Sizing things up

Our latest epanel attempts to establish a benchmark for an appropriate meetings staff size in relation to events planned.

By Michelle Russell

of meetings held and total budget? Unfortunately, we answered, we hadn’t conducted or seen any

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surveys on appropriate staff size in relation to events planned, and we thought — given the huge differences between organizations and their meetings — it would be difficult to arrive at a uniform ratio. Eva was undeterred. “I will be very interested in the results if you do try to uncover some kind of benchmark between number of events/budget and staff size,” she responded. “Although I recognize the complexity of the scope, I do believe there is a need to establish some kind of metric so it can be used to justify and present the case for increased staffing needs.” So, Eva — and all the other meeting professionals trying to get

their arms around what it takes to manage a growing workload — this survey is for you.

› PCMA.ORG SEPTEMBER 2012 PCMA CONVENE 81

few months ago, Eva Sitek — director of meetings for the Higher Learning Commission — asked Convene: Had we done any research on meetings staff size versus the number

This online survey was conducted in late June among Convene readers and PCMA members. Of the 244 respondents, 53 percent identified themselves as association meeting planners; 23 percent said they were corporate meeting planners; 19 percent were independent/third-party planners; and 5 percent said they worked for nonprofit/education organizations.

This Convene epanel was conducted by Lewis&Clark, lewisclarkinc.com, and sponsored by