Event Management Tips * Preparing Your Organization and Team for 2014

It's been a hectic year for me, both personally and professionally.  After a long Summer, spent mostly in the house while on a 3 month furlough, I'm now employed with a wonderful organization dedicated to connecting and educating culinary professionals around the world! 

I've been gleefully swamped with the planning of a large annual conference but have my 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. time block free to think about how best to prepare for 2014.  Because I LOVE to share my thoughts with friends and followers, here are some ideas to get your planning and organization juices flowing!

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1. Ensure you have a Risk Management Plan in place! If you do already, it's time to review and update if necessary. --> http://www.ises.com/docs/ises-communications/ises-risk-management-article_final.pdf?sfvrsn=0


2. Is your organization ready to invest in a Strategic Meetings Management Program? It will save your company money in the long run.  Make a case, get leadership buy-in, and slowly begin implementing processes across the organization. --> http://www.corbinball.com/assets/SMMPWhitePaper.pdf

3. Revisit team mission, structure, goals and roles. Has leadership charged your meetings and/or events team with a mission to increase buzz by creating a new social media or virtual events strategy? Is there a team member ready to manage larger events on their own? Now is the time to take inventory and make changes. The most successful organizations evolve and don't allow their structures to remain stagnant.

 
4. Get organized, save money! Prepare for the upcoming year by doing some much needed Fall/Winter cleaning. Archive old binders, clean out files, back up and secure data, take inventory and replenish supplies. If you're tired of spending ridiculous amounts of money at hotels for small items such as easels and power strips, budget for and purchase them in bulk. Now is the time to take advantage of holiday sales at places like Staples and Office Depot. (Use those corporate account discounts!!)

5.  Schedule a vacation immediately because in a month or two, you'll need it :)  For many event planners and managers, the start of 2014 signals all work and no play...so for now, enjoy any free moments, treasure the holidays, and store up that energy for a new year!

My Meeting Planning Bucket List

I'm in my 30s (somewhere in between 30 and 39) and up until now haven't really thought about what I'm going to do next in my career.  Gone are the days where remaining at one company and in one career field through retirement are the norm.  

Meetings and events are evolving and it's becoming even harder to predict what this industry will look like in the next 10 years.  While I'd love to stick around for another 30 years as a planner I'm not naïve enough to think I have that luxury. 

 


So, as I sit here pondering my 3-5 year career plan, I've decided to make a short Meeting Planner Bucket List.  These are things I want to do over the next few years before I move on to my next career challenge!

1.  Obtain my Certification in Meetings Management certificate.

2.  Plan an event involving the President of the United States.

3.  Find the perfect temperature in a meeting room that works for ALL attendees throughout the duration of the event.  This one is least likely to occur.

4.  Study and receive a Digital Event Strategist (DES) certification.

5.  Take a train instead of a plane to a cross country meeting.

6.  Coordinate a meeting in Paris, France. 

7.  Pitch a reality show series about meeting professionals.

8.  Have fresh flowers and cookies delivered to my room each day while I'm on travel...just because. 

9.  Speak at a conference.

10.  Buy and wear something from Tiffany & Co. 

11.  Eat a meal prepared by a famous chef.

12.  Pack more flats, Motrin, bandages and Icy Hot.

13.  Negotiate a "Laugh and Smile" clause in the contract.  "Hotel and Group representatives agree to share mutual laughter and smiles at least twice per day over the course of the meeting."

14.  See my former manager and mentor, Stacy P. Andres, one more time.  She served as Director of Education & Meetings where I started my planning career.  I'd tell her how much she influenced me, looked up to her, love and miss her.  I will NEVER forget... http://www.amcpmeetings.org/stacy/. 

What's on your career bucket list?  Tweet me at @meeting_pro or add your comments below!

The Government Meeting Hangover: Recap and Remedies for the Government Meeting Professional

What Happens in Vegas...

First it was the OIG report on a $16 muffin the media so lovingly dubbed "MuffinGate" in 2011 . Then came the tax-payer funded GSA "Vegas Vacation" conference debacle unveiled in 2012, 2 years after the actual conference had taken place.  Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice also came under fire for spending more than $600,000 for conferences held mostly in DC and CA.  Do you remember this video? 

