From Guest Blogger, Stephanie Ruhe, IUG Vice Chair/Chair Elect
More than a conference experience
Attending the IUG conference is always one of the biggest highlights of any given year for me, and it’s truly unlike any other professional conference I’ve ever experienced. It’s not just about the presentations and organized sessions, though those are always of incredible value. Whether hearing directly from support experts, leaders in product development, and executive leadership at Clarivate or seeing the phenomenal ways the user base is innovating and putting the tools we all use into practice, I always come away with lessons learned and fresh ideas.
The “summer camp” effect
The «magic» of IUG goes far beyond that, though; I often joke that the conference each year feels like returning to summer camp, in the best possible way.
It’s a refresher not just for my skill set as a system administrator, but an equally important one for my spirit. The sense of community and collaboration among the IUG membership is unmatched, and it’s in these moments that the power of the users group really shines – I’ve seen long-standing problems solved, partnerships forged, and friendships made.
I’ve personally built more connections with both peers and members of Clarivate staff by attending the annual conference than I can easily count, and I take none of them for granted.
Looking ahead to Chicago and beyond
The IUG Steering Committee is so excited to welcome everyone to Chicago for what we know will be another amazing event. The schedule is packed with opportunities to learn from and connect with both peers and Clarivate staff, a number of social events, and opportunities to connect with additional vendors in the exhibit hall. We’ll be listening for attendee feedback as always – and soon, as we are already beginning to make plans for IUG 2027, which will be held in Boston, MA, with main conference dates of April 1 – 3.