Process Palooza 2024 FAQ
General
What is Process Palooza?
Process Palooza is a high-energy collaborative experience showcasing and celebrating the power of continuous improvement through competitions, hands-on learning, and interactive exhibits in our community pavilion. Learn more about Process Palooza.
Where and when is Process Palooza held?
The annual Process Palooza experience is held on the campus of the University of California San Diego, which is nestled along the Pacific Ocean on 1,200 acres of coastal woodland, just a short trolley-ride away from downtown San Diego.
This year, Process Palooza will take place on August 21-22, 2024 at the Price Center.
Who is the audience for Process Palooza?
Attendees are an engaged audience of change-makers, leaders, and decision makers from industries including higher education, manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, professional organizations from San Diego, the U.S., and across the globe. Our community unites around a shared passion for business excellence, operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
Do you need to be associated with UC San Diego to participate in the event, or can the public join?
You do not need to be associated with UC San Diego to participate. All those interested in starting or advancing their continuous improvement journey are welcome to join us!
Registration
How much does it cost to register?
Registration for Process Palooza 2024 will open the week of April 15. Pricing can be found below. You will also find pricing and links to more information about our add-on training opportunities, taking place on August 21, 2024. These training opportunities come with an additional cost (beyond the registration cost) and are limited in attendance capacity. So, don't miss your chance to add extra value to your Process Palooza experience, choose an add-on training session when purchasing your registration!
Pricing:
- UC San Diego affiliates: $0
- University of California (UC) and Cal State (CSU) affiliates: $150
- General Admission: $325
- Add-on Training Opportunities (limited seats):
- Kaizen Workshop: $425
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: $225
- Root Cause Analysis Workshop: $395
What do I get with my registration?
Registration for Process Palooza includes:
- Access to all keynote and speaking events, breakout sessions, viewing The Great Innovate competition, campus tours, meet-ups and communities, team building activities and games, the sponsor raffle and the Process Palooza Networking & Happy Hour
- A $20 Triton Card to purchase the cuisine of your choice from a variety of restaraunts around campus
Registration for Process Palooza does not include:
- Access to the Add-On Trainings & Certifications (Kaizen Workshop, LSS Yellow Belt Certification & Root Cause Analysis Workshop). These workshops can be purchased at an additional cost and will include a light breakfast and lunch.
- Lodging
- Free transportation and/or parking
Agenda
What's happening on Wednesday, August 21?
The first day (Wednesday, August 21) is aimed to get you prepped and revved up for the Process Palooza experience with foundational and advanced training, The Great Innovate Competition, tours, and meet-ups.
Schedule at a glance:
| Start Time | End Time | Happening | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Pre-Palooza Trainings & Certifications | Price Center & TPCS Rooms |
| 8:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | The Great Innovate Competition | Price Center East Ballroom |
| 11:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Registration & Reception | Price Center West Ballroom Foyer |
| 11:30 a.m. | 1:30 p.m. | Fallen Star Tour | Campus |
| 12:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Pre-Palooza Meet-ups & Communities | Price Center Rooms |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | Design and Innovation Building & EnVision Arts and Engineering Maker Studio Tours | Campus |
What's happening on Thursday, August 22?
The second day (Thursday, August 22) is when the extravaganza launches in full force with a high-energy kick-off, a wide variety of sessions, an engaging community pavilion, The Great Innovate Competition team pitches and awards show, the sponsor raffle and plenty of hands-on learning activities! The event concludes with the Process Palooza & Lean Six Sigma Alumni Networking & Happy Hour event taking place from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Dirty Birds restaraunt. This is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, reflect on the day's events and celebrate!
Schedule at a glance:
| Start Time | End Time | Happening | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Registration & Reception | Price Center West Ballroom Foyer |
| 8:30 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | Welcome & Keynote | Price Center West Ballroom |
| 10:00 a.m. | 11:45 a.m. | Breakout Sessions | Price Center Rooms |
| 10:00 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | Team Building Activities & Games | Price Center West Ballroom |
| 11:45 a.m. | 1:45 p.m. | Lunch | Price Center & Campus |
| 12:15 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. | Birds of a Feather | Price Center East Ballroom |
| 1:30 p.m. | 2:45 p.m. | Afternoon Speakers & Competition Awards | Price Center West Ballroom |
| 3:00 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. | Breakout Sessions | Price Center Rooms |
| 5:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | Raffle & Closing | Price Center West Ballroom |
| 5:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | Process Palooza Networking & Happy Hour | Dirty Birds |
When should I arrive to take advantage of everything being offered?
In order to best take advantage of all that Process Palooza has to offer, make sure to attend the events taking place on Wednesday, August 21:
- The Great Innovate Competition kicks off and attendees are encouraged to come watch the competitors flex their LSS skills
- Get to know the UC San Diego campus better by taking one of the tours being offered
- Stuart Collection self-guided walking tour
- Fallen Star tour
- Design and Innovation Building tour
- EnVision Arts and Engineering Maker Studio tour
- Breakout sessions
- The Lean Leap: A Fresh Perspective from a First-time Conference Explorer
- Crafting Strong Problem Statements - Home Alone as a Case Study
- Intuitive Project Management For Everyone
- What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Incorporating Risk Management Into Process Improvement Efforts
- A3 Problem Solving: Stop Waiting for the Room
When does Process Palooza finish so I know when to leave?
