Caitlin McDiarmid
APP Administrator

Every year I have the joy of working with an ever growing group of people who volunteer to help before, during, and after the Conference. Of all the things I do for the APP—of all the tasks that I do in my job—meeting, training, assisting, working alongside of, and getting to know these people is my favorite thing. Mentoring these young women & men to meet their own personal challenges through the act of service is the thing I am most proud of professionally.

This year our Al D. Sowers Scholarship recipients came from all over the world and came together to tackle all the new-ness that is Conference.
Gladix (Gladys) Porca Miseria
Sydney Harbaugh
Jason Heeney
Mariona Huertas Riera
Aiden Johnson
Charlie Remy LeBeau
Paul Rainer – “Shannon Larratt – Industrial Strength” scholarship recipient
Jose Carlos
Mandy Thiel — “Industrial Strength” scholarship recipient
Lucina Ayelen Ugarte Basulto

JD Lorenz and Industrial Strength donated two complete scholarships. Gorilla Glass, Quetzalli Jewelry, Intrinsic Body, Inc. and Anatometal all contributed to the scholarship fund in 2015. Stephen DeToma from Anatometal also ran a contest at the Expo challenging attendees to test their core strength, in the Plank position – and raised money towards next year’s fund.

We also had several piercers contribute passes and money to the No Excuses Scholarship fund which this year allowed Caleigh Bell-Morena, James Garvin, Jessica Stone, Emily Woods, Miriam “Loreia” Haslinger, Rob Gold, Anderson Reinkordt, and Matt Lyle to attend Conference.

The amazing amount of support the two scholarship programs receive is growing each year and this is a beautiful thing – we and the piercer recipients are so very grateful.

This year we invited a number of 2014 and 2013 scholars back to work with us, based on their outstanding performances:
Marita Wikström
Andre Nalin
Ismael Vargas
John Robberson
Zach Fitzgerald
Ryan Clark
Jacob Spjut
Nathan Grosvenor

Many of the following volunteers not only did all the things all volunteers do – but also served on the Speaker Operations, Product and Design, and Conference Operations Subcommittees.

I pushed some of the Super Volunteers to be involved in those committees, make training videos, and provided support to encourage them to do their own mentoring of the other volunteers. While most of them do a variety of jobs – they each have their “home base”.

Our Classroom Supers:
Kristin Young (Speaker & Conference Operations Subcommittee)
Seven Wolfe
Ryan Feagin *Super in Training
Chadwick Jackson
Mike McInnes *Super in Training

Our Merch Booth Supers:
Casey Hosch (Design / Product Subcommittee)
Danny Greenwood (Design / Product Subcommittee)
Monica Sabin
Mark Montgomery

Our Raffle Booth Supers:
Ken Seyler
Zane Nichols
Kenny Hughes

General Supers:
Dianna Brown *Super in Training
Andru Rogge

Our Registration Supers:
Kendra Berndt (Conference Operations Subcommittee)
Theo Sheffler
Anna York
Badur Ramji
David Kelso
Tiana McGuire
Marina Pecorino

Our Information Booth Supers:
Jezebel Voulé (Conference Operations Subcommittee)
Luna Duran

Our AV Supers:
Gus Diamond (Conference Committee)
Allen Falkner
Brian Moeller (Conference Committee & Speaker Operations Subcommittee)
Shana Gyure
Shorty Calma *Super in Training
Ryan Clark

William Spencer (Conference Committee) and I shared the management of the volunteers. He’s always willing to pitch in and he keeps me from taking things too seriously while at the same time making sure I don’t forget to feed and water the volunteers. He also reminds me that there’s more to our experience at Conference than work. He jokes around a lot, but he’s an essential part of the team and a critical support to me personally and to the event.

We had a lot of returning LOVE volunteers and a few new ones:
Amanda Badger
Arik Johnson
Aubrey Diebler
Brittany Kronbeck
Christina Blossey
Dae Jedic
Evan Quinno
Hika Kierkenupp
Julie Taylor
Kaitlin Siebken
Krystal Slager (Klos)
Lani Soleil
Rob Church
Robyn Johnson
Solo Paige-Turner
Stephanie Hill
Stephanie Savage
Trist’n Peterson
Vivi Contreras

Our mentor team worked hard this year to improve contact with their mentees and I want to make sure we recognize both the organizers and those serving as mentors—

Our mentor team:
Ash Misako
April Berardi
Billy Wood Jr.
Kendra Berndt

Our mentors:
Adam Aman
Dana Dinius
Brett Graham
Jake Hardman
Rob Hill
Richard Ivey
Mark Montgomery
Pablo Perelmuter
Brett Perkins
Shawn Porter
Monica Sabin
Jill Sans
Mick Swan
Chris Theis
Johnny Velez
Will VonDoome
Casey Wardell
Darrin Walters
Nick Wolak

As everyone here knows, the industry has been experiencing huge growth and this is clear at our Conference. The Conference Committee and the related subcommittees worked really hard to implement some new technology at Registration, the classroom doors, and booths, also creating new programs like the Conference smartphone app.

I need to give special thanks to a group of the volunteers. These folks worked extra outside of Conference and while at Conference to really make things happen this year. They are the best and the brightest of the bunch, reviewing countless spreadsheet-based schedules, doing research and writing merch proposals, proofing badge packets, proofing the website, and helping with the app. My job has grown too big and without my smarty pants team I wouldn’t have made it.
Marina Pecorino
Jezebel Voulé
Kristin Young
Theo Sheffler
Danny Greenwood
Casey Hosch
Shorty Calma
Brian Moeller
Kendra Berndt (Her first time managing the Registration Department also went smashingly)

I hope our readers and especially our attendees appreciate the efforts of these individuals to help make our event the amazing Conference that it is.

Saving the best for last, thank you Thaddeous Love— not only for all you do for the APP (technology research; repair; maintenance; moving boxes; chauffeur; award designer/manufacturer; onsite taco delivery service); but for all you do to shore me up through long hard days, weeks, and months of Conference prep—and for knowing when to listen and when to tell me, “That’s enough. Enough work stuff.”