Wildfire forces rescheduling of the Talent Development Think Tank conference

By Julie Wolpers | October 28, 2019

Note: The Talent Development Think Tank conference has been rescheduled for Jan. 22-23, 2020.

SAN RAFAEL, CA (Oct. 28. 2019) – Due to the tragic and dangerous Kincade wildfire (the largest in Sonoma County history), the first-ever Talent Development Think Tank conference is being rescheduled, most likely for February or March 2020 (to be determined).

“After much deliberation, we are saddened to have to announce that we will be rescheduling this event to which so many have contributed,” said Jonathan Hodge, president and CEO of Advantage Performance Group, a premier sponsor of the event. “However major or minor this inconvenience is to us and our TDTT family that has been forming over the last 9 months, it pales in comparison to the very real threat faced by the residents of Santa Rosa. Our hearts and spirits are with them in these coming weeks and we look forward to finding a time in early 2020 where we can celebrate their safe journeys and support the community in person.”

Meanwhile, our staff members at Advantage Performance headquarters in San Rafael are experiencing a related ongoing power outage there that went into effect on Saturday. They are not at risk from the fires, which are taking place in a region about 60 miles to the north.

As the Sonoma County wildfire escalated on Sunday, Oct. 27, the conference venue at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country became part of a mandatory evacuation zone. Even if this mandate is lifted soon, organizers remained concerned about road closures, airline delays and cancellations, shipping of conference materials, and the overall health, safety, and well being of guests, speakers, and staff.

Talent Development Think Tank Co-Founders Andy Storch and Bennett Phillips, who are also partners with Advantage Performance Group, are donating $1,000 to the Sonoma County Resilience Fund for those families and individuals affected by the wildfire. If you want to support the cause as well, you can do so here: www.sonomacf.org/about/.

“We have been working hard on this event for the past 9 months so it was a difficult decision to reschedule, but we are committed to doing what is in the best interest of our members, partners, speakers, and volunteers as well as what is best for the community,” Storch said. “We are optimistic that the Santa Rosa community will recover and that we will be able to host a really fantastic conference in February or March.”

“While this is an unfortunate inconvenience for all of us, we are trying to stay focused on the good fortune we have to be safe in our homes while so many are not,” Phillips added. “Our thoughts go out to the people of Sonoma County and the surrounding area, and we are proud to be able to support the cause of the Resilience Fund.”

The event was originally scheduled for Nov 6-7, 2019, and was sold out. Questions about the event can be directed to hello@tdtt.us.

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Julie Wolpers

A content marketing specialist with a background in journalism and web development, Julie creates rich, audience-focused experiences especially for Advantage Performance Group. She is also the creator and writer/editor of the Talent Development Tuesday weekly email newsletter. Offline, Julie swims most mornings before work and shares her home office in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with her rescue shepherds Lulu and Sammy.