By Cale Belford, APP Mentor Program Coordinator

Well it’s that time of year again, and the Mentor Program is in full effect! If you are attending the annual APP Conference for the first time, then you are probably feeling overwhelmed and a little lost. Don’t fear! We have this amazing program in place to help you with your Conference experience!

So what exactly is the Mentor Program? It’s an incredible outreach system created by Ryan Ouellette in 2009; the idea was to essentially build small families that can work together as a group and lean on each other for support during the APP Conference. We have seen amazing progress with new attendees and have had wonderful feedback when it comes to the program. We look forward to continuing this process for years to come.

Our mentors are experienced conference goers and seasoned piercers who want to ensure that the new attendees have an outstanding time. To pair mentors and mentees, we use a survey system conducted by the program coordinator to create Mentor Teams based on similar interests, areas of knowledge, and class schedule needs. These small groups consisting of a mentor and two to three mentees will help to assist and encourage each other and provide beneficial headway to the conference experience as a whole. Mentors are here to support you if you become overwhelmed or require a little reassurance, if you want assistance with your class schedule, or perhaps just give you advice on where to find the best tacos or the most delicious vegan burger. It is essential to take full advantage of this opportunity! Many mentors and mentees develop connections with each other that last for years!

If you plan on attending Conference for the first time and have questions that you would like answered, need help selecting your classes, or you would simply like to have a friend before arriving in Vegas, then the APP Mentor Program is here to help! If you are a first or second year attendee and would like assistance from a mentor chosen specifically for you, please email mentors@safepiercing.org with MENTEE in the subject line. Be sure to include your name, telephone number, and other contact information in the email. There is technically no deadline to sign up as a mentee, but the earlier you enroll the more you will get out of the program. We cannot wait to meet you!

We genuinely want each and every one of our new attendees to get the most out of their conference experience and hope what the Mentor Program offers makes this possible. If you have any questions about the Mentor Program, becoming a mentor, or being a mentee at Conference, please do not hesitate to contact Cale at mentors@safepiercing.org.

I have been part of the mentor program since the inception. I’ve had mentees from all over the world, and enjoy helping make their conference experience one to remember. I’ve helped from beginning to end of Conference helping them pick classes, introducing them to other piercers, as well as follow up with them when Conference ends. I still keep in contact with some of the mentees and have worked side by side with a couple of them. I really enjoy seeing people who have been mentees step up and mentor others knowing they are a little overwhelmed their first year with so many people. If anyone sees myself or others walking around with Mentor Badges feel free to ask any questions you may have. I’m looking forward to seeing all the old faces as well as meeting a bunch of new ones.

Even before I went to my first Conference, I thought the Mentor Program was such a wonderful idea. I remember the very thought of being in such a huge city and only having a few people out of hundreds there that I knew filling me with panic. I asked a friend about the Mentor Program and if I should sign up to get a mentor. They convinced me not to saying, “you’ll know plenty of people there, you’ll have a blast!” While they were mostly right on both counts, I still wish I’d taken the opportunity to sign up with the program. Not only would I have had a greater feeling of security, but also had the chance to make one more friend who I might not have made otherwise.

I knew being a conference mentor was something I would want to do in the future when I, myself, had become more comfortable at the event. Being able to be a conference mentor to a new attendee is an extension of our ability to help others in a very meaningful way. I’m extremely grateful other like-minded piercers took the initiative to create such a wonderful program.

I have been involved with the Mentor Program for a few years and I love it! Spanish is my first language, and my ability to also speak Portuguese and English has allowed me to be become a much need- ed mentor to international attendees. It makes me happy to help attendees break the language barrier, and provide them with a more authentic experience at Conference. This platform for mentorship is fantastic for building a strong relationship with attendees who need guidance. I have built friendships over the years with my mentees and plenty of them still contact me with piercing questions, membership questions, or just a place to crash while they’re in town.