The first words you hear at a conference, particularly at one you’ve never been to before, can really set the tone for the whole week.

Now “technically” the “first” words spoken at SES Chicago will be by “keynote” speaker Jeff Jarvis, author of What Would Google Do?, unless you decide to blatantly disregard him. (You could cover your ears and loudly sing songs by 80s hair bands.  “I”M THE ONE WHO WANTS TO BE WITH YOOOOOOOOU!  DEEP INSIDE I HOPE YO-”  Well maybe that’s not the best idea, because A. it’d be disrespectful to Mr. Jarvis B. you’ll lose your last remaining shreds of dignity and C. you might as well have just slept in.) But if you happen to take the Search Fundamentals Track then the first words you hear will be from our very own Li Evans as she introduces the session Introduction to Search Engine Marketing.

Ok, so maybe she won’t be the first one you’ll hear, but she’ll have “waited on a line of greens and blues, just to be the next to be with you.”

Rock on, Mr. Big. Rock on.