A brand-new, regional Ruby conference in the mountains of western North Carolina

Where’s the schedule?

We’ll finalize our conference schedule when we get closer to the event.

How many attendees do you expect?

This is our first time organizing a conference, so we’re not entirely sure. But we are targeting 150-200.

Are you looking for sponsors?

Yes! Check out our sponsorship packages.

Do you offer scholarships?

We are offering 10 free scholarship tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. These scholarships are aimed at helping those who might not otherwise be able to attend. We are especially interested in helping students and individuals from underrepresented groups. If you are interested, please fill out a scholarship application.

Do you offer any ticket discounts?

We are offering a non-profit and educational discount, as well as a corporate discount when registering five or more individuals. Please contact us for details.

Who’s organizing this conference?

Hi! 👋 We’re Jeremy Smith and Mark Locklear.

Why are you putting this on?

In 2022, Jeremy went to four amazing Ruby and Rails conferences and came home energized and inspired every time. On the flight home from one of those conferences, he tweeted his interest in hosting a regional conference in Asheville. Mark graciously offered to help organize, and from there, things just got out of control. 😂

What’s the COVID policy?

What’s the Code of Conduct?

Short version: No harrassment, no sexual language/imagery, violators may be sanctioned or expelled. Full version.

What are the plans for the optional weekend activities?

We will be organizing optional group activities for Saturday, June 10^th for any attendees who stay in town after the conference. We are still working out the details, and will provide updates on our mailing list. Some ideas include: touring Biltmore house and grounds, kayaking on the French Broad river, taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking to a peak or waterfall, and touring a craft brewery. If you’d like to participate, we recommend you book your hotel through Saturday night and plan to depart on Sunday.

Where should I stay?

There are many hotels near the venue, but two of the closest are Renaissance Asheville (0.2 miles away) and Four Points by Sheraton (0.1 miles away). In addition, Hilton Garden Inn (0.4 miles away) has offered us a group block discount. For comparison of various options, see this map of hotels around the venue.

Where is the nearest airport?

The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the closest airport, and is probably your best bet at ~20 minute drive from the venue. There are multiple ground transport options, including hotel shuttle, taxi, public transit, and ride-share app.

The next closest airports are Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) at ~1 hour, 45 minute drive, and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) at ~2 hour drive.

What happens after I have registered?

As we get closer to the conference, we will send out email announcements to attendees with all important details. A couple weeks prior to the conference, we will invite attendees to a conference Slack group for information-sharing and discussion before, during, and after the conference.

Will conference talks be recorded?

We are planning to record conference talks if we reach our funding goals.

Will there be a job fair?

No, but we will have a #jobs channel on our conference Slack group for companies and attendees to share opportunities.