SECO '20 - Community Owners (Virtual) Conference

[Daniel Smithson]

Hi All!

It's been a hot minute since I've been on the BP forums but just wanted to share something I'm involved with this year. I normally would not hawk a conference or product, but SECO is a great event and is a non-profit, with any proceeds above the cost of the conference going to support military and first responders living in manufactured housing. There was a lot of debate on whether or not to even put the conference on this year with the COVID situation, but they eventually decided to move forward with it as a virtual conference. 

I was skeptical of that at first, but the platform they're using is actually pretty neat and is as close as anyone has gotten in the virtual space to an in-person meeting. Most importantly, the education and networking opportunities are still there. Most of the presentations that they're putting on will also be live with a Q&A time afterward so it's not just a paywall to a bunch of videos.

There are three different tracks this year as well - aspiring owners, operators and MH sales - so there something for everyone. Since the schedule isn't finalized I can't name drop but there are certainly some industry titans that are presenting and will be available for networking as well.

There's some additional information below from a recent flyer and I'm happy to field any questions!

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For over 10 years, SECO has been the premier conference for owning and managing successful manufactured home communities. Each year, more than 400 community owners, managers, and other manufactured housing industry personnel from 35-plus states attend. And as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, net proceeds fund projects for veterans and first responders living in manufactured housing communities. SECO gives you the chance to meet other community owners who are doing, or have done, what you want to do so you can learn from their experiences, failures, and success. This year, SECO is going virtual with a unique visual-based event platform that closely replicates the structure and networking opportunities of a live event, including exhibitor booths and virtual homes. New Format, New Price! With our new online format, SECO the cost to attend will be less than previous years. Plus, you'll be able to attend from the comfort of your home or office with no travel or hotel expenses.

NEW THIS YEAR – MANAGER MONDAY! Plus, this year we're introducing our first annual "Manager Monday" workshops on September 28th, with programming geared specifically for community managers. For only $49, you can attend this new series of Pre-SECO workshops that will give you valuable insights on managing your community, including day-to-day operations and resident relations. Meet New Business Partners & Suppliers Once again, we are bringing together a carefully curated group of companies that offer products and services useful to community owners and managers. These valuable partners are an important part of SECO and each one is individually introduced to help you get to know them. Plus, ample time is provided during the event for one-on-one meetings with these industry professionals so you can build relationships and find new vendors to team up with. Educational Workshops & Roundtables Like previous years, SECO20 will feature speakers and educational content that will spark ideas for generating revenue, cutting costs, increasing sales, and operating your park more efficiently. SECO20 educational programming will include topics such as: Best practices during COVID-19 Financing and options for raising capital Marketing your community effectively Selling versus renting homes Case studies of successful communities New trends in manufactured housing Tips for new land-lease community owners Developing a new community (or renovating an existing one) State of our industry and its future Online reputation management And so much more! Priceless Networking Networking is one of the most priceless parts of SECO every year. And even though SECO20 is going virtual, our planning team took special care to select an event platform that provides robust networking opportunities. At this year's event, you'll be able to chat with fellow attendees and sponsors individually or in small groups, and even have face-to-face video meetings right within the SECO20 event platform!

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September 28 - October 1st, 2020

More information and registration links here: SECO Conference

Disclosure: I am on the planning committee for the conference and receive no compensation. Just hoping to bring some awareness to the event since events are so sparse this year (and also hoping this doesn't violate any spam policies, not my intent!).