Full Sail Partners Blog | Deltek ProjectCon

Denver did not disappoint. Between the mountain views, the packed keynotes, the nonstop conversations, and the surprise announcements (hello, Elevate 2027 👀)…this year’s ProjectCon was easily one of the most energizing yet.

Our Crew came home buzzing with insights, inspiration, and a whole lot of renewed excitement for where Deltek Vantagepoint is heading. Here’s what stood out most.

🚀 ProjectCon Becomes Elevate — and Moves to 2027

Shared by Sarah Gonnella

The biggest announcement of the week: Deltek ProjectCon is officially rebranding to Deltek Elevate and will next be held March 8–10, 2027 in Nashville, TN.

Cue the confetti. 🎉

For years, users have requested two things:
✔️ A name that sounds more modern and inspiring
✔️ A date that isn’t during the craziest time of year
Deltek listened.

“I love the name Elevate. And I love that the new date gives clients an entire year to focus on moving from Vision to Vantagepoint,” Sarah shared. “This change genuinely reflects Deltek paying attention to what firms need.”

We couldn’t agree more.

🤖 AI Isn’t the Future—It’s Right Now

AI took center stage this year, and each of our Crew members walked away with something different.

Human-Centric Marketing in an AI World

Lindsay captured one of the keynote’s biggest takeaways:

“2026 will be the year of AI agents, but marketing will actually become more human-centric. More authenticity. More in-person events. More small-group connection.”

This aligns perfectly with what we see across AEC firms: technology is accelerating, but relationships still drive results.

Overcoming AI Intimidation

Scott arrived hesitant about AI…but left empowered.

“Before the conference, AI was intimidating. But after hearing it in almost every session, I feel a lot more comfortable—and our clients will too.”

From a fear factor to a confidence boost. That’s the magic of ProjectCon.

New AI Innovations Inside Vantagepoint

Wesley, our CRM and proposal automation expert, was fired up about what’s coming:

“I’m excited about the AI advancements in Go/No-Go, potential proposal generation directly in Vantagepoint, and new updates to document automation—especially for creating resumes in the Employee Hub.”

Proposal people everywhere just exhaled. 😅

📊 Data at Your Service: A Big Win for Large Firms

Shared by Sparsha Muppidi

One of the most talked-about tech previews was Data at Your Service, Deltek’s new offering that connects Vantagepoint to a Snowflake data warehouse and then to any third-party tools.

Sparsha summed it up perfectly:

“It’s really exciting—especially for firms with 250+ employees. This gives clients new options to analyze data and make better business decisions.”

More data freedom = more business intelligence = more confident leadership.

Yes, please.

⛷️ Lessons in Resilience from Lindsey Vonn

Shared by Sarah Gonnella

Olympic legend Lindsey Vonn brought the inspiration this year. When asked how she manages risk on the slopes, she said:

Focus on what you can control. Prepare for what you can’t. Learn from every run. And release the rest.

It’s a message every project-based firm needs tattooed somewhere visible.

Projects are unpredictable. Clients shift. Staffing changes. Scope evolves. But preparation + mindset = resilience.

Lindsey could have been talking about project management.

🤝 The Best Part of ProjectCon? Easy: The People.

Shared by Kim Stamps

Amid all the announcements and innovations, Kim reminded us of the heart of this conference:

“My favorite part is seeing the clients I talk to all year. I love meeting them, hugging them if they’re huggers, shaking their hand, and just connecting face to face.”

If you stopped by our booth, chatted with us in the hallways, or joined us at the Mile High Mixer — thank you. Getting to connect in person is what keeps us coming back year after year.

📈 Wrapping Up: What This Means for 2026 & Beyond

This year’s ProjectCon was a turning point.

Here’s what we’re taking into the new year:

✨ AI will accelerate—but human connection will matter more than ever
✨ Data access and visibility are getting better for firms of all sizes
✨ Vantagepoint is becoming smarter, more automated, and more flexible
✨ The industry is shifting, and Deltek is shifting with it
✨ And in 2027, we’ll all be reuniting at Elevate with a full year of transformation behind us

Our Crew will be sharing their favorite sessions, tools, stats, and strategies in upcoming posts from now until the end of the year—so stay tuned.

Denver, you were incredible.

ProjectCon, you outdid yourself.

Elevate, we’re coming for you. 🏔️✨

Deltek ProjectCon 2024 united innovators, leaders, and tech enthusiasts to explore the future of project-based solutions. Our crew was fully engaged in the discussions and demos, discovering Deltek’s latest advancements and their practical applications. Whether you missed the event or just want a recap, here are the highlights that caught our attention.

