Keynotes and Educational Breakouts
All full registrants (both attendees and exhibitors) are invited to join us for the opening keynote session, educational breakout and afternoon keynote address. Scroll down or click through to learn more about the day's educational offerings.
Opening Keynote
Afternoon Keynote
Education Sessions I
Education Sessions II
Opening General Session Keynote (8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.)
Eat, Drink & Get Ready to Succeed
Laura Schwartz, Former White House Director of Events
Bringing people together, creating situations for people to make meaningful personal connections and developing lasting relationships with others are the essence of meeting planning. This is why the events we produce as part of a conference are just as powerful as the education we provide our attendees.
As the White House Director of Events, Laura recognized this power and created events that represented a nation and inspired the world. Today, as an international television commentator, professional speaker and author of Eat, Drink & Succeed, Laura shares the networking secrets that skyrocketed her onto the world stage with personal anecdotes from her life and White House years that will change how you participate in the Southwest Showcase 2012. Laura will share her top tools that you can put to work immediately to learn, build partnerships and excel at every turn of the event. Laura believes that nothing is optional at the Southwest Showcase but everything is an opportunity!
The Conference Innovators' DNA
Jeff Hurt, Director of Education and Engagement, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Liz King, Founder and Owner, Liz King Events
Paul Salinger, VP of Events, Oracle
Innovation. It’s the heartbeat of today’s economy. It’s also where you as a meeting professional need to focus your attention, time and resources to compete in the meetings marketplace. Average meetings are planned by average meeting professionals, yet most conference attendees don’t want to pay for an average conference: they want a unique experience.
Innovative conferences are planned by innovative meeting professionals who think and act differently. Come and discover how changing your thinking and behavior can lead to creative impact in your conferences and events.
After attending this presentation, you will be able to:
- Identify common traits of today’s conference innovators
- List 4 disruptive questions to consider for innovation in your meetings
- Explore idea networks for diversity and innovation
Meeting Contract Liability Issues
Joe Boggins, CAE, Attorney, Icenogle & Sullivan
Paula Rigling, CMP, President, Meeting Planning Professionals
Did you know that you could inadvertently waive the rights of your own liability insurance company? Did you know that “Act of God” or force majeure provisions also apply to you? Bad things can happen to you personally or to the organization you represent if you do not understand the potential pitfalls of meeting contracts before signing. Learn from two meeting contract experts: the lawyer and the seasoned professional meeting planner.
- Gain a greater understanding of what you are signing – contract, credit reports and more
- Learn what proper liability insurance is
- Hear real-world scenarios of what not to do
Customer Loyalty: How to Earn It, How to Keep It
Jill Griffin, The Griffin Group
Want to know the secret to get, keep, grow and win back high value customers? Hear from a customer service expert a proven process for turning non-buyers into loyal advocates. This energetic, information-packed session will equip you with simple, practical tools you can use immediately to measurably improve the buying behaviors of customers. You will learn:
- How to target loyalty-prone customers
- Proven ways build that all-important trust bond with customers
- 10 ways to ensure customers return
- Where in the buying stage you’re most likely to lose customers and how to navigate when you get there
Integrating Technology into Your Meetings and Events
Kristi Casey Sanders, VP of Creative/Chief Storyteller, Plan Your Meetings
This very special and interactive breakout session will focus on the newest and most innovative ideas and technology available for meetings and events. Attendees will be able to ask questions live, whether it is in-person, via Twitter or by text messaging.
- Learn how to use online tools to save time
- Discover new technologies that save money
- Develop a strategy on how to integrate new technology into event planning, management and promotion
Prepared for the Unexpected?
Ronney Reynolds, CPA, Reynolds & Franke, P.C.
Chris Williston, CAE, President/CEO, Independent Bankers Association of Texas
What keeps you up at night? The potential for a disaster could be just around the corner. Whether the disaster is natural or manmade, employee or vendor-related, is your organization prepared? Hear real-world solutions to survive these types of disasters and learn how to develop a model plan of action.
- Gain a greater awareness of the types of disasters
- Learn how to develop a customized action plan for when disaster strikes
- Discover steps to take to maintain continuity of business in any situation
The Death of Dialogue
Mary Partridge, President, Impact Consulting
Have you ever been frustrated that you are not being heard? Have you reached an impasse with a colleague, client or Board member and haven't known what to do next? How do you break the logjam and move on? Do you "settle" or compromise, even if that isn't the best solution? If so, you have had a glimpse of the "Death of Dialogue." Learn how to move past the impasse and enjoy the synergies resulting from understanding various perspectives.
- Identify behaviors that get in the way of dialogue (so you can stop doing those things!)
- Learn skills for getting past the obstacles to dialogue (even if it's the "other guy's" behavior) and
- Proactively use techniques to get richer outcomes by exploring diverse perspectives.
Going Mobile: Real World Stories
Panel: Kristi Casey Sanders, VP of Creative/Chief Storyteller, Plan Your Meetings
Stormi Boyd, CMP, CMM ,Senior Event Manager, Keller Williams Realty International
Cheryl Lawson, CEO & Social Marketing Specialist, Party Aficionado
Want to take your meeting mobile but are too afraid to make the leap? Hear the real-life stories of a panel of tech-savvy meeting planners who have gone mobile. They will share their successes, challenges and give you the resources you need to bring innovative mobile technology to your next event.
- Learn how an iPad can replace your meeting planning binder
- Identify issues to prepare for when replacing your onsite program with a meeting app
- Find mobile app solutions to make your life easier as a meeting planner
Managing Multiple Priorities: And Staying Sane in the Process
Anne Pritchard Grady, President, Acclivity Performance
In a time when every priority claims itself as urgent, it is essential to understand the attitudes, behaviors and skills required to become effective and efficient at utilizing the resources at our disposal to handle competing tasks and priorities. This fun, interactive session will provide specific tools and practical strategies to work smarter, not harder.
- Identify personal and professional high payoff activities
- Develop a goal-setting model
- Learn to minimize interruptions in your life
Increasing the Relevance and Value of our Exhibitions in a Changing Economy
David Audrain, CEM, President & CEO, Messe Frankfurt North America
In today’s challenging economy, the value and relevance of our exhibitions are being challenged more than ever. However, it is in challenging times like these that successful events can stand out from the crowd even more, if you take the right steps. In this session, you'll learn:
- How we change the “cost” argument to a “value” discussion
- How to grow revenue for the long term
- What we can learn from successful events