Process Palooza 2024 concludes with the Process Palooza Networking & Happy Hour event taking place at Dirty Birds restaraunt (located at the Price Center) on Thursday, August 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The Networking & Happy Hour event is included in your registration cost and is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, reflect on the day's events and celebrate! Appetizers and drinks will be provided, along with fun activities.
Logistics
Where should I stay while attending Process Palooza?
We have some incredible, centrally-located recommendations for lodging that will ensure you rest easy while you're here. Visit our Lodging page to find a list of recommended hotels.
Of particular note: the Sheraton La Jolla is offering Process Palooza attendees special event rates. There are a limited number of rooms available at this special rate, so be sure to book your room as soon as possible! As the discount inventory gets lower, the special event rate will increase in price. Once the discount inventory is sold out, other rooms may still be available at the regular rates.
Enter promo code "UC0" (that's a zero) in the “Corp/Promo Code” area under the “Special Rates” dropdown.
Rate: $259/night (plus taxes and fees)
Parking: $27/day
How do I get to Process Palooza from where I'm staying?
Visit our Directions & Transportation page for information on the various ways to travel to and from the UC San Diego campus for Process Palooza.
Are meals included in registration for Process Palooza?
All Process Palooza participants will receive a $20 Triton Card upon checking in at the registration desk. The Triton Card will enable you to purchase the cuisine of your choice from a variety of restaurants around campus. We have compiled a list of dining options below. Each of these dining options offer selections within the $20 Triton card balance. Once you have used the balance available on the Triton Card, any meals or refreshments must be purchased personally. Use the UC San Diego interactive campus map to find directions to the lunch option of your choice!
Water, coffee and tea will be offered throughout the day on Thursday, August 22.
The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies is hosting the Process Palooza Networking & Happy Hour at Dirty Birds (located in the Price Center) on Thursday, August 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, reflect on the day's events and celebrate! Appetizers and drinks will be provided, along with fun activities.
If you are attending one of the three Add-On training sessions (Kaizen Workshop, LSS Yellow Belt or Root Cause Analysis Workshop) taking place on August 21 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., a light breakfast and lunch will be provided for you (options will be available for various dietary restrictions).
Visit our Meals, Refreshments & Dining page for more information.
Will there be a chance to network and have fun, or is this "just another conference"?
Process Palooza is certainly not "just another conference"! There are plenty of opportunities for networking and fun:
- Wednesday, August 21
- Tours: Stuart Collection Walking Tour, Fallen Star Tour, Design and Innovation Building Tour & EnVision Arts and Engineering Maker Studio Tour
- Pre-Palooza meet-ups and communities
- Thursday, August 22
- Team building activities & games located in the Price Center West Ballroom
- Lunch & Birds of a Feather networking groups
- Sponsor raffle
- Process Palooza Networking & Happy Hour at Dirty Birds restaurant
- Appetizers and drinks provided, along with networking and fun activities
Competition
What is The Great Innovate Competition?
The Great Innovate Competition offers competitors a chance to flex their Lean Six Sigma (LSS) skills and compete for prizes while improving real UC San Diego business processes using LSS.
About the Competition
To register as a competitor you must:
- Be an LSS practitioner (yellow belt or higher)
- Commit to attend The Great Innovate Competition from 7:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on August 21, 2024, as well as the competitor presentations on August 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m.
- Come prepared to help name your team!
What to Expect
- A total of 36 competitors will be selected from the competitor pool and placed on teams. You won't know who is on your team until the evening before the competition. And, you won't know what process you'll be challenged to improve until the morning of the event. Note: you may be placed in the backup pool depending on the number of competitors.
- Check-in is at 7:45 a.m. on August 21, 2024 at the Price Center East Ballroom
- Competition teams form and receive their challenge at 8:15 a.m.
- Your team is relying on you to show, by not attending or arriving late you can potentially disqualify your team
- Competitor presentations will take place on August 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
- The Great Innovate Awards Ceremony will take place on August 22, 2024 from 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
- There will be prizes and University-wide recognition for the best process improvement outcomes
How do I compete in The Great Innovate Competition?
Fill out the Competition Interest Form (coming soon!) for a chance to participate in The Great Innovate Competition.
To qualify as a competitor you must:
- Be registered to attend Process Palooza
- Be an LSS practitioner (yellow belt or higher)
- Commit to attend The Great Innovate Competition from 7:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on August 21, 2024, as well as the competitor presentations on August 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m.
- Come prepared to help name your team!
If I don't want to compete, can I watch The Great Innovate Competition?
YES! The Great Innovate Competition isn't only for competitors, spectators are not only welcome but encouraged! Stop by and watch process improvement masters at work as they improve real UC San Diego business processes using LSS.
Sponsorship
What does "sponsor" mean in relation to Process Palooza?
100% of Process Palooza is funded by the generosity of of "sponsors" - organizations wishing to support our continuous improvement movement and eager to connect with a diverse audience of change-makers from all industries.
We offer a number of different sponsorship opportunities, with numerous monetary commitment levels. Each sponsorship opportunity comes with its own set of benefits. We are committed to maximizing sponsor engagement before, during and after the event. Process Palooza 2024 will be in-person only, ensuring the optimal interactive experience for both sponsors and attendees.
Visit our Sponsorship page to learn more about sponsoring Process Palooza 2024, explore the various sponsorship opportunities and get in touch with us if you're interested in becoming a sponsor.
Can my company sponsor Process Palooza?
YES! We appreciate our sponsors who help make Process Palooza an affordable experience. Our community unites around a shared passion for business excellence, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement. Visit the Sponsorship page to find information on the 2024 Process Palooza sponsorship opportunities.