PNSQC is owned and operated exclusively by volunteers. Our volunteers help produce the annual conference and year-round community events, keeping PNSQC affordable and community focused. We're always looking for more help, so read on to learn how you can contribute!
Complete our Volunteer Interest Form or contact the Volunteer Management team, and we will help you explore opportunities that match your skills, interests, and schedule.
The Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference is a volunteer-led nonprofit community for people who care about building better software. We host an annual conference and year-round programs where practitioners share papers, talks, workshops, and practical lessons from the software quality field.
Learn more about PNSQCPNSQC divides its work across committee-formed departments. Each group is led by a chair, who coordinates volunteers, keeps work moving, and communicates with other chairs so the organization stays aligned. Our board members oversee all our committees and pitch in where help is needed.
Volunteer incentives vary by type and level of contribution, but PNSQC offers a mix of practical event benefits, public recognition, career growth, and community access.
Volunteers can receive discounted or complimentary admission, early conference content access, volunteer lounge access, and reserved seating.
Meet software quality practitioners, speakers, sponsors, board members, and partner organizations through conference work, meetups, and volunteer-only gatherings.
Build visible experience in event planning, program curation, outreach, marketing, sponsorships, project management, website operations, and nonprofit leadership.
Active volunteers will be recognized through newsletter mentions, chair shout-outs, conference slides, proceedings acknowledgments, website call-outs, and special long-time contributor badge accents.
Volunteers can receive mentorship from chairs and board members, request professional recommendations when appropriate, and grow toward chair or board-level leadership.
PNSQC appreciates all the work our volunteers do with personalized thank-you notes, appreciation gifts, certificates or awards, expense reimbursements, and communication tools for active volunteers.
These are not the only ways to help, but are some of the more popular ways to help PNSQC so you can see the range of work available.
Community Outreach
Build relationships with companies, schools, and community groups that can connect more people to PNSQC. This role is a good fit if you like meeting new people and helping new communities find a place in software quality.
Marketing
Draft and publish content for professional and community platforms, promote meetups and conference news, and help volunteers, speakers, and attendees engage with PNSQC online.
Program
Review one to three papers during the conference preparation season and give authors thoughtful feedback on clarity, structure, and how well their ideas come through.
Operations
Help keep the PNSQC website current by turning approved updates into clean web content, improving existing pages, and translating practical ideas into a better visitor experience.
Volunteer Management
Welcome new volunteers, learn what they want to do, match them with the right chair or role, and help them understand time commitment, expectations, and next steps.
Sponsorships
Build relationships with companies, track outreach, coordinate commitments, and make sure sponsors have the details they need before and during the conference.
Conference Management
Be part of the in-person team that helps the conference feel smooth and welcoming by supporting check-in, attendee questions, food timing, social events, and same-day logistics.