Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 1, Wednesday, June 27

1:00-1:30 PM
Welcome and Introductions

1:30-2:30
The EVENTual Impact
Details are important, but underestimating the need for an emotional connection to sustain long-term positive results would short circuit any well-planned event. What will your attendees actually do as a result of an event long after the confetti is swept away? Aspiring for a positive ROI, we'll explore the critical emotive components to be built into any event architecture. And an inspiring video won't suffice. Just one peek behind the curtain and you'll see that meaningful and genuine human interaction are a must within your event. In this session, we'll set the stage and leave it to you to plug in the power.

2:45-3:45
New Trends and Tools in Event Planning
50, 500, 5,000—any of these numbers could easily apply to your event attendee list, as well as your budget. Regardless of size and scope, remaining current on event industry trends and techniques that come with appropriate creative appeal is a necessary part of successful event planning. Examine creative and innovative concepts that can be applied across various types of events.

4:00-5:00
Reinvigorating Traditional and Annual Events
Even the best encore events can grow stale, especially for the event planner. Let's embrace a facelift that attracts the right kind of attention. Core institution values and traditions can dictate many parameters for any event but we'll cover varied ways to desconstruct a traditonal event, repackage it and perhaps remarket it in such a way that will have a tangible impact on attendance, experience and subsequent positive returns for your institution.  

5:00-5:30
Don't Leave it On the Table
Wrap-up and Q&A for the day 

5:30-6:30
Networking Reception
Cash Bar

6:30
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own

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Day 2, Thursday, June 28

8:00-9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast/Roundtables

9:00-10:00
From Tablets to Twitter
You and your guests are equipped with all sorts of gadgets and social media applications that influence where we focus our time and perhaps many of our decisions. Special events may incorporate these tools, spectacular events make it a necessity. Meant to be an opening act for a breakout session later in the day, we'll look at best practices that employ proven social media and mobile-friendly applications that use a variety of tablet-based devices. No Angry Birds allowed in this session.  

10:15-11:15
Elective Sessions (choose one)

• Major Campaign Event Preparations
  Ideal for attendees gearing up for a new campaign, this session will focus on relevant issues and challenges surrounding major event preparations and plans with specific campaign goals in mind.  

• Event Basics 101
  Designed for the new professional or professionals who have interest in a refresher of the do's and don'ts regarding successful event planning. Since we learn primarily from our mistakes, this session will be facilitated from a "lessons learned" perspective.

• Tablets to Twitter
  A conversation that keeps trending.

11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Meaningful Marketing that Matters
Great events that attract a far smaller audience than expected can often be linked to a marketing plan that was either limited, neglected or got compromised due to other pressing priorities. Learn how to develop a multilayered and integrated communication strategy alongside effective promotion planning.

12:30-1:30 PM
Lunch on your own

2:00-3:30
Special Events Showcase
Based on 2nd tier data from the preconference survey, each faculty will address their professional experiences, challenges and successful solutions deployed related to the pre-determined topics. A facilitated audience analysis session will follow shortly after the break.

3:45-4:45
Showcase Analysis
In a constructive manner, we'll facilitate a vigorous question and answer session as a continuation of the ShowCase presentations from faculty. No trophies will be awarded; the real prize will be the toolkit you will take with you from this exercise of amassing collective feedback from your fellow attendees.

4:45-5:15
 Don't Leave it On the Table
Wrap-up and Q&A for the day

5:15
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own

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Day 3, Friday, June 29

8:00-9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast

9:00-10:00
Measurement and Metrics
Event evaluations and benchmark data are two of the most common measurement tools used. Explore how to ensure your events maintain a sense of long-term relevance by connecting your events to institutional goals and objectives along with a collaborative ROI strategy. Review a variety of mechanisms for successful measurement and metric development.

10:15-11:15
You Build it, You Will Come
Positive and constructive audience participation can enhance any special event.  From homework submissions, faculty will select five groups to present their case study analysis. Each group, to be announced at the start of the day, will be given 15 minutes of fame to share their great work.

11:30 AM-12:30 PM
The EVENTual Impact
We set the stage, provided a platform for rehearsing several angles of event planning and execution, and we've also measured and evaluated. But will you leave all the event impact assessment to an evaluation instrument? We hope not. Intentional, genuine and consistent follow-up with your guests will solidify their permanent relationship with you, your department and your institution. In addition to proper event measurements, we'll look at building a strong mechanism of relationship management within your post-event work that will most likely benefit your institution far past the conclusion of your event.    

12:30-1:00 PM
 Don't Leave it On the Table
Wrap-up and Q&A for the day  

1:00
Conference Adjourns

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