BRMConnect 2015 was the most incredible conference we could have asked for! Thank you all for making it such a great learning and networking experience. We saw many new connections being made by everyone. The survey results are outstanding, with many listing this as the best conference they have EVER attended. 

It is now two weeks post-conference and we still cannot stop obsessing about all of the excitement of the world's very first BRM conference. We decided that instead of your usual monthly publications, BRM Explorers Compass and BRM Update, that we would bring you this mashup. For our entertainment, we will call this Explore BRMConnect Update. If you were not present for BRMConnect 2015, keep reading to find a recap of the exciting events, gain knowledge from session recaps, and take away value for your organization. If you were fortunate enough to be a part of history in attending this inaugural event, then keep reading to reminisce on the sensational week we had! 

It was great to meet the global BRM Community face-to-face. We can't wait to do it again at BRMConnect 2016! Be on the lookout for more details to come soon.

Here are my initial impressions coming out of the world's first BRM conference. This was held in Portland, Oregon, from May 26-28, 2015. Produced and managed by BRMI, BRMConnect was supported by several sponsors-thanks to them for helping make BRMConnect 2015 possible! An optional BRMP^® Certification Class and exam preceded the conference. The initial class sold out quickly, so two classes were taught in parallel by Service Management Art. The conference was then followed by an optional "BRM and Innovation" class (that also sold out!), which I had the pleasure of leading!

Based in the UK, David Reid is a Regional Director of the Leading Edge Forum (LEF), a global research and thought leadership community, dedicated to helping large organizations identify and adopt next practices at the growing intersection of business and IT. LEF are also Platinum sponsors of BRMI.

We've hit another milestone in the BRMI journey. Our first annual conference was held in Portland, OR the last week of May. What a great event it was!

Vaughan Merlyn, our conference master of ceremonies, kicked off the proceedings with a session titled "The Art of Influence: Giving in Order to Receive". The hour was all Vaughan and he drove the point home that we, as BRM's, are always giving of ourselves to see the organizations and people that we support succeed. For most, it's those wins that drive and energize us and you could tell there was a real buzz in the room with all those BRM's present.

Note: While we recognize that the BRM capability includes those performing the BRM role in various aspects of business, such as HR, Finance, and IT, the BRMConnect Mutual Discovery session focused solely on scenarios related to the role of the BRM in IT organizations.

A buzz in the air... energized conversations... multiple futures and how the BRM role and the IT organization might have arrived at those futures. Insight galore!

Imagine yourself and your organization in 2020. What is the state of the BRM role and the IT organization? What events, structures and experiences do you envision were necessary to arrive at a specific future?

You asked and we will deliver! We will be hosting two post-conference webinars.

"Lean-Agile and BRM" webinar 

Presenter: Aaron Monroe, Lean Coach & BRMI Leader

Fri, Jul 10, 2015 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Conversations were had at BRMConnect where Isabel Aniceto developed the plan to implement a place for Spanish speaking professionals interested in networking with others that have an interest in the BRM profession. Thus, Community of Interest - BRM en EspaÑol was created! This community will serve the needs for all BRMs in Spanish with a focus on government organizations and business interests. This community is a place to share experiences, issues, concerns, ideas, and success stories of the BRMI framework and how they are implemented in various industries. The desire to communicate in a forum in Spanish is a need that we seek to fulfill.

"Is anyone else sad that BRMConnect is over?" - Kayla Barnes

"Must be a good conference if my resting heart rate is faster than normal!" 

- Peter Lijnse

These are just some of the things people are saying about BRMConnect 2015! It was a conference like no other. Each aspect was unique and unforgettable, from the venue itself, to the presenters, to the overall experience. As the conference sadly came to an end, many members were already asking, "When is BRMConnect 2016?"

The conference was the first of its kind-and by that I mean it was the world's first ever BRM conference! BRMConnect aimed to bring BRMs together from all over the country under a common purpose: to continue the advancement and involvement of BRMs in their organizations and communities. All across the world, BRMs are revolutionizing the way business is done, and research indicates that the more experience a member gains, the more effective they will be when operating a business. The team building activities and workshops in particular allowed for hands-on learning, where members were able to work together and exchange ideas. Therefore, members didn't just have a fun experience spending time with people who understood where they were coming from-they also gained valuable knowledge and insight to take home to their organizations.