MPI So Cal Connect
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Print this Article | Send to Colleague

MPISCC STAY INSPIRED VIRTUAL EDUCATION SERIES

Bubble Tap Trailer Virtual Cocktail Tasting - Hosted by our very own President Joe Martin and Bubbletap Trailer owners Jennifer and Nicole Disotell 

May 07, 2020 Live on @mpisocalchapter Instagram at 5:00 p.m.

** See the Educate section of this newsletter for more information

ORDER COCKTAIL TASTING TRIO HERE

Diversifying Your Income Streams 
May 11, 2020 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Learn how to take the different segments of your business and create various revenue streams that will allow you to earn substantial recurring income. We will discuss a mixture of personal examples of what has worked for Speaker Amani Roberts, founder, The Amani Experience, within his business as well as tactics and strategies that did not work. Best practices throughout the hospitality industry will also be discussed and attendees will take away a minimum of three action steps to jumpstart themselves on their personal income diversification strategy.
REGISTER HERE

Planning Universally Designed Meetings
May 28, 2020 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Are your meetings ADA compliant, or ADA friendly? Meeting professionals need to shift their perspective to ensure that meetings are designed for everyone – from the start. This session will dive into the meaning of the word “disability” and give participants the tools to create a truly inclusive experience.
REGISTER HERE

Site Selection
June 8, 2020 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Site selection for meetings and events is one of the first steps towards producing a great program, but there is much more to it than simply finding the best location. Join us to discuss how to improve your site selection process, pitfalls to avoid, and how to produce a great event based on finding the perfect location.
REGISTER HERE

SAVE THE DATE:
June 18, 2020: Installation & Gala Awards Dinner at Terranea Oceanfront Resort
August 27, 2020: August Educational Program at the University of Southern California (USC) Town & Gown
January 14-16, 2021: (WE)Con 2021 at Pasea Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach

 

MPI GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS DIALOGUE SERIES

Food Safety - What is the New Normal and How do Meeting Planners Need to Prepare?
May 01, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

While COVID-19 has not been proven to be transferable through food, can it theoretically be possible? Think about all the touch points there is with the food and beverage we serve at events. Food safety is something planners often overlook, relying on caterers to handle. In the new normal, what do we need to consider about our attendees safety as it relates to the food and beverage we serve them. Buffets vs. plated vs. boxed? Single-serve prepackaged food? How many people do we sit at table = social distancing? Do we need to add sneeze guards? F&B costs are already high; what if we need to have more servers to serve the buffets? Do we need to add handwashing stations to the rooms? Do we go back to using bottled water vs. water jugs.

Learner Outcomes:
1. Learn what questions you should ask food service providers about their food safety practices.
2. Familiarize yourself with food safety policies and practices required of food service providers
3. Discover ways to provide safe food and beverage experiences easily.

Speaker(s):
Tracy Stuckrath, Founder and Chief Food Officer, Thrive! Meetings & Events

REGISTER HERE 

 

Meeting Executive Re-Think Tank on Lessons Learned & Continued Impact
May 08, 2020 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

The MPI Meeting Executive Advisory Board invites you to join our virtual roundtable to debrief, debate and discuss COVID-19’s impact on our businesses, events, teams, and the overall meeting and events industry. In a moderated, peer-discussion format we will focus on lessons learned and what we see happening in the months ahead. Bring your own case studies, observations and burning questions to share in this interactive “group therapy” session on the COVID-19 crisis.

Learner Outcomes:
1. Identify best practices to implement when faced with a major crisis affecting the meeting and event industry
2. Describe the impacts and next steps in managing events and teams affected by the global crisis
3. Discover actions you can employ now and in the future to lessen the business impact of the global crisis

Speaker(s):
Kristi C. Sanders, CMP, CMM, Senior Director of Community Engagement, MPI
Tyra W. Hilliard, PhD, Esq, CMP, Attorney, Professor, Speaker, College of Coastal Georgia
Melinda Burdette, CMP, Director of Events, MPI
Mekeda Johnson-Brooks, Chief Client Experience Architect, MJ Design and Company
Brad Dean, Chief Executive Officer, Discover Puerto Rico
Michael Garcia, CMP, Vice President, Meetings and Incentives Worldwide
Vito Curalli, CHA, Executive Director, International Sales and Industry Relations Hilton Worldwide Sales

REGISTER HERE 

 

Avoiding Burnout and Managing Stress 
May 13, 2020 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Stress is commonplace for those who work in the meetings industry. “Event Planner” continues to land in the top five—on the top 10 list—of the most stressful careers year after year. And, in 2019 the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized that burnout is caused by “chronic workplace stress that is not properly managed.” While those in this industry are ‘used’ to some level of stress, it seems that it isn't going to lighten up anytime soon—for anyone.