 

Fast forward to 2013.  Federal agencies beyond GSA are slashing funding for training, conferences, food and beverage and travel.  Hotels, conference centers, and travel providers that rely on government business are losing revenue, government employees are missing out on training opportunities, and communities of practice are losing valuable face to face time and interaction with peers and decision makers.

According to an article in the Washington Post, agencies are reducing costs by trying to eliminate meetings, conferences and the need to travel.  "In August [2012], the GSA said it had canceled 47 conferences and cut $11 million in related spending since April. The Labor Department is in the process of eliminating 100 conferences, and the State Department has announced that it will increasingly hold meetings in government facilities instead of hotels".

In addition to reducing funding for meetings and travel, an online article in FCW states that GSA is trying to implement an enterprise-wide Meetings Management Program (MMP).  "GSA’s idea—the Meetings Management Program - would offer a disciplined, enterprise-wide approach to managing conferences and events, including the activities, processes, suppliers and data regarding the meetings."  Agencies are also following suit and drafting official guidelines that govern the planning of meetings and events. It sounds a lot like what corporations have been doing for years but a bit ironic given one of the reasons behind the renewed scrutiny on conference/travel waste and abuse stems from GSA's very own mishandling of their conferences and events. It also begs the question, how will implementing such a large program affect government and contract planners in the future?

 

 

The Future of the Government Meeting Professional

There has been open chatter among members in LinkedIn groups like the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) and Society of Government Travel Professionals (SGTP).  Outside of online discussion, many individual planners and event management business owners are sharing their thoughts and concerns face to face at networking events, offline in small groups, or at community Round Table discussions.  Government agencies are handing out employee furlough notices while government contractors have laid off staff due to contract cancellations and delays.  Small businesses are suffering and the economy is stalling as a result.

Government and contract meeting planners are worried about their jobs.  One SGMP National Capital Chapter (NATCAP) LinkedIn group member said, "I'm feeling the effects at my company.  I had to take another position just to keep full time and not lose my benefits...This inability of our government to do its job is only causing the rest of the country to have to deal with the consequences."  

Professional and trade associations such as U.S. Travel Association (USTA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Convention Industry Council (CIC), The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) have displayed a strong show of support publicly through campaigns and letters designed to bring awareness to the economic significance of both the meetings and travel industries. 

 

While these actions and campaigns have indeed captured widespread attention and created awareness, it does not offer solace to the government meeting professionals who have already lost their jobs or have been forced to transition into another career field to stay employed.  We are part of an industry that was already struggling to find a collective voice in an economy not yet fully recovered.  You can imagine the uncertainty facing those planners who support government agencies.  As a contract planner currently waiting to support a task order that has been delayed, I can attest firsthand to the difficulties of trying to anticipate the federal government's next move.  Agencies were notorious for red tape, delays and cancellations even before it became sequestrationally fashionable. Yes, that's a word I just created, no need to Google it! 

 

I'm not arguing against cutting costs by any means but I do take issue with the reactive and blanket approach to breaking "news" stories as it relates to such large industries. It's not just the government and administration's knee jerk reaction, it's federal and contract employees' lack of concern about the positions they hold and public perception.  These type of actions may also stem from a lack of professional development and training. 

 

I learned about the "Washington Post Test" early in my Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) training course.  When planning a government meeting, don't do anything that will land you on the front page of the Washington Post.  Simple. If by chance you did forget what you learned, well, just use common sense. 

 

By now you know where we've been, how we got here and what we are currently facing, but where do government meeting professionals go from here?  I don't know all of the answers but I can offer some advice about how to stay agile and ready for whatever comes next.  

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Stay CONNECTED

Both literally and figuratively.  Stay plugged into professional networks and online groups and attend events if budgets allow (or pay out of pocket, it's worth it!).  Start looking into virtual meeting and event training and certifications.  Agencies are starting to invest in virtual collaboration tools to host training sessions and conferences remotely.  They will need someone versed in the latest trends!

http://www.virtualedgeinstitute.com/ 

 

Stay RELEVANT with Training

Society of Government Meeting Professionals has beefed up their professional development and training offerings since hiring Ms. Garland Preddy as the Education & Training Director.  Take advantage of these extremely low cost opportunities when you can.  

Stay in the Know and Let Your Voice Be Heard

One person can make a difference.  Read about, write about it, make a stink about it! Write your representatives and professional associations, support initiatives already in progress, or start your own campaign.  Meeting planning is indeed a true profession.  Planning a meeting isn't rocket science; but planning a meeting for a group of rocket scientists requires knowing how to navigate federal government regulations and agency guidelines.

