More than 500 government and public-sector IT and technology leaders came together at Sidney Harman Hall in the Penn Quarter section of Washington for the FedTalks conference on October 12. Hosted by FedScoop, a government media and marketing company that specializes in government IT news, the one-day conference focused on how technology can change government. It was designed to feel different from a typical conference.
“There are several IT events that occur every day in town, and the majority of them take place in gray conference rooms or nondescript hotel ballrooms,” said Goldy Kamali, C.E.O. and founder of FedScoop and the host and organizer of the conference. “From the very beginning, we set out to create a different kind of gathering, one that was fashioned after a live show and would stimulate all the senses, from the sights and sounds to the catering and setup.”
Executives from the White House opened and closed the conference, which began shortly after a catered breakfast by Ridgewells at 10 a.m. A wide range of speakers, including Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, and U.S. chief information officer Vivek Kundra, all delivered focused, mini keynote messages from Harman Hall’s amphitheater-style stage. Local comedian Remy and DJ Donald Syriani, who has played at several events at the White House, also performed mini sets between sessions.
The conference coincided with FedScoop’s second anniversary, which was marked with a reception in the second-floor lobby of Harman Hall following the final talk. Syriani performed while sponsors, attendees, and speakers sipped on cocktails and dined on hors d’oeuvres from Ridgewells and cupcakes from Frosting a Cupcakery.
![Conference planners held all of the sessions in the Harman Hall theater, which has an amphitheater-style seating arrangement.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image11.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The conference featured a mix of mini keynote presentations and roundtable discussions about the intersection of government and technology.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image3.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![FedTalks organizers used overhead lights to project conference sponsor logos on the stage floor.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image2.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Arianna Huffington served as one of the keynote speakers.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image10.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![During breaks, all of the attendees could grab beverages and snacks in the second-floor lobby of Harman Hall.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image5.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The second-floor lobby featured a host of seating options for attendees.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image4.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Clearwire, one of the sponsors, provided a mobile office setup for attendees.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image6.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Ridgewells provided hors d'oeuvres during the second-anniversary reception following the conference.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Guests staying for the anniversary reception could choose from wine, beer, and specialty drinks like sangria.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image7a.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![DJ Donald Syriani provided background music throughout the conference and also for the anniversary reception.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e19315image9.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)