Abila Inaugural User Conference, Forward Together 2013, Sells Out with Over 400 Customers and Business Partners Nationwide
Austin, Texas (PRWEB) November 14, 2013 -- Forward Together 2013, the inaugural three-and-a-half-day Abila user conference, brought over 400 customers and business partners together on November 3rd. The conference served to unveil the new Abila brand to users through the interplay of three key themes: “Inspire Possibility,” “Anything is Possible” and “Mission Delivered.”
“This was an incredible inaugural event for Abila,” said Krista Endsley, CEO, Abila. “It was an exciting moment to have so many customers and partners together in Central Texas to listen, learn and create a path forward. We enjoyed sharing our vision for the future and getting our tremendous partners up to speed on the depth of our new offerings.”
Led by nonprofit and association industry leaders, the conference’s 61 breakout sessions focused on overcoming organizational challenges, leveraging fund accounting and fundraising technology, shaping strategy for social media and expanding on grant management knowledge.
Kicking off the event, Endsley spoke about Abila’s journey and how many customers have been with the organization for decades, and have loyally supported the company as Abila continues to grow.
By presenting the first Abila Inspiration Awards, Endsley recognized loyal Abila customers for their inspiring dedication to their missions: Lutheran Social Services of New England received the Forward Together Award; Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties received the Anything is Possible Award; and Wesleyan University received the Mission Delivered Award.
During the opening ceremony, recipients of the 2013 Abila President’s Circle Awards were also announced, each recognized for their top performance as business partners. Award winners included: McGovern Consulting Group, LLC.; NonProfit Technologies, Inc.; JMT Consulting Group and NP Solutions, Inc.
Day two of Forward Together 2013 featured a keynote from Dan Pallotta, chief humanity officer, Advertising for Humanity. Pallotta spoke about how “The way we think about charity is dead wrong." He challenged the audience to reject the constraints of conventional thinking and explore the possibilities that could become reality.
During the final keynote address of Forward Together 2013, Cookie Gregory Ruiz, executive director, Ballet Austin, discussed the dimensions of leadership in nonprofit organizations. Ruiz urged the attendees to look for the leadership that “exists inside you and around you.”
Abila serves more than 8,000 organizations nationwide. The company’s clients include leading nonprofits, government agencies, associations, membership organizations and higher education institutions. On Aug. 21, Abila acquired McLean, Va.-based Avectra and became one of the largest software solutions providers serving the nonprofit, association membership and government sectors.
Forward Together 2013 speaker presentations will remain available online at the Conference Portal. The next user conference for Abila features its netFORUM products (acquired with Avectra), and is scheduled for March 2014. For more information, visit the AUDC 2014 website.
About Abila
Abila and Avectra, now an Abila Company, serve nonprofits, associations and government agencies with comprehensive fund accounting, grant management, fundraising and constituent relationship management solutions. Organizations want to accomplish more, with less complexity and effort. Together, Abila and Avectra, will enable you to do just that—and achieve what you never even dreamed was possible.
For us, it’s personal. Abila and Avectra are backed by over 50 years of combined experience dedicated to helping organizations clear the way to perform your best work so you and your organization can focus on delivering your mission. Abila is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
For more information, please visit http://www.abila.com.
Darryl Frost, anthonyBarnum Public Relations, (512) 329-1974, [email protected]
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