Share your thoughts on the future of government meetings and events below or follow me on Twitter @Meeting_Pro!

The Meeting and Event Industry Sizzle in '13: What's Hot and What's Not

Some of the biggest changes in the industry right now have happened due to increased scrutiny of events and travel.  There has been a renewed focus on strategic meetings management, cost effectiveness and ROI. 

Many organizations are hosting meetings and events closer to where the bulk of attendees reside to cut down on travel costs,  shortening the duration of the event and/or cutting out face to face events all together and opting for the virtual alternative. The current environment has created a new landscape.  It's back to basics with sustainability and "back to the future" with technology.

Here's a quick list of what's hot and what's not in the event and meeting world right now.  Of course things are ever changing and what may be considered in today could be out tomorrow. 

What would you add to this list? 
Add your ideas in the comments section below!

 

Registration and On-Site Management

What’s Hot	What’s Not
Attendee check in with kiosks, mobile apps and QR codes	Traditional, manual attendee check in using Microsoft Excel at a stationary registration desk
Eco-friendly thumb drives containing all event/meeting conference information	Tote bags containing printed event/meeting materials
Using document readers/editors, note taking apps and cloud-based storage like Drop Box to access and manipulate meeting files	Carrying meeting binders and printed files onsite
Coverless eco-friendly name badges with a recyclable/reusable clip	Traditional name badges, plastic holders and lanyards
Digital signage	Printed signage

 

Food & Beverage

What’s Hot	What’s Not
Creative twists on every day food – crab and avocado  shooters, maple bacon on a stick,  fruit salad served in an edible bowl, make your own trail mix, veggies cut like fries and served in a paper cone	Chicken satay, mini crab cakes, crudite, granola bars and cheese platters
Locally sourced and sustainable (so local that some hotels are sourcing foods from their very own gardens!) and more gluten-free options	Imported food, one size fits all approach
Food trucks	Off site dinners at restaurants
Hydration stations and naturally infused water in pitchers	Bottled water

 

Attendee Networking and Engagement

What’s Hot	What’s Not
Using gamification to turn ordinary traffic building activities into an interactive, engaging and fun competition	Using printed forms for “scavenger hunt” type games
Integrated and continuous attendee networking with social media apps for your event/meeting	Specific times set aside for attendee networking and physical attendee message/communication boards

 
Destinations and Venues

What’s Hot	What’s Not
Pedestrian friendly cities with lots of options for eco-friendly transportation (pedestrian pathways, bike lanes, electric pedicabs, hybrid taxis)	Simply put destinations that aren’t!
“Green Venues” that have adopted environmentally  responsible practices: i.e. LEED certified, designated hybrid parking spaces, solar panels, recycling and compost program in place	Venues without a sense of environmental responsibility; no recycling program, energy efficient lighting, etc.
Complete meeting package options, customizable to fit budgets	A la carte pricing
Using social media and web based event/meeting management software to source meetings	Traditional RFP process
Virtual site inspections	Traditional in person site inspections

 
Technology

What’s Hot	What’s Not
Charging station for attendee tables, smart phones and laptops	Cyber Café with provided laptops
Virtual whiteboards	Traditional whiteboards
Free Wi-Fi in meeting space	Paying for Wi-Fi per connection
Hybrid events/meetings	Face to face meetings without incorporating some type of virtual component
Presence on social media platforms such as Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, and Vine	No presence on social media platforms
Telepresence and immersive experiences	Traditional video conference
And for fun…Google Glass	Ray-Ban

Entry-Mid Level Planner Career Series: Landing Your 1st Event Industry Job - How to Gain Experience, Get Noticed, and Get to Work!

 

I recently participated as a presenter on a career panel at the George Washington University (GWU) School of Business for students in the Master of Tourism Administration program.  The session was hosted by Meeting Professionals International's Potomac Chapter (PMPI) Student Relations committee.   

During the discussion, we received a question from a student who asked how it was possible to get a job as an event professional if they didn't have the required experience or certifications posted in the job description.  This student was a mother, full time employee, and a graduate student.  She had more than 15 years of professional experience in another field yet met road blocks for even entry level positions due to listed requirements.  It was a timely and relevant question but certainly not a new issue facing recent graduates or experienced professionals making the transition into a different field; and it isn't specific to the event industry. 

For years employers have required a certain level of experience, skills and education for positions that were seemingly junior or entry level.  Let's face it, employers will always have a wish list and with the economy in such a fragile state, can have their choice of candidates that possess all if not more of what they state the job "requires".  That doesn't mean that if you don't meet each of the requirements you can't apply.  The first hurdle you need to clear is a mental one...do not limit yourself!  There are ways to get noticed even if you don't have each of the bulleted qualifications. 

These are some steps you can take that will help you get your foot in the door when applying for your first event planning role as a student or experienced professional. 

 

1.  Join a professional association and get involved!

Join - Student memberships are usually less than $100 and professionals looking to make the move into the event world should first ask their current employer if they will cover the cost and if not, reach out to membership departments and ask about  scholarships and how to qualify for reduced tuition. 

 

Attend events and participate on a committee - By attending education and networking events and volunteering on committees, it shows prospective employers that you've made a commitment to the industry, willing to learn, and can collaborate with others. The more involved you get, the more comfortable you will feel eventually moving into a leadership role.

 

Here are a few of the associations geared towards meeting and event professionals on the planning side.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP)
International Special Events Society (ISES)
Event Planners Association (EPA)
National Association of Wedding Professionals (NAWP)
American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP)
National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)


2.  Seek Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

According to an article in Forbes magazine, volunteering is the perfect way to get your foot in the door of an industry or field in which you may lack significant experience. Volunteering also differentiates you from other candidates and can push your resume to the top of the pile.  Help manage registration activities at a charitable fundraiser, staff the exhibit hall at a county fair, promote and market local sporting events, or organize the logistics for a community arts festival.  Volunteering IS experience! 

You can find volunteer opportunities here:
Idealist
Volunteer Match
DC Metro/Northern VA - Volunteer Fairfax


3.  Not certified yet? Fake it until you make it!
The job posting requires a certification.  Problem is, you're still working toward it.  Now don't take this as me advocating lying about having a certification when you don't.  Even if you don't yet have enough points to sit for a certification exam, there are in-person and online prep courses that you can take just for your benefit and knowledge.  Add this training to the professional development area on your resume.  When an employer notices you've invested the time to take a prep course, it shows you are serious and you may be considered a much stronger candidate because of it.  Also, many courses count as credits towards your application getting you one step closer to being eligible to sit for an exam.

CMP Online Prep Course through PCMA
CMP Online and In Person Course through MPI chapters/online
CSEP Prep and Exam Information
CPCE Exam Information
American Association of Certified Wedding Planners Training

Key: 
CMP - Certified Meeting Professional
CSEP - Certified Special Events Professional
CPCE - Certified Professional Catering Executive


4.  Use Social Media Marketing to Brand Yourself

Are you networking in groups, with colleagues, and prospective employment managers on LinkedIn?  Do you share industry information and articles on Twitter or Facebook?  Are you writing your own or commenting on others' blogs and collecting event inspiration from Pinterest or Instagram?  If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you're halfway to hired! 

You have to brand and market yourself just like you would a company.  You are in control of how employers view your online persona.  Don't get caught off guard unaware of what shows up when a prospective employer searches your name online.  Create your own results!

Your online presence can also be tied into your Klout score; a number from 1-100, assigned based on your activity on social networks.  It essentially measures your influence and could become as valuable as a credit or SAT score to some social media savvy employers.  Read more about social HR in Forbes.

This is by no means and exhaustive list but it is a start.  Have other suggestions you can pass along to those new to the industry?  Add them to the comments section below! 

 

We Are More Than Just "Planners" - Part II (YOUR responses!)

First I'd like to thank each of you for answering the call to my Twitter and LinkedIn campaign #PlannersAre.  Your input is encouraging and so very appreciated!  It was wonderful reading all of the titles, labels and descriptions you'd give to event and meeting professionals. 

Our industry is finally growing up. We are finding our voice, communicating our value and worth, and making an impact in areas of hospitality, travel and tourism, and business.  We are so much more than what our current titles suggest.  It is our duty to educate others so that we continue to grow as a profession. 

We wear so many different hats during a typical day that "multi-tasking" might as well be our middle name!  Below is a compilation of your responses.  I will continue to update this list as others come in. Again, thank you to those on Twitter and in the "Event Planning & Event Management - the 1st Group for Event Professionals" LinkedIn Group for their contribution to this post!

