ONSITE SuNDAY, Aug 3 The OFFICIAl award-winning daily publication of MPI’s 2014 World Education Congress @wec What are you most hoping to discover at WEC 2014? “I’ve been in the industry since 2009 and I just completed my CMP, and WEC offers great learning. I am interested in the topics of leadership without authority and fostering business relationships, and WEC has appealing presentations on both.” zhana edmonds, interactive Advertising bureau, new york city Welcome to MPI’s WEC 2014! On behalf of your global MPI team, international board of directors and volunteer leaders, I would like to welcome you to Minneapolis and to WEC 2014! We have designed WEC to help you discover your own strategic and professional potential. With exceptional keynote speakers and education sessions, you will learn new ways to transform and elevate your approach to planning meetings and events. In addition, WEC boasts numerous opportunities for you to network, establish new connections and enhance your professional acumen, which can lead to discovering new business partnerships. We encourage you to join us during both the opening night and closing night celebrations and all of the signature networking events in between. Thank you for joining us. I am very excited about this year’s conference and look forward to meeting and interacting with you—the most passionate and talented meeting and event community. Have fun! ”I plan an annual event for our association and I am always looking for a way to make it new and fresh. I knew that WEC would offer me a lot of new ideas that would help me do that.” Ralph Robinson, cMP, florida Apartment Association Paul Van Deventer President and CEO Meeting Professionals International Opening General Session: Economic Policy and the Meeting Industry “This is my first WEC and I came because I am very interested in diversity, networking and the ongoing big-picture developments in our industry. WEC offers content that addresses all those topics.” griselda zarate, Metropolitan Pier and exposition Authority, chicago Rising to the Occasion Join us for a luncheon and presentation (12 1:30 p.m., Ballroom A / Level 1) honoring the industry’s best, where MPI will present the Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence (RISE) Awards for achievements made by individuals, MPI communities and organizations. You can learn much more about the winners on Page 8, and even more in the full feature article in the September issue of The Meeting Professional. The luncheon is sponsored by Meet in Wisconsin and will include a special performance by The Steeles, a singing group of brothers and sisters from Gary, Ind., who began to develop their style and soul in Minneapolis. The opening general session (9 - 10 a.m., Main Auditorium / Level 1) is where your discovery starts and where the story of WEC 2014 will commence. The session will include a discussion between MPI President and CEO Paul Van Deventer and Dr. J.D. Foster, Ph.D., deputy chief economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about the economic status of Catch all the WEC buzz on Twitter at #wec14. the industry. Attendees will gain insight into policies that impact their business and profession now and in the years to come. Foster works with Dr. Martin A. Regalia, the chamber’s chief economist, exploring and explaining developments in the U.S. and global economies. Foster also participates in discussions around the country regarding policy and issues that affect meeting professionals. You’ll learn to speak the language of economics and make yourself heard in the forums where strategic decisions are being made. Create Healthy Meetings with Deepak Chopra We invite you to join us for the second can’t-miss general session (4:15 - 5:15 p.m., Main Auditorium / Level 1) of the day with keynote speaker Dr. Deepak Chopra. Chopra, The New York Times bestselling author of Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul, will introduce us to his concept of wellness real estate and discuss the importance of healthy indoor environments for the home, office and meeting spaces— where we all spend most of our time. Chopra will be signing copies of What Are You Hungry For? today, 2:30 - 3 p.m. in the MPI Bookstore on Level 2. A limited number of signed books will be available after the signing. Read our interview with Chopra on page 10 and visit the Devos Living Stay Well Room (101B) to see firsthand a meeting environment designed around the stay well principle. Download the MPI Global Events App to see all of WEC’s education sessions, events and activities! Catch WEC highlights in your hotel room with MPI TV (available in select conference hotels), brought to you by Convention News Television and sponsored by Tourism Toronto. The Big Deal: A Poker Tournament Worth Millions! The MPI Foundation welcomes you to an evening of high-stakes poker during The Big Deal, tonight, 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis. One lucky player will win a trip for two to Las Vegas and a seat valued at $10,000 to compete for millions in the 2015 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, courtesy of Caesars Entertainment. Experience a night of high-rolling fun as you try your luck at gaming tables, boogie to top 40 hits or cheer on your friends and colleagues competing in the WSOP. And there are two open tables remaining, with a suggested donation of only $200 per chair! Contact tfundaro@mpiweb.org if you’re interested in joining the excitement. Read our interview with Mark Hecquet, winner of The Big Deal at WEC 2013, on Page 14. The Big Deal is free for planners attending WEC, but you must register for an entry ticket. Avoid the lines by getting your ticket in the WEC registration area. (Everyone must have a ticket to enter.) The Big Deal is sponsored by: ONSITE Schedule at-a-Glance 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Registration Level 1 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. education Sessions Levels 1 and 2 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Wec for Me Level 2 1:45 - 4 