Strategic Meeting Tech & Better Meetings Podcasts

Strategic Meeting Tech Podcast Show #20 - Janee Pelletier, MBA, CMP previews “Budget-Driven Meeting Planning”, her upcoming session at the CMP Conclave

On today's podcast we talk with Janee Pelletier, MBA, CMP, DES of Conference & Logistics Consultants about her educational session at the upcoming CMP Conclave in Baltimore.  

Her session, "Budget-Driven Meeting Planning: Contracts, Expenses and Your Career" is a terrific overview of how planners can look at their events with a budgetary perspective at the forefront of their thinking.  Flawless logistics are no longer the measure of a successful meeting.  And, with a greater focus in organizations on the budgetary side of an event, to progress your career and be valuable to your company, you need to be able to work within the budget realm.

Janee will offer practical advice she's found for cost savings, as well as guidance for setting up a budget template and making well considered projections of possible variable expense areas of your event.  There's still time to join us in Baltimore at the CMP Conclave, September 16-18.

Strategic Meeting Tech Podcast Show #19 - Carol Norfleet, CMP previews “APEX Legacy Documents Workshop”, her upcoming pre-conference session at the CMP Conclave

On today's podcast we talk with Carol Norfleet, MBA, CMP, DMCP of Destination Nashville about her pre-conferece session at the upcoming CMP Conclave in Baltimore.  Carol's session is a workshop that will bring together planner and supplier CMP's to begin the process of revising the legacy documents of APEX that need to be refreshed and updated.

APEX is an initiative of the CIC that promotes the development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices to create and enhance efficiency throughout the meetings and events industry.  It's vital that the APEX be updated to maintain it's relevancy and usefulness.  Amongst the topics to be considered in the session are: Event Specification Guide, Housing & Registration Guide, Site Profiles Guide and Post Event Reporting Guide.

There's still time to join us in Baltimore for the annual CMP Conclave on September 16-18!

Show #18 - Richard Aaron Hall of Leaders Interview

On today's Hall of Leaders edition of the podcast we talk with Richard Aaron, MFA,CSEP Emeritus of Biz Bash.  Richard is being honored at the CIC Hall of Leaders Celebration coming up in October in Las Vegas.

We discussed Richard's history and background that brought him to the industry, how his broadway and entertainment career eventually led him to producing corporate events for a "who's who" of major companies in the 1980's and 1990's.  Then, his move into the burgeoning internet by joining BizBash as they were being launched.  

Richard is a passionate teacher and we spent some time talking about his classes and his goals in training the next generation of industry professionals.  We also look at some of the interesting new trends in the industry related to things like festivals and how they can influence corporate meetings.

You can join Richard and all the honorees on October 18th at the Jewel Nightclub at Aria in Las Vegas for the 2016 Hall of Leaders Celebration.

Strategic Meeting Tech Podcast Show #17 - Jim Clarke, CAE previews “Meetings in the Crosshairs”, his upcoming session at the CMP Conclave

Our guest today on the podcast is Jim Clarke, CAE; the Senior Vice President, Public Policy at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).  Jim's will be leading a session at the upcoming CMP Conclave in Baltimore called: "Meetings in the Crosshairs - Current Legislation and issues affecting your events."  We previewed some of the major issues that he will cover in the session and bring some attention to topics that have the potential to significantly effect the meetings industry.  

First up we look at a proposed overtime rule revision that will go into effect on December first of this year and impact organizations nationally by changing the salary level of exempt employees.  There's a potential compromise bill that could alter this rule and it's very important that as an industry we let our representatives know of our support.  To that end, and as mentioned in the podcast, here's a link to find your Congressional Representative: United States House of Representatives

We also discussed recent ASAE Board Policy enacted on the subject of Diversity and Inclusion as it relates to our industry and actions like recently passes RFRA laws in some states.

Lastly, we touched on recent progress for easing federal rules regarding attendance of federal employees to meetings.

Each of these topics has significant impact on the meetings and events industry.  If you're interested in learning more, you can attend Jim's session at the CMP Conclave in Baltimore coming up later this month.  If you can't attend you can learn more about the work ASAE is doing on our behalf at their site: The Power of A.  You can also find out specific ways to become more involved in advocating and advancing our industry. 

