The Masters Series Uncovered – a look at the creation of a PCMA Masters Series program

The Masters Series Uncovered – a look at the creation of a PCMA Masters Series program

For several years PCMA has been offering its Masters Series programs in a variety of settings – at our annual meetings, leadership and education conferences and as stand-alone events with various chapters.

These programs provide a forum for acknowledged thought leaders to deliver professional or executive level education on applied business topics to the meetings and conventions industry. The chief objective is to introduce meeting participants to new ideas and best practices which will influence the way they conduct the business of meetings and conventions.

Developing the Masters Series program for October in Washington DC involved several steps outlined below. I hope you will find them to be a helpful guide that you can utilize when planning your next educational program.

Reaching Out

Knowing the program was planned for D.C., one of the first steps we took was to crowdsource the Capital Chapter Leadership to ask for topic suggestions from their members. What needs did they have? What issues were keeping them up at night? What programs did they already have planned? Within a week’s time several members of the Program Committee and Board of Directors submitted their thoughts and suggestions for our consideration. Some identified specific speakers they had seen in the past while others shared topic ideas they had received from members. We also reached out to John Truran at Keppler Speakers for his recommendations as he has been a long time supporter of PCMA and Keppler is one of our Communication Partners.

Location is Key

Most often when we hear the phrase “location is key” it refers to real estate or a venue. In our case, we saw location as yet another way to help us identify a topic. What did we know about D.C. that could help us determine an appropriate program? We know the region is comprised of the largest concentration of association headquarters in the entire country. We also know from previous Masters Series programs that the majority of people who attend come from the region where it is being held. Finally, we know that PCMA’s Capital Chapter is our largest chapter and has very active members who are passionate about creating quality education experiences. With this understanding we focused our attention on topics that would be of interest primarily to the association community as well as to those who provide goods and services to these organizations.

Brainstorming Creates Clarity

With the information we gathered from the above steps, we brainstormed ideas with key members of our team here at headquarters and it led us to a topic which resonated with many of us. The association world as we know it today will be undergoing a major transformation over the course of the next ten years the results of which will have a significant impact on meeting professionals. We can sit by passively and react to the changes or we can become active participants in shaping the future. It soon became evident that the content of the program would focus on two areas – what will the association world look like in the next ten years and how will the expected changes impact meeting professionals.

The Crystal Ball

While it was tempting for a fleeting moment to entertain the idea of bringing in a wizard or fortune teller to help us see the future, we determined the best approach would be to reach out to those in our industry who are intimately involved in looking beyond the day to day activities of the association world. We wanted to hear from several different voices who could offer their perspective on association life by the year 2020.

Our gaze began to shift to the people at the very top of the association world. When developing the list of potential industry “futurists”, we wanted to insure that we had a diverse panel so that we would hear from both men and women who cut across generations. We also secured a moderator who will move the conversation forward, keep panelists on track and engage the audience in meaningful discussion.

The End Result

Will this Masters Series program deliver on its objective to introduce attendees to new ideas which will influence the way business is conducted in the years ahead? We think it will, but what do we know. It really is up to you to be the judge if we have succeeded. So make a commitment to be there - October 21, 2010. And bring your crystal balls!

For more information on the upcoming PCMA Masters Series: Associations and Meetings of the Future – A Look Ahead to 2020, visit pcma.org/mastersseries.

Posted by: John Potterton, CMP, Vice President of Education, PCMA

Engineering Education Strategies for Next Generation Conferences and Events

This is not your Grandma's conference learning strategy.

Traditional conference strategies of attendees sitting passively, listening to a talking head is out. Seeing your conference attendees as participants, co-creators, experts and advocates is in.

In the digital age, people are learning in new ways that are both communal and autonomous. They contribute to Wikipedia, comment on blogs and teach themselves programming. They follow links and discuss issues in online chats. All of these acts are collaborative and democratic, and all occur amid a worldwide community of voices.

So how does this affect the traditional conference or event?



Research from MIT, Duke University and the University of California illustrates that learning itself is the most dramatic medium of change. Technology has not created this shift. The ability for people to engage in shared and interactive learning that is built within the structure, organization and model of the Internet has created this societal change. The Future Of Learning Institutions in a Digital Age [PDF] discusses this dramatic shift and addresses ten principles for future learning.

On June 16, 2010, 10:30-11:45 am, at PCMA's Education Conference at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, I will facilitate a discussion about these changes and their impact on conference education. We'll discuss these six principles of designing next generation sessions for today's conferences.

1. Conference education should transition from passive listneing to participatory learning.
It relies on collaborative practices. Small group discussion, peer learning, person to person interaction, not just listening to talking heads.

2. Conference education must transition from presumed authority to collective credibility.
The knowledge gap between the presenter and attendee has shrunk. Sometimes attendees know more than presenters. Move to democratic, communal type formats.

3. Conference education must transition from vertical, authoritative to horizontal structures.
The corporate world is emphasizing collaborative, teamwork, multitasking and problem solving. Standardized, one size-education presentations don't address current corporate world's needs. Focus is on peer to peer sharing and dissecting of presenters' main points.

4. Conference education should provide a variety of formal and informal learning opportunities.
Adult education has moved from push, broadcast of information to pull methods. Industry novices do better with traditional conference formats of spoon-feeding information. Industry veterans prefer self-directed, collaborative, reflective education methods.

5. Conference education should transition to networked learning.
Learning is social. It is about mobilizing networks and enabling them to meet others who can help them meet their needs. It emphasizes flexibility and outcomes and less facts and figures, which can change fast. It's about conversations and partnering with others.

6. Conference education should be interactive and without walls.
Information is best shared with everyone and not just those within the conference walls. It's about moving information from many that are present to the multitudes that are not present.

I hope to see you in Montreal at PCMA's Education Conference 2010. Come join the discussion. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas. Let your voice be heard.

Create a Culture of Leadership

In our current do more with less business climate, it’s more critical than ever that you bring everything you’ve got to your company’s leadership. And that doesn’t just mean being a great leader yourself. It means leading the way for others – at all levels of the organization – to become great leaders, too.

So how do you do that? That’s exactly what I’ll be discussing when I deliver the opening keynote at the general session of the Education Conference in Montreal. With all the changes the conference and meeting industry has undergone and so much at stake in the future, my goal is to give you a blueprint for clarifying your vision of success, simplifying the most direct route for reaching it, and executing your action plan against measurable milestones that your team enthusiastically embraces.

A big part of professional success – and what I’ll be talking about - is learning to maximize your Leadership DNA, that is your style of collaboration and influencing others. At the risk of oversimplifying the complexities of human nature, there are some basic categories into which most people fit. Take a look and see if you can identify yourself or the members of your team in the list below:

• DIRECTOR: A natural leader, the Director likes to take charge of projects and people. Directors have a sense of vision and are comfortable making decisions, even in the absence of all the data and information they’d like. But watch out - despite being extremely focused, Directors can be demanding, at times even dictatorial.

• SUPPORTER: Like the name implies, a Supporter is most at home working in service of others. Hard working, dependable and loyal, the Supporter is an excellent candidate to implement another’s vision. But don’t be surprised if the Supporter panics during high-stress transitions. Although they love being on the team, they rarely want to lead it.

• THRILL-SEEKER: Thrill-seekers are easy to spot. They’re at the center of the action, soaking up the attention. They’re usually charismatic, often creative and occasionally downright annoying. Thrill-seekers are the life of the party, just don’t ask them to do the dishes afterward.

• ANALYST: The Analyst thrives on information, the more the better. Although Analysts are highly skilled at synthesizing data, they can be slow to make decisions, always looking for the next piece of the puzzle before they make up their minds. But if they wait too long, the competition just might leave them in the dust.

Which description most closely resembles your primary and secondary leadership styles? Can you see why you click with some people and clash with others? Even more important, can you see why it’s crucial that you have all these types represented to build a dynamic ,well-rounded team?