p.m. campfire Sessions Mezzanine Level 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Visit orlando Planner breakfast (invitation only) Level 1 2 - 4 p.m. tech café Mezzanine Level 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. MarketSquare Levels 1 and 2 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. career & Learning central Mezzanine Level 8:30 - 9 a.m. Welcome coffee 2:30 - 3 p.m. break 2:30 - 3 p.m. book Signing: deepak chopra Bookstore / Level 2 3 - 4 p.m. education Sessions Levels 1 and 2 9 - 10 a.m. opening general Session Main Auditorium / Level 1 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. general Session – Keynote Speaker dr. deepak chopra Main Auditorium / Level 1 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. tech café Mezzanine Level 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Sunset education Sessions Level 2 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. education Sessions Levels 1 and 2 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Myrtle beach Area cVb’s Planner Reception (invitation only) Seasons Ballroom / Level 2 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. campfire Sessions Mezzanine Level 12 - 1:30 p.m. RiSe Awards Luncheon Ballroom A / Level 1 1:30 - 5 p.m. hosted buyer Planner check-in Level 1 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. MPi foundation big deal Players Reception (invitation only) Location 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. MPi foundation big deal (ticket required) Grand Ballroom / Hilton Minneapolis Sunday Campfire Sessions Campfires have long been a source of light and warmth, conduits of conversation and inspiration. Join us in Career & Learning Central, where you can discuss the state of the industry with subject matter experts in a series of 30-minute, interactive sessions—all while earning CIC clock hours. Here’s a look at today’s Campfires. Sunday Sessions Download the new MPI Global Event App—available for Android, iPhone and iPad devices—to learn much more about these sessions and to get the most out of your WEC experience, from managing your education schedule to finding locations for offsite events. Search your mobile device app store for “MPI Global Events.” 7:30 - 8:50 a.m. 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. Wec for Me Location: 200 B APex Savings time: templates that Work no Matter What time zone you’re in 200 E • .75 clock hours 9 - 10 a.m. opening general Session come on, get ‘Appy: trends, best Practices and the future of event Apps 102 A • .75 clock hours 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. Across the Pond and beyond: negotiating on a cultural Level SESSION REPEATS 205 D • 1.5 clock hours fostering a Mindset of discovery: An improvisational Workout with the brave new Workshop SESSION REPEATS 200 E • 1.5 clock hours generation next: bridging the generation gap in the Workplace and at Meetings Auditorium Room 1 • 1.5 clock hours Make the event gReAt! Menu Planning for Success 208 A • 1.5 clock hours Marriage counseling: Relationship building for Planners and Suppliers Working together on healthcare Meeting compliance 101 E • 1.5 clock hours Point/counterpoint: the Lawyers debate today’s hottest contract issues SESSION REPEATS Auditorium Room 3 • 1.5 clock hours RfP Reconstructed: A hands-on Approach to improving the Attractiveness of Meetings SESSION REPEATS 102 A • 1.5 clock hours Sales Skills for the independent Professional SESSION REPEATS 101 B • 1.5 clock hours creating a Revenue culture or Making Revenue your Second Language Auditorium Room 1 do i need a Music License for My event? 200 B • .75 clock hours MASteR cLASS: What Meeting and event Professionals need to Know About the u.S. economy, fiscal Policy and Market indicators for the u.S. and Abroad Auditorium Room 3 • .75 clock hours the Wisdom of the crowd: crowdsourcing and Sharing for events 101 B • 1.5 clock hours eco-focused: Mcc back of house Sustainability tour Meeting Point outside Ballroom A / Level 1 1 clock hour feed the Addiction: Video = euphoric Results 102 A • 1 clock hour global healthcare compliance: it’s a new day and a new Way with open Payments 101 E • 1 clock hour tech forum: discussing your challenges and Solutions 101 B • 1 clock hour What not to Sign: the best and Worst dressed contracts Auditorium Room 3 • 1 clock hour you don’t have to be a techie to Manage AV! 200 E • 1 clock hour 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Work-Life balance: how to be extraordinary 101 E • .75 clock hours oPening dAy Keynote: environment As An extension of our body Main Auditorium • .5 clock hours 1:45 - 4 p.m. 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. creating epic conferences: discovery in the Age of dynamism SESSION REPEATS 205 D • 1.75 clock hours danger: Women in Whiskey (Additional Registration Required) 208 A • 1 clock hour deep dive: Leading Without Authority and the Seven deadly Mistakes of Managing People SESSION REPEATS 205 A • 1.75 clock hours event contingency Planning SESSION REPEATS 200 E • 1 clock hour deep dive: Managing the Politics of business, Positively SESSION REPEATS 208 A • 1.75 clock hours Perfect office Workout SESSION REPEATS 205 A 3 - 4 p.m. Shortcuts to Success: A Lot of Little cool tech tools to Save you time and Money 200 B • 1.5 clock hours data discovery tools: how they impact the Meeting and event industry 200 B • 1 clock hour Sipping at the World café - idea exchange for Senior Planners 205 A • 1.5 clock hours demonstrating the Value of Meetings Auditorium Room 1 • 1 clock hour download the MPi global events App to see all of Wec’s education sessions. 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. 