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AU isn’t just a conference, it’s also a community—one that helps people share knowledge, adapt to change, and advance industry practice. Where else can you meet 10,000 people just like yourself, wrestling with the real-world challenges of working in design and engineering today? And what better way to connect with the people at Autodesk building the tools you use all the time?
Have opinions about what’s new in AutoCAD? Want to share your ideas on the future of Fusion? That feedback drives our product decision making throughout the year. What Autodesk learns from you is just as important as what you’re learning from others in your field.
Similarly, your feedback about AU and your learning and community experience drives decisions at the heart of our program. One important group that facilitates this feedback is the AU Advisory Council. Council members are drawn straight from the ranks of the AU community. They’re experts and leaders in their respective fields. Some are teachers and trainers, some are writers, some are managers, others are power users. These people know their stuff. They know Autodesk software backward and forward, and, like you, they’re pushing industry practice in new and innovative directions.
We look to the Council for suggestions on how to shape the program at AU. They tell us what’s working, what’s not, and how we can improve. They help us make AU a better place to learn, a better place to network, and a better place to grow as professionals.
They’re also really nice people. You should meet them. In fact, we strongly recommend that you do. You’ll find them here and there around the conference, speaking and attending classes (they’re there to learn, too!). They’ll be part of AU Orientation on Monday, November 13—don’t miss it. You may spot Council members—along with other senior ambassadors in the AU community—guiding Orientation Tours, too. And you’ll definitely bump into them at the receptions, parties, and meetups. They get around.
In addition to being experts in their respective industries, these folks are also experts at picking classes at AU—after all, most have been coming for a decade or more. So we asked a few of them to share their AU Las Vegas 2017 class picks as part of our Tailored Experiences. If you work in the same industry, you’d be wise to take a look:
- Rick Ellis, noted civil engineering consultant and trainer, endorses a set of classes for the civil/survey industry, but also recommends stepping outside your comfort zone.
- Ramy Hanna, a 3D artist at TILTPIXEL, weighs in with class picks related to visualization.
- Desirée Mackey, a structural engineer, serves up classes on Revit Structure and BIM management, prioritizing the roundtable format.
- Alex Lobos, an industrial designer, recommends that you combine big-idea classes with hard-core skills workshops and learning you can’t get anywhere else.
- Curt Moreno, a.k.a. the Kung Fu Drafter, has selected a series of classes perfect for a first-time AU attendee.
- Mike Thomas, a technical services manager at PMP and AU Top Speaker shared his approach for an AU that combines learning for today, adoption ideas for tomorrow, and innovations down the road.
- Al Whitley, an architect and the principal at cadteacher/the Virtual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI), offers up his picks for classes detailing AR and VR’s adoption in the construction industry.
Serving on the Advisory Council is a 2-year tour of duty. If you’re a long-time AU attendee and interested in serving on the Council and helping us shape AU in the years to come, hit up a current member during the conference. They’ll give you the lowdown on what’s involved.
We can’t wait to see you in Vegas.
