Student Shop Managers Consortium
2026 CONFERENCE

JULY 7th-9th, 2026

California Polytechnic State University

San Luis Obispo, Ca

SAVE THE DATE!

(Extremely)Tentative Schedule

Presentations, speakers and panelists to be determined

Monday 7/6

Evening Pre-conference Mixer

Tuesday 7/7

Morning

Breakfast, Opening Introductions, Safety Presentation, Panel, Board Election Process introductions

Afternoon

Lunch, Keynote (1?) Q&A

Excursion to Hearst Castle - Limited additional tickets will be available to purchase

Dinner Banquet at Cal Poly - Additional tickets will be available to purchase

Wednesday 7/8

Morning

Breakfast, SSMC Business - Board Election spiels, Presentations, panels, open discussions, Keynote (2?) + Q&A

Afternoon

Lunch, Facilities tours - The Mustang ‘60 Machine Shop, the Aero Hangar, the Mustang Makerspace. The Architecture Shop, Art & Design, Ag Engineering Shops, Dairy Science Facility, Food Science Chocolate Lab

Dinner in Downtown SLO on your own

Thursday 7/9

Morning

Breakfast, Election voting & Results, presentations, Student panel, Open discussions

Afternoon

Future business and wrap up

Suggested Farmers Market for dinner for those staying.

Travel & Transportation

First: Where the heck is San Luis Obispo, California????

Cal Poly is located in the heart of California's Central Coast, exactly centered between Los Angeles and The San Francisco bay Area. 3 hours north or south to get to either one.

How to get here:

  • Fly into San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP) - best but most expensive option. Beautiful small airport but has connections to San Francisco, San Jose, LA, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, etc

  • Fly into Santa Barbara (90 minute drive) or Santa Maria (45 minute drive) Both are fairly close but fewer connection options.

  • Fly into LAX (3 hours), San Jose (3 hours) or San Francisco (4 hours) - One benefit of these options is that there will be MANY more car rental options and the drive from LA is actually gorgeous as most of it is travelling along the Pacific Ocean. From the Bay area, not so much.

Transportation once you are here:

  • Car rental is prevalent, but not like a big city. We have plenty of Uber and Lyft drivers in town.

  • There will be shuttle bus service to and from Cal Poly to the recommended hotels mornings and evenings.

  • There will be ample parking at Cal Poly for an additional Fee of $11 a day if you want to drive yourself.

Where to Stay:

Hotel Block discounts are pending and will be linked as soon as possible. The following are the best potential hotels that will be stops or close to stops along the shuttle bus route. Please do not book until the links are available if you want the discounted rate.

Things to Do in San Luis Obispo!