11:15 - 11:45 a.m. 3 - 3:30 p.m. future of Meetings: content in transformation .5 clock hours #hiring: finding a Job using Social Media digitally disoriented: how to Win business from today’s tech and Media Savvy Planner .5 clock hours 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. What is Augmented Reality, and how can it Revolutionize your event? .5 clock hours finding the next Steve Jobs .5 clock hours 1:45 - 2:15 p.m. getting the Most out of your conference centre experience .5 clock hours Avoid the top 5 RfP Pitfalls .5 clock hours finding the next Steve Jobs .5 clock hours future of Meetings: content in transformation .5 clock hours 3:30 - 4 p.m. conference centers are changing .5 clock hours World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 MPI ONSITE 3 ONSITE Mastering Healthcare Regulations Hooked On Planning For more news on HMCC, see Page 17. Danielle Adams exemplifies the energy and excitement those attending WEC for the first time bring to the table. BY ROWLAND STITELER WEC attendees tackle the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate for the first time. For a first-time attendee at WEC, Danielle Adams (MPI Arizona Sunbelt Chapter) is extremely organized, focused and energized about what she wants to experience and learn—and who she wants to meet, hear speaking and interact with during this year’s conference. That’s because Adams’ preparation for her first WEC was a very long process. Adams put herself on a trajectory into the meeting industry—before she knew there was such a thing as the meeting industry—when she became a travel agent for Carlson Wagonlit in Minneapolis in 1997. When her travel bookings became more and more meeting-related over the three years she spent as a travel agent, she started learning more about the industry, joined MPI and ultimately got a degree in meeting and hospitality management from Minnesota Business College. By then she was hooked on meeting planning as a lifelong career. But it’s the career she built for herself after moving to Arizona about five years ago that brought Adams to the decision that WEC 2014 was a must-attend event for her. Having affiliated with the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter shortly after moving to Arizona, she is now a member of the board of directors and is its director of IT (and was also the chapter’s member of the year for 20122013). She is also a meeting and incentive planner for KCA, an association management and meeting and event company in Chandler, Ariz. Adams says her trek back to her hometown of Minneapolis for WEC is motivated by the desire to further herself in virtually every aspect of her career. “I am very interested in the technology I’m neither doctor nor healthcare professional—I don’t even play one on TV. I am a journalist and have, for nearly a decade, assigned, edited and written about meeting and event trends for the healthcare sector. In order to learn more about the fluid-yetdemanding and potentially costly regulations of the Open Payments Act, I completed the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) program earlier this year. Yesterday, for the first time, the HMCC program was offered at the World Education Congress (WEC), taught by Pat Schaumann, CMP, CSEP, DMCP, HMCC (MPI St. Louis Area Chapter), director of professional development, healthcare sector for MPI. Fresh from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, I was keen to speak with the 20 HMCC attendees representing device, pharmaceutical and biotech fields. Why did they set aside four hours on a very busy conference Saturday? What did they hope to learn? About a year ago, DR Smith, CMP (MPI Chicago Area Chapter), an advisor for CVS Caremark, began seeing a growing interest in the subject of healthcare regulation and how it impacts the meeting and event industry. “We occasionally have healthcare clients and I want to learn about my responsibility as a planner,” he says, expecting to bring the knowledge he gains back to his team of eight planners. Sharon Marsh, CMP, CMM (MPI Northern California Chapter), meetings groups manager for Medtronic, has been well aware of the impending regulations and says her company began tracking and reporting processes years ago—easily in time to meet the 4 MPI ONSITE part of our industry, and how it enhances and builds upon the face-to-face meeting part,” Adams says. “And I am in the process of getting my CMP, so I felt this would be a wonderful way get more education credits. But when you get right down to the core reason I am attending WEC, it’s the same reason most of us join MPI—outstanding career advancement opportunities.” Adams is attending WEC on the Bobette Gorden Scholarship from her chapter. (Gorden, who is VP of INFLUENCE AT WORK, is a regular provider of scholarships to WEC for Arizona Sunbelt Chapter members.) Because she has a fascination for meetings technology and a love for face-to-face meetings, Adams is always looking to learn more about forums in which the two forms of interaction converge. “I want to keep myself on the cutting edge of meetings technology and be very well attuned to what is the latest in this constantly evolving field,” she says. “But also I am really attracted to the opportunity to meet people in my chosen industry, talk to them and learn from them.” Adams says that in the very first hours of the first day at WEC 2014, she knew this was going to be an experience in which her expectations would not exceed the reality of her experience. “This is my first WEC,” says Adams, “but it is certainly not going to be my last.” Rowland Stiteler is editor of The Meeting Professional. World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 BY Michael Pinchera government’s original deadline. “One of the benefits in working with a large company is that we have the compliance and regulatory teams,” she says. “But it’s good for us to know how others are doing things. It’s given us an opportunity to revise our processes.” Diving into the class, interaction and conversation is fluid. What happens when the Open Payments data goes live with physician names and the amount of currency each has received from medical companies? “Will the doctors attend fewer meetings?” Shaumann asks the class, to which multiple attendees simultaneously—almost instinctively—exclaim, “We’re already seeing this.” As the conversation grows, others vocally posit that they believe the institutions employing doctors will