foster
• Casey Hosch
• Chadwick Jackson
• Dannielle Greenwood
• Jovi Croes
• Ken Seyler
• KennyHughes
• KristinYoung
• MarahKelso
• Mark Montgomery
• Monica Sabin
• Seven Wolfe
• William Spencer

Our Registration SUPERS

• Anna York
• Badur Ramji
• David Kelso
• Jezebel Voule
• Kirsten Eblin
• Kendra Berndt
• Sarah Wooten
• Luna Duran
• Theo Sheffler

Our AV Supers:

• Gus Diamond, Allen Falkner, Brian Moeller, and Shana Gyurə

Will Spencer and the amazing Sarah Wooten have to be recognized for their continued dedication to the APP and the Conference. Without these two doing what they do each year, and supporting the other Supers and myself, Conference would not be the success it is today.

Our Al D. Scholars came from far and wide; including four from Norway, Germany, and Mexico:

• Ryan Clark
• Dae Jedic
• Ismael VargasGuerrero
• Eugenia Vazquez
• Andre Berg
• Zach Fitzgerald
• KennyHayden
• John Robberson
• Marita Wikstroem
• Logan Wright

They all performed their work well, but I was even more impressed at how they bonded as a team straight away and integrated into the volunteer group at large.

Once again I want to thank J.D. Lorenz and the crew at Industrial Strength Body Jewelry for donating two complete scholarships, and Buddha Jewelry; Gorilla Glass; Quetzalli Jewelry; and Intrinsic Body, Inc. for contributing to the Scholarship fund.

We had some private scholarships and some piercer-sponsored scholarships. The recipients (Hika Kierkenupp, Adrian Sanchez, Trist’n Peterson, Molly Bennett, Aaron Pounds, and Heather Weber) worked alongside the rest of our volunteers. And while the “no excuse” scholars weren’t required to work many hours, some of them took it upon themselves to work additional ones (don’t think I didn’t notice).

This year we invited back all of the Al D.’s from last year, but not everyone could be present.

ShortyCalma, Frankie Pistone, Ryan Feagin, MikeMcInnes, and Dianna Brown all returned to show they could work just as hard, even without a full scholarship.

Our LOVE volunteers exploded in numbers and we found new friends and hard workers in this group: Amanda Badger, Arik Johnson, Chance Sledge, Christina  Blossey, Corey Hobe, Damian Lynch, Eric Grippe, Solo Paige-Turner, Hugo Hernandez, Jess Ekdahl, Justin Naffziger, Krystal  Slager (Klos), KT Wallick, Lani Soleil, Leah-Jean Jett, Megan Naito, Melissa Scogin, Omar Toxqui, Robyn Johnson, Vivi Eye, and Stephanie Segal.

We had non-industry folks, health inspectors, partners, return “love” volunteers, members and non-members.

I’d also like to thank Ash Misako and the Mentor Team. This is a critical program for our event and I think it’s implementation in 2009 has set the course for the APP in a great direction.

I struggled this year, both before Conference and during Conference, to complete the tasks that must be done in order for this event to happen. Yet this Conference was another brilliant one and I can tell that all of the growth and expansion has affected me in a very significant way. With that said a couple of people made a significant contribution of time, which went well above expectations: Jezebel Voule, Kristin Young, and Theo Sheffler all traveled to Lawrence, Kansas, stayed for a few days, worked a full day (Conference hours, not this nine-to-five stuff), and got the 786 pre-Con badge packets completed and in the mail along with the equipment. Frankly, they saved my sanity and really made Conference possible this year.

As always, to the men in my life, Thaddeous Love and Paul King; thank you. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself. For putting up with my bad days and celebrating my good ones. For being there, always. For loving me, and always knowing I can get it done. I am forever grateful that T has been able to join me these last two years and experience all the joy and love that Conference is—thank you all for welcoming him.