I look forward to discussing how you can optimize your skills to create a culture where bold leadership is part of your organizational DNA. If you have any questions or comments prior to the conference, feel free to post them here or contact me directly at Libby@LibbyGill.com. See you in Montreal!

Turn and Face the Strange

"Cha cha cha cha changes, turn and face the strange."

 David Bowie’s lyrics from his hit recording “Changes” remind me that we certainly are in the midst of some very strange times. Who would have ever thought that volcanic ash would cause worldwide havoc and prevent planes from flying? When will the next earthquake suddenly disrupt the normal everyday lives of a community or city? What’s next on the horizon for the economic recovery and how will that impact our industry?

We live in a world of constant change yet often find ourselves ill prepared to face the changes that come our way. Is that how it has to be or are there things we can do to properly prepare ourselves for the unexpected changes which, quite frankly, are to be expected?

On Wednesday, May 26th PCMA is offering a day of learning at Executive Edge “From Vision to Execution: A Strategic Approach to Managing Change”. It promises to be a world class learning experience on “change” in one of the top business schools in the country. Three of Georgetown’s top ranked professors will guide participants in a day of discovery to uncover the tools and resources necessary to effectively manage the changes that come our way. I have personally met with each of the professors and I can tell you they are very excited about this day and have assured me that participants will walk away with great ideas they can implement back in the workplace.

And if learning from three of Georgetown’s top professors is not enough incentive to consider registering for this event, then maybe the low cost of this program will do it for you. If not for the generosity of PSAV Presentation Services and Canada and Partners, this program would cost upwards of $2,100 per attendee. PCMA’s price - Professional Member: $395.00, Non-member Professional: $495.00, Supplier Member: $500.00, Non-member Supplier: $600.00. It’s an unbelievable value that you would be crazy to miss.
Yes. It’s time to make a commitment and invest in your future growth and development. Join me and your industry colleagues as together we “turn and face the strange”.

If you get a moment, be sure to check out PCMA Chairman of Board, Kati Quigley’s Blog UnConventional. Her post captures the changes she encountered when she started working for Microsoft and how she overcomes the challenges of change every day.

This program will be customized for PCMA and participants will benefit from sessions with three of Georgetown's top-ranked faculty members, all experts in the field of Change Management. Georgetown's McDonough School of Business is renowned for excellence in global business, leadership and change management. Georgetown's Global Executive MBA is ranked #1 in the US for Career Progress, #1 in the world for women enrolled, and #2 in the US for international students. You are sure to leave this experience with the tools you need to manage the changes we're all experiencing in meetings today.

Jennifer's SMMP Blog - PCMA June 13-16, 2010 - Education Conference, Montreal

Although the SMMP (Strategic Meeting Management Program) was launched in 2004, this business initiative really gained momentum in 2008 as the U.S. (and world) felt the impact of a deep, global recession. As with any economic downturn, most organizations look for cost cutting measures, which place a focus on meetings, conventions and events…and meeting planners and departments.

By defining and implementing Strategic Meeting Management solutions, consolidating the meeting planning process, leveraging your spend and having access to management and financial reports, meeting planners can clearly demonstrate the increased value of meetings and events to senior management. This process will elevate management’s perception of the meeting planning process and specifically, how strategic planning drives successful business outcomes and achieves the company’s big picture goals.

In a nutshell, NBTA defines SMMP as the following combined key components:

• Meeting and event registration
• Approval process
• Sourcing and hotel contracting
• Planning and execution
• Payment and expense reconciliation
• Data analysis and reporting
• Advanced technology

Okay, I agree the SMMP business model does seem a bit overwhelming. The simple truth is when senior meeting planners conduct their own company evaluation and needs assessment, create an action plan, get management’s buy-in and carefully prioritize and launch these strategic meeting management solutions, clearly there will be powerful business (and career) results.

Although there are plenty of white papers, webinars, workshops and articles on this topic, there is no “one size fits all” business plan ready for implementation. During my interactive workshop at the PCMA Education Conference in Montreal, I will discuss industry best practices and specific steps to create an action plan to generate management buy-in and assure success in implementing specific strategic meeting management solutions that work for you. Be sure to join me, Tuesday June 15 at my faciliatated peer-to-peer session.