encourage healthcare provider involvement rather than limit attendance and speaking at professional meetings. Each nuance brought up during the HMCC program brings more blood to the surface as attendees share best practices and debate while Schaumann guides them through the labyrinthine—sometimes contradictory—wording and specifics of Open Payments and what meeting professionals must know about it. “I think you’re specialists in what you do because you have so many masters you have to report to,” she says. “Meeting planners are the most informed people that I’ve found regarding Open Payments.” Michael Pinchera is editor of The Meeting Professional. ONSITE • • • • Managing AV for Non-Techies Educator Kassia Dellabough talks audiovisual smarts for meeting professionals at her WEC session today. BY Michael Pinchera What is some of the most important AV knowledge that you’ve found meeting and event professionals often lack? Meeting and event planners need to be generalists—skilled across all aspects of events. Often, as planners we may gain expertise in areas that are most interesting to us. Many planners are great with people, 6 MPI ONSITE timelines and the big picture but may not have real hands-on understanding of audiovisual. It is not essential to be an AV whiz yourself but you must know when to hire help. Here are the keys to success: • Always have a plan B, C…even D. • Budget properly for hiring profession- World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 als, especially for complex events. Make sure presenters submit any media specifications prior to the event in order to ensure functionality. Communicate frequently and clearly. Make sure you understand all contracts before final signatures. Simple site visits can help you avoid many disasters. Without giving away too much from your session, can you share some strategies to avoid AV disasters? The questions below hint at the kinds of disasters planners need to be ready for. • What do you do when the electricity goes out? • Where are the extra batteries? • How many outlets are on separate circuits? • What is that buzzing sound? • Will a podium mic suffice? • No Internet connection, did the video get downloaded? • Skipped the site inspection only to find the site untenable? • You didn’t check references for your AV provider?! What challenges do changing AV budgets introduce? AV used to be a simple podium mic, an amplification system, an overhead projector and a few lights. AV aides in today’s meetings and events span across a huge array of media tools. The costs for these resources have skyrocketed, along with expectations to use them. There are specialized areas of lighting, sound, computing and more. As participants and presenters increase expectations of media integration with events and meetings, planners need to carefully assess the needs against the budget constraints and goals of the event. The best planners must be able to prioritize the requests/needs as well as schedule for efficiency to keep costs down. Don’t be lured by bells and whistles; be sure your AV requirements meet the expectations of the event/meeting and that the funding is allocated properly. What are some other AV challenges meeting professionals are facing? There are always new technologies, such as new media that presenters might want to use. Keeping current with updated resources and making sure you are clear as to the actual needs of your presenters, vendors and other participants is key. Kassia Dellabough’s Sessions at WEC TODAY: 10:15-11:45 a.m. “Make the Event GREAT! Menu Planning for Success” 3-4 p.m. “You Don’t Have to be a Techie to Manage AV!” ONSITE Highlighting the Best going on around you,” she says. Fleischer believes apps like hers represent the future of meetings. “The younger attendees all expect apps,” she says. “They don’t expect paper anymore.” By Elaine Pofeldt From hackathons to greening meetings, your peers are transforming the industry. Recipients of the 2014 Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence (RISE) Awards will be recognized during today’s presentation and luncheon, 12-1:30 p.m. Member of the Year Known for volunteer leadership with the MPI Orange County Chapter and international volunteer groups, Robyn Mietkiewicz, CMP, CMM, has been an active MPI member for more than 10 years. Currently director of global meeting management at Meeting Sites Resource, she started her 8 MPI ONSITE career after earning a degree in hospitality and tourism from California State University, Fullerton. As she worked through various board positions within the chapter, Mietkiewicz was sought after as a mentor to fellow committee members. “One of the most rewarding aspects of being a part of the meeting industry is the opportunity to not only make an impact on the industry through volunteerism and collaboration efforts, but also to mentor future leaders,” she says. She currently serves on the global Professional Development Advisory Council, and says her activities with MPI have prepared her to make the most of today’s environment. “It really opened the door to the global marketplace and all the amazing opportunities that were available,” she says. World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 Meeting Industry Leadership A high-profile leader in creating more sustainable meetings, Silke Fleischer (MPI Northern California Chapter) co-founded ATIV Software in 2010, launching the EventPilot mobile app to reduce waste at conferences and events. The app lets organizers share materials without the need for paper or a Wi-Fi connection. “I used to work for Adobe in the e-learning field,” she says. “I went to a lot of conferences as a speaker. One of the things that bugged me was the waste that was generated.” With more organizations concerned about delivering value to attendees, the app lets them get more out of the presentations, too, down to taking notes in the context of materials related to each session. “If you’re sitting in a session and five minutes into it realize ‘This isn’t the one I want to go to,’ you can see all the