The 2017 K12 Facilities Forum was packed full of innovative ideas, bringing together 100 facilities administrators from districts across the nation along with the industry’s leading suppliers. In the heart of the Palm Springs desert, the forum sparked an inspiring cross-pollination of ideas and organic connections.

“Phenomenal event–it makes me happy to network with people that are sharing the same problems, and have more creative solutions than we do sometimes. Even though we’re the biggest school system in the country we don’t always have all the answers,” said John Shea, CEO of the NYC Department of Education.

The relaxed vibe of the Miramonte Resort fit perfectly with the in teractive format of the retreat. Jeremy Trimble, Chief Operations Officer at Eanes ISD, said the venue was “perfect for unscripted unplanned conversations, whether it be at the table, fire pit, or dinner. These spontaneous occurrences helped shape the success of the event.”

“I love the relational aspect and enjoyed numerous conversations with like-minded people,” said Chris Reiersgaard, Executive Director of Springfield Public Schools.

Innovative content including TED-style talks and peer-driven discussions left attendees with no shortage of ideas to bring back to their own district. Suppliers valued quality time with district leaders free of interruptions, which isn’t possible with the standard conference format.

“The connections we made were excellent, all were key influencers. The speakers were very interesting, passionate, and engaging,” said Ron Fenhaus, Vice President of Sales at Action Floor Systems.
Participants left the retreat recharged with fresh approaches to their most pressing challenges, plus a support system of meaningful new relationships.