While the WHO has defined and recognized burnout and its cause, they offer no direction on prevention or recovery. Hitting burnout can be painful, life changing and expensive, and every human effort should be made to avoid it. There are ways to avoid it when adjustments are made early enough. Today, hear from a 25+ year meetings executive who left the industry after her own experience with burnout. Hear her story, what to look for, what it looks like if you do nothing about it, and immediate (and simple!) ways you can protect yourself from falling into the burnout rut.

Learner Outcomes: 
1. Participants will gain a clear understanding of what causes burnout, what it looks like and its cost.
2. Participants will learn the signs to look for in themselves that may indicate they are heading towards burnout and the potential impact on their body and lives.
3. Participants will learn the first line of defense simple adjustments to make in their lives to ensure their stress remains manageable and doesn’t lead to burnout.

Speaker(s):
Rachelle Stone, Trusted Adviser, Consultant, & Coach, R Stone Consulting

REGISTER HERE 

 

Leading Virtual Teams Effectively and Productively
May 14, 2020 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

The global COVID-19 pandemic turned us to remote workers overnight, even if some of us weren't prepared for that. Using his research and experience, Dr. Yoram Solomon, the author of The Book of Trust, Culture starts with YOU, not your Boss, and 11 other books will give you specific ideas and tips that will increase your leadership effectiveness and teamwork productivity, when working remotely. He managed international teams and conducted research on the effectiveness and productivity of teamwork in all environments. In this session, he will first set the foundation to the understanding of the link between trust and effective and productive leadership and teamwork. The bulk of the session will focus on tangible and measurable actions you could take immediately in the areas of communications, information sharing, interactions, empathy, dealing with customers, and more. Those tips are easy to implement, and will measurably increase your leadership effectiveness, team productivity, and customer and vendor retention.

As a result of this session you will be able to...
1. Understand the relationship between trust and effective and productive teamwork
2. Understand the impact of virtual team leadership on trust
3. Apply the 7 laws and 6 components of trust to virtual teamwork
4. Create a checklist of actions that will measurably increase your leadership effectiveness, team productivity, and customer and vendor retention

Speaker(s):
Yoram Solomon, Author, The Book of Trust

REGISTER HERE 

 

Work From Home Revolution
May 20, 2020 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

The Idea Hunter is excited to bring Marc Saltzman to your screens to enlighten you on the future of work. This session will also infuse virtual entertainment because “We Don’t Do Ordinary; and we don’t think you should either.”

Marc says, “It might have taken a tragic event like the global coronavirus pandemic to give hundreds of millions of workers a taste of what it’s like to work from home,” but when the world goes back to normal, this leader shares why 98 percent of those surveyed (by PC Mag) say they’d prefer to work from home long-term. Marc covers the pros and cons of remote working—for the employee, employer, and environment—and tips to succeeding.

Participants in this session will:
1. Learn invaluable productivity tips to successfully work from home
2. For those who want to continue to WFH post COVID-19, here is how to position it to the Powers That Be
3. Get a taste of what the physical and virtual fusion will look like 10 years from now

Sponsored By: The Idea Hunter 
Trend Setters in Corporate Events; Creating Human Connection and experiences.

We are an Entertainment Production & Event management company with a vision to transform event experiences. At The Idea Hunter “WE DON’T DO ORDINARY.” Our desire to break boundaries and create what matters is what sets us apart from the rest. With our roster of exclusive entertainment and creative collaborations, we are ready to elevate your next operate event. While our foundation was established in Toronto, our ideas travel across Canada, the United States and beyond.

Speaker(s):
Marc Saltzman, Technology Evangelist, Marc Saltzman EnterTech Services, Inc.

REGISTER HERE

 

Pivoting from Paralyzed to Productive; Taking Control of Your Narrative and Rewriting Your Reality
May 21, 2020 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

You cannot control what curveballs are thrown your way, but you can control your response. As our industry faces unprecedented times of turbulence, you may be experiencing a variety of financial, mental and emotional hardships that you have never navigated before. Feeling lost or even paralyzed is completely normal, but it’s important to recognize that there is a unique opportunity to have the most tremendous professional and personal comeback you could have ever imagined. Great things never come from your comfort zone. Join me in learning how to practice a servanthood sales strategy, rebrand your professional persona, and accomplish your goals, one day at a time.

Learner Outcomes:
1. Understand what a servanthood sales strategy is and how to apply it to your business. 
2. Learn how to rebrand your professional reputation using digital communication tactics.
3. Leverage tools that will help you to stay motivated and accomplish your goals.

Speaker(s):
Courtney Stanley, Keynote Speaker, Podcaster & Career Coach, CS Consulting

REGISTER HERE 

 

Risk Management Planning
May 26, 2020 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Waiting until a crisis such as COVID-19 to determine your risk-management plan is too late. It needs to be written ahead of time, with robust mitigation and contingency plans, and it should contain proper insurance cover. All contracts should cover force majeure, cancellation/postponement options, attrition and third-party vendor protection. This keeps the organization’s reputation and everyone's safety at a forefront while being adequately prepared. Heather has dealt with every unimaginable situation from volcano eruptions, to a hotel on fire, a hotel wanting to walk her client’s conference, and speakers not showing up. In the wake of COVID-19 cancellations, Heather has saved her clients more than $1.5 million and even negotiated a client's conference to have an open postponement clause for two years.

Learner Outcomes:
1. To identify key contract clauses, such as force majeure, cancellation/postponement options, attrition and how to leverage and maximize them in the era of COVID-19, including creative MOUs
2. Understand how to create a matrix to weight risks and ensure right resources to right size risk, as well as buy-in from stakeholders
3. Be prepared to create contingency plans and secure proper insurance cover for risk

Speaker(s):
Heather Mason, CEO and Founder, Caspian Agency

REGISTER HERE 

 

Leading Your Organization, From Any Level, During a Time of Crisis
May 27, 2020 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

During the past few months we have experienced events being canceled, postponed or moved to a virtual environment. One thing remains true: Events and meetings are a vital part of an organization’s success. You can stay top of mind with managers and leaders during this time of uncertainty. We will discuss how you can be a leader in your organization now and well into the future in this interview with Lori Pugh Marcum, Head of Meeting Innovation, MPI.

By attending this webinar you will: 
1. Elevate your role, becoming a strategist and consultant within your business organization
2. Learn how to proactively communicate during the event process with leaders and key stakeholders
3. Leverage technology to centralize information for the entire organization

Speaker(s):
Lori Pugh Marcum, CMP, CMM, HMCC, Lead Manager, Event Programs & Production, Meeting Professionals International
Heather Haigler, Founder, Switch Four | WorkTrip

REGISTER HERE 

 

No Time Like the Present…Taking your meetings Virtual
May 28, 2020 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Virtual meetings have been a fundamental anchor in corporate communications and assembly, and not just in times of crisis. Now is likely the best time ever to explore how virtual meeting elements can BE your meeting or enhance your meeting.

For most of human history, communication was direct and in-person. We have evolved to place our innate trust in human voices and immediate contact; therefore, for building a team or aligning your organization there is only one approach that leverages all those human factors: a face-to-face meeting. While live events and personal contact remain the gold standard for compelling and impactful experiences, the circumstances of modern business and budget concerns may prompt alternative choices.

Advances in telecommunications and technology bring new options for collaboration, and we have the opportunity to think differently about how, and where, we bring people together to realize your business objectives.

During this session we explore the fundamentals of planning and delivering a live virtual meeting. We provide specific tools to help planners and event professionals assess their current needs, determine the best technology, and explore the most effective creative and production.

By attending this session you will:
1. Gain practical hands-on tools that can be used right away
2. Explore the basics, and beyond, of virtual meetings to bring everyone up to speed
3. Deliver content that will appeal to the entire membership (meeting planners, venue partners, production partners)

Speaker(s):
Chris Chambers, CEO, MJM

REGISTER HERE 

 

 

Back to MPI So Cal Connect

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn