FOCM New Member Ceremonies – June 2016

Tell me this, do you admire my determination to get caught up on posting FOCM events which have occurred? I kinda admire it—it’s typical for me. I simply cannot let good intentions fall by the wayside, even if those intentions are a few (okay, several) years overdue.

So here we are, rewinding the clock to June 2016 and the DIA Annual Convention. These photos capture several classic FOCM moments where new members were welcomed immediately. I’d given a workshop on networking and welcomed people who came up to me after the presentation. Other member card ceremonies happened in the exhibit hall. Conversations flowed, introductions were made, and relationships were strengthened in that uniquely organic way that only in-person meetings can deliver.

Back then (PC = pre-Covid) , FOCM was already rooted in the belief that meaningful connections drive progress in our industry. The DIA Annual Convention provided the perfect backdrop: passionate professionals, forward-thinking discussions, and plenty of hallway conversations that turned into long-term relationships. If you look closely at these photos, you’ll see more than smiling faces—you’ll see collaboration in motion.

It’s easy to think of events like DIA as just another conference, but for FOCM, they’ve always been about people first. The value isn’t only in the sessions or exhibits; it’s in the moments between—grabbing coffee, sharing stories, and discovering unexpected synergies.

Posting these now is my small way of honoring those moments and the people who showed up, engaged, and helped shape what FOCM continues to be today. Better late than never, right?

Thanks for indulging this walk down memory lane. More throwbacks to come—because unfinished good intentions still deserve their moment. (As you may have guessed, ChatGPT was useful in some of these sentences).

For more info about FOCM and its mission: https://www.focmnetworking.com/about/

It is fun to look back after this passage of time. I got to look up Alex Peng and see that his career is doing very well and he’s gained tremendous experience through various career moves.