We, Grow Clinton, are proud to represent the region at professional development opportunities throughout the country and look forward to implementing new ideas and initiatives for the betterment of our membership as a whole. The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) recently held their Events & Communication Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota and I was fortunate to be able to go.
Not only did I attend sessions to glean tactics from others in my profession, but I was also given the rare opportunity to lead one of the peer discussions on event reinvention strategies. I facilitated the discussion by asking questions and letting others share their strategies, input, and opinions. The discussion was lively, interactive, and very engaging! In between mic passes, I made a point to share some of the strategies I’ve implemented in our region to keep events fresh and relevant. It was a very empowering experience for me personally, and empowering to hear reinforcement from others that we are, in essence, doing things ‘right’!
But what defines “right”? Perhaps the most obvious, budget line increases when looking at event profits, but it’s also things like knowing who your audience is, what they want, and how to deliver. We discussed all of these things and so much more: reinventing volunteer roles, evaluating and phasing out long-standing events, and marketing reinvention strategies to name a few.
I attended sessions on “Crafting Unforgettable Signature Events”, “Marketing Tips, Tricks & Tools”, “Effective Graphic Design Strategies”, and more. And let’s not forget about the value of networking. I found it interesting and useful to have conversations with people in similar roles as mine – we shared stories, asked each other questions – we learned a lot from each other!
It was interesting to hear how other organizations do marketing & events, especially in regards to the staff they employ. I now see how my dual role has some positives and negatives and because of this I have reflected on how to better meld the two together. Stay tuned for event and marketing upgrades (*ahem* changes). There will even be some internal organizational changes you may notice. I look forward to us remaining true to our mission which is to promote business growth, build community, and advocate for the sustainable economic success of our region as a whole.