by Rachael Alford

One of my specialties is being able to create highly successful events and meetings while working with very restrictive budgetary constraints. The key to being able to provide everything needed with limited funds is to actively seek out and garner in-kind support. However, planning for in-kind support takes time, forethought, and tenacity.

by Shawna Suckow, CMP

I have a confession to make.
I am not Superwoman. It’s shocking, I know, but don’t judge. As planners, I think we see ourselves as being able to juggle it all, perfectly, all the time. When we don’t, dare I say that it bothers us more than the average person?

I believe to succeed in such a detail-oriented career, we have to have more than our fair share of perfectionism in our DNA, and perfectionists tend to take even the smallest failures to heart.

Understanding the Basics of Projection Technology for Meetings and Events
by Jay Ward

I understand that this article may be somewhat technical, but if you take the time to read ahead you will learn the basics of projection technology. Hopefully this will help you gain a better understanding of this critical element to most programs, saving you time and money in the long run.

Meet Alton Hagen, CMP, DMCP, President & Founder, Agenda: USA - Kansas City’s Only Accredited Destination Management Company

Alton has more than thirty years of broad experience in the hospitality industry, he has been an active leader in many of the industry’s associations, both locally and nationally. He is one of the first in the hospitality industry to earn his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.  He was the first recipient of the One KC Award given out by the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association for setting the standard of excellence in hospitality and tourism. Alton is currently serving his term as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Overland Park Convention & Visitors Bureau. Alton directs and supports the entire Agenda: USA organization.

by Terry Matthews-Lombardo

So, you’ve made your list of 2014 goals and at the top is ‘get my certification’ – good for you! But, where and how do you begin the process? Well, you might be tempted to ask a few CMP’s how their journey began and, as the saying goes, ask five people the same question and you’ll most likely get five different answers, each unique and different from the other. That alone might leave you scratching your head a bit and considering moving this goal from 2014 to some other year in the distant future, but don’t give up just yet! Your quest for knowledge has only just begun, and to help you on this journey we’re outlining a basic path for anyone still in the ‘wonder if I could do it?’ stage. So, here goes:

Lisa Boon, Retail Confectioners International

Lisa Boon, of Springfield, MO, is the Event Planning Manager for Retail Confectioners International (RCI) - a trade association representing chocolate and candy makers. She began her time at RCI as a summer intern in 2009 while completing a degree in Entertainment Management from Missouri State University. In March 2011, Lisa was hired as the Office and Member Services Manager at RCI, working to maintain member relationships and organizing event registration and logistics. She became Event Planning Manager in July 2012 and now also conducts site visits, negotiates hotel contracts and develops budgets for association events. Lisa is a member of ASAE and PCMA and is working towards completing her CMP designation.

Have you ever planned a meeting at a resort? If not, you’re in for a treat if you consider one for your next meeting. There are a multitude of resorts to choose from in the Midwest, each offering something unique to guests. And while many offer a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, they are not short on the state-of-the-art technology needed to make your meeting a success.

Chris Hammond has been a professional chef for 15 years, but he prides his hospitality career on being equal parts “culinary director and numbers Guy.” Chris started cooking holiday meals alongside his mother when he was five which led to becoming a chef. After experiences in several private businesses and five diamond/premiere hotel properties, Chris joined the Great Wolf Lodge team. In 2012, he left the Executive Chef role at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, North Carolina to become the Corporate Director of Food and Beverage for all Great Wolf Lodge resorts. Chris is based in Madison, Wisconsin.

It’s time to kick things up a notch. Your attendees need to step out of their comfort zones and maybe even face their fears! There are exciting adventures to be found across the Midwest, any time of year.

Chef Paul Owens, Banquet Catering Chef at French Lick Resort

Chef Owens had an early start in the food business. Working alongside his mother, who owned a few restaurants when he was a teenager, he fell in love with the industry. Through that hands-on experience and working with great people over the years he is now the Banquet Catering Chef for French Lick Resort. His strong convictions for doing things right and teaching those around him are skills he utilizes while overseeing banquets and catering at the resort. 

Green Resorts Working With Planners for the Greater Good

Sustainability and green initiatives continue to be an important part of the meetings industry. Both planners and resorts are creating programs and finding equipment to create both cost savings and reduced carbon footprints.

Golf has long been the perfect companion to meetings of all kinds. And with good reason.

It’s an ideal activity to pair individuals for an afternoon, where they can continue to discuss the business at hand or network in a more relaxed setting. But it also provides an excellent opportunity for colleagues to simply get to know each other better. It serves as a refreshing break from meetings, getting your attendees outside in the fresh air and provides some light exercise.

Oak Brook Hills Resort-Chicago and its Willow Crest Golf Club has been a top destination for guests wanting to enjoy the best in meetings, accommodations and golf.

If you’ve shied away from incorporating golf in to your meetings, now is the time to reconsider. Golf is the perfect fit for meetings and there are some fun ways to incorporate it so attendees of any skill level will enjoy themselves and have a good time.

As a successful planner, you probably have your act together when it comes to room diagrams and food guarantees. But what happens when your boss tells you to include a golf element in your next meeting and you don’t even know the difference between a birdie and a mulligan, let alone know where to start organizing a tournament? First of all, as a savvy planner, you never panic, right? You accept the challenge, pick up the phone and call the resort where your meeting will be held and ask to speak to the resident golf expert. This person can be listed under many titles – Tournament Director, Golf Sales Manager, Golf Pro – but basically it’s the equivalent of your CSM for all things golf. And by ‘all things golf’ we mean not only tournaments but also clinics, workshops, scrambles, tee times and so much more. You see, this golf professional can make everything run so smoothly, you might even be able to relax and attempt to hit some balls yourself, that is if you ever have the time to step away from the rest of the meeting madness.

Growing Women's Participation in Golf
by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP

Much has been written about how planners can best manage golf tournaments in conjunction with our meetings and events. What, if anything, is different when the event includes – or better yet, is exclusively - for women? According to Sandy Cross, PGA of America’s Director of Women’s and New Market Initiatives, “The meeting planning industry is dominated by women and often times these planners don’t play golf. An understanding of the game and the ability to be comfortable on the golf course can put the planners on equal ground with their peers.”