Aaron Wolowiec

OCTOBER 28, 2014

According to a new report by American Express Meetings and Events , I’m not alone. In the first half of this year, American Express Global Business and Travel surveyed 336 meeting planners and 161 meeting and event attendees to learn more about the evolving landscape of technology in meetings. Among the top reasons: distraction.

Technology 100

Technology Social Media Survey Conference 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JULY 28, 2016

Courtesy of Michigan Meetings + Events. I focus on eating non-processed foods without all the fillers and preservatives. I know we are a lot busier in our personal and professional lives than ever before, but I’ll never get tired of physically attending a networking event to meet people in person.

Content 100

Content Social Media Michigan Industry 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 27, 2015

This month’s guest post is by Courtenay Allen, a marketing specialist at Attend.com , which produces event management software. You’ve set your event goals and planned every detail, but how do you know if you’ve been successful? Event Surveys. Another crucial element to measure is your attendees’ registration process.

Social Media 100

Social Media Survey Cost Revenue 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 31, 2016

Elyse Kopietz, director of communications, marketing and events, Michigan Manufacturers Association. Q & A with Elyse Kopietz , director of communications, marketing and events, Michigan Manufacturers Association. What I am enjoying most about this process is finding opportunities to apply what I am learning as I go.

Michigan 100

Michigan Content Certificate Library 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JANUARY 29, 2013

So you’ve decided to have an event, and you’re not sure whether or not you need professional assistance. A good event management company should be an asset to your event, not a liability. But not all event managers are created equal. Ask about the company’s relationship with venues that you are considering for your event.

Event Planning 100

Event Planning Price Products Education 100

Aaron Wolowiec

MAY 3, 2015

I like the process of discovery. Filed under: Associations , Best Practices , Leadership Tagged: American Water Works Association , Bonnifer Ballard , Event Gardeian of the Month. Q & A with Bonnifer Ballard, Executive Director, Michigan Section, American Water Works Association. A: I like that we don’t have all the answers.

Michigan 100

Michigan Content Chicago Tools 100

Aaron Wolowiec

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Q & A with Kate Pojeta, conventions and exhibitions manager, Event Garde. A: Event Garde has some amazing clients and I’m excited to be on the team to help conventions succeed. Now in the role of conventions and exhibitions manager, I’m looking forward to being involved in the full process and experience again.

Michigan 100

Michigan Content Conference Team 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JUNE 24, 2014

In April, the Washington Restaurant Association outfitted its onsite staff with Google Glass to provide a live video feed of the event. ASPPA used the free, open-source platform All Our Ideas for the voting process. The process was then repeated. Have Staff Wear the Latest Technology. Let Members Do the Planning.

Washington 100

Washington Conference System Technology 100

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 23, 2016

Yet, the listening experiences you foster makes your event memorable and enjoyable and provides lasting value to your participants. The International Listening Association defines listening as “the process of receiving, constructing meaning from and responding to spoken and or nonverbal messages.”

Conference 180

Conference Communications Social Media Process 180

Aaron Wolowiec

DECEMBER 22, 2015

As you probably gathered from our recap of 2015 , it’s been a pretty awesome year for Event Garde! Again this year, Event Garde has been nominated for the best meeting planning company for the Michigan Meetings + Events 2016 Best of Michigan Awards. Each year, Michigan Meetings + Events sponsors the readers choice awards.

Michigan 100

Michigan Metro Detroit Atlanta 100

Aaron Wolowiec

SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Event/meeting planners: Remember the days of paper RFPs? With most people now familiar with a wide range of devices, software and apps, this is spurring a rise in ‘social selling,’ where hotel sales teams are often building relationships with planners on social media to establish common bonds outside the sales process,” the report says.

Social Media 100

Social Media Software Report Technology 100

Aaron Wolowiec

FEBRUARY 24, 2016

This month’s guest blog post is by Jenny Stanfield , lead event producer for Engagement Unlimited. It was originally published on the Event Manager blog. Jenny Stanfield, lead event producer, Engagement Unlimited. Being engaged is imperative to the learning process. Follow her on Twitter at @thejenstanfield.

