So You Think You Can Plan Our Conference?

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By Sheryl S. Jackson

Participants were not sure what to expect when they entered the session described as an opportunity to share ideas and input for future conferences but two hours later, there were still people adding to the lists!

Expertly facilitated by Kevin Pitts of Performance Consulting Group, the group was charged with brainstorming new and different ideas or approaches for conference planners to consider. Groups of six to seven people rotated around the room to five different flip charts on which ideas for the career expo, entertainment, luncheon/plenary sessions, and information flow from constituents were written. The fifth flip chart was a blank topic – so participants addressed any and all topics not covered by the other areas.

The lively, energetic session was kicked off as Pitts described the challenge and then became a "speed brainstorming session" as the groups had 10 to 15 minutes at each flip chart. As participants left the session, they voted with check marks on the ideas they liked the most.

The 25 plus flip chart pages will be evaluated by NBMBAA staff and used as planning for future conferences move forward. A few of the ideas that received the most votes included (in no particular order):

• Extend member-only hours for the Career Expo;
• Set up a business center for members only in the members lounge;
• Require companies to bring a listing of job openings as opposed to telling applicants to visit website and complete a profile;
• Invite more non-profits to participate in Expo and offer discounts to the non-profit organizations or to a large company that sponsors a non-profit;
• Ideas for new session topics, including: how to handle a layoff, how to write a business plan, how to write a grant, how to find and use a life or executive coach;
• Add seminars specifically for non-profits;
• Offer the opportunity to purchase audio or video recordings of sessions after the conference;
• Utilize technology as well as survey kiosks to obtain real-time feedback during the conference;
• Offer a wine or scotch tasting as an entertainment option;
• Hold a themed or costumed party;
• Present an MBA dating game – for singles only
• Offer transition seminars that address corporate to nonprofit; corporate to entrepreneur; corporate to retirement; and corporate to community activism.