Picture this: We’re at eduWeb ’24 in Philly, and Allison Turcio asks the crowded ballroom to guess where next year’s summit will be held. My hand shoots up. “Portland, Maine!” I call out, half-joking, half-hoping. When she confirmed I’d guessed right, I felt that surge of unbridled elation you get when the universe aligns perfectly with your wildest dreams.
And man oh man, what an amazing week it was.
Anyone who knows me knows how much pleasure I get from hosting — so having 400 colleagues and peers from around the country (and world!) descend upon my hometown of Portland, Maine was a true joy.
Moments Worth Remembering
Opening with Maine Hospitality: The US Custom House Happy Hour
What better way to kick off the conference than sharing our Maine spirit with nearly 200 attendees? Tuesday night’s reception at our US Custom House offices was pure magic — live classical music echoing through one of Maine’s most architecturally significant buildings while colleagues from across the country got their first real taste of Portland. The guided tours and local flavors set the perfect tone for the week ahead.
Special thank you to Kristen Deiley for taking these fantastic photos of the ERI Happy Hour.
Morning Miles with Fellow Marketers
A few spirited souls met in the Holiday Inn by the Bay lobby at 6:15am for leisurely strolls through the Old Port, along the narrow gauge railroad, and along the ocean. Special shout-out to eduWeb programming chair Allison Turcio (Assistant VP of Enrollment at Sienna College) and Madeline Wright (Communications and Events Coordinator at Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence) for joining both days! Nothing beats starting the day with fresh ocean air and great conversation.
Sharing Expertise: “Top 10 Essentials for Redesigning Your Doorstep to the World”
Presenting my framework for maximizing value from website redesigns was another personal highlight of the week. The engagement and questions from the audience reminded me why I love this community — everyone’s here to learn and grow together.
Learning from the Masters: Brian Piper on AI
Brian Piper remains one of my favorite authors and speakers on the circuit. Even though I’ve seen him present multiple times at various conferences, his thoughtful yet fearless approach to AI solutions always leaves me feeling smarter and better equipped to leverage AI’s growing sophistication. His insights continue to evolve with the technology, making each session feel fresh and immediately actionable.
Meeting a Social Media Legend: Jenny Li Fowler
Finally meeting Jenny Li Fowler (Head of Social Media at MIT and author of “Organic Social Media: How to Build Flourishing Online Communities”) in person was incredible. Her book is considered the gold standard in higher ed social media strategy, and her “6 M’s of Organic Social Media Strategy” (Mission, Message, Management, Medium, Metrics & Monitoring) framework is brilliant. So is she.
Hearing the Inside Scoop: How Students Now Search via ChatGPT, TikTok, Reddit, Youtube & More
One of the highlights of eduWeb Summit was seeing our friend Faton Sopa, CEO of Manaferra, take center stage to share his wisdom and insights on the rapidly evolving SEO landscape in higher education. His expertise and forward-thinking perspective left the room energized and inspired.
Pre-Conference Casco Bay Adventure
Before the conference kicked off in full swing, we had the pleasure of cruising Casco Bay with our new Canadian friends Craig Boassaly (Founder of Eliquo Training & Development Inc., a Canadian company established in 2002 that specializes in software training for digital content creators, designers, and developers) and his partner Anita. We had a great time getting to know them better and learning all about Ottawa while showing off our beautiful backyard.
The “Bag of Maine” Raffle Winner
Our local goodie bag — complete with a “Stephen King’s Study” scented candle and other Maine delicacies — found its perfect home. Congrats to our lucky winner, Kelly Silver, Admissions Operations Manager at Saybrook University.
A Closing Keynote for the Ages
Ethan Braden (VP of Marketing from Texas A&M) may have set a record for most dusty eyes and quivering bottom lips generated in a single closing keynote. The videos he curated left most audience members feeling emotional as he made a compelling case for building brands that really matter — brands built on great insight that stand for something meaningful, offer outcomes rather than features, focus on feelings over facts, and tell great stories.
ERI was grateful to play a small role in hosting a memorable eduWeb Summit. The combination of Maine’s natural beauty, Portland’s charm, and 400 of the brightest minds in higher education marketing made for an unforgettable week.
We’re already pumped to start planning for eduWeb ’26 in Orlando!