So, what are your specific issues, concerns, challenges or questions on the SMMP topic? I would love to hear from you!

Jennifer Brown, CMP, is President of Meeting Sites Resource, a global specialist in meeting site research and hotel contract negotiations. MSR also offers meeting support services, meeting education / SMMP consulting and meeting technology solutions (sourcing, meeting consolidation, strategic meeting management). Jennifer can be reached at jbrown@meetingsites.net / 949-250-7483 ext. 315.

Register Today for Montreal

PCMA Education Conference, June 13th – 16th, 2010 in Montreal

This is Bob Hancock, co-chair, (along with Mike McCurry) of the PCMA Education Conference in Montreal. I must say that I am very excited about this year’s event, for not only is it an opportunity to learn from our peers in the industry, but is also an opportunity to learn how to effectively use the power of social media.

Not only is there exceptional peer-to-peer interaction, general sessions, and networking opportunities, but there are a few events that I am particularly excited about. On Monday, June 14th, is a peer-to-peer session facilitated by Curt Peoples, CEO of Peoples and Company Communications, focusing on collaboration to achieve goals and creating a collaborative culture. Also, after Monday’s networking luncheon, Midori Connolly, CEO of Pulse Staging and Events, and Jessica Levin, CMP and President of Seven Degrees Communication, will be guiding a peer-to-peer session on creating event engagement using social media. I am also looking forward to Roger Rickard’s, Partner and Chief Business Solicitor for REvent, peer-to-peer session on Tuesday, June 15th, on how to become an effective advocate so that you can better influence policy and gain support for your projects.

All of us from the PCMA Education Committee and the PCMA staff look forward to seeing you in Montreal this year so that all of us can take-away new shared ideas and solutions to our industry’s challenges.

I encourage each of you to register and look forward to seeing you in Montreal.

Register today.

Bob

2010: The Year of Collaboration

Posted by: Curt Peoples, President, Peoples & Company Communications, Toronto

Business concepts go in and out of fashion, but sometimes a concept we have offhandedly used for years rises above the rest to encapsulate just what is happening (or needs to happen) now.

In 2010, collaboration is the concept that has emerged to describe what organizations need.

Like teamwork, collaboration is an activity where people or organizations work together to achieve common goals. But collaboration is something more. Fruitful collaboration requires everyone to fully appreciate and build on each others’ strengths. It involves multiple players making decisions in order to maximize their returns.

Those involved in creative, collaborative activities will tell you success starts with a shared chemistry, positive intent and collective acceptance. Collaborators share a desire to meet a high bar of excellence.

The session I am facilitating on Monday at the PCMA Education Conference is a peer-to-peer session. We will kick it off with a look at the mindset and skills that great collaborators employ. You’ll get the chance to share experiences with others in the session — focusing on ways to creatively collaborate with clients, suppliers and business partners. The goal is to give you new ideas that you can use in your business.

Here are the details:

Monday, June 14, 2010
10:30 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.
Collaborate to Achieve Greater Success
For meeting professionals to succeed, meet goals and thrive they need to embrace the concept of collaboration

• Discover collaboration techniques to achieve goals and positively impact your bottom line
• Leverage collaboration for co-location of events, costs, logistics, and crowdsourcing
• Leverage sponsorships to build a collaborative culture that will lead to long-term planner and supplier relationships

An extra note: One aspect of great collaboration is giving useful advice with no expectation of getting anything in return. In this spirit, I recommend three Montreal restaurants that you might not find on your own.

• Griffintown Café – Canada’s National Post lists the Griffintown Café as one of the top ten casual dining restaurants in Montreal.
• Le Pied de Cochon – The food is inventive, the staff is cool and the wine list is amazing.
• Joe Beef – This one is for foodies. There are only 30 seats in this cozy restaurant of renowned Montreal chef, David McMillan.

Enjoy! I hope I’ll meet you Montreal.

Curt