By Kerry Frank
July 15. 2025
When the aviation industry was undergoing massive disruption, and with tablets finally approved for cockpit use, we saw an opportunity. This wasn’t just about software anymore. It was about navigating a new era together. So we launched what became our annual Comply365 Conference.
While most software companies were picking flashy locations, I chose something different: Beloit, Wisconsin. Not exactly the first city that comes to mind when you think of global tech conferences, right?
But I had a vision. I wanted our clients to see where we were building from. I wanted the City of Beloit to host the world.
And they did. That year, we welcomed around 200 people from Iceland to Dubai. We made Comply365 tee shirts that said “Midwest Is Best”, and we meant every word.
We highlighted the best of our region’s food, charm, and culture. But my favorite part?
We hosted the main party at our house.
We live on 18 acres, and I remember thinking, “Let’s show them what Midwest living is really about.” So we did.
We had:
A giant bonfire
A mechanical bull
Inflatable indoor laser tag
Archery
Volleyball
Homecooked food and live entertainment
It wasn’t fancy. It was real. It was us. And it was unforgettable.
The Fire Alarm Incident (Because Every Great Story Needs One)
The hotels were booked solid with our guests. On the first morning, I got a text:
“The fire alarm went off at 6 a.m. We’re all standing outside in bathrobes.”
Turns out, one of our team members didn’t have an iron in his hotel room. His suit was wrinkled, so he turned the shower on full blast to steam it while brushing his teeth. The bathroom got so hot, it triggered the sprinklers, soaking the entire room including the suit.
By breakfast, everyone had heard about it. I still wish someone had captured that moment in the parking lot. Those photos might be worth gold today.
The Conference That Went Global
The event was such a hit, going forward each year Beloit put up a citywide banner welcoming our clients. But what shocked me most? The story followed me around the world.
I’d be visiting a new airline overseas and someone would say:
“Hey, I heard you threw quite the conference in Beloit, Wisconsin. I hope I get invited next year.”
It went on for years.
That experience reminded me of something deeper: Being authentic is magnetic.
I can’t count how many times I was told that if I wanted to be taken seriously, I needed to move to the coasts, Silicon Valley or New York.
But why?
My rent was a fraction of what tech companies paid elsewhere.
The cost of living made it possible to build a team that could afford a good life.
I was a couple hours from either coast, with direct international flights out of Chicago.
And the people I hired? Midwestern through and through, hardworking, humble, kind, and loyal.
There’s power in staying grounded. There’s power in not trying to look like everyone else.
Beloit believed in me. And I believed in showing the world who we really are.
Midwest is Best. Always has been. Always will be.
#BettingOnBeloit #FlightPathRewritten #MidwestIsBest #BeingAuthentic