Mastering Scaling New Heights 2025: A Guide for Every Attendee

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Ted McRae
June 3, 2025

Attending Scaling New Heights 2025 in Orlando? Whether you’re stepping onto the expo floor for the first time or reuniting with familiar faces, this guide will help you navigate the experience with confidence, energy, and purpose. From optimizing your schedule to making powerful vendor connections — we’ve got you covered.

1. Embrace the Spirit: Connect With Confidence

Walking into Scaling New Heights for the first time can feel a bit like the first day at a new school — but with a twist: almost everyone wants to meet someone new. There’s an incredible spirit of generosity and camaraderie among the attendees, and one of the best things you can do is simply smile, say hello, and ask a fellow attendee what brought them to the conference.

Even seasoned attendees will tell you — they remember their first SNH. The feeling of being surrounded by smart, passionate professionals can be both exciting and intimidating. But here's the secret: most of them came alone, just like you might have, and they're just as eager to connect.

Don’t wait for someone to notice you — be the someone who notices others. If you spot someone scanning the event map, standing solo in line for coffee, or quietly checking the session board, take a breath and introduce yourself. A simple "Is this your first SNH?" or "What session are you headed to next?" can spark a meaningful connection.

These spontaneous moments often lead to:

  • Shared meals and vendor visits
  • Post-conference Slack groups
  • Ongoing referral relationships
  • Tech stack collaborations and mastermind groups

➡️ Pro Tip: Bring a few go-to conversation starters. Ask about their tech stack, what software tools they're exploring, which session they’re most excited about, or if they’re attending any after-hours events. Most importantly, listen actively and follow up later with a quick LinkedIn or Slack message — it’s the beginning of a professional friendship that could last years.

Remember, you’re not “networking” — you’re connecting with your future collaborators, supporters, and maybe even lifelong friends.

2. Plan Ahead, But Stay Flexible

A solid plan is your best friend at a conference like Scaling New Heights — but rigid expectations can rob you of serendipity. Striking a balance between structure and spontaneity is key to making the most of your time.

SNH features an expansive agenda, hundreds of vendors, and countless networking opportunities. If you show up without a game plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But with a few simple prep steps, you can arrive with clarity — and the ability to pivot when a golden opportunity arises.

Here’s how to prep like a pro:

  • Pick your focus areas. Whether it's practice management, automation, cybersecurity, or client communication, narrowing your scope helps you avoid “shiny object syndrome” and stay aligned with your business goals.
  • Research and rank vendors ahead of time. Use the Vendor Interaction Planner to organize which booths to visit and what you want to ask. Think about which clients might benefit from each solution and bring targeted questions. Planning this now helps ensure your booth conversations are strategic, not just social.
  • Use the official training schedule to register for high-value sessions. Consider a mix of topics: skills you need immediately, big-picture inspiration, and tools to streamline your firm’s operations. Pro tip: session popularity helps determine room sizes, so register early.
  • Block time for the Exhibit Hall during slower hours. When most attendees are in sessions, the floor is quieter — and vendors have more time to offer detailed demos and real advice.

That said, some of your most valuable takeaways may come from unplanned chats in the hallway, spontaneous coffee meetups, or a surprise session swap because someone said, “You have to check this out.”

➡️ Pro Tip: Make a flexible calendar in your app or notebook that includes must-do sessions, prioritized vendors, and intentional “free time.” Think of it as your guide, not your boss.

The goal? Walk away with real insight, stronger vendor relationships, and a refreshed vision for your firm — not just a tote bag full of brochures.

3. Download Your Vendor Interaction Planner

The Exhibit Hall at Scaling New Heights is a treasure trove of technology, services, and strategic partnerships — but it can also feel like a maze without a plan. That’s why we created the Vendor Interaction Planner, your go-to guide for navigating the vendor floor with purpose and clarity.

This planner isn’t just a checklist — it’s a strategic tool that helps you get real value from your interactions. It’s designed with accounting professionals in mind and helps you:

  • Identify must-see vendors based on your firm’s focus areas
  • Note key questions or pain points to discuss
  • Record booth numbers to streamline navigation
  • Track potential client fits for each vendor solution
  • Jot down notes for follow-up and next steps

Instead of walking the floor at random (or worse, forgetting who you spoke to and why), use this planner to prioritize, personalize, and document your vendor conversations.

🔗 👉 Download the Planner here

Bring a printed copy or keep it on your tablet. We recommend blocking time on your schedule specifically for vendor research, and even reaching out ahead of time to book short meetings with high-priority booths.

➡️ Pro Tip: Consider using your planner to collaborate with your team. Assign specific booths to different team members and regroup later to share insights — it’s a great way to maximize coverage and compare notes efficiently.

When you're done, you’ll have more than just a pile of swag — you’ll have actionable insights tied directly to your firm’s growth strategy.

4. Use the Conference App Like a Pro

The SNH app helps you:

  • Register for sessions (required!)
  • View session descriptions and speaker bios
  • Export events to your calendar
  • Navigate the exhibit hall

📽️ Check out Mariette Martinez’s how-to video for mastering the app.

5. Pack Smart (and for Comfort!)

Orlando in June means heat outside, AC-blasts inside. Here’s what to bring:

  • Comfy shoes (the hotel is huge)
  • A warm layer for breakout rooms
  • A collapsible bag for swag
  • Battery packs for your phone
  • Snacks & water bottles to avoid expensive hotel options
  • Clothes that reflect your style — power suits, hoodies, or tiaras, anything goes

6. Visit MakersHub at Booth #42

Come visit MakersHub at Booth #42 to see how we’re transforming accounts payable automation with AI-driven technology. Whether you’re drowning in data entry or just curious about scaling your back-office workflows — let’s talk. Our platform is built to eliminate manual AP processes and unlock your team’s potential.

Ask us how you can:

  • Reduce invoice processing time
  • Improve accuracy and compliance
  • Free up your staff for higher-value work

7. Prioritize Networking — Before, During, and After

Scaling New Heights isn’t just about the sessions and software — it’s about the people. The most successful attendees are those who go beyond just attending and actively build their professional network throughout the conference experience.

Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, you’ll find countless opportunities to make meaningful connections — but it takes a little intention. Here’s how to make the most of it:

Before the Conference

  • Engage on social media: Follow the hashtag #SNH25 on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Look for fellow attendees posting about the event, and jump into the conversations. Comment, like, and share — let people know you’ll be there!
  • Join online communities: Groups like Woodard Group of the Americas, QB Community Live, or Slack spaces for your favorite apps are great places to find other attendees and even arrange meetups.
  • Book one-on-ones in advance: If there’s someone you admire or hope to meet, don’t wait — send a message or email before the conference to set up a quick coffee or booth meeting.

During the Conference

  • Be bold at meals and sessions: If you walk into a ballroom and don’t recognize anyone — perfect. Pick a table and introduce yourself with something like, “Mind if I join you? This is my first SNH!” You’ll be amazed how fast people open up.
  • Use the conference app: Explore the attendee list, message people you’d like to connect with, and use the map to find shared sessions or vendor stops.
  • Have business cards ready: Whether paper or digital, be ready to share your contact info. “HiHello” is a great digital option — you can even print a QR code and stick it on your phone case for easy sharing!

After the Conference

  • Follow up fast: Within a week of SNH, send personalized messages to everyone you connected with. Mention what you talked about, share helpful links or content, and suggest ways to stay in touch.
  • Stay active in communities: Keep the momentum going by joining post-conference threads, webinars, and group chats. SNH is just the beginning — many of the strongest collaborations form after you leave Orlando.

🎯 Pro Tip: Don’t just network for leads or referrals — build relationships. You’re surrounded by accountants and tech innovators who can inspire you, challenge your thinking, and help you grow in ways you didn’t expect.

8. Take Care of You

Don’t forget self-care:

  • 😴 Rest up — it’s a marathon, not a sprint
  • 🧂 Pack Epsom salts for tired feet
  • 🍽️ Don’t skip meals (they soak up the happy hour drinks!)
  • 🧘 Take breaks — quiet moments can be recharging
  • 💡 Set clear goals: which 2–3 ideas or tools will you ACTUALLY implement post-conference?

9. Explore More Resources

Use these official links to make the most of your SNH experience:

Final Words

Scaling New Heights isn’t just a conference — it’s a launchpad. Show up with intention, connect with purpose, and leave with ideas (and friends!) that could change your business.

We'll see you at Booth #42 — let’s make 2025 your best year yet.

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