Strategic Meeting Tech Podcast Show #16 - Jan Roy, PhD, CMP previews “The Importance of Soft Skill Competencies”, her upcoming session at the CMP Conclave

On today's edition of the podcast we talk with Dr. Jan Roy of Kaplan University about her session slated for the CMP Conclave in Baltimore next month.  She'll be looking at a terrific area for self-improvement and career advancement.  

"The Importance of Soft Skill Competencies for Meeting Professionals" will help attendees better understand the area of soft skills and how it's an area of growing importance within organizations and an individuals potential to advance their career.  Her focus is on the leadership aspects of soft skills and ways that attendees can better understand and develop them.

There's still time to join us at the CMP Conclave in Baltimore on September 16-18.  You can learn more here:  CMP Conclave.

Strategic Meeting Tech Podcast Show #15 - Paul Bridle and Vicki Hawarden preview "Security in Venues is Everyone's Responsibility", their upcoming session at the CMP Conclave

As event planners and suppliers we are all aware of evolving threats that can impact our venues and attendees.  The industry has never established a uniform set of international standards for safety and security.  To address that need, the international Secure Venue Standard is being developed in collaboration with a number of industry organizations.

Paul Bridle and Vicki Hawarden will lead a session at the upcoming CMP Conclave in Baltimore to review the importance of standards in this critical area, then break into smaller groups to provide feedback on how the proposed standards can bets meet the needs of the industry.

They join me on the podcast today to preview their session and talk about the vital role that providing a safe and secure environment for our attendees and guests plays in planning any event.  If you're attending the CMP Conclave you should plan to attend this session and assure that your concerns and needs are met by the proposed standards.

Show #14 - Patrick Delaney Hall of Leaders Interview

For this episode of the podcast we were able to connect with Patrick Delaney of Sool Nua in Dublin, Ireland about his induction this year into the Convention Industry Council Hall of Leaders this coming October in Las Vegas.

We were able to spend some time chatting about his background and history in the meetings industry; and then what inspires him about our industry looking forward to the future.  And how the work we do in helping people come together to change the world can be so inspiring to each of us within the meetings industry.

If you'd like to see Patrick inducted to the Hall of Leaders you can join him at the Hall of Leaders Celebration in Las Vegas on October 18, 2016 in the Jewel Nightclub at the Aria.

Show #13 - Michael Owen previews "Connectivity: Elevating the Bandwidth", his upcoming session at the CMP Conclave

Internet access at venues is a topic that causes significant challenges for planners.  In this smart device connected age, attendees carry multiple devices and expect constant access and high speeds wherever they go.  Internet access is not longer an option and free is not always the best answer.

We spent some time talking with Michael Owen of Eventgenuity and he gave us a preview of his upcoming session scheduled for the CMP Conclave in Baltimore.  We cover not just the nuts and bolts of internet access, but some specific areas for planners to begin to improve their results from HSIA (high speed internet access).

We also spent some time talking about APEX and the many free tools and information available to planners to help them begin to speak a common language with their vendors about bandwidth and much, much more.  Here's a direct link to the APEX Bandwidth page: APEX Bandwidth & Connectivity 

You can register for the CMP Conclave here: CMP Conclave

And you can learn more about APEX and the information provided there via this link: APEX 

Show #12 - Karyn Buxman previews her Lead With Levity session at the CMP Conclave

The Convention Industry Council holds its annual CMP Conclave in less than a month in Baltimore.  So that means that in less than a month attendees will be able to share in numerous sessions aimed at helping CMP's to hone and improve their personal and professional skills.  

The opening keynote at the Conclave titled "Lead with Levity" will be presented by Karyn Buxman. 

Karyn, a neurohumorist, has devoted her career and authored numerous books studying the ways that humor can enhance an organization and its leadership.  She offers practical tips and advice for applying humor to all types of situations and ways for developing better skills to add humor to your daily habits.  

She spent some time on the podcast giving us a preview of her message, as well as a few of the many tips that she'll be sharing in person when she presents in Baltimore.  

You can learn more and register for the CMP Conclave at the CIC website.  CMP Conclave

Show #11 - Event Safety - Rigging Basics

Last week we talked about the role of a fire marshal in keeping attendees safe at an event.  Continuing on the theme of safety and security, this week we’ll take a look at rigging and provide a brief overview of how that fits into the responsibility for a planner to assure thattheir attendees are safe and comfortable during their time spent at the event.

ESTA (Entertainment Services & Technology Association)

Technical Standards Program