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Planners are researchers, data analyzers, dieticians, technologists, caregivers, concierges, production directors, financial managers, content experts, emcees and the face of your organization and brand!
-Kendra McMurray, CMP, CGMP @Meeting_Pro

Planners are negotiators, risk management experts, Plan B thinkers, hosts, contract authorities, logistics planners ... shall I go on?
-Marion Finkelstein @MarionSpeaks

Planners are organizers, researchers, decision-makers
-Meet Mr.Holland @MeetMrHolland

Liaisons, partners, problem solvers, a second set of eyes...so many things!
-UCLA Meetings @UCLAMeetings

Strategic Event Managers, Experience Creators.
-WilliamThomson @williamevents

Architects. We visualize, analyze, create, strategize, design and build.
-Myrna Medina @WarriorInHeels

Planners are negotiators, comforters & confidants.
-Cheri W. @Millionnairess

We are Travel Agents & Tour Guides, as we tell our sales where to go to dinner and what they can see on their time off from the booth. Mothers [and fathers], as we sew on buttons, apply bandages buy panty hose, hand out Kleenex and know where the bathrooms are. We are Sales People because we cover Sales on the show floor when they take bathroom breaks or go to lunch or have to fly out early. We are Caterers, House Keepers, Logistics Managers, and Product Geniuses.
-Gail Martinson, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are architects, strategists, foodies, wine connoisseurs, human relations specialists, emergency response experts, techies, designers and a beautiful, rare combination of left- and right-brainers all rolled into a well-heeled package (with sore feet).
-Shawna Suckow, CMP @SpinPlanners

Sometimes it feels like I'm a magician making miracles with minimal and a "macgyver" when things fall apart. You have to adapt quickly to make things happen.
-Yvelise-Lopez, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are definitely counselors who do not necessarily have a license for that! We are sometimes caught up in planning a wedding for a couple, but that easily turns into a couple's favorite go-to person to spill out all their, fears, doubts and emotional baggage past, present and current!! It is your job to be whatever that couple needs to get them to "I do"!! Even if you have to transform into "Super Planner" to get them there!
-Danielle Nicholas, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Someone who "makes things happen"!
-CathBrinkley, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are humans, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, friends, care givers, those who other people go to and lean on. Sometimes we become their therapists.
-CEO, Eldar Entertainment, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I am a MOTHER, I do it all, the event is my baby, I will pamper it and nourish it until the end.
-Gwen Stevenson, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I sometimes feel like a general leading my troops to victory armed with a battle plan, nerves of steel, the patience of a saint and the ability to think quickly on my feet!
-Stacey Maderios-Cooke, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I would say you could call yourself an Events Producer, because that's what you're actually doing.
-Herb Bass, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are therapists and counselors.
-Phyllis Shelton, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I am a mind visual creator, producing a live realistic special gathering of people or persons, marking a moment in time with a celebration or remembrance through the use of all human senses available!
-Christie Dodson, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Sometimes we are like the "Secretary of (the event) State" coordinating efforts between providers, clients, and venue personnel; negotiating meetings to discuss plans of action, communicating the goals, needs and capabilities of one "nation" to another and bringing all to a solution that works for everyone.
-Leslie Ferebee, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are mentors whether we realize it or not. Others learn by watching our experience, our emotions and our multi-tasking abilities. We are fire fighters- ready for that one small thing that goes wrong and ready to put that fire out with class and comfort to others. We are Negotiators, Strategizers, Problem Solvers. I love it when someone says "oh, you plan meetings, fun!" But to those that do it, we know it's so much more.
-Karen Hoffman-Krueger, CMP, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are the "strategist" who comes up with the best plan of action and "doer" who makes it come to life, event marketing professionals, relationship experts, the one wearing the suit on the trade show floor and the one in jeans setting up and tearing down the booth, the communication specialist and the overall generalist. The best event professionals are those who can be whatever the client or our employer needs at the time.
-Les Selby, CMP, CMM, LinkedInGroup Contributor

Memory makers we create a memorable experience.
-Elise Maree Holford, LinkedInGroup Contributor

