Time certainly does fly when you're having fun! It seems like just last week I was booking a polka band and coordinating with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2023 NASPL Annual Conference in Milwaukee, and now I'm making travel plans to be in downtown Kansas City for the 2024 conference.
Where has the time gone?
I know my friend and Missouri Lottery Executive Director Lester Elder is looking forward to hosting this year’s conference. According to Lester, this year's theme, "A State of Winning," is not only representative of the state, but also encompasses so much about the lottery industry. As he says in his 2024 host letter, the theme speaks to "exemplifying a winning attitude and collaboration of our business," and "creating winning partnerships that bring innovation, entertainment and responsible gaming to the forefront." I couldn't agree more.
If you've read any of my previous NASPL communications, you know I am a HUGE advocate of industry conferences. In addition to seeing some outstanding speakers, gaining great insights from the breakout sessions, and learning about the industry's future, NASPL conferences are a wonderful networking opportunity.
Let's face it. In today's professional life, most networking happens behind a computer screen, and that's okay. But nothing beats a real-life meeting with like-minded peers. When we interact with someone in person, we can engage in face-to-face conversations, read body language, and establish a rapport that often leads to future opportunities and collaborations.
I think you'll agree with me when I say that this year's conference agenda is fantastic. I know our participating vendor partners are going to do a terrific job showing attendees how the industry is implementing new products, taking advantage of advanced technologies, and addressing common business challenges.
One post-conference suggestion for those of you who have not attended a NASPL conference in the past: When you return to your office, sometimes it's difficult to put into practice all of the content and learnings your team gained from the trip. I would recommend taking some time with your staff to debrief on the learnings. Create a list of takeaways and new ideas and start discussing how some of it can be put into action in your own lottery.
I want to thank all our Level I Associate Member Partners, including IGT, Intralot, Scientific Games and Pollard Banknote. We appreciate your partnerships, as well as all of the other vendor partners. I look forward to seeing everybody soon!
Enjoy the conference!
Cindy Polzin
NASPL President
Wisconsin Lottery Director
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