sessions Young Professional Achievement As a program coordinator for the California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns (CABBI), Jenn Wheaton (MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada Chapter) provides training to members on how to strategically use new marketing channels to reach younger audiences and has updated the organization’s website and increased its use of social media. After graduating from California State University in Sacramento in 2009, Wheaton, like many young college grads, found the recession had other plans for her. When the opportunity to work at the continued on page 12 ONSITE a company intent on creating healthy indoor environments; his latest book, What Are You Hungry For?, examines that which constitutes a healthy human diet. A healthy setting combined with a healthy diet could produce meeting space and designs that benefit the wellness of attendees and industry professionals. JEREMIAH SULLIVAN Well Space Create Healthy Meetings WEC keynote speaker Dr. Deepak Chopra shares his insight on how the understanding of biology can lead to superior wellbeing at events. BY Michael Pinchera For meeting pros, happy, clear-headed and engaged attendees are an indication of work done well. Wouldn’t you also appreciate a workplace that promises the same 10 MPI ONSITE positive results? Dr. Deepak Chopra, today’s opening keynote speaker, can help. He’s a proponent of and on the advisory board for Delos Living, World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 Hours before Chopra spoke with me he was reading a business article about the stress and anxiety experienced by workers who feel they’re in unhealthy environments. “If they had some semblance of serenity or wellbeing, it would make for better business practices,” he says. As a senior scientist at Gallup, he’s in a unique position to see wellness trends before anyone else. Specifically, he says, there’s a connection between career, community, financial, physical and social wellbeing. “Wellbeing, in these various ways, affects everything in a community, from hospital admissions to traffic accidents to crime rate and the quality of life and schools and offices,” he says. “They’re all linked. So as we begin to see this data emerging, I think you’ll see that the corporate world will be the first to recognize that it’s good for business.” When Chopra first heard about Delos Living Founder and CEO Paul Scialla’s interest in developing indoor environments that promote mental and physical health— wellness real estate—he was intrigued. “I personally have always thought of the environment as our extended body,” Chopra says. “I thought this was a very good opportunity not only to research sustainable environments but to see how we could ultimately create whole houses and hotels and rooms where your immediate environment would help what I call ‘biological sustainability.’” Guided by the seven categories which comprise its WELL Building Standard (air, comfort, fitness, light, mind, nourishment and water), Delos Living—with Chopra and advisors such as U.S. Green Building Council President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi and actor and sustainability advocate Leonardo DiCaprio—created a purified environment complete with advanced air and water filtration, sound-absorbing materials, electromagnetic-field shields and selfcleaning surfaces on commonly touched areas, among many other elements. “A room that’s healthy can be used to cultivate emotional wellbeing,” Chopra says. Delos Living—a for-profit company that Chopra says will give 51 percent of its profits to philanthropy—has subsequently created a first-of-its-kind certification to evaluate facilities. To qualify, a venue must submit applicable documentation and pass an onsite audit based on the WELL Building Standard. Some of the criteria to become a WELL-Certified building include water conservation and extensive purifica- tion (such as the removal of chlorine, traces of prescription medication and other contaminants), adequate natural light as well as blackout shades and circadian lighting controls for optimal management of lighting conditions, dedicated exercise and ergonomically designed spaces. The WELL Certification is already getting traction in the corporate world, Chopra says, and he’d like to see its incorporation in hotels and convention centers grow. But ultimately it’s something he wants to see in hospitals. “Hospitals are the most unhealthy environments in the world,” Chopra says. “As a physician, I’m very well aware of that. It’s noise pollution, air pollution and total disregard for diet—and nothing in the hospital nurtures wellbeing.” Is Everybody In? One foot firmly planted in the now-ness of integrated living and mind-body health, Chopra is also standing in tomorrow, viewing the future of wellbeing. And that’s a future much more expansive than most would imagine. “Emerging technologies are going to help us self-regulate our bodies, our gene activity and our brain activity,” he postulates. “I’m very fascinated by the new digital technologies that can measure everything from heart-rate variability to stress levels to brain-wave activity to sleep and immediately transfer that information to your handheld device and give you back information that allows you to actually be in charge of your biology.” Just as my time with Dr. Chopra is coming to an end and I’m starting to think, “Offthe-charts sustainability, new perceptions of human health and technological futurism, that’s wonderful, but isn’t he supposed to be deep?” he pulls it all together and hits me with the alpha and the omega, a twist which few living people can successfully perform. “What is consciousness,” he says rather than asks. “It’s important for us to understand the nature of consciousness and how it relates to not only our biology, but to everything that we call life.” Meet Healthier at WEC TODAY: 4:15-5:15 p.m. “Environment as an Extension of Our Body” Dr. Deepak Chopra will explore many of the topics presented in this story during this opening keynote session. MONDAY: 5:30-6:30 p.m. “Making Meetings Healthy with Delos Living” Presented by Paul Scialla, founder and CEO of Delos Living, and Dana Pillai, executive director of Delos Labs. ONSITE Highlighting the Best continued from page 8 association arose, she decided to give the hospitality industry a try. It turned out to be the best move she could ever make. She is currently staff liaison for two volunteer leadership groups within her association and has produced a related annual conference three times. She joined MPI at a colleague’s suggestion more than three years ago, increasing her chapter involvement gradually. In the past two years, she has served as chair of the Website Committee and Publications Committee, redesigning the chapter’s website, newsletter, member directory and more. Wheaton—who admits, “I’m kind of a nerd”—enjoys sharing new social media platforms and technologies with the chapter. She is currently working toward her CMP. Community Achievement in Knowledge and Ideas The MPI Chicago Area Chapter’s TechCon, a one-and-a-half-day event to bring technology education to the industry, helps suppliers and planners understand how technology can solve common challenges such as finding sales leads, event marketing and audiovisual requirements. The 2013 event included more than 300 meeting professionals, achieved an 85 percent satisfaction rating among attendees and exceeded its sponsorship goal by US$22,000. TechCon’s 2013 Hackathon, a 48-hour code fest, brought together computer programmers and software development experts to build new solutions for the meeting and event community. To publicize the event, the chapter used Google Hangouts to share pre-recorded video interviews with speakers and also presented keynote speaker Scott Stratten’s video in live and recorded versions. A key element of the marketing plan was a targeted Facebook campaign. Over two months, the ad that targeted event professionals received more than 290,000 impressions and resulted in more than 57 click-throughs to the registration page—at a cost of only $62. Community Achievement in Marketplace Excellence A crash course in sought-after topics such as contract negotiations and “how to write a résumé like a recruiter,” the professional development program Backpacks to Briefcases (B2B), put on by the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, has become a perennial favorite for young meeting professionals in the Denver area. Launched in 2007, the program aims to help students achieve personal and professional growth through education, mentorship, internship opportunities and networking. B2B also serves as a recruiting platform for local companies interested in tapping MPI’s talent pipeline. Students from five local colleges and universities participate. A key element of the program’s successful outreach was identifying one interested professor at each school to spread the word. Organizational Achievement The investment firm LPL Financial’s strategic use of multiple conferences to roll out its new corporate theme “Smarter, Simpler, More Personal.” demanded attention. To develop relevant content for focus13, the firm’s largest conference, LPL surveyed stakeholders: 1,000 sponsor attendees, 600 LPL Financial staff and 4,400 financial advisors and their staff. Executives got involved in the design of the conference to ensure alignment with business objectives and key messaging. Post-conference survey results from attendees gave the annual conference some of the highest ratings in its 25-year history, with an all-time-high score of 98 percent of attendees rating the conference good/very good/excellent, up from 93 percent in 2012. Read the complete stories of this year’s RISE Awards recipients in the September issue of The Meeting Professional. 12 MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 works for the National Association of Sports Commissions and has been involved with MPI for many years. I have worked in the CVB/ DMO world for the past 13 years. I am a member of the MPI Ohio Chapter and regularly attend their meetings and conferences. The Big Deal Winner’s Secrets Revealed! Mark Hecquet, CDME, executive director of the Butler County (Ohio) Visitors Bureau, won The Big Deal—the MPI Foundation’s high-stakes poker tournament and networking event presented by sponsors Caesars Entertainment, Hilton Worldwide and Encore Productions—at the 2013 World Education Congress (WEC) in Las Vegas. As champion (a guest of Encore Productions’ table), he earned a seat valued 14 MPI ONSITE at US$10,000 to play at the 2014 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas as well as airfare, hotel and ground transportation, courtesy of Caesars Entertainment. Tell us about your background in meetings and events. First of all I should mention I am married to a meeting planner, Beth Hecquet. She World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 How did you get started playing poker? I have played poker since I was relatively young, playing with friends, but that was fun rather than serious. However, I didn’t really start playing Texas Hold‘em until it got popular on television about seven or eight years ago. I probably play about once every two months with friends. What were your expectations heading into The Big Deal last year, and how were you able to win? Winning The Big Deal was a completely surreal experience. I still can’t believe I won and will be playing in the WSOP. I had absolutely no expectations when I sat down to play. It was an awesome event, with professional players walking around, videos of last year’s winner, all of the WEC attendees gathering around, cameras, large video screens, etc. With 240 players I was hoping to maybe win my table. Earlier in the day I had played in a poker tournament at the casino but I was the first one knocked out, so my expectations were really low. How was I able to win? I was lucky. There were four separate times throughout the night that I got extremely lucky. Twice I was all in and got dealt a pair. Twice I got lucky on the river. Even on the very last hand, I was losing until the last card was dealt. It is always better to be lucky than good! Do you plan on defending your title at The Big Deal 2014 in Minneapolis? Absolutely. It is an awesome event. The MPI Foundation welcomes you to an evening of high-stakes poker at The Big Deal, tonight from 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. One lucky tournament player will win a round-trip experience for two to Las Vegas and a seat valued at $10,000 to compete for millions in the 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event, courtesy of Caesars Entertainment. The Big Deal is sponsored by ONSITE Keeping Up With Healthcare Meeting Trends Pat Schaumann, CMP, CSEP, DMCP, director of MPI’s Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate program, has been a meeting and event professional for more than 25 years and has planned or managed many healthcare meetings within the U.S. and globally, ranging from incentive programs to product launches. We asked her about the development of the certificate program and how meeting professionals can stay on top of the latest trends in this rapidly evolving industry. (Anyone interested in attending a class can go to Saint Louis University’s program website: http://tinyurl. com/kprf9gw). Why and how was this certificate program developed? I saw, in 2009, that the new laws and regulations affecting the meeting industry were going to hit us in a big way, and we needed to be prepared. Our basic planning processes were about to change and the changes were going to be complex and misunderstood. I wrote a book, Breaking the Code to Healthcare Compliance, on the topic in 2010 to serve as a reference for meeting professionals. I was serving as chair of the Hospitality Management board of directors in Saint Louis University’s School for Professional Studies, and I spoke to the dean about the possibility of offering a class. That class developed into the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate program and was moved to the university’s Center for Workforce & Organizational Development. Who needs to earn the certificate, and what will the process teach them? Our original audience for the program included healthcare meeting professionals—planners from all segments of manufacturing: pharmaceutical, medical device, biologics, healthcare associations, allied health planners, third-party planners and suppliers. Our thinking changed when we saw that our students were much more diverse—physicians, attorneys, compliance directors, restaurant managers and others. The class is designed for working adults. Our program is currently one of the only accredited programs within our industry. The methodology of the university is to of- Congratulations to those who earned their HMCC certification yesterday at WEC. fer adults a program that is only four hours in length, no tests, no pass/fail, no prerequisites and no skill-specific experience. The experience is enriching as it offers all information regarding Open Payments and the global information necessary to oblige international mandates. We cover all aspects of category spend, violations, registration and reporting. I will add that the best learning experience in the class is the interaction among the attendees, including companies that compete with each other. They share challenges and experiences, which is an incredible benefit. Jackie Beaulieu, HCEA Corinne Bibbo, Phoenix Marketing Solutions Inc. Wendy Bloom, Aimia Jody Brandes, CMP, Genentech Marlissa Clarke, CMP, J Michael Media LLC Karen Farr-Aal, Aimia Sharon Hill, CTRC at UT Health Science Center Patricia Hosmer Sue Klick, Medtronic Inc. Colleen Lattery, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Jackie Mahoney, Coloplast Corp. Diana Marinos, Boston Scientific Sharon Marsh, Medtronic Inc. Barbara Mcleod, Matrix Meetings Inc. Tamara Olson, DJO Global D.R. Smith, CMP, CVS Caremark Danielle Restaino, Genentech Donna Walker, CMP, Hill-Rom Nancy Werner, CMP, Hill-Rom Debbie Zunt, CMP, Cleveland Convention Center HEALTHCARE SESIONS at WEC TODAY: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. “Environment as an Extension of Our Body” Dr. Deepak Chopra will explore “wellness real estate” and holistic living during this keynote session. MONDAY: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. “Making Meetings Healthy with Delos Living” Presented by Paul Scialla, founder and CEO of Delos Living, and Dana Pillai, executive director of Delos Labs. World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 MPI ONSITE 17 ONSITE Need a Professional Headshot? thanks to orange Photography, this year’s official conference photographers. be sure to stop by to have your free professional headshot taken on Level 2 and the Mezzanine Level. Photographers will be available: Sunday: 7:30 - 8:45 a.m., 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday: 10:15 - 11 a.m. 12:15 - 2 p.m. Tuesday: 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. Minneapolis Enhances Relationship Building The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) will spend nearly $14.5 million on facility improvements to enhance the “relationship building” for clients and to remain competitive by being more efficient, flexible and better able to respond to the needs of the customers. The enhancements—including the following—will take place over a two-year period while the MCC prepares for its busiest event schedule in a decade. • The Visitor Information Center is being completely renovated and moved closer to the facility’s main entrance on Second Avenue. • A new mezzanine level is being added to increase flexible event space. • New, energy-efficient escalators for the lobbies of Halls C, D, and E will be added. • Color-changing LED lights for the exhib it hall interior domes will provide more options for enhancing the exhibit hall décor. • The MCC is working with Corporate Art Force to provide art from local artists that will be displayed on a six-month rotation. Win fabulous Prizes with the Not-So-Silent Auction This year’s MPI Foundation auction is completely digital, so visit the MPI Global Event App or the WEC page on www.mpiweb. org for your chance to win great prizes. An auction finale will take place at MarketSquare (First floor) on Monday, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Staff members will be on hand to answer questions or provide digital devices for placing bids. Here’s a sampling of the more than 30 excursion packages and items up for bid. • Three-night stay in a standard or garden view room at one of four Universal Orlando Resort onsite hotels. • Six-day, six-night accommodation for two that includes three delicious meals per day and two game viewing drives per day by professional game rangers in open game viewing vehicles on Zulu Nyala’s 6,000-acre Private Game Reserve. • Complimentary two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, New Mexico. The resort is set on more than 500 acres of protected land along the Rio Grande, with spectacular views of the Sandia Mountains, the Bosque and ancient mesas. “We are using this art to highlight the creative community of Minneapolis to our hundreds of thousands of visitors each year,” says Jeff Johnson, MCC executive director. “And doing so will also add some texture and interest to our 1.6 million square feet of space.” Read a behind-the-scenes account about MCC by Editor in Chief Rich Luna at www. mpiweb.org/blog. the iMex-MPi-Mci future Leaders forum provides an opportunity for networking and education that many young meeting professionals take advantage of each year at Wec. the 2014 edition included roundtable session with experts from different industry segments and a discussion about changing your world with social media. WEC for Me yesterday, volunteers gathered at the chapter Leaders forum to discuss a variety of important topics critical for chapter success, including on-boarding, communication, finance, governance and operations. 18 MPI ONSITE World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 Whether you are new to MPI, a first-time WEC attendee or a veteran of many years, think of today’s WEC for Me (7:30 - 8:50 a.m., 200 B / Level 2) as “must attend” if you’re eager to get the most out of your time at the event—especially one as rich in content and diverse in activities as WEC. A forum this large can be overwhelming, but maximizing your ROI on site at WEC is a two-step proposition: being aware of the opportunities that surround you and taking advantage of them in a way that is unique to your needs and wants. With that proposition in mind, the team of planners behind WEC is hosting this session to help you maximize the value of attendance. It’s an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the innovative ways you can learn at the event and network with your colleagues in the industry, both inside and outside of the classroom. We will walk you through this year’s offerings in an interactive and personalized manner that will help you choose the areas of most value and interest to you. MPI Northern California Chapter MPI Potomac Chapter MPI Washington State Chapter Chapters Drive Industry Growth through Giving Congratulations to the MPI chapters that made the highest contributions to the MPI Foundation in fiscal year 2013-2014. These contributions are critical for fueling the growth and advancement of MPI members through professional development and career opportunities via grants and scholarships. MPI foundation Chairman’s Challenge 5K Run MPI Foundation Chairman Gus Vonderheide has defined this year’s theme as “challenge”—to promote the importance of professional development, healthy lifestyles, strong chapters and a robust meeting industry. As part of this challenge, we’re asking every MPI chapter to host or participate in a non-cause-related 5K run on a Saturday in March 2015. All funds raised will go towards the MPI Foundation Education Endowment, and our goal is for all funds to go back to the chapters for educational programming. If your chapter hosts its own race the fundraising program for each member will be powered by Lanyon technology. It will give each participating member a unique webpage for promotion of the 5K run and a fundraising goal, as well as a payment processing location. The technology will also feature a Chairman’s Challenge 5K Run webpage where you can track each chapter’s progress. The three top chapters based on fundraising will each receive a prize package. The Chairman’s Challenge 5K Run will be introduced in detail at this year’s Chapter Business Summit in September. We will provide a toolkit to each chapter that supports the hosting of a 5K, the Lanyon technology instructions and an executive summary of the event. Meet, Greet and Mingle at MarketSquare The MarketSquare at WEC is an area where planner attendees can meet, greet and mingle with suppliers and other WEC attendees between sessions and during scheduled breaks. Make sure to scan QR codes located in each MarketSquare using the WEC mobile app and earn points towards the WEC game. Located on two floors of the Minneapolis Convention Center, MarketSquare will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. New this year, the all-attendee lunch will take place on Monday (12:15 - 2 p.m.) in and around the MarketSquare area. Food and beverage stations and seating is located throughout levels one and two. Grab a bag and select your own custom lunch from choices of sandwiches, salads and treats, including two recipes from the IMEX recipe book. There is something for everyone, and you will have plenty of time to network! Lunch sponsored by IMEX Group. Breakfast in Bed by Tourisme Montréal A special Breakfast in Bed event on Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. will require that you make a stop to Montréal’s booth before Tuesday to sign up! find Your Eureka Moments! Play the Discovery Game, brought to you by San Francisco Travel, and explore the event in a whole new manner! Use the game app to discover your own Eureka moments at WEC 2014 and take home new facts, ideas and experiences. World Education Congress 2014 • Sunday, August 3 MPI ONSITE 19