January 23, 2025
Amazing Program and The Lion King in Appleton!
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2023 Spring Education Day Session Details
Morning Keynote
Looking Into the Crystal Ball for Meetings & Events - Slide Deck Download
- Dr. Lalia Rach
Program Description
Attendees of this session will:
Dr. Lalia Rach
While in New York City, Rach Enterprises grew dramatically as businesses and government agencies sought her advice and analysis. After fifteen years at NYU, Lalia stepped down from the NYU deanship in 2010 and returned to teaching for a few years before becoming a full-time consultant in 2015.
In addition to her role as an educator and consultant, Lalia has published extensively, authoring book chapters and numerous articles, and is a highly sought-after speaker and moderator. She was recognized as one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” from Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), the “33 Most Influential People in the Travel Industry” from Travel Weekly and was featured in “Meet the 25 Most Influential Women in Travel” by Forbes Life Executive Women. Lalia is a former board member of nine tourism and hotel-related organizations.
General Session
ReDESIGNing Partnerships - Slide Deck Download
- Attorney Lisa Sommer Devlin
Lawyers spend three years in law school learning how to research, read, and understand the law, while most people involved in the hospitality industry have only basic legal training, if any. It’s no wonder legal issues are intimidating and overwhelming to so many event professionals! As a result, people often rely on so called “industry experts” (non-lawyers) that give advice at seminars and in articles based on their experience and what they believe the law requires, usually based on something that they themselves were told long ago. This type of information often starts our wrong, and then gets misconstrued and misinterpreted as it is passed along.
How do you get contracts back on track after the changes and interruptions of the pandemic? What is reasonable to expect, and what is not? How do you move forward in partnership between suppliers and planners to create contracts that work for both sides? Lisa Sommer Devlin, an attorney that has represented hotels for thirty years will explore these issues in her keynote address.
Learner Objectives:1. What is the status of Impossibility and Force Majeure clauses in today’s market?
2. How do we approach economic uncertainty?
3. What is the best strategy for negotiations?
In 2002, Lisa was named one of the 25 most influential people in the meeting industry by Meeting News magazine. In 2006, the magazine gave her the honor her again, stating: “More than anyone else, she is the legal voice for the industry.” She has served as a member of the Legal Advisory Counsel and on the Contracts panel for the APEX Initiative sponsored by the Convention Industry Council, and was President of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys 2012-2014. In 2015, Meetings and Conventions magazine included her in its “M&C’s Top 25 Women in the Meeting Industry.”
Lisa is a sought-after speaker and trainer. She has spoken at events sponsored by Meetings Professional International, Professional Convention Management Association, Exhibitor Show, Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International, Society of Government Meeting Planners, Conference Direct, Experient, Connect Meetings, Elite Meetings Alliance, and many others. PCMA named her one of its “Best in Class” speakers for 2012.
She and her colleague, Barbara Dunn, an attorney who represents groups and associations, host a popular video series addressing contracting issues, called “Legalese With The Ladies,” available on YouTube.
She graduated from the University of Iowa with High Distinction in 1981, and the University of Iowa College of Law in 1984, Order of the Coif.
Breakout Sessions
Supplier Focus: The Art and Science of Sales: Trends in loyalty, leadership and buyer behavior
Slide Deck Download
- Dr. Lalia Rach
Now is the time for sales professionals to embrace the changing nature of business and to assume greater responsibility for leading the change within their organizations. The reality of a slow growth economy combined with accelerating technological advances is recasting the sales model. The need to transform the concept of loyalty, to shift engagement with buyers and to fashion a different sense of collaboration are among the greatest challenges at all levels of the industry.
Learner Outcomes
Planner Focus: Trends in Hospitality Contracts: What Planners Need to Know
Slide Deck Download
- Attorney Lisa Sommer Devlin
"The only constant is change" - Heraclitus
Planners, this is your opportunity to hear from one of the leading voices and experts in Hospitality Law and Contracts. In this session, attorney Lisa Sommer Devlin will take a deep dive into the legal and contract topics that concern you most. Take this quick survey and tell Lisa what topics you want to learn more about.
For this deep dive for Planners, Attorney Lisa Sommer Devlin wants to hear from you on what topics you want to tackle. Planners, take this survey!
Closing Keynote
The Art of Tinkering: Tiny Ways to Transform Everything
- Jason Kotecki
Sometimes in life and in business, taking things to the next level requires making a big, scary change. The good news is that most of the time, we can drive innovation, achieve new levels of happiness, and uncover hidden opportunities for fun and profit just by being open to the art of tinkering. The dictionary says that to tinker is “to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner.” The key words are “unskilled” and “experimental.” Although kids tinker all day long, adults often act like they have to master something on the first try or know exactly how something will turn out before they even take the first step.
In this funny, fascinating and practical program, Jason will introduce you to the art and benefits of “tinkering,” while addressing how tiny steps can overcome the giant fears that hold us back. He will demonstrate how tinkering is the perfect tool for strategically uncovering amazing opportunities hidden in plain sight. As a result of this program, you will be reminded that in times of uncertainty, the small things really do make the biggest difference, and you’ll be tinkering your way to new levels of awesome.
Jason Kotecki, CSP, is a professional reminder-er and permission granter who moonlights as an artist, author and speaker. Jason and his wife Kim founded the Cure Adultitis Institute and created Escape Adulthood, a company and lifestyle brand that helps people and organizations break free from the vile clutches of Adultitis in order to build better lives, businesses, and teams. Through their uplifting website, artwork, books, speaking programs, events and other tools, they empower their tribe of Adultitis Fighters to live fuller, richer lives with less stress and more fun.
For over 15 years and with over 750 organizations, Jason has offered real-world strategies and practical ideas to
help individuals realize Adultitis-free lives, helping them beat burnout and become more innovative by breaking
rules that don’t exist. His refreshing and relevant insights leave attendees encouraged, entertained, and motivated to explore new opportunities and strengthen the team dynamic to achieve success and accomplish what was once thought impossible. His content-rich programs are balanced with a refreshing mix of humor and emotion, serving as the perfect antidote for people who find themselves in a personal or professional rut.
top 12% of speakers in the world have this designation, which is the profession’s highest earned international
measure of platform competence, ethical standards, and proven track record of expertise and excellence.
