Connecting, Learning, Leading – Adding Value to the Meeting Planner Role

2017 Meeting Planner Summit
August 16-17 | Hilton Norfolk The Main

Join fellow meeting planners for VSAE’s third annual Meeting Planner Summit. Hosted by Hilton Norfolk The Main, this two-day conference will include content on connecting, learning, and with emphasis on adding value to the meeting planner role. The conference includes presentations, roundtable discussions, and time to network with fellow attendees.

Register Here.

List of attendees.  (Updated weekly starting June 15.)

Schedule

Wednesday, August 16

10:00–10:30 a.m. Welcome/Open Source Introduction

10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. OPENING ENGAGEMENT: The Project Manager Mindset

Angela Edwards, PMP, PCC, PMI-ACP, MBA, MS
Chief Project Management Geek & Founder of Castle Thunder Consulting
Become more strategic, productive, and profitable! Learn the secrets to bringing organization to seemingly chaotic processes, projects, and environments. Develop a mindset to identify, understand, and address key tasks in a methodical and practical manner.

12:00–12:45 p.m. Lunch

12:45–1:15 p.m. Facility Tour

1:30–2:45 p.m. Session: Network Ninja in Training

PSAV
A fun and interactive presentation on meeting room Internet access, this session will use martial art themed belt levels to convey techniques on evaluating a venue’s ability to provide the three most important requirements in delivering a successful event; bandwidth, infrastructure, and support. At the conclusion of this session, you will possess not only the skills to determine a venue’s ability to meet your requirements, but also a tool to uncover your bandwidth requirements.

2:45–3:00 p.m. Afternoon Comfort Break

3:00–3:30 p.m. Session: Energize Mind & Body with Office Yoga 

Lisha Reynolds, RYT® 200, Certified Svaroopa® Yoga Basics Teacher & 
Professional Development Manager at Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance
Join in this short interactive session where you will learn techniques to help you get through the afternoon slump. Lisha will share exercises for all abilities that focus on reinvigorating mind and body. All techniques you can do right from your own office chair.

3:45–5:00 p.m. Session: Roundtable Discussions: Powered by Open Source

Tiffany Brown, Project Assistant, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech 
Bring your specific issues and learn from the experiences of fellow planners who have faced similar issues. Attendees will be grouped together for facilitated conversations among your peers about the issues that are important to you.

6:00–9:00 p.m. Networking Reception & Dinner

Thursday, August 17

7:30–8:30 a.m. Rise & Shine Breakfast

8:30–9:45 a.m. Session: Networking in the Digital Age

Susan Motley, CAE, Executive Director, Mission to Strategy
Networking is a verb meaning to connect as or operate within a network; to link (machines, especially computers) to operate interactively; and to interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one's career.  During this session Susan we will concentrate on the last piece of that definition. As a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Coaches, she stays up-to-date with current trends used by hiring managers to screen resumes, to evaluate LinkedIn profiles, and to know the latest interview techniques. Susan will share her knowledge to elevate your personal professional brand and be noticed in the workplace.

> Susan has offered to critique a few resumes for the session. If you would like to send your resume to her in advance, please do so at [email protected]. Let her know if you are willing to volunteer to be used as a group example. All should bring your resume for personal reference and note taking during the session. 

9:45–10:00 a.m. Morning Comfort Break

10:00–11:30 a.m. CLOSING COLLABORATION: Utilizing Influence–Your Perceived Value and ROI

Angela Edwards, PMP, PCC, PMI-ACP, MBA, MS
What is your perceived value? Do you know your ROI? Association leadership typically turns to the meeting planner when they are in a pinch. Angela will open your eyes and teach you how to open the eyes of others to the value of the meeting planner position. She will share how to create dialogues for mutually beneficial outcomes, resolve conflicts, and manage difficult situations.

Your Sponsors:

Your Content Leaders:

Tiffany Brown, Project Assistant, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech 
Tiffany has six years experience in her current role where she splits her time between planning events and managing grants.  She has recently taken training courses on facilitating the Open Source method which uses a collaborative, organic approach to create workshop and conference sessions where participants generate the topics to be discussed.

Susan Motley, CAE, Executive Director, Mission to Strategy
Susan is a former non-profit executive with more than twenty years of experience hiring, coaching, and developing teams. She has turned her love of coaching into her own small business and enjoys assisting fellow professionals in discovering their professional brand.  As a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Coaches, she stays up-to-date with current trends used by hiring managers to screen resumes, to evaluate LinkedIn profiles, and to know the latest interview techniques.

Lisha Reynolds, RYT® 200, Certified Svaroopa® Yoga Basics Teacher & 
Professional Development Manager at Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance
After attending her first class, Lisha recognized the benefits of Svaroopa® yoga through poses that decompress the spine, providing renewed energy and ease of movement. Lisha has a training and development background and has enjoyed teaching adults for more than 20 years in both the corporate and nonprofit worlds. She’s been a lifelong practitioner of holistic health and wellness and believes in the healing power of knowing one’s inner self. She shares this passion with her students and loves seeing how they experience amazing insights, joy, and peace when practicing yoga. Lisha’s style of teaching deeply honors and respects the fact that each student is on their own unique journey of discovery and inner “knowing.”