General Information

What's Going On?

SMB Nation Spring returns for its 4th year with all new content and an expanded view of the SMB technology opportunity. Now more than ever, SMB consultants and channel partners need a "makeover" that includes new business practices, increased professionalism, and new technology opportunities above and beyond network infrastructure.
 
SMB Nation Spring is a blend of business content (BusinessSpeak) and technical content (GeekSpeak). This curriculum, presented in an academic learning environment, fosters professional peer interaction that will continue long after the weekend. Much of the content is oriented toward creating immediate results you can use the following day (for example, the "How To" paradigm). The goal of our rich content is to help you immediately generate more cash!
 
BusinessSpeak - This track is a mix of elevated business planning conversations and immediate tactile tasks. Think of this as a "mini-MBA" that is practical and hands-on. Content examples include the successful application of the managed services paradigm.
 
GeekSpeak - You live and work in a technical professional field and you must have technical competencies and stay "current." Our multidisciplinary approach (data networks, virtualization, cloud, voice) allows you to "own" the technology relationship with your clients.
 
Trusted Business Advisor -  Simply stated,  old habits must be broken to move forward. Serving your clients as a Trusted Business Advisor elevated your consultancy practice to new levels and allows you to serve the client holistically and direct the entire technology program for maximum return on investment (ROI).
 
Hallway 101 - We consistently hear the peer-to-peer introductions and interactions are the number one take way from a professional conference such as SMB Nation Spring. So come get your geek on this May!

Hands-on Labs - Look for more information soon on technology-based hands-on labs in the data networking and telephony area. This is your chance for baon fide "active learning" without real world distractions. This only adds to the value your receive at SMB Nation Spring 2009!

Professional MakeOver!

The Top 10 Reasons to Attend SMB Nation Spring

1. In-depth, no hype (less fluff, more buff) sessions delivered by industry experts.
2. Solve your SMB consulting business challenges with dedicated offerings from the business learning path
3. Get the scoop on current and future SMB product stack offerings from Microsoft, ISVs, and vendors during dynamic keynote and general sessions. by industry leaders and Microsoft.
4. Get a “makeover” and use the weekend to start your journey as a Trusted Business Advisor
5. Empower yourself with knowledge to stay in demand with your customers
6. Participate in “How To” sessions that are practical and garners immediate profits (e.g How to Sell Your SMB Consultancy)
7. Just hang out with the EXPERTS during the speed dating event
8. Participate in exciting product announcements and be part of the SMB BUZZ
9. Unwind, network and collaborate with your peers at cool parties
10. What happens in New Jersey, stays in New Jersey! 

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Venue

This years SMB Nation Spring 2009 Conference wil be held at The Montclair University Conference Center One Normal Avenue Montclair, New Jersey 07043 United States CLICK HERE for a Campus Map

 Accommodations

Parking

The Red Hawk Parking Deck is a fully automated facility. You enter the facility by pulling a ticket voucher.  Once you register for the conference, you will receive another ticket voucher which will make your parking complimentary.  Please be sure to pick up a parking voucher at registration. The Red Hawk Parking Deck is located on the main campus, adjacent to the Alexander Kasser Theater. The Red Hawk Parking Deck has a 21 accessible spaces for disabled parkers, as well as plenty of room for vehicles.  Please note that this is a parking garage and larger vehicles may have difficulty accessing the garage.  -  Map

Transportation

  By Car From:

Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair: North on Valley Road, 3.3 miles to Normal Avenue light, turn left. The main entrance to the campus is on the right.

Route 46 (East): Approaching Rt 3 intersection stay to the right. Take exit for Valley Road Montclair/Paterson. At Stop sign (bottom of exit ramp) make a right turn onto Valley Road heading south. Travel on Valley Road to first traffic light (1mile). Make a right turn at light onto Normal Avenue. The main entrance to the campus is on the right.

Route 46 (West): Take exit for Valley Road Montclair/Paterson. Stay to the right. At Stop sign turn right and move to the left lane to make an immediate left into a U-Turn section. Follow the U-Turn section's signs to Montclair. At the U-Turn's Stop sign make a right turn onto Valley Road heading south. Travel on Valley Road to first traffic light (1mile). Make a right turn at light onto Normal Avenue. The main entrance to the campus is on the right.

Route 3 (West): Just before Route 3 West ends and blends on to Route 46 West, stay to right and take the exit for Valley Road Montclair/Paterson. Stay to the right. At Stop sign turn right and move to the left lane to make an immediate left into a U-Turn section. Follow the U-Turn section's signs to Montclair. At the U-Turn's Stop sign make a right turn onto Valley Road heading south.
Travel on Valley Road to first traffic light (1mile). Make a right turn at light onto Normal Avenue. The main entrance to the campus is on the right.

