DATIA 2018 Conference Recap
B
ig ideas in the Big Easy! Tat’s exactly what was exchanged at the 2018 DATIA Annual Conference this past
May in New Orleans, Louisiana. With more than 850 participants, over 25 educational sessions, and 70 exhibiting companies, ideas were exchanged with atendees full-circle . . . back and forth between speakers, exhibitors, and amongst themselves! To start off the event, the mood needed
to be set to get everyone ready to engage, learn, and have a great time, which is why the conference opening included a parade through the hallways of the Hilton Riverside New Orleans Hotel directly into the plenary session room by one of the city’s most popular second-line teams with its full brass band and second-line dancers leading the way. Following this musical grand opening, participants were both motivated and entertained by Steve Rizzo, a national headline comedian and author of the book “Get Your SHIFT Together,” where he taught atendees how to be happy and successful no mater what their circumstances were. Atendees were then enlightened with a wealth of information from the DOT’s very own Patrice Kelly. Sessions throughout the conference were also presented by a representative from each modal agency. Dr. Kim Samano of Quest Diagnostics
took the atendees on a ride on a time machine as she revealed 30 years of data, insights, and milestones since the passage of the Drug-Free Workplace Act in 1988. Other sessions that atendees raved about included a session presented by Bill Judge on drug testing policies vs. procedures and
34 datia focus
To access the recordings of the conference sessions, visit
datia.org/sessions
Under “Archived Seminars” click on “2018 DATIA Annual Conference”
BY TAMIKA CARTER, PHR, SHRM-CP
statutes vs. regulations, as well as Dr. Peter Bensinger’s session on Trends in Drug Availability and Federal Drug Policy. A highlight of this year’s conference was our “roundtable” sessions, held for the first time, where atendees could learn best practices from each other in a roundtable seting. In addition to comprehensive education,
the DATIA 2018 Conference provided multiple events to facilitate networking. Quest Diagnostics kicked off the conference with the Opening Reception, held in the exhibit hall on the first night complete with virtual tours of their laboratory. Here, participants were seen meeting old and new friends, learning how the exhibitors and their products and services could enhance their operations, and planning their schedules for the remainder of the conference. Aſter the first full day of sessions, Abbot hosted a great event for participants at Mardi Gras World, with a mini-parade and New Orleans’-style feast while solidifying new contacts and business relationships. Tis was followed up with tours of their lab in Gretna to give participants a first-hand look at what happens within a drug testing laboratory. With the majority of participants
reporting that they already plan to atend the 2019 conference in Chicago, and most indicating that they would recommend the DATIA conference to colleagues, we expect to see a great turnout for the 2019 Annual Conference and Exposition. Just turn the page to see in full color some of the highlights from this year’s conference, and then mark your calendar to be there in person, April 10–12, 2019! ❚
Don’t take my word for how much participants enjoyed the 2018 conference, let them tell you themselves. Here are a few quotes from the post-conference evaluation.
“The DER round table was excellent. Great chance to discuss various topics with others and see trends and how issues are addressed. I think everyone got something out of the session. If they didn’t, they weren’t paying attention.” —ROMEO X. CUELLAR
“Great networking. Wonderful to get all of the information in one place.” —ALEXANDRA KANE
“What I liked most about the conference is that even though I have been working in the field for 12 years and this was my first conference, I still learned a lot. I liked how the speakers were available either during or after the talks for questions. I also liked how they took your information about problems or questions and followed up with them.” —ANGELA MCCLOSKEY
“I enjoyed the opening ceremony and the themed food. I enjoyed the networking opportunities, and the seminars were very informative. It met my expectations as a first-time event attendee.” —PAIGE HANLEY
summer 2018
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