SIOP Anaheim 2016: A Welcome From Your Conference Chair

Eden King

 SIOP Anaheim 2016: A Welcome From your Conference Chair

April 14-16 (Preconference Activities April 13)

Eden King

George Mason University

SIOP 2016 is just a few short months away—California here we come! Take advantage of this annual opportunity to learn, network, and engage with all that is I-O. Here is what you need to know:

Book your hotel room at the Hilton Anaheim! This sun-sparkling hotel is locatedsteps away from the bright, spacious, and modern Anaheim Convention Center where the scholarly program will take place. Bars and restaurants featuring California wines, craft beers, and fresh cuisines, as well as family-friendly Disney options, are also within walking distance. 

Plan your travel!Anaheim can be accessed through four different airports: SNA, LGB, LAX, and ONT! SIOP has also organized a discount for airport shuttleusers to make travel to the hotel as easy as possible. 

Register for the conference! A few quick mouse clicksnow will ensure that youget our best rate. 

Utilize preconference activities! There are a number of fantastic preconference development opportunities that will maximize your conference experience.

Workshops. Emily Solberg’steam has paired all-star, engaging, expert presenters with 10 cutting-edge topics. You will be amazed by how much you can learn in a single day! This is the premier opportunity for professional development and continuing education in I-O psychology.

Consortia. SIOP offers preconference development opportunities that are carefully designed to support students in master’s and doctoral programs and junior faculty. Consortia participants spoke; Tracey Rizzutoand her Consortia committee responded. Thanks to the constructive feedback from 2015 Consortia participants, new developments and advancement are underway. The Consortia Committee is proud to announce three new features that will make the 2016 Consortia an even greater value!

1. Editor's Round-Table Discussions (Junior Faculty Consortium only): This session provides Junior Faculty Consortium participants an opportunity for one-on-one and small-group feedback discussions with editors and editorial teams from top journals in the field.
2. PhD Practitioner Programming: By popular demand, new programming is being added to specifically address the needs, interests, and concerns of doctoral students interested in pursuing careers as practitioners and consultants.
3. Networking, Networking, Networking: We've heard your call for even more opportunities to mix, mingle, and meet other Consortia participants, as well as for tips for making the most of your SIOP conference networking connections. New opportunities for pre-, during, and postconference networking will be introduced.

Newcomers. Is this your first SIOP? We want to welcome you to our conference at a networking reception at 5:00 pm on Wednesday afternoon. We also invite you to participate in the Ambassadorsprogram, which will connect you to a returning SIOPer who can give you firsthand insight into the conference highlights.

Join the opening plenary! The conference officially begins with the all-conference opening plenary session on Thursday morning. After a brief welcome message from your Conference chair (that’s me), the announcement of award winners (Awards ChairsKristl Davison) and the new Fellows (Fellows Chair Ron Landis), SIOP’s president-elect Jim Outtzwill introduce our SIOP President Steve Kozlowski. Steve will address the ways that our science and practice can make an impact, thereby inspiring and guiding our continued efforts. 

Immerse yourself in the conference program! The submissions that you carefully crafted and thoughtfully reviewed will be showcased in 3 days of outstanding posters, symposia, panels, roundtables, and debates. Scott Tonidandel’sProgram committee has also constructed an amazing set of invited sessions that will feature an exciting Thursday Theme Track on multilevel approaches to enhancing impact, six Friday Seminars, and opportunities to engage in timely Communities of Interest.

Take a Fun Run! Join race director Paul Sackettand a growing number of speedy I-O psychologists for the 24^thAnnual Frank Landy 5K Fun Run. The race will begin just outside of the conference hotel along palm-tree lined streets!

Volunteer! Students, are you looking for a way to get more involved? Are you interested in meeting and networking with other students and members of SIOP? Would you like some extra spending money while at the Annual Conference? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we have a solution. Check out the websitefor more details or reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator (Kaleb Embaugh) at kembaugh@pradco.com with any questions.

Don’t miss the closing plenary and reception! We are thrilled to announce that Laszlo Bock, SVP of People Operations at Google, will be sharing his insights with us. This “Human Resources Executive of the Year” will undoubtedly deliver an informative and inspirational message. His address will be followed with a California-themed closing reception that will send you off with the sights, tastes, and music of our sunny destination.

Enjoy a postconference wine tour! Take advantage of California wine country and wrap up a great trip with a tourof three wineries on Sunday, April 17. You’ll finish the weekend feeling warm, relaxed, and ready for an evening flight home.

The Anaheim conference is destined to be one of the best yet, thanks to your outstanding submissions, hundreds of gracious volunteers, and the incredible dedication of our stellar Administrative Office staff. We can all be dreaming of California—and SIOP 2016—on these winter days!