Young Professionals Research Released!

The long awaited CEIR research report, Power of Exhibitions in the 21st Century, is now available and has already proven to be in high demand. 

As CEIR describes, this study, which commenced in October 2006, “offers a wealth of insight into how young professionals want to connect, learn and network at exhibitions and events. CEIR’s study includes additional interpretations and insight from generational expert Chuck Underwood, author and founder of The Generational Imperative.”

Additionally, the article, “The Gen Y Factor,” published by Association Conventions & Facilities, is by far the most inclusive and accurate I’ve seen in a long time.  You can read it at the following link.  http://acf.themeetingmagazines.com/acf/20090809Feat1/tabid/219/Default.aspx.

Feel free to share your thoughts, and other articles you’ve come across as well!

*Note: The CEIR Report is free to CEIR and IAEE members when you login with your user information.

WARNING: System Overload!

Written by: Nora Johnson, SMMP Services Specialist, Experient and 2009 IAEE Young Professionals Committe Chair

Data, reports, e-mail, blogs, websites, conference calls, voicemail, projects, news releases, reports, data, data, data: information. Chaotic and overwhelming, and made even more so as we toss in a few additional factors: past, present and future. Now that you may be experiencing an anxiety spike and your fingers are itching to check your e-mail, you should take this moment to stop and breathe. 

We are fortunate to have a lot of information available to us, and if not readily available, we at least have the means to gather the information. However, in trying to keep up, we find that there is more information than we can possibly process, there is information from questionable sources or there is conflicting information. Regarding information, we’re at an impasse.

How do we stop the madness? We don’t. We just need to learn how to navigate through it with knowledge, purpose, finesse and confidence.

Knowledge: Know your organization, your industry, your procedures, your markets and most important – your decision factors and processes.

What We Don’t Cover…

Blogs are wonderful. In all honestly, some are more wonderful than others. Where’s the value? The value lies in the perspectives, resources and advice that becomes available for you to accept or disagree with.

While the Young Professionals wish to release blogs that will prove valuable to our readership, we realize there is a great inquisitive world of questions, concerns or ideas we’re not addressing. As such, we have created a new page associated with our blog titled “Q&A.”

Over the next couple of weeks, and into the future, we will gather questions from professionals and students and post them to this page. We will start to provide answers – or opinions – to these questions and we encourage you to do the same!

These questions will not just surround the theme: young professionals. They will be questions pertaining to the industry as we are all a part of this great industry. Stay tuned, and we hope you enjoy this resource!

- Nora Johnson, 2009 IAEE YPC Chair

Attracting and Engaging Young Professionals

By: Nora Johnson, 2009 IAEE Young Professionals Chair and SMMP Services Specialist, Experient

“How can I attract, engage and retain young professionals?”  Undoubtedly, many of you have heard or asked a similar question in the past.  Naturally, many of you have also had two words immediately come to mind: technology and entertainment.

 In short, the answers are:

Attract: Show an interest in them

Engage: Invite them to get involved or give them a seat at the table

Retain: See 1 and 2 and add a dash of letting them own and pursue a project or initiative

You will notice that technology and entertainment are not in the short answers.  Why are they absent?  There is a lot to be said for the relevancy of these two words.  However, the reality goes beyond a generational trend and reveals a more significant business and societal trend.  A friend of mine, who is a Director of Design for a prominent fashion line, once mentioned that the days of big department stores, such as Macy’s, dictating the fashion of the season are over.  Rather, fashion is being heavily influenced by the numerous sub-cultures in our society: the “Jocks,” the “Skaters,” the “Goths,” the “Preps” and many more.  Essentially, trends are being generated from the bottom, up, rather than from the top, down, which had traditionally been the standing model for business. 

What, you may ask, does this have to do with young professionals,

Exhibit City News – July 2009

Julie Holzer Pazina, National Sales Manager for Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services and IAEE Young Professionals Committee Member 

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) have a very important mission and purpose, made only more so in the current economic crisis. It is charged with the livelihoods of the 46,000 people in the city who rely on meetings for their income and the approximately 250,000 people in Las Vegas who rely on tourism for their employment.