AR Forecast Collections Dashboard

For finance professionals, staying ahead of cash flow is key. Jenny Labranche, Senior Finance Consultant, shared her enthusiasm for Deltek’s new AR Forecast Collections Dashboard:

Deltek has put together a forecast tool to track your cash coming in because we all know that cash is king in any business.

Expected in the 7.2 or 2025.1 release, this tool promises to streamline cash forecasting and collections, giving firms better control over their financial health.

Clarity Meets Vantagepoint Dashboards

Joel Slater, Client Solutions Manager, was interested in the integration of Deltek Clarity A&E Study benchmarks directly into Vantagepoint dashboards:

Clients can compare their own specific data and results against the greater industry through the Deltek Clarity study.

This feature provides businesses with actionable insights, making it easier to align their performance with industry standards.

Simplifying Billing and Contract Management

Ease of use remains a top priority for Deltek, as highlighted by Lisa Ahearn, Senior Consultant, who had two exciting updates to share.

I learned that they are planning on putting billing terms in a list view, which is awesome for all of our billers. Deltek is also bringing document management to contract management so we can finally attach our contracts to our line items for our contract management.

These enhancements are designed to streamline critical workflows, making it easier for firms to manage billing terms efficiently and improve the organization of contracts.

Flexibility and Adaptability: The Future of Deltek

Sarah Gonnella, VP of Marketing and Sales, praised Deltek’s commitment to adaptability:

Deltek is really focused on flexibility, adapting to how people work, and providing relevant content through AI. Their roadmap through 2026 is full of innovative developments.

The spotlight on tools like Deltek Dela™ and Harmony™ reflects their intent to enhance user experience by integrating platforms like Microsoft Teams and offering personalized, data-driven insights.

Solving Business Challenges with AI Innovations

Jake Lucas, our AI Developer, highlighted the growing potential of artificial intelligence in addressing unique business needs:

A big aha moment has been having conversations with different people and getting a renewed perspective on how AI can solve certain business needs. It’s been fascinating to see the scope of what people are thinking about when it comes to using AI to run their business better.

He emphasized how AI tools like Deltek Dela are meeting immediate challenges while leaving room for future enhancements.

AI and Data Synchronization: Enhancing Business Intelligence and Building Trust

Jake Lucas also presented his session on the transformative role of AI in data processing and real-time synchronization. He noted that as businesses increasingly adopt AI to optimize workflows, real-time insights become essential for tracking performance, forecasting cash flow, and monitoring project progress.

Real-time data synchronization, as demonstrated by our BlackBox Connector integrations, can deliver down-to-the-minute updates that help organizations optimize resource management and make faster decisions. Having immediate access to data enables businesses to react quickly to shifts in project dynamics or staffing needs, driving efficiency and adaptability.

Jake also emphasized the importance of trust and transparency in AI-driven insights, addressing a critical concern for organizations adopting these advanced tools:

A big takeaway was seeing how AI is improving but still needs that critical element of trust from the users. It’s essential to understand the data and processes AI is using to ensure its accuracy.

With AI playing a growing role in complex data processing, ensuring transparency in how insights are generated is vital. Businesses must be able to trace the sources and methodologies behind AI-driven conclusions, fostering confidence and trust in decisions shaped by this technology.

Optimizing Vantagepoint Investments with Terri Agnew

Terri Agnew, Principal Consultant, led a session as well where she explored how a Navigational Analysis can help maximize Deltek Vantagepoint's capabilities to improve performance.

A navigational analysis is like dumping out a puzzle on the table. The process is about putting that puzzle back together—understanding your system, identifying pain points, and finding solutions to streamline processes.

She showcased strategies to leverage Vantagepoint’s data to drive more informed decision-making. Her practical insights demonstrated how to close the gap between data analysis and actionable outcomes, leaving attendees equipped with tools to immediately optimize their processes.

Keeping Up with Deltek

Deltek ProjectCon is a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, innovators, and technology enthusiasts who share a passion for enhancing project-based solutions and we had a great time interacting with everyone who attended! The insights and tools showcased this year—from AI advancements to streamlined workflows—highlight the tremendous potential for businesses to optimize their processes and achieve greater success. Whether you attended or simply followed along with our highlights, the value of being part of this forward-thinking community is undeniable.

If you want to stay up to date on all things Deltek, visit our webinars page to see what’s on the horizon. We’d love for you to join us as we continue exploring the latest innovations and solutions for project-based firms!