Sep 14, 2020
Valerie Bihet’s more than 20 years of experience in the management, design and production of special events began with stints at Disneyland Paris in her native France and for Club Med, a job that brought her to the United States. Bihet founded her own event agency, Vibe, in Miami in 2004. Since then Vibe has produced more than 1,100 events throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, East Asia and South America.  Usually producing 80-90 live events a year, Bihet and her team at Vibe have spent much of this year helping clients transition to virtual experiences. Here, Bihet discusses that… more
Sep 04, 2020
If you missed Weeks 1, 2 or 3, start here to learn why event marketers need a personal brand in the first place. Then, read this to discover how to build your brand foundation and go here to learn what should be on your website. Last week, Natasa Djukanovic briefly mentioned the value of being consistent and service-focused in your content strategy. Today, we’ll dive in deeper on the topic of creating content for your personal brand with Hannah Nieves, principal and founder of her eponymous New York-based consulting firm for marketing, branding and PR. A key point to keep in mind: When you… more
Sep 02, 2020
After nine years in the meetings industry — where she went from managing large-scale, consumer-focused festivals to consulting on corporate events to guiding a software company as it transitioned its in-person roadshows to virtual when the pandemic hit —  Cara Galloway has launched her own company to assist businesses with virtual event planning and execution. Based in Toronto, Events by Cara aims to help entrepreneurs deliver high-impact events, workshops and summits that build community and scale their business. Galloway talked with CEN to share more about the launch of her new business… more
Natasa Djukanovic
Aug 28, 2020
If you missed Weeks 1 or 2, start here to learn why event marketers need a personal brand in the first place, then read this to discover how to build your brand foundation. You’ve set the stage for crafting your personal brand on the Internet, and now it’s time to execute. It’s important to remember that creating a personal brand takes time and effort, so consider it a long-term solution that will help you to yield the results you’re after — rather than a quick fix for a lay-off or furlough situation. To create a successful personal brand online, you should be two things: consistent and… more
Aug 14, 2020
If you missed Week 1, start here to learn why event marketers need a personal brand in the first place.   Last week, we learned that a personal brand is not something you create; it’s something you already have—and it’s up to you to control the message. In the second week of our four-part series on personal branding, Corporate Event News talked with Jessica Zweig, a personal branding expert and CEO and founder of SimplyBe agency in Chicago, on how to build your brand foundation: i.e., how to define and cultivate the vision, mission and message behind your personal brand. Zweig, who founded… more
Aug 07, 2020
If you think cultivating a personal brand is self-centered and self-serving, think again. Amidst the ongoing global pandemic, there’s never been a more important time to present yourself boldly and accurately online. In this four-week series, Corporate Event News will feature four articles focused on personal branding: why it’s important, how to shape your existing assets into your brand, building the pillars of your brand foundation and creating a content strategy around your brand. Whether you’ve been furloughed or laid off during the pandemic and are searching for something new, are still… more
Jul 02, 2020
Derrick Johnson, director of event strategy at Talley Management Group, has been appointed to a newly created role of chief diversity officer at the New Jersey-based company. In this new dual position, he’s at the forefront of two of today’s top issues in the event industry: the increasing digital events due to COVID-19 and the push for more diversity and inclusion coming out of the Black Lives Matter protests. In addition to his work at TMG, Johnson is on the PCMA board and facilitates their Digital Event Strategist Certification Course. Most recently, he was named board chair for the LGBT… more
Jun 18, 2020
As a meeting planner for more than 15 years and co-founder of the Association for Women in Events (AWE), Carrie Abernathy understands the importance of diversity and inclusion in the events industry. She is currently the lead meeting planner for Altria Group Distribution Company and has served in a variety of leadership roles in the industry. Abernathy recently started a weekly half-hour “talkcast” with fellow planner and PCMA board member Derrick Johnson called “Events: From Black to White” — and launched a new website called A Woman With Drive. Here, she shares more about these projects… more
Jun 16, 2020
Since the coronavirus pandemic brought face-to-face events to a halt, larger event industry suppliers such as major convention centers, general service contractors and product manufacturers pivoting to parallel industries or side businesses have garnered much attention. While smaller, independent suppliers may not be capturing all the headlines, they, too, have been trying to switch gears, sometimes with mixed results. We talked to three independent contractors in the events industry to find out how they’re managing their businesses during this challenging time in our industry and world.… more
Jason Dunn
Jun 05, 2020
The unjust killing of Black American George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 by a police officer has sparked nationwide protests over civil injustice. Amid a time when the events industry was already struggling with great change, due to forced event cancellations and reorganization of many companies during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations are now also questioning their own approach to diversity. Few are more qualified to speak to this important topic than Jason Dunn, chairman of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals and an industry diversity leader as group vice president of… more
Partner Voices
  MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.  At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident more