GAWDA Guides Welcome More Than 80 First-Time Attendees
The GAWDA community welcomed more than 80 first-time attendees during the Newcomers’ Reception at the 2026 GAWDA Annual Convention. Held September 20–23 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, the convention brought members, families and industry partners together for several days of education, networking and community.
Although GAWDA Guides is one of the association’s newer programs, it has quickly become one of the most popular features at GAWDA’s national events. During the reception, each newcomer was paired with an experienced GAWDA veteran who served as a guide, making introductions and helping the first-time attendee become better acquainted with the association.
The guides led newcomers to tables representing the many facets of GAWDA, including its committees, regional meetings, staff and Board of Directors. This welcoming format gave participants a crash course in the association while helping them begin building the professional relationships and personal friendships that make the GAWDA community so special.
Each newcomer also received a passport to be stamped at every table they visited. Participants who completed the activity were entered into a drawing for more than $3,600 in prizes.
Congratulations to this year’s drawing winners:
- Paul Crowley, James Supplies, LLC
- Zack Baker, Proton.ai
- Jess O’Neal, Proton.ai
- Nicolas Morency, Trendex
- Mike Ralston, Dynabrade
Browse the gallery below to see GAWDA’s newest attendees meeting their guides, learning about the association and beginning what we hope will become many years of involvement in the GAWDA community. Immediately following the newcomer event, members gathered to celebrate the official start of the GAWDA annual convention at the presidents welcome reception.
Thank you to the newcomer event sponsors:
