I have been to, I think, 7 IMSC conferences and have led workshops at 5 of those. BUT, I always learn something new at each conference that makes me more money the TOTAL cost of attending the conference.
I got Gold Certified in 2005, but that was at an all day workshop where I learned the most from shoppers' comments, not from the MSC reps who were staging the sessions. Now that the certifications are mainly done on line, that option is not available unless you attend a conference.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.