The annual MPI MidAmerica Educational Conference is an event that chapter members and supporters look forward to each year. As a premiere educational and networking opportunity, MidAmerica leaves attendees excited for the following year, which switches host sites between the Ohio and Kentucky Chapters. This year, the 11th annual conference was hosted by the Crowne Plaza Louisville, located conveniently next to the airport, and offers a variety of flexible event space, which made a great layout for the three day conference.The weekend began with a Bourbon Country Tour sponsored by Mint Julep Tours and Buffalo Trace Distillery. This was a great way to kick off the conference, allowing attendees to catch some sites and get a better feel for what Louisville has to offer. Participants also were able to taste a number of fine bourbons during their tour of the historic Bourbon Trail.

Back at the hotel, the first time attendee reception was extremely well received. With mentors from both Kentucky and Ohio Chapters present, first timers were able to get to know involved members and really get a good idea of what to expect from the upcoming conference. The attendees also had a chance to meet and network with other MidAmerica rookies, allowing them to feel more welcome with the crowd. 

The opening night reception is always a lot of fun, and this year was no exception. Sponsored by the Crowne Plaza and featured in the sponsor spot light area, the reception gave attendees a chance to network with the variety of excellent vendors. The location of the reception also allowed attendees to check out the array of silent auction items up for bid in the main hallway, featuring overnight packages in the Florida Keys to New Orleans, Louisiana. By far the most entertaining aspect of the evening was the Kentucky University Wildcats, NCAA Elite Eight game which was being placed on a flat screen in the event space. Attendees were gathered around, cheering their team to a win and trip to the final four.

The following morning the opening ceremony kicked off with emcee and Ohio Chapter Member John Petz with Bore No More. John is always great at waking people up with a good laugh and getting the event off to the right foot. The first speaker on the bill was a great one, an individual that has done so much for the international meetings industry during his career. MPI International Chairman Eric Rozenberg joined us to discuss the state of the international meetings and events industry. As founder, owner and President of Swantegy and through his volunteer position with MPI, Mr. Rosenberg is constantly enthralled in the international side of the industry. His experience gave attendees great feedback and insight on where we are today and what to look for in the future.

His most notable example was of software giant SAP’s annual event titled, “Sapphire Now”. Sapphire Now compiles all forms of media coverage of the event which takes place in multiple locations around the world, all of which are simulcast at each location. The event takes the term “high-tech” to new altitudes, with conference television shows, real time video feeds of each keynote and social media integration. All aspects are compiled in an onsite touch screen wall which projects all aspects of the conference for attendees to view, collaborate and converse with online conference attendees.

One of the more well received keynotes of the weekend was Colleen Francis with Engage Selling Solutions. Ms. Francis gave fantastic insight on sales and marketing theories for today’s