Thank you Tinley Park and Apple Chevrolet

The Illinois Science Education Conference, sponsored by the Illinois associations of biology, chemistry, physics, and science teachers and the Center for Math, Science, & Technology, was conducted at the Tinley Park Convention Center.  Our goal is to provide the best technical and scientific information to science teachers so they can prepare young people for 21st Century jobs.

We are writing to thank several organizations which helped make our visit here run very smoothly.  Altogether, over 850 attended the conference, participated in about 200 educational presentations, visited with about 90 exhibitors, and contributed to the Southtown economy.

The Tinley Park Conference Center, following its recent expansion, fit our needs perfectly, with over 20 breakout rooms and large exhibit and banquet space.  Downstate teachers stated it was easy to find and enjoyed free parking and WIFI.  The helpful staff worked hard to meet our sometimes unusual needs.  Having the Tinley Park Holiday Inn and Convention jointly managed made our conference arrangements go very well.  We especially thank Dena Manley who was with us throughout the planning and the conference.

The Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau assisted us in several ways and helped bring the conference to Tinley Park.  We especially thank Elizabeth Baun who pitched in and helped us at the conference as well providing merchant information and directions.

Apple Chevrolet provide this Volt for display.

Finally, we thank Apple Chevrolet for their help in providing a VOLT electric car for display.  Plans to have electric car technology in the exhibit hall fell through on the day of the conference when that car was sold.  Following a few phone calls, Apple Chevrolet provided a car and we especially thank Patrick Swisher for staffing the exhibit and answering endless questions from science teachers.

Thanks to the great hospitality and home town feel, we have decided to bring the conference back to Tinley Park in 2013.  We will also be recommending this excellent facility and community to other conference planners.