This year, BbWorld® Commerce ’08 will be held March 9 – 12, 2008 at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

The event is designed exclusively for users of the Blackboard Commerce Suite™ and provides a unique forum for them to share ideas with peers and learn about the latest product innovations directly from Blackboard developers. Our conference theme is Coming Together, a look at the successes of a variety of Blackboard institutions and their abilities to connect with others with similar goals.

The BbWorld Commerce program offers a full schedule of client-led presentations and discussions that will provide improved opportunities for communication and collaboration among Blackboard clients, to share best practices and explore common issues – including topics for migrating from the Unix edition to the Universal Edition.

Mark Milliron, an exceptional keynote speaker, is joining our conference this year as well. Mark is an award-winning leader, author and speaker best known for exploring leadership development, future trends, learning strategies, and the human side of technology change.

This year’s schedule includes pre-conference workshops on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9; an opening reception on Sunday, March 9; and the Blackboard client appreciation event on Tuesday, March 11. Please visit the BbWorld Commerce website for complete information on this year’s event including details program details. Questions related to the conference can be directed via e-mail to bbworldcommerce@blackboard.com.

You Say It Best

Here’s what some of our clients said about last year’s conference:

“Bb World ’07 rates as one of the best Blackboard conferences for us. We learned so much about Universal Edition, brought home tangible items to work on and met new people. What more could you ask for? Blackboard did an excellent job in putting the whole conference package together.”

—Jeanine Brooks, University of Alabama

“This was my fourth Blackboard users conference, and the first one that was separate from the conference for users of the Blackboard Academic Suite™. The smaller conference allowed for much easier networking, both with my colleagues and the Blackboard team. I always appreciate being able to put a face with a name, as well as talk with people who can help me work through my various challenges. I am also a big fan of the ‘best practice’ sessions put on by other universities. Being a one-person operation, it’s helpful to learn from what other institutions have already implemented.”

—Mike Tortora, Fairfield University

“I have come to this conference 14 straight years and every time I learn new ways to improve my card system. BbWorld Commerce ’07 was one of the best conferences in the last few years, and the networking between schools and Blackboard was excellent.”

—Doug Olson, Tulane University

“The networking relationships developed attending BbWorld are invaluable. You develop a rapport with your colleagues around the nation and those relationships enable you to be successful working with the Blackboard Transaction System. I believe Blackboard is dedicated to supporting its customers.”

—Sandy Ellington, University of North Carolina – Wilmington

“I found the BbWorld Commerce ’07 conference to be extremely beneficial to me. The sessions were all well-crafted with good content. The best part of my BbWorld experience was the networking opportunity it presented. To be able to sit down in-person with my colleagues and Blackboard staff and share experiences was invaluable.”

—Bill Moran, Xavier University