Can you recommend a good conference on Software Process Improvement?

Hi, Jeff – we’re an IT services and software development company in Maryland. Traditionally, we have not been “conference types,” but we did attend SEPGNA in Pittsburgh in October, and got a lot out of it.  Can you recommend any other conferences on the East Coast that deal with new technologies and proven methods? ~ Susan W.

Susan,

Yes, here’s a conference that may be perfect for you. QUEST 2014 takes place in Baltimore in April. If you haven’t heard of QUEST, it is known throughout North America as a reliable source of information and inspiration for business leaders and engineers who are interested in Quality Engineered Software and Testing. The QUEST team is doing an awesome job at putting the show together. I’m honored that they’ve selected me to be this year’s Keynote Speaker.

What: QUEST 2014 Conference and Expo
When: April 7-11, 2014
Where: Baltimore, Maryland
How to register: http://www.qaiquest.org/2014/registration/pricing

On Thursday, April 10 from 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM, I will be sharing innovative engineering strategies for helping organizations learn to strengthen and reinforce agile values, methods and techniques, so that agile can scale. My Keynote Presentation is entitled, “Agile Resiliency: How CMMI Will Make Agile Thrive and Survive.” If you liked my talk in October, you’ll love this!

But there are plenty of other reasons to go. You’ll meet thought leaders, evangelists, innovative practitioners, and IT professionals like you who are on a quest to learn more about building, testing and delivering quality software. And you’ll experience an action-packed week of classes, tutorials, educational sessions, hands-on workshops, discussions groups and networking events.

Here is more information about QUEST 2014:

Learning and Networking Opportunities:

• Thought-provoking presentations and workshops in five concurrent tracks plus EXPO Talks
• In-depth skills building classes and tutorials
• QAI’s exclusive Manager’s Solutions Workshop
• Discussion groups and expert chats on today’s hottest topics
• Fun and memorable networking events that are not to be missed

World Class EXPO

• Meet top product and service providers in the EXPO exhibition hall
• Attend short talks on the latest technologies, methods, and tools
• Win fantastic raffle prizes

Registration and Discounts

• Flexible registration packages
• Save with Group Registration and QAI Community Discounts
• Special room rates at the official conference hotel

I’m glad you got something out of my presentation at SEPGNA, Susan. Thanks to enthusiastic participants like you, I’ve been voted a "Top Ten Speaker" at multiple SEPG conferences, and was selected as the keynote speaker of the International Conference on CMMI in Lima, Peru in 2010 and again at the PMI Great Lakes 2013 Symposium. I’m really looking forward to resuming the conversation at QUEST 2014 with people like you who get it.

Hope to see you in April!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, ScrumMaster, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff pioneered agileCMMI, the leading methodology for incremental and iterative process improvement. He has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation , software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

To download eBooks about CMMI, visit Jeff’s Author Page on Amazon.