By: Eric Jacobson, Ascend Integrated Media LLC
This year’s PCMA Education Conference (EduCon), June 10-13 in Cleveland, featured a new, five “learning studios” approach that created a robust and immersive learning environment. One that drove increased interaction, engagement, collaboration, connection and community among the attendees.
The five studios were titled:
· Challenge
· Engagement
· Experience Design
· Ascent (fostering a culture of inclusiveness within organizations and events)
· Medical & Wellness
The five studio themes were based on audience industry trends, advances in technology, excitement about PCMA’s new Ascent CEO Promise program,* and the strong, highly innovative medical community in Cleveland. You’ll find the Key Takeaways from each of these learning studios and from the conference’s Hackathon and keynote presentations via this link.
This year’s keynote presentation speakers and topics were:
· Denise Lee Yohn – How to Build a Rock Star Brand
· Peter Sheahan – Finding Opportunity in Change and Disruption
· Phil Hansen – Embrace the Shake: Collaborative Art Experience, and Embrace the Shake: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities
· Bridget Brennan – How to Elevate the Customer Experience to Win Over Consumers
Attending EduCon for the first time was Heartland Chapter member and scholarship winner Lester Cornelius. The best business tip and takeaway from the conference for Lester was, “how to continually ‘plan’ for disruption, working to keep ahead of trends – otherwise you will go the way of Blockbuster, Borders, Sears, etc.” Lester adds that EduCon provided “fabulous networking opportunities and access to all levels of individuals from countless organizations, companies, and the PCMA Headquarters. Plus, incredible educational opportunities and keynotes like none-other.”
Fellow Chapter member Hayley Neverve, CMP, shares that among the many great points made over the three-day conference, the few that really stuck with her are “to take small intelligent risks; confidence is contagious and journal successes.” She agrees with Lester about EduCon’s networking opportunities. “EduCon is amazing for personal development. The more intimate group lends itself to learning. There is also great networking and it’s so easy to connect with people because there are fewer attendees (versus Convening Leaders for example),” Hayley says.
Left to right: Lester Cornelius, Global Events Content Coordinator – Siemens PLM Software; Hayley Neverve, Senior Sales Manager – InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile; Sally DeBolt, Senior Event Manager – Siemens PLM Software (part of the POWER Chapter).
Chapter member Caitlin Arnold, who has attended EduCon three times concurs about the education and networking offered at the conference. She says, “The EduCon not only has great education, but the networking is unparalleled. It is a smaller group so you can easily find people and connect with them and there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new connections.”
“What I also love most about EduCon is PCMA tries new things every year – they had kite flying breaks, a food truck lunch, sponsor booths serving iced coffee, ice cream and poets writing personalized poems on the spot. There is always something new and unique to experience each year.” Caitlin adds, “I really enjoy seeing all the different and unique room set ups they use so I can take the ideas back to my conferences. They do really simple techniques like using uplights in the small breakouts to warm up the room and make it more exciting than just a breakout room in a convention center. They do mixed use seating and not only your standard classroom/theater/rounds. There was one room in particular that had a riser in the middle and chairs all around it – what a unique way to excite people just walking into the room!”
And in typical PCMA style, EduCon mixed great education with lots of fun. For Lester, he says the most fun thing he did in Cleveland was “having the opportunity to attend a special dinner, hosted by Caesers Entertainment, at The Vault – the former Cleveland Trust Rotunda. Very cool atmosphere. Also, the closing reception hosted by PCMA at the Punch Bowl Social was a night to remember, with several floors of activities, food, drinks and networking!”
For Hayley, “The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame opening event was outstanding! Such a great venue. Food trucks for lunch one day was also a highlight! PCMA does a fabulous job working with the host city to showcase what groups can do inside and outside the convention center.”
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Caitlin says this about the opening event held at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, “Not only was it a blast to see old and new friends, but it was an amazing museum. As a music lover it was an incredible experience to see the iconic pieces of music history. There was so much to see, I couldn’t event see it all in one night. The Power of Rock Experience area was not only a great music experience (I was dancing in my seat the whole time) but also the production of the screens, music and video were a site to see, especially as a meeting planner. “
In closing, Lester says, “Thank you to the PCMA Heartland Chapter for their support in providing me a scholarship to attend the 2018 PCMA Education Conference in Cleveland this summer. Being fairly new to the industry still, opportunities like this are priceless for me – both in the quality education and the unparalleled networking opportunities.”
* PCMA’s Ascent CEO Promise outlines actions that organizations and companies have taken or will take to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces and events.