Garden State Parkway North: Exit 153B (left lane) to Route 3 West follow directions for Route 3 West.

Garden State Parkway South: Exit 154 to Route 46 West. Follow directions for Route 46 West.

New Jersey Turnpike: Exit 16W to Route 3 West. Follow direction for Route 3 West. (NOTE: Motorists traveling on the Turnpike south of Exit 11 may exit there to Garden State Parkway North to Route 3 West. Then Follow Route 3 West directions.)

Lincoln Tunnel: Follow to Route 3 West. Follow directions for Route 3 West.

George Washington Bridge: Route 80 West to Garden State Parkway South. Follow Garden State Parkway South directions.

 By Taxi:

Montclair Yellow Cab Co.
356 Bloomfield Avenue
Montclair, New Jersey 07043
(973) 744-7771

*Pick up/Drop Off info: Montclair State University; HandicapArea/Drop off zone next to University Hall.

 By Train From:

New York City - MidTown Direct - New Service to Midtown Manhattan

MidTown Direct - Montclair service operates between Montclair Heights Station and Penn Station New York from early morning until late evening, Monday through Friday. Peak period service will also run to and from Hoboken Heights and Newark Broad Street stations, plus you can use either MidTown Direct - Montclair or Hoboken-bound trains to reach Newark Broad Street Station. Call 1-800-626-RIDE or visit www.njtransit.com for complete NJTransit information and schedules.

Click here for a PDF of the Montclair-Boonton (MidTown Direct) Line Schedule

Click here for NJ Transit Service information

 By Bus From:

New York City (by bus): DeCamp Bus No. 66 leaves from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and drops you off on campus near College Hall. If the bus is not going all the way to campus, get off at Mt. Hebron and Valley roads, turn right (north) on Valley, and walk one block to the Normal Avenue traffic light, then turn left to campus entrance.

Newark: NJ Transit Bus No. 28 originates at Macy's, Washington and Hill streets, and terminates its run on campus.

Paterson: NJ Transit Bus No. 705 travels from Main Street and Broadway in Paterson. Or, NJ Transit Bus No. 72 originates at Broadway Terminal, Paterson, and goes to Broad Street, Bloomfield. Change to No. 28 at Bloomfield Center.

The Oranges: Take One Bus Co. No. 44 to Main and Day streets in Orange. Connect to NJ Transit Bus No. 92 to Glenwood and Bloomfield avenues. Change to NJ Transit Bus No. 28

Passaic: NJ Transit Bus No. 705 originates at Main Street and Passaic Avenue in Passaic and travels through Clifton to Montclair State University.

Wayne: NJ Transit Bus 705 originates at Willowbrook Mall and ends its run on campus.

Subject to change without notice. Information available from New Jersey Transit, 800-772-2222.

Click here for a detailed schedule 

 By Air:

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
North Ave & Spring St
Newark, New Jersey 07201

Need More Information?

SMB Nation Fall 2007 Raves

'SMB Nation 2007 was a great event, and was definitely a valuable experience for me. I want to thank you for bringing so much valuable SBS talent together. I think you and your staff did an outstanding job, and I look forward to participating again next year. ' ~ Robert

'Congratulations for the excellent job done for the conference. You and your team did a great job and the content was very informational. I personally had a lot of education on business management and that encouraged me to buy more books for extended study. I have learned a lot and I will extend the knowledge to the business focus groups in Ghana and rest of Africa. Once again a congratulations to all your team and every one that was part of it. It was a great success!'~ Edmund

'We were so busy meeting all the incredible people and attending the great presentations at the event, I missed the chance to meet you. We thoroughly enjoyed the conference - it was a huge success for us. As an emerging security vendor in the SMB market, SMB Nation 2007 provided us an outstanding opportunity to better understand the needs and challenges of the IT professionals on the frontline. We look forward to next year's event!' ~ Ben

'Once again, my thanks for putting on a great conference. I am kicking myself for not becoming part of the community sooner. You are right on target for the SBS business. It was a great balance of technical, hard core business and fun. Kudos to you and the team at SMB Nation.' ~ Kevin

'Just wanted to write personally to say thank you. It was a wonderful conference yet again. Even better than last year. Count me in indefinitely! Also wanted to let you know that my helmet won’t go in the trash until my kids completely destroy it! Thanks again, and have a great fall season.' ~ Jamison

'I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for putting on the SMB Nation Conference. I am looking forward to applying many of the skills that I have learned in the Pocket MBA track when I get back to the office. I wish that I had known the value of the SMB Nation Conference sooner. I feel like I totally missed the boat while I built my business over the past 9 years. Anyway, just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for your hard work. I look forward to getting to know you better, and working with SMB Nation in the future.' ~ Scott