Content 100

Content Education Communications Process 100

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 23, 2016

Yet, the listening experiences you foster makes your event memorable and enjoyable and provides lasting value to your participants. The International Listening Association defines listening as “the process of receiving, constructing meaning from and responding to spoken and or nonverbal messages.”

Conference 100

Conference Communications Social Media Process 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JUNE 9, 2015

This year has been, and will continue to be, defined by intelligent growth for the meetings and events industry, the report found. For starters, 60 percent of survey respondents predict an increase in live events, while 56 percent predict an increase in virtual events.

Denver 100

Denver Georgia Survey Report 100

Aaron Wolowiec

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Or what about your events? In the wake of the Paris attacks – and other acts of terrorism throughout the years – event professionals have grown increasingly concerned about safety, according to the latest Meetings Outlook by Meeting Professionals International. The visa process will change, as will destinations of choice, MPI says.

Survey 100

Survey Fort Worth Dallas Cost 100

Aaron Wolowiec

APRIL 5, 2016

The first thing she told me is: “A wise consultant friend once told me if the proposal/contracting process is painful, the engagement will be worse. Some additional insights from our conversation follow: Prospective clients should be open to setting aside time to meet and talk as needed; and the process to do so should be relatively easy.

Proposal 100

Proposal Project Communications Guidelines 100

Aaron Wolowiec

NOVEMBER 4, 2014

The new normal” is shifting to a process whereby a cross section of the association’s membership comes together as a conference task force or education committee and: Brainstorms what topics the members should be hearing at XYZ meeting (based upon the anticipated audience and conference goals/objectives). visuals, handouts, activities).

Michigan 100

Michigan Committee Survey Content 100

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 9, 2016

We had seven cities that were finalists in our selection process, and each one did a fantastic job. We’ve heard about how much revenue events such as Super Bowls and presidential debates generate for cities, think about how excited Salt Lake is to welcome you! The proposals submitted by the winning cities exceeded our expectations.

Las Vegas 154

Las Vegas Chicago Columbus Atlanta 154

Aaron Wolowiec

NOVEMBER 26, 2013

Destination Michigan believes that giving back to the communities in which we hold our events is an integral part of the meeting experience,” said Kim Corcoran, general manager. “If One of the most popular places CSR shows up: Relay for Life events. On June 7, Event Garde will be participating in the East Lansing Relay for Life event.

Michigan 100

Michigan Innovation Team Process 100

Aaron Wolowiec

DECEMBER 18, 2013

Are you under the impression that all associations are experiencing diminished attendance at their in-person events? We need only look to ASAE to learn that at least two signature in-person events were stronger than ever this year: Highest Number of Association Executives Attended 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition Since 2008.

Revenue 100

Revenue Industry Project Price 100

Aaron Wolowiec

DECEMBER 3, 2013

8, 2011, Grand Rapids-based Event Garde was born. Event Garde: A clever play on words? Event Garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or status quo, especially as it relates to continuing education,” he wrote for the website. And so, on Dec. As a writer, I think so.

Michigan 100

Michigan Report Innovation Team 100

Aaron Wolowiec

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Interestingly enough, this course aligned with Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction , a systematic instructional design process (which I quite enjoy!) There’s a lot that could go wrong in the backcountry. It’s probably best not to leave your homes. with a focus on learner outcomes.

Handbook 100

Handbook Course Education Content 100

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 17, 2015

So we overhauled the event by dumping the box out and started fresh. The process is basic but complex at the same time. We are in the process of identifying: The “MUST haves” (What products do the members absolutely need for their businesses to succeed?). The group’s convention had gotten stale and something was missing.

Organization 100

Organization Association Management Course Review 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JUNE 28, 2016

So I developed a process I now use for every conference, including ASAE. 4) Study the sessions and events and use the ASAE Conference App to build a schedule that keeps you on track. It goes as follows: 1) Prior to arriving at the conference, determine the two biggest issues for which you need to find an idea or a solution.

Conference 124

Conference Strategy Tips Products 124

Aaron Wolowiec

JUNE 28, 2016

So I developed a process I now use for every conference, including ASAE. 4) Study the sessions and events and use the ASAE Conference App to build a schedule that keeps you on track. It goes as follows: 1) Prior to arriving at the conference, determine the two biggest issues for which you need to find an idea or a solution.