William R. Host, Associate Professor at The Manfred Steinfeld School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Roosevelt University, Chicago (and a friend of mine!) put together a list a long time ago called "Who is the Meeting Professional?: Accountant, Architect, Audio-Visual Techie, Comedian, Communicator, Concierge, Crisis Manager, Crowd Controller, Dietitian/Chef, Entrepreneur, Executive, Graphic Designer/Printer, Interior Designer, Lawyer, Negotiator, Nurse/Paramedic, Party Host, Police/Traffic Cop, Prop Manager, Psychologist, Registrar, Safety Engineer, Sales Manager, Santa Claus, Social Worker, Scheduler/Logistics Expert, Secretary/Receptionist, Social Worker, Teacher/Educator, Talent Agent, Travel Agent, Miracle Worker!"
-Beth Cooper-Zobott, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Vision planner - listening to the client and creating the mission/vision from listening and hearing what they are not saying. Writer - writing all the content for publications, websites, notes, speeches. Technical Director -coordinating and implementing social media, designing and managing databases, navigating and designing registration sites and home pages.  Designer/Logistician - designing and fitting all the pieces together so it is seamless. To me, all of our "duties" and why I do what I do is about Guest Experience. That is the hinge that brings all the planning together. If each guest is able to fulfill their role (guest, speaker, vendor, board member, staff), then that is your success story. Message communicated, relationships made, staff happy, guests empowered....it’s a WOW.
-Janna Bowman, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Asan Event Manager, Executive Producer, Project Manager and more generically "Director of Done" - I have adopted the tagline "Turning your to-dos into ta-das". Gets 'em every time. Unless the tasks we are performing on a specific project are SUPER focused (which, to be an effective, creative contributor to the team, isn't really the best strategy, right?) it is difficult to put one title on what we do and who we are to the process. We are a unique demographic of individuals who are simply interested in making other people shine! And we take a lot of pride and satisfaction in that role. Sometimes the tasks are thankless and we have to educate some about how they will benefit from our services. But at the end of the day we can stand back and watch what we created come to life and know that it was a job well done!
-Roberta Boucher, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I would add that we are master organizers as well as arbiters of style, taste and trends.
-Angela Perry, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are the risk managers, the safety officers, and the assurance and governance for the meeting or conference...
-Geoff Anderson, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I have a different twist than most. I am a city wide event planner. I'm a negotiator, as I try to break down the walls of jealousy between the cities, and teach them to work together. I stand between the city associations and their merchants, becoming their advocate. I am the liaison between the merchants and their potential customers. I am a patrol officer when there are long lines and irate people. A communications specialist when merchants have no clue how to use their computer for marketing themselves. All of this, and a business coach... -Pamela Gressett, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Planners provide a magical experience of organizational expertise that provides entertainment and information to enrich the lives of the attendees.  I have three different perspectives.  I have planned events, attended many as a participant, and now do public speaking and training.  The magic is when it is so well done, that is looks easy.
-Dr. Shirley B. Garrett, Psy.D, LPC, DAC, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I’m a planner of parties, a planner of FUN, a planner of getting to know everyone.  I’m a planner who listens, a planner who laughs, and a planner who does nothing by halves. -Lorien Silvan, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Event Wizard-Witch-Emporer/Empress-From Dr. of Trends, to Professor of Old School Genius…
-Kelli O’Dell, LinkedIn Group Contributor

We are improvisers, with a “duck like” presence.  If you think of how a duck swims on the water, you get my meaning.  Paddling really hard, but not looking like it…
-Jacquelyn McCrae, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Sometimes I feel like I am the DOE - Director of Everything!
-Dianne Davis, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I often think of Even Planners as "Genies".  They take the wishes of their stakeholders and make them come true.  They see the vision and create the vision.
-Denice Gigoux, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I continue to be an advocate for doing away with the term "planner" which sounds too much like a hobby and instead adopting a project manager or producer...I believe we can transform our industry by changing out title to one which uniformly garners respect and pay equal to that.  Producer, Project Manager, those are well accepted by business circle and I like the idea of adopting them. 
-Heather Mason, LinkedIn Group Contributor

With a wedding, as an Event Planner, you are being everything...to everybody!  Maybe the sister or the mother that that bride hasn't got; best friend, confidant, magician (pulling wedding rabbits out of a hat!), stage director "par excellence" (you've done it before, but it's their first performance!)...
-Anne Ager, LinkedIn Group Contributor

Sometimes I'm a hand holder and counselor!
-Deborah Stillwell, LinkedIn Group Contributor

I believe that we are all "EXPERIENCE CREATORS". 
-Makarand Bhave, LinkedIn Group Contributor