Web Analytics Wednesday Portland …

I have to say that last night’s Web Analytics Wednesday event in Portland, Oregon was a smashing success! We had good representation from a number of companies including WebTrends, Powells Books, Intel, Mentor Graphics, ISITE Design, the Web Analytics Association and of course, Visual Sciences who picked up the tab for the evening. I was smart enough to bring my camera so here are a few photos I grabbed while we socialized.

First we have Gordon, currently of Intel, and Jaimie, formerly of Intel, currently of Powells Books. Both gentlemen are sporting “Don’t Be a Fred” solidarity pins and have copies of Analytics Demystified and tasty Oregon homebrew so you know these guys are all set.

Next up is WebTrends own blogger, Eric Butler, seen here sporting his “Don’t Be a Fred” pin and flashing a smile that only a blogger who knows his picture is going to end up on a blog can flash. I’ve known Eric for years since we were both early-days hires at WebTrends. Eric has been solid as a rock, advancing through the ranks at WebTrends to his current position of Director, Systems Architecture.

Eric’s great to talk to because he has a ton of perspective on how measurement really happens. While he and I are always very careful about what we discuss (we being competitors now and all that) I very much look forward to his attendence at WAW events.

My third picture shows Nancy Taffera-Santos, formerly of WebTrends and currently in sales at DIRECT Magazine and the co-chair of the Web Analytics Association’s events committee. Nancy has a ton of energy and is tres enthusiastic about web analytics in general.

Nancy told me that she’s looking for a new co-chair for the WAA Events Committee–if any of you reading this are interested please let me know and I’ll get the word to Nancy. As you can see by the WAA informational page she’s holding up, Nancy is working hard to expand the ranks of the association and providing high-quality events and content for all web analytics practioners.

Finally, we have a picture of Jeff Katz, former WebTrends and current contractor with a variety of well-known organizations, sleeping. Jeff, like myself, has two small children at home and works entirely too much so I didn’t fault him for catching a nap at WAW.

As you look down the table you can see folks from Intel, Mentor Graphics and, at the end of the table, WebTrends new Digital Product Marketing Manager, Jenna Bussell. Jenna just moved to the Rose City from New York so I give her three more weeks before she’s bored to tears with our “country lifestyle” we appreciate so much here in Portland. I am told that inside WebTrends global HQ she is referred to as “Hurricane Jenna” … and it’s only her second week on the job.

All in all we had an excellent turnout and a gret time. You can read about other Web Analytics Wednesday events around the country in the Yahoo! group:

• David Rhee summarizes events in Irvine, California
• Stephane Hamel reports on a 225% increase in attendence in Montreal, Canada
• Dylan Lewis sets the bar higher just a mile from WebSideStory global HQ in San Diego, California
  
• Aaron reports that ZAAZ are excellent hosts in Seattle, Washington