Conference 124

Conference Strategy Tips Products 124

Aaron Wolowiec

MAY 25, 2012

Trend topics were solicited from local, state and national media outlets, as well as various social media channels, last year’s attendees and registrants of this year’s event. In most cases, we’ve got the RFP process all wrong. Experiment with a small event or a small portion of a larger event.

Innovation 100

Innovation Michigan Social Media Strategy 100

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 9, 2016

We had seven cities that were finalists in our selection process, and each one did a fantastic job. We’ve heard about how much revenue events such as Super Bowls and presidential debates generate for cities, think about how excited Salt Lake is to welcome you! The proposals submitted by the winning cities exceeded our expectations.

Las Vegas 100

Las Vegas Chicago Columbus Atlanta 100

Aaron Wolowiec

FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Scanning my current commitments, I now serve on the editorial advisory board for Michigan Meetings + Events magazine, I’m a subject matter expert and facilitator for MSAE , I’m the luminaria chair for the East Lansing Relay for Life and I’ve recently been appointed to the ASAE 2014-2015 Professional Development Section Council.

Michigan 100

Michigan Committee Course Association Management 100

Aaron Wolowiec

OCTOBER 29, 2013

RFP processes. I am responsible for our sponsorship program, registration process, evening events for ABA committee meetings and special events and many other day-to-day operations. I interned with the ABA three separate times. I worked directly with both the meetings and membership departments. Contract negotiation.

Project 100

Project Industry Class Washington 100

Aaron Wolowiec

APRIL 9, 2012

When organizations want to reimagine a signature program or an entire annual meetings calendar (and don’t have the knowledge, skills and expertise of a professional development pioneer), I very often recommend the following five-step research process: Develop and conduct a member survey. Evaluate the process and the outcomes.

Strategy 100

Strategy Blended Learning Survey Case Study 100

Aaron Wolowiec

DECEMBER 16, 2014

E-mail, event and content marketing are the top ranked tactics in terms of effectiveness. Respondents ranked e-mail and event marketing as the top two marketing tactics, followed by social media, website/SEO and content marketing. But what about tactics? But here’s the problem: Without content, there’s no marketing strategy.

Marketing 100

Marketing Social Media Content Report 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JUNE 18, 2013

Henry Center for Executive Development at Michigan State University, and Aaron Wolowiec, founder and president of Event Garde. An army of volunteers will be present throughout the conference at general session entrances, in myLounge , at all transportation drop-off and pick-up sites and at networking events.

Michigan 100

Michigan Member Engagement Conference Tips 100

Aaron Wolowiec

OCTOBER 20, 2015

Bottom line: Embed choices into the learning process, even if they don’t seem meaningful. At Event Garde, we educate ourselves on how people learn so we can effectively teach. It’s easy to assume these choices don’t matter, but they engage learners and cost nothing.”.

Sample 100

Sample Cost Education Process 100

Aaron Wolowiec

JULY 3, 2012

This will allow participants the opportunity to experiment with ROL and begin to uncover innovative ways to calculate and market ROL for their own events. tools, technologies and processes), association contacts, vendor contacts, best practices and skill development. So, we’ll use the ISAE annual convention as a case study.

Indiana 100

Indiana Michigan Cost Case Study 100

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 30, 2016

As some of you may know, I work at a university (in addition to my Event Garde role), so I live and breathe higher education. You are just at the beginning of an exciting and accelerating lifelong learning process. Today, students need internships before entering the workforce. And then comes the price tag. Yes, it’s expensive.

Education 180

Education Mooc millennials Certificate 180

Aaron Wolowiec

AUGUST 30, 2016

As some of you may know, I work at a university (in addition to my Event Garde role), so I live and breathe higher education. You are just at the beginning of an exciting and accelerating lifelong learning process. Today, students need internships before entering the workforce. And then comes the price tag. Yes, it’s expensive.

Education 180

Education Mooc millennials Certificate 180

Aaron Wolowiec

JULY 23, 2013

Self-reflection is never easy, but this week, Kevin Whorton, principal of Whorton Marketing and Research , will help make the process a bit less painful. Kevin Whorton writes: I wondered what to write for Event Garde, but then a client solved that for me. How does your marketing copy sound when you read it aloud?

Marketing 100

Marketing Discount Conference Survey 100