Kate was our chapter scholarship winner for EduCon and recieved reimbursed registration fee, three nights of accommodation at host hotel and airfare (up to $500).
I appreciate the scholarship that allowed me to attend the PCMA EduCon in Detroit. The event opened with a reception in Campus Martius Park, the same park where the NFL draft took place earlier in the year. Unfortunately for Detroit, halfway through the reception, there was a downpour and the stage had to be covered and attendees went in seek of shelter under a tent or back to the hotel.
I enjoyed the setup of the general sessions with the addition of the DJ on stage who also served as the host of the sessions. The short stories about Rebirth, Reinvention & Creating a Culture of Innovation were a fun way to break up a longer keynote time, my favorite of the four speakers was Mai Xiong, the Michigan State Representative who was born in a refugee camp, graduated from college, opened her own business and is now giving back to her community by serving her community. Tuesday kicked off with a similar presentation style, but a different set of 4 keynote speakers, followed by a moderated discussion with the speakers. Closing the meeting with Charlie Todd was a fun interactive speaker. I laughed at several of the Improv Everywhere videos, and have since looked at the possibility of having him as a speaker at one of our events, though my Safety & Security committee would not like adding flash mobs to our event.
At PCMA EduCon in Detroit, I found myself looking at specific sessions to elevate the attendee experience and to improve myself as a leader.
Following are a few of the bullet points I am taking home from the event.
Networking by Design
· We need to have someone focused on networking, there is someone focused on education, the trade show, etc, so why not a Director of Networking?
· Top 3 people who attendees want to network with. 1) Experts 2) Peer to Peer 3) New Contacts
· Lots of different ideas to include networking at our event.
o Welcome committee to reach out ahead of time, include your picture so they know who they are looking for,
o Networking through experiences, projects
o Have a wall of things individuals can offer. Example: I am into wellness, and someone who is looking for a wellness coach could contact me.
o Connect over challenges. Already incorporated into our registration questions.
o Candy Break – Everyone picks up their favorite candy, and then connects with someone who has the same favorite candy.
Innovations in Event Security, I did not find particularly innovative, but still picked up some takeaways, such as when working through your emergency plan, remember in an emergency that people will automatically go out the door they came in, not necessarily the closest exit. We should have a lost person protocol, not just a lost child and we need to determine our Use of Force policy, share it with our hired security staff, and make sure they are licensed in the area of our meeting. All plans should include where to go in case of a question.
I took many personal notes in the session, It’s Levels to This: Elevating Your Brand to Advance Your Impact. There are a few that would apply to everyone, especially us in this industry. We all need the ability to let go and let others do things so that we can define what our unique value proposition is. There is strength in partnerships. Don’t collect cards, make connections with your new friends in the industry.
Monday for the Give Back Bash we had a front-row seat to the Ford Fireworks on the river. Tuesday for the closing reception they took us to the Fillmore Detroit, a beautiful, and iconic theater that has been restored to a great event space.
Thank you for the opportunity to attend and to build on my network.
