Networking

‘Wow’ Moments That Enhanced the Experience at GWS

Aside from plenty of networking time and top-notch educational sessions with industry leaders, we had several wow-worthy moments for attendees this year. We featured several memorable and fun surprises designed to delight, entertain, and encourage the fun while in Boston. If you haven’t already, we encourage attendees to share their experience with friends and colleagues on social media! Remember to tag Worldwide ERC and use #GWS23.

Check out some of the exciting networking sessions from GWS 2023 below. 

Opening General Session and Reception

Join us on 17 October from 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET to hear updates from Worldwide ERC leadership, with some surprises in store, followed by Opening Session Speaker Doc Hendley.

Hendley is proof that anyone, even a tattooed keg-tapper, can cure what ails the world. In 2003, Doc Hendley dreamed up the concept of Wine to Water while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. In January of 2004 he held his first fundraiser and by August was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government-supported genocide.

When Doc returned home in 2005, the haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue growing the organization he had started only two years earlier. And in 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for over three years, Wine To Water became an official 501 (c)(3) and Doc’s dream finally became a reality.
Hendley’s work aims to help the 1.1 billion people worldwide who lack access to clean water, a figure estimated by the World Health Organization. Nearly two-thirds of that group lives in Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, 42 percent of the population lives without yard taps, household connections or other improvements to sanitize water. Unclean water is the number one killer of children in the world. Water borne illnesses kill far more children the HIV/AIDS and Malaria combined.  Every 15 seconds a child dies from unclean water.

A reception for all attendees will follow the opening session.

Dinner Buddies Program

Try our new Dinner Buddies program! Are you new to Worldwide ERC® or simply want to make new connections? Join our Dinner Buddies program. The Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau will have a concierge desk set up in the convention center. Visit the desk to sign up for a group dinner reservations at a local restaurant. This is a casual opportunity for a dinner plan. It's pay on own. This is a limited opportunity. Stop by the desk upon arrival to sign up!