2022 M4 Users Conference

October 10-12 | Richmond, Virginia

About the Conference

We're back in person and excited to welcome you once again to our hometown of Richmond, Virginia! Over the course of the M4 Users Conference, you'll strengthen your technical skills, increase your industry knowledge, and build connections with fellow M4 users.

We also have some new and exciting information to share with you! Our return to an in-person event is an opportunity for us to make a few enhancements to the usual agenda, and for you to meet more of our VertiGIS colleagues from around the world.

Content at this year's event will include:

• General Sessions, major topics and news relevant to all attendees;

• Breakout Sessions, a variety of educational content covering a wide range of product and industry topics;

• Training Classes, hands-on instruction courses to deepen your technical skills;

• Networking Opportunities, chances to engage with fellow attendees, interact with VertiGIS staff, and have fun!

Need help convincing your company to attend? We've got you covered! Download our pre-written approval letter, fill in your info, and copy and paste it into an email for your supervisor or boss.

Schedule at a Glance

Breakout Sessions

Our line up of breakout sessions are 20-30 minutes in length and will cover a variety of topics. Users of all levels will find opportunities to learn new technical skills, the confidence to navigate common scenarios, and a deeper understanding of industry issues.

Call for Sessions

 NEW!  Get involved and share your M4 success stories with your peers!

We encourage you to submit presentation proposals covering completed or ongoing projects, including lessons learned. If your proposal is based on a planned or incomplete project, state this clearly in your submission.

User presenters will be given 25 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions. All presenters must be registered for the conference. 

Presentation materials for selected sessions will be due by September 9.

Training Classes

Optional training classes are offered prior to the main conference content for attendees who want to enrich their UC experience. Training classes provide a hands-on approach with M4 Experts to sharpen your skills, learn best practices, and tackle real-life M4 management, operations, and engineering tasks.

Training classes require an additional fee to attend. Classes are limited in size and seats are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to register early!

OSP Engineering with M4

Users will learn the basics of fiber digitization including fiber at the strand level, splicing, configuring fiber equipment, assigning counts, tracing, and reporting. This course is best suited for users with some experience in M4 Foundation, Fiber, and Work Order.

Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: $675

Back to the Basics with M4 Foundations 

This foundational course helps all users to either get started or hone their skills with the everyday functions and workflows in M4 Foundation. The course content will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to come away with a strong fundamental knowledge base of M4. 

Level: Beginner
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: $675

Reporting with M4

Learn how reporting can benefit daily work in your organization. We'll cover how to filter data with parameters, sort, aggregate, and extract data from the SQL server. This class is geared towards users who manage and disperse data to the business and would like to use M4 to facilitate the process.

Level: Intermediate
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: $675

M4 Universal Translator Basics 

Transforming data from multiple systems is vital in understanding your network, making decisions, and reporting. Universal Translator teaches you how to import, export, and manipulate data using M4 and Safe Software’s FME translation engine to solve data interoperability challenges.

Level: Beginner
Duration: 4 hours
Cost: $675

M4 Excellence Awards

At VertiGIS, we know that our customers are our brightest innovators, best teachers, and greatest inspirations. That’s why each year we celebrate our clients’ achievements and showcase their successes with the M4 Excellence Awards.

We are excited to discover and honor the amazing growth our clients achieve using VertiGIS products and technologies, especially the ways in which customers are doing more with less, delivering outstanding customer experiences, and increasing revenue.

Read the criteria for each award below and submit a nomination for yourself or your peers including a short, written description of the nominee’s merits.

• Operational Excellence Award: Recognizes a company project/initiative that displays organization-wide and innovative use of VertiGIS technologies to drive significant improvements to operations, increasing efficiency, and improving the quality of work life for employees.
• Outstanding Adoption Award: Recognizes a company who completed a "go-live" for any new software in the last 18 months, and displays outstanding achievement in their implementation, adoption and use of VertiGIS technologies.
• Trailblazer Award: Recognizes a company project/initiative that drives transformation and growth using the latest VertiGIS technologies, resulting in significant changes to the business, such as new revenue, markets, or business processes.
• M4 MVP Award: Recognizes an individual who champions the use of M4 to improve efficiency and communication across the entire organization, by promoting adoption, education and cross-departmental initiatives that improve the accuracy and accessibility of network data. 

Pricing & Registration

Beyond the Basic Conference Package, you can choose to add optional Training Classes and Social Events to your registration to get even more value out of your time in Richmond.

Need help justifying your trip? We've got you covered! Download our pre-written approval letter, fill in your info, and copy and paste it into an email.

Full refunds are available until Friday, September 16. Limited refunds are available until Friday, September 30.

$975
BASIC PACKAGE

Includes:

General Sessions & Networking
All Breakout Sessions
Customer Appreciation Event

$1650
PREMIUM PACKAGE

Includes:

All Basic Package Items
PLUS
1 Pre-Conference Training Class

HOTEL >

Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump
12042 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23233

A block of rooms has been reserved at a special conference rate of $149 per night, plus any applicable taxes and fees at time of check-in. The group rate ends Friday, September 16 or when the room block is full. Self parking is free. Please use the link below to ensure you receive the discounted rate!

FAQ

Below are some answers to common questions about the conference. For questions not answered here, please contact marketing (at) vertigis.com.

What's included in the basic package registration?
This year's Basic Registration package includes access to our General Sessions, Breakout Sessions, lunches and snacks on Monday and Tuesday, Welcome Reception on Monday, and the Customer Appreciation Event on Tuesday. All attendees will also receive a swag bag at check-in.

Can I bring my spouse or a guest?
Yes! Guests may attend the conference at a guest rate of $275. This allows them to attend the Lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Welcome Reception on Monday, and the Customer Appreciation Event on Tuesday. If you would like to register more than one guest, please contact us to make arrangements.

Can I modify or add items to my registration?

Yes, you can modify, remove, or add items to your UC package through our online registration portal until close of business on September 16. Any changes after that time, including on-site changes, are subject to availability. 

What are my payment options?
There are two options for payment during the online registration process: use a credit card through our secure payment portal, or request an offline invoice to pay by check.

Can I split my payment between a corporate credit card and a personal credit card?
To split payments, register only for the portions of the conference you wish to put on your corporate card. After your registration is submitted, follow the instructions in your confirmation message to create an account. Then you can log in and modify your registration details, including adding optional meals or outings. Once you make the additions, select the option to pay for the additional expenses with a different credit card and enter your personal payment information.

What's the best way to get to the hotel from the airport? 
There are taxi cabs available at RIC outside the baggage claim area in the center section of the curbside; any of them can take you to the conference hotel. The estimated one-way fare is $70.

If you have a large group and prefer a shuttle or van, James River Transportation has a counter on the first floor of RIC (to the right of the escalators), or you can make an advance reservation through their website.

There are also lots of Uber and Lyft drivers in Richmond, if you would like to use an app-based ride hailing service instead. They can be cheaper than traditional transportation services. 

Will I need a car while in Richmond?
Once you're at the conference hotel, you won't need a car! VertiGIS will provide transportation to any events not held at the hotel.

What health and safety measures will be in place?
We will follow any state and local guidelines with respect to practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and other policies at the time of the event. For information on the hotel venue's current protocols and guidelines, please visit their website.