>>Looking at the speaker list, I'd recommend Cori Drew, Jay Harris, Matt Milner, Pete Brown, Richard Campbell, Phil Japiske, Sarah Dutkiewicz, Tim Huckaby
>>
>>Mike Hostetler is a good guy and knows his stuff, but is not a good presenter
>>
>>>This is not really the right category but it is the closest I can find.
>>>
>>>I want to recommend a conference that I will be attending the week after next. It's called That Conference. The main force behind it is a Microsoft guy named Clark Sells, apparently hosting it off to the side. There is a great slate of speakers consisting mostly of up and comers. The topic spectrum is vast and very much on the bleeding edge. The venue is Wisconsin Dells, an hour or two north of Madison. It is either the tackiest place in the U.S. or a great place to spend a few days in the summer. I am really looking forward to it.
>>>
>>>I sent Clark (who I did not at that point know was the main host) an email asking if there were any of the little known speakers I should make a point of seeing. He said we chose all the speakers carefully. He said we wanted to feature people who are not yet known and have interesting things to say about topics we think are on the way up. It sort of reminds me of FoxPro circa 1991. I can't wait.
>
>This makes 12 specific recommendations in the space of an afternoon between you and Mike C. Maybe the conference is not as obscure as I thought. I was already feeling good about veering outside my usual orbit and am now feeling even better about it.

Also, he's not at this conference, but if you ever get a chance to see Cory Houseman speak, do it. I think he's St. Louis area but does some regional conferences.