NextGen 2020 Goes Virtual

No one could have predicted the curveball that 2020 has thrown at all of us. While our day to day lives look drastically different than they did mere months ago, a strong sense of community has emerged. Whether its neighbors looking out for each other, friends and family connecting over video meetings or committing to a common cause, the feeling of togetherness is more present than ever.

For those of you in the GovLoop community already familiar with the NextGen Government Training Summit, you know that the community around the Summit is particularly strong. Over the last eleven years, public servants from every role and function of government have come together to rally for positive change and development.

We believe that supporting this community and its professional development in government should be unwavering. So despite the tumultuous year we’ve seen, we will move forward and host the Summit this year.

The NextGen Government Training Summit will be held virtually over two days on August 19-20, 2020.

We hope you can join us virtually this year,
Leah Anderson, NextGen Marketing Manager and Emily Jarvis, NextGen Content Director

So, what does this mean for you? How will NextGen be different in a virtual summit format, and what can you expect to stay the same? We break it down with need-to-know information:

How will the agenda change by going virtual?

We are sticking closely to the agenda we released back in February, please review the updated schedule here. We will still offer keynote and breakout sessions that are aligned with OPM’s ECQs, with 24 total sessions available. All attendees will be able to earn up to 12 total CPE credits.

In addition to tuning in live to all sessions, every session during the NextGen Summit will also be made available on-demand! This means you can access the recordings for every single session – no more debating which sessions to attend. You’ll have access to the recordings whenever you want and can share with colleagues.

Finally, as an attendee, you’ll also receive a NextGen workbook prior to the Summit in the mail. This will be your go-to NextGen resource with worksheets, takeaways, and note documents that will supplement your learning during the virtual event. This is yours to keep and reference as you like!

Who should attend NextGen?

The NextGen Virtual Summit is open to anyone looking for professional development to advance their government careers. Every role, function and level of expertise of public servant is welcome at NextGen. We have developed the Summit schedule to meet the needs of folks new to government, moving into management, or looking to hone senior leadership skills.

Over the past ten years, we have hosted thousands of federal, state and local government employees and contractors at NextGen. This year’s Virtual Summit will be no different. In fact, we’re excited that the virtual format will make NextGen more accessible to government employees outside of the DC area, or people who are limited by travel and lodging budgets.

Please be sure to check out our free Approval Toolkit for resources to help you build a strong case when asking your supervisor for approval to attend NextGen.

Will I be able to connect with career experts during Office Hours?

Yes, Office Hours will be made available this year. You will be able to meet with career experts during virtual, one-on-one appointments. This feature has been an integral part of NextGen and it will be available again in 2020.

Will I be able to network with other attendees?

Yes! We know this is an important part of the NextGen experience and we want to connect with you too! We are building out a robust online platform that will be able to support virtual networking and chatting. Connecting government to improve government is the GovLoop mission and we will deliver on this at the Virtual Summit.

Is there a cost to attend?

Yes, there is a registration fee. The NextGen Virtual Summit will be offered at a lower registration price than our in-person summit. You can review all pricing details and registration deadlines here. We will still honor all promo codes, so if you snagged one from the Approval Toolkit or are using an Alumni code, you’ll still get a discount! Group discounts are also available for groups of five or more. Please direct all pricing, registration and group rate questions to Leah Anderson, NextGen Marketing Manager, at [email protected] or (203) 623-6837

How can I show proof of attendance?

You will receive your CPE certificates via email a few weeks after the virtual event. We will mail each attendee a hard copy of your certificate of attendance for you to show off at your desk or add to your HR personnel file.

Are the NextGen Public Service Awards still happening this year?

Yes! Just because we won’t be able to honor and celebrate the award winners in person, doesn’t mean their work won’t be acknowledged! The NextGen Awards will be integrated into the virtual event this year. You can learn more details about submitting an award nomination here.

Who will be speaking at the Virtual Summit?

We are working hard to bring some of our most popular speakers back to NextGen this year as well as recruiting some new faces! We will keep the NextGen community aware of speaker announcements and encourage you to keep an eye out for updates to the 2020 schedule.

What if I want to register but something changes?

One thing you can count on in 2020 is change, so we understand there is a heightened need for flexibility at this time. We have updated our cancelation policy so that you can get a full refund on your registration rate if you cancel by July 19, 2020.

If you have previously registered for NextGen before we made the change to a virtual format, please reach out to Leah Anderson, NextGen Marketing Manager at [email protected] or (203) 623-6837.

Need help getting approval to attend the Virtual Summit?

We have updated the information in our free Approval Toolkit to arm you with all the information you need to make a strong case when asking for your supervisor’s approval to join us at the NextGen Virtual Summit this August!

Contact Info:

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. We are committed to supporting your professional development and are here to help navigate the changes. Here are your go-to NextGen contacts:

Leah Anderson, NextGen Marketing Manager: [email protected] | (203) 623-6837

Blake Martin, NextGen Coordinator: [email protected] | (202) 919-4628 ext. 1137