A day never goes by that Chris Meyer, LVCVA Vice President of Convention Sales, forgets his obligation to the city he serves. “Our team doing a better job leads directly to a better community,” Meyer said of his role and the importance he places on supporting Las Vegas’s main industry. 

Though Chris is a very visible face in the hospitality world and a vocal advocate for the meetings industry both nationally and in Las Vegas, he grew up far away from the glittering lights of the famed Strip. Born in the Philippines, Chris is the son of two naval officers.

He grew up all over the world, but one of his most memorable homes was in Guam at the close of the Vietnam War. He remembered the population doubling in less than ten days as a tent city was assembled at an old Japanese Air Base. Chris was 14 at the time and his dad was Commanding Officer when the heightened population led to high demands for food, water and sanitation. Looking back at that experience, it may not be a surprise that Chris ended up in an industry where the demands of a trade show require planning and infrastructure to make them a success.

Chris is responsible for convention sales, convention center sales and the convention services team, comprising 58 individuals. He has been at the LVCVA for almost nine years, where he and his team work hard to bring meetings, conventions and trade shows in to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. These facilities encompass nearly four million square feet and two million square feet of exhibit space. In addition to bringing meetings in to these facilities, Chris and his team work hard to fill hotel rooms. “Heads in beds is our mission, mantra, creed and the air we breathe,” said Chris. “If we don’t do our job, people don’t work and we take that very seriously.”

Expo! Expo! Miami 2008

Just got back from the Expo! Expo! Exhibits. A quick note on the success of the Young Professional representation – our Kiosk was front and center; we got to greet all of the Young Professionals and attendees as they entered the hall. Thank you to all the Young Professional volunteers who staffed the booth -  it was so much fun! and thanks to the YP’s who participated in the ‘Exhibit Booth Report card’ activity…It was great meeting everyone. I will post more photos and stories later…

Cheers,

Jeanavive Janssen – Chair Young Professionals

Business Development Manager – San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau

This is How We Roll: Expo! Expo! Activities

Experience Expo! Expo! Young Professionals-style!

On Tuesday, 9 December IAEE’s Young Professionals Committee invites you to stop by our “Meet-up Spot” table near the cyber center at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The table will be staffed from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM before the start of the First Timers’ Luncheon so that you can pick up your FREE IAEE YP t-shirt and button. The table will also be staffed 30 minutes following the First Timers’ Luncheon.” This will be a designated meet-up spot pre/post Expo! Expo! scheduled activities outside of the Exhibit Hall hours. There will be a sheet to leave messages about who wants to meet-up and when.

Visit the Young Professionals Kiosk in the IAEE Pavilion during the exhibit hours. FREE IAEE YP t-shirt and button will be available. While you’re there, network with your peers, blog about your experience at Expo! Expo! and sign up to explore Miami Beach with other the YPs.

The young professionals of IAEE will wear the YP t-shirts on Wednesday, 10 December at Expo! Expo!

You Be the Judge.

IAEE’s Young Professionals will rate booths that catch their attention based on six standard exhibiting criteria. Results will be posted after the meeting with ‘Best of Show’ selections and Honorable Mentions. Interested in judging Expo! Expo! exhibitors? Pick up your rating card at the YP kiosk in the IAEE Pavilion!

Connect with other young professionals before you arrive in Miami Beach!

Visit the following sites to connect with IAEE Young Professionals:

• IAEE YP Discussion Group. Network with your peers through the IAEE’s web-based Young Professionals Community. Follow these steps to join:

1. Visit IAEE’s Member Communities (use your IAEE User ID / Password to log in).

2. Click “My subscriptions” (left column)

3. Under “Category,” select “Public Discussion Groups” (top of screen)

4. Then select “Young Professionals Discussion Group”

5. Click “Add” and You’re in!

• LinkedIn. “Link up” with other young professionals from the exhibitions and events industry by visiting IAEE YP – LinkedIn.
• For more information on IAEE’s Young Professionals, visit our blog: http://www.ypiaee.com/.

See you in Miami Beach!

IAEE Young Professionals Committee

Young Professional – Ask Me

Are you getting excited yet for Expo! Expo!?

I know I am! and so is everyone on the Young Professionals Committee.

IAEE has finalized our Young Professionals pins to wear throughout the event. It says: “Young Professional – Ask Me” We will be promoting the ‘Ask Me’ concept pre-event to all attendees.

The pin is meant to generate networking conversations between generations…giving you an opportunity to share your thoughts about what you want as a Young Professional, about what you would like to contribute…etc.

I would love to get the discussions going early…

I would like to ASK YOU, what do you want as a Young Professional?

Let’s start talking about this via email and really be prepared to have some serious discussions about what we would like to see for the future of the industry and what we would like to contribute to it.

Cheers,

Jeanavive Marie Janssen

Chair Young Professionals
http://www.ypiaee.com

Vice Chair NCC IAEE: http://www.iaeencc.com

Founder: Network Girl Consulting: http://www.networkgirl.com

Business Development Manager, San Jose CVB: http://www.sanjose.org

510-306-9665
jeanavive@gmail.com

Congratulations to our very own YP secretary; Nora Johnson

IAEE Announces 2008 Individual Award Recipients

Recipients of IAEE’s Highest Honors to be Recognized at Annual Meeting

DALLAS, 8 October 2008 - The International Association of Exhibitions and Events(tm) (IAEE) proudly announces this year’s recipients of the IAEE Individual Awards. IAEE’s awards program recognizes professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry. The winners will be honored during the Opening General Session & Awards Presentation to be held Tuesday, 9 December 2008 during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Miami Beach, Fla.

Award winners are chosen after careful consideration by the IAEE Awards Committee and the IAEE Board of Directors. “The commitment of the 2008 IAEE Award Winners is both humbling and inspiring,” comments Carrie Freeman Parsons, IAEE Awards Committee chair. “We are fortunate to honor individuals and organizations who represent the best of our industry. My highest congratulations to those who will be honored at the annual meeting in Miami.”

Fifty-one nominations were considered this year, from which the following 10 outstanding individuals were selected for recognition:

The Rookie of the Year, Show Manager Award and Rookie of the Year, Supplier Award both recognize excellent professional performance by an individual with three or less years of full-time exhibition and event industry experience. The 2008 Show Manager Rookie of the Year is Pamela Nutting, director of meetings for the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association/Midwest Podiatry Conference. The 2008 Supplier Rookie of the Year is Nora Johnson, sourcing specialist with Experient.

Berkshire Hathaway Conference – Event Review – Part 1

Three Parts: ON SUCCESS, ON BUSINESS, ON THE PROFESSIONAL

PART I: ON SUCCESS

On May 3, 2008, I sat in a large arena; just one individual of more than 31,000 individuals who traveled to Omaha to listen to the words of wisdom of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. The net worth of the individuals in the arena was staggering, particularly with both Warren Buffett and Bill Gates present at the front of the arena. However, what stood out the most was that these successful individuals, by most standards, were indeed individuals: living, breathing, talking, thinking individuals.

They seemed to wear their success easily, yet one knows that it is not always easy to carry such success. As individuals, the people in the arena had grown up, worked hard and accomplished many feats, both “big” and “small.” Impressions from looking and listening included: success, humility, goodwill, determination, fun and conviction. It was inspiring, special and humbling.

During the Q&A session, which extended from the morning into the afternoon, individuals from all over the world stepped up to the microphones to ask questions that were burning in their minds. Most of these individuals came early to sit in designated areas just for the chance to ask their one question. As this was a shareholder meeting, I had anticipated that the questions and discussion would flow towards Berkshire Hathaway and the state of the economy. I was pleasantly surprised.

While questions were asked about the company and economy, many more were asked about life. Both Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger were so well respected that people tapped into their perspectives on life, careers, politics, economics, giving and much more.

These two men were more than their company. One could argue that respect for these two men stemmed from the success of their company, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t a better understanding of the bottom line that people sought, but a better understanding of how to live and how to approach all that is around us.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to realize and remember that we are more than our jobs, tasks and performance; that we are people who are living, working, thinking and growing together? When we remember who we are, what we believe in and what we’re working for, the rest falls into place. In so many words, one recurring theme throughout the day was that if you can do what you love, do what you’re good at, work toward what you believe in and have fun, you are well on your way to being successful.