Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has outlined the content for its education program at this year’s AIBTM, the Americas Meetings and Events Exhibitions. A lineup of speakers will deliver education “Powered by PCMA” sessions.
“By partnering with PCMA, AIBTM ensures attendees will get the best of both worlds – innovative education and creative global solutions to enhance their organization’s face-to-face connections, as well as a show floor featuring more than 1,000 global and domestic companies,” said Deborah Sexton, president and CEO of PCMA.
Leading speakers for Tuesday’s Education Program include Carolyn Pund, CMP, CMM, senior global strategic meetings manager, Cisco Systems Inc., who will share her insight and knowledge about developing Strategic Meetings Management Programs (SMMP) in the session “SMMP Beyond Theory: Foundational Elements of Partnerships and Policy”. This hour-long session will demonstrate the value of policy and partnerships and describe the roles of internal and external partnerships and their fundamental importance to the overall success of a Corporate SMM program.
Brendan McLoughlin, chief marketing officer, Learner’s Digest International, will deliver a structured seminar, “Medical Societies:
Enduring Content Expands Reach and Generates Non-Dues Revenue,” which will explore a strategic planning approach to identify opportunities for generating additional value from meetings and provide a roadmap on how to implement them. Medical meeting case studies and group exercises will make the session creatively stimulating and immediately actionable.
“Delivering Meetings that Meet Your Organization’s Strategic Plan” will be a panel debate moderated by Gregg H. Talley, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO, Talley Management Group. In this session, the association CEOs will partner with their meeting professionals for a vibrant discussion of successes and challenges, focusing on the meeting planner’s advancement to strategic thinker and moving up the organizational ladder.
The PCMA Chesapeake Chapter will present “Creating a New Tradeshow Floor Experience” with Melinda Kendall, vice president, Freeman. This interactive session will explore new approaches to developing unique selling propositions for interactive, theme-based show floors and launching bold new expo plans – connecting exhibitors and attendees while generating new exhibitor and sponsorship revenue.
Additionally, PCMA has partnered with Wharton School of Business, one of the world’s leading business schools, to deliver a full day, invitation-only PCMA Executive Edge.
Jim Austin, a former senior executive at Baxter Healthcare, with expertise in business strategy and organizational change, will provide meeting professionals the strategic perspective and personal confidence in their decision-making, maximizing their capability of handling scenario planning, with deliberate contribution, impact and influence.
“These sessions will be driven by some of America’s most thought provoking speakers; designed by PCMA, around key topics and trends that are priorities for the industry now and in the future,” said Erica Keogan, global education content manager, IBTM Global Events Portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
