Remote Ruby Blue Ridge Ruby 2026 with Jeremy Smith and Joe Peck
Jan 30, 2026
Joe Peck, a 20-year Ruby, Rails, and Elixir developer who helps organize Blue Ridge Ruby. Jeremy Smith, a product-focused Rails developer and conference organizer active in the Ruby community. They discuss the conference’s single-track format, long breaks, community activities like hiking and board games, logistics lessons including accessibility and CFP tooling, and creative sponsorship and ticket strategies.
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Favor Single Track And Longer Breaks
- Use a single-track schedule and longer half-hour breaks to simplify navigation and boost hallway conversations.
- The longer breaks often become the most valuable learning and networking time.
The Giant Gong Story
- Joe sourced a real school gong via his high-school band director when Jeremy joked they needed one for timing and breaks.
- The giant gong proved memorable and useful for calls-to-attendance and lightning-talk timing.
Prioritize AV And Accessibility
- Hire AV people experienced with tech conferences rather than general videographers to avoid HDMI and setup failures.
- Ask venues early about full ADA compliance to prevent accessibility stress during the event.
