This week for our Focus On A Member series, we hear from Geralyn Krist, CMP, Global Account Executive, Conference Direct
What was your favorite Netflix binge during 2020?
Top of the list – Schitt’s Creek!!
Where is the first place you will travel when the pandemic is over?
Our family vacation to Fort Walton Beach (Destin area) this summer. Scott and I have a Mediterranean Cruise schedule for June, but I don’t think that will be happening unfortunately.
What is the best recipe you tried in 2020?
Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing. This was Ashleigh’s request for her birthday cake, and it was easy and amazing!
Personally, or professionally, were there any positive things that came out of the pandemic (i.e. more time with family, house projects, got a dog, curbside pickup)?
There were so many positive things that came out of the pandemic – it really started with mandated family time last March during quarantine. We all lived, worked, and attended school at home. We watched TV together as a family and took 2-3 walks per day. The dog was loving it! Instead of traveling over the summer, we did a ton of yard work and some small home improvement projects. While I typically cooked most nights a week, I started making a list of what I would make on Wednesday for the following week and then do my shopping on Thursday. When you have limited time in the store, you need to be organized.
What did 2020 teach you about your professional life?
Never take what you have for granted. I have worked my entire career in hospitality and to see the industry fall apart was hard. It taught me that I am strong, that I have developed long-lasting professional relationships and given time, things will start to come back.
What did 2020 teach you about your personal life?
That I do not always have the answers. I did not know how long COVID would be around (a month, maybe 2?), nor did I know what the effects would be on my family and people around me. I had a hard time talking with my girls (at that point a freshman in college and sophomore in HS) about COVID and how it affected their life because I did not have the answers to what it would look like. We had a lot of open and honest conversations.
What new hobby have you started in the past year?
Puzzles! The last two we completed were panoramic city views of NYC Times Square and the Las Vegas strip. Miss travel much?!!?
I am looking forward to 2021 because…
Anything has got to be better than 2020! In all honesty, I am ready to get back to some sense of normal, to have my work start to pick up with meetings being held and sourced and getting out to see family and friends that I have missed over the past year.
I believe (or don’t believe) hybrid events are here to stay because…
I believe for the short-term Hybrid events will be around but long term, unless it is a larger organization or one that has done Hybrid in the past (ie: PCMA Convening Leaders) I don’t think it will be sustainable for the small to mid-sized organizations due to increased costs.