Student Shop Managers Consortium
2026 CONFERENCE
JULY 7th-9th, 2026
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, Ca
Registration is OPEN!!
Click on the Registration link in the menu bar up top!
Update: Hotel blocks are available and Keynote Speaker booked! See Below
Conference Hotel Bookings are open!
Hotel Block discounts are at the two following hotels, Please consider these hotels first as we are contracted to fill the rooms reserved!
1st Choice! - Springhill Suites - San Luis Obispo - Shuttle Stop 1
The SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Luis Obispo is a new all-suite hotel offering spacious rooms with separate living areas, ideal for Central Coast exploration near downtown, Cal Poly, beaches, and wine country, featuring amenities like free hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, fitness center, restaurant/bar, and EV charging, providing a comfortable base for both business and leisure travelers.
2nd Choice! - La Quinta Inn - Shuttle Stop 2
The La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Luis Obispo Downtown is a modern, centrally located hotel offering free breakfast, WiFi, and parking, plus a rooftop pool, hot tub, and fitness center with great views. It features the on-site 1865 Craft House restaurant, is pet-friendly, and provides a central base for exploring downtown SLO, Cal Poly, wineries, and nearby beaches.
We have our Keynote speaker, Alexandra McNamara, locked in!
Alex McNamara is a technical director, rigging expert, and welder whose career spans from Broadway stages to massive music festivals in the Saudi desert. Based in Nashville, she recently managed over 35 sponsor builds at Governors Ball and led VIP site builds for Soundstorm, one of the world’s largest electronic festivals.
Alex holds an MFA from Yale in Technical Design & Production and is ETCPcertified with additional credentials in welding, fall protection, and site safety. She's also the author of a groundbreaking thesis on gender inequities in workwear, which combines industry interviews, historical research, and a survey of over 700 tradespeople.
On social media, Alex is the voice behind Built Pretty, an educational platform dedicated to tool literacy, construction history, and empowering underrepresented workers in the trades. Her viral videos on screwdrivers, hammers, and “how not to use a drywall screw” have earned her a devoted following across TikTok and Instagram, where she’s known for her witty, deeply knowledgeable takes on tools, tool history and job site culture.
(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.