How to be a Hybrid Event Wizard: Insider Tips from the Trenches.

Date: September 15, 2020
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm EDT
Run-time: 75 minutes

Registration Fees by September 11, 2020
$25 +HST Members*
$60 +HST Non-Members

Registration fees after September 11, 2020
$35+HST Members*
$70+HST Non-Members

*Since MPI membership is individual, only the individual member is eligible for the member rate.

After six months of providing free programming for our members, we must begin charging a registration fee for the viability & sustainability of our Chapter. Thank you for your generous registration & for helping us recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic. We promise to deliver incredible value to you, our incredible, resilient community. *

“How to be a Hybrid Event Wizard: Insider Tips from the Trenches”

The meeting and event industry is all about bringing people together and creating valuable and memorable experiences. As we move into Phase Three in Ontario, the demand for hybrid activations are soaring. Now is the time to champion hybrid events as they are the future of the event industry. Join our trusted community of industry experts on September 15^th for an engaging session to learn how to plan the ultimate hybrid event.

This event will feature jam-packed content line-up including:

• Behind-the-scenes of producing virtual & hybrid events
• Learn about NEW virtual presentation stages that use leading edge technology for flawless production
• Introduction to MeetSAFE guidelines
• How to choose a virtual event partner {from both planner & supplier perspectives}
• DES & VEMM certified planner must-haves and top tips
• Multi-dimensional Panel Discussion & opportunity for questions
• Post-event resources for registered attendees
• Live Event Give-Aways
• Opportunity to ask questions in advance
• …And so much more!

This event will also feature a dynamic expert line-up including:

• Dwayne Rutherford
• Depannita Biswas, VEMM
• Chimah Ekeanyanwu
• Malak Sidky, MHSc, HMCC, DES
• Brian Johnston
• Krista Cameron
• Madeleine Bart

Learn to become a hybrid event wizard on September 15^th with us! We cannot wait to see you there!

Meet your Panelists:

Dwayne Rutherford - Moderator

Dwayne Rutherford is CEO & Founder of Debonair Corporate Events, a firm that prides itself in providing on-time, on budget, on-point event planning in the GTA. Dwayne is described by his peers as an entrepreneurial, pro-social, analytical community builder. Dwayne started his professional events career in 2005 and it has remained his passion ever since because he cares deeply about providing opportunities for community engagement, seeing happy guests make new connections and making great impressions. Some of his favourite work has been with Canadian Political parties, TIFF, education institutions and small-medium sized private companies hosting events both internally and customer-facing.

Debonair Events creates classy affairs of small and large scale for organizations in the Greater Toronto Area as well as conferences, trade shows, galas, customer appreciation events and facilitate employee retention/team building initiatives. The Debonair team is obsessed with making sure the event is well-publicized, well-planned, well-executed, ON budget, ON Time and that co-ordinating staff brings their A-Game to the table. Dwayne is also proud to be on the MPI Toronto 2020-2021 Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, a brand new initiative for the chapter.

 

Depannita Biswas, VEMM

Depannita is a graduate in Special Event Management from George Brown College and certified in Virtual Event and Meeting Management. She has a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and Business Management from the University of Warwick.  She is an engaged volunteer in the Toronto event space. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee, MPI Toronto Chapter. Her previous experiences include planning and executing themed social events and corporate events. She was awarded the Norm Neill Student of the Year Award 2019 by MPI Toronto Chapter, and Special Events Student Leadership Excellence Award 2020 by George Brown College for her active involvement and commitment, and determination to learn in the events industry. Depannita is also proud to be on the MPI Toronto 2020-2021 Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, a brand new initiative for the chapter.

Chimah Ekeanyanwu

Chimah Ekeanyanwu’s career spans serval decades in the event industry. As the National Sales Account Manager at CCR Solutions Inc, Chimah is a well-known, well-liked, event professional who puts his colleagues, clients, and associates at ease whenever he walks into a space. As a passionate advocate of the profession, Chimah has volunteered countless hours on the boards and committees of various industry associations including ILEA Toronto, & ILEA International. Because of his tireless commitment to his craft, Chimah and his team have been awarded multiple industry accolades for a variety of event activations on both the local, national, and international level. 

Chimah’s extensive experience behind-the-scenes at medium to large-scale functions has taken him all over the country as well as internationally. Friends say Chimah’s best assets are his incredible interpersonal (soft) skills – making everyone in his circle of influence feel valued & respected. Chimah holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Political Science from York University and a Diploma in computer systems & administration CDI College. Chimah lives in Toronto with his amazing wife who is a frontline registered nurse. Their proudest accomplishment together remains their two grown sons whom also reside in the GTA.

Malak Sidky, MHSc, HMCC, DES

Malak Sidky is the founder and President of Health Care Event Planning. She has a BSc in Biochemistry from McGill University and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Toronto, as well as holding the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate. This summer she enrolled in the Digital Event Strategist course and is working towards getting her designation. She is fluently bilingual. 

Malak teaches Event Planning in the School of Creative Industries at Conestoga College, Risk Management in the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts at Fanshawe College and has taught Special Event Operations at Centennial College. She is the VP, Partnerships for the Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP), sits on the Professional Development Committee for the MPI Toronto Chapter and is the volunteer coordinator for Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking (MPAHT). 

Malak’s breadth of experience in the industry is vast; she has planned and executed a variety of health care educational events and projects for various clients in the health and pharmaceutical arena. Her events include think tanks, webinars, workshops, advisory board meetings, virtual conferences, continuing medical education (CME) sessions, wellness retreats, union conventions and multi-day conferences.

 

Brian Johnston

(picture & bio listed below) 

Meet the Encore Canada team:

Madeleine Bart, Vice President, Creative and Marketing

Starting in the event marketing industry in 2011, Madeleine has a wide range of experience on both sides of the aisle. Joining Encore (previously Freeman AV Canada) in 2016, she brings a strong understanding of the industry and offers Encore’s sales, marketing and operations teams a fresh perspective. Madeleine’s collaborative attitude is key to finding creative solutions to challenges.

Brian Johnston, National Director, Creative Innovation

Brian brings more than 12 years of event marketing experience to the table and brings extensive media production, content creation, and video expertise. Working directly with clients, he helps them achieve their goals using technology, content, and atmosphere. His unwavering dedication helps clients feel invested in the design process and helps them become part of the collaborative Encore team.

His greatest strength is his creativity—in content and problem-solving. Never satisfied to hear “It can’t be done,” Brian tenaciously finds solutions to every problem. Joining Encore in 2010 (previously Freeman AV Canada), he has received the Most Innovative Use of Event Technology and the Best Audio Visual Design for an Event awards from Canadian Special Events. He has served clients like Air Canada, RE/MAX, and Kraft Heinz. His favorite part of the job is watching attendees participate in the experiences he helped create.

Krista Cameron, Director, Business Development

Krista is a proud Newfoundlander who made Toronto her home in early 2019 when she excitedly joined the Freeman Audio Visual Canada team, now Encore Canada, as the Director of Business Development.  Her previous industry experience includes Corporate Event Management in Germany and California followed by hotel then destination sales back here in Canada.  Some of Krista’s industry involvement includes currently serving on the PCMA Canada East Chapter’s Board of Directors as Vice President of Operations and as the previous Co-Chair of the PCMA Canadian Innovation Conference.  She is also currently serving on the CSAE Trillium Council and Membership Committee and on CanSPEP’s Partner Advisory Council.  In 2015, Krista was inducted into Meetings & Incentive Travel’s Hall of Fame as Industry Mentor.

Don’t Miss Out – Registration is Limited!

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