make sure they are raising money. MM: What kind of changes are you experiencing within the
industry?
Mell: Availability of venues within our booking window has changed greatly in the five years since I’ve been in the company and along with less availability comes higher rates, tougher timeframes on access to meeting space and less room in negotiation. I worked in hotels for nearly a decade before moving to corporate planning, so I understand all of those components and view it as my role to explain the needs of both sides either to my hotel contacts and/or my internal contacts.
Weyers: Technology, everything is immediate which is good since much of what we do is immediate via disasters, but it is also
hard to disconnect. I have to make a conscious effort to go offline and not constantly check messages, texts and emails.
MM: How do you stay connected with your attendees?
Mell: Most of our events have an event specific website that houses all logistical information for the event and online registra- tion. We have found it to be a great tool for our attendees to have constant access to what they need to know and it’s much easier for us to communicate out to them and gather all their needs for the event.
Weyers: Social Media. It’s a way for us to show people how they are helping and getting donations as well as helping people,
and showing the hope and help we offer. I’m also a firm believer in networking on and offline, there needs to be a good balance of both. We serve a 20 county area so Facebook allows us to reach people on a regular basis who we maybe only see once or twice a year, but we make a focused effort to meet and interact with people in person. I try to go out and meet with the different offices for their monthly meetings or if we’re unrolling any new programs. We just released a new national database system that offers an online vol- unteer system where volunteers can update their profiles, calendar events, update forms, etc. I’ve been going to the offices in person to get people comfortable with the system, as well as connect in person.
MM: How has technology changed your planning? Mell: Ha ha ha… I love my paper! I’m not sure I’ll ever break
myself of my notepad/pen, but I do see the value in using iPads and such for the planning tools and housing all my paperwork. I know there are some apps developed just for planners to make things so much easier. I’m open to it but definitely not ready to jump in the deep end yet!
Weyers: Social media, like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been a huge part of our largest annual fundraiser, Dancing
With Our Stars. This year we have Donald Driver (Season 14 win- ner of Dancing With the Stars) dancing with his wife Bettina. Each
WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM 37
dancer is in charge of raising money for and we support the promo- tion of their individual fundraising efforts. We also post pictures and videos of the local competitors taking their dance lessons. We have a regular blog and a separate blog for just this event. During the actual event we upload videos so friends and family can watch this sold-out event if they can’t be there.
Our organization is one of leading non-profits using technology tools to get the message out and showcase what we are doing, as well as finding out who needs help, as Hurricane Sandy demonstrated. Lines might be down, but people can generally still use their cell phones to post updates.
MM: If you had to switch to working in another meeting seg- ment (corporate, government, non-profit or independent) which
would you choose and why? Mell: While I enjoy working in the corporate segment of the
industry, I would really like to work for a non-profit at some point in my career as I have a strong sense of community and would like to feel “good in my bones” about benefiting others with my work.
Weyers: None because this is such a good fit for me! I get to
meet so many different people from all walks of life, from CEOs to NFL football players (Donald Driver). There’s such a variety of things I get to do and see, the impact of the services we’re providing people. I can’t see another job giving me that same type of satisfaction.
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