Reality Show? Nope, Just another Day in the Life of a Meeting Professional
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I’ve always said that an association meeting professional’s life would make an excellent reality show. Combine a 15-hour travel day with a no-show speaker; throw in a thunderstorm just as participants leave for their offsite dinner (to which they are walking) and a hotel where the chef just quit…you’ve got a hit, I promise!
During a recent event, in a city and hotel property to remain nameless, I had one of those days that the cameras can only dream of catching. Simply put, everything went wrong. No matter how much we had planned, checked and double-checked, there are some things you just can’t anticipate. Speakers changing plans at the last second, an understaffed hotel, a hailstorm and leaks to the building, the list went on. It was the perfect kind of drama for the viewer, so entertaining to watch things crumble…as long as you’re not in the middle of it.
That’s where we step in. The ultimate purpose of any meeting or conference is for participants to leave the event with new knowledge, skills, understanding or tools to make their life, work or family better. Association members shouldn’t have to wonder whether or not their next meal will be ready on time, or whether they’re coming into a meeting room where the debris hasn’t been cleared from the last person who sat there. Our job exists to field all the drama so members don’t have to.
So, although the days may be long and frustrating (and painful at times), knowing that our members are getting what they came for makes it all worth it. It was such a joy to hear participants at this most recent meeting come together to get through it all.
The team at AMR is ready for anything. Looking for an association management company that will walk through a natural disaster to make your event a success? Contact AMR Today!
Degrees and Credentials:
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP); Bachelor of Arts, Transylvania University
Association Management Professional Since:
2007
What inspires you about your work?
I have a passion for the world of professional associations and the essential support, resources and connections they provide for members. I am an adult learning and meeting design nerd –I am continually inspired by the chance to design face-to-face meetings and innovate content strategy with new techniques, technologies and ideas.
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