CONTENTS August 2012 Volume 27, Issue 8 79 Grand Designs

C2-MTL was planned with the support of three levels of government and celebrity back- ers, while The 3% Conference resulted from a spur-of-the-

moment announcement by someone with no event-planning experience. But both meetings — launched this year — cater to audiences with creative careers, and as such are committed to imaginatively designed programs. Michelle Russell

85 BOOKINGS The Unplanned Life

In her new memoir, I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag, event planner Jennifer Gilbert writes about what tragedy has taught her about control and letting

go — at work and at home. Barbara Palmer

Coming ashore at SOFIC, p. 22

Departments

17 PLENARY What does Obamacare mean for medical meetings? Pre Con: American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Post Con: American Association of Exporters and Importers. Plus: hostage rescue at SOFIC; Bigfoot Expo; Ping He, Global Meetings Executive of the Year; Convene On Site.

34 GIVING BACK

Influencing the Norm Katie Kervin

Special Sections

92 CHICAGO MEANS BUSINESS

The Second City is second to none Molly Brennan

98 PCMA PARTNERS Working together to create meetings education

98 Active Network Mexico Tourism Board

99 Freeman Technology Suite Dallas Katie Kervin

35 FORWARD THINKING Amp Up Your Conference App Dave Lutz, CMP

36 ONLINE ‘A Real-Time Megaphone’ Sarah Beauchamp

38 INNOVATIVE MEETINGS The Meeting Within the Meeting Barbara Palmer

42 MEETING MANAGEMENT: SPONSORSHIP Utilitarian Partners Michelle Russell

104 OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED The Camel Checks In Joe Goldblatt, FRSA

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

7 Comments 8 Behind the Scenes 10 To the Point 12 Planner’s Notebook 14 PCMA Today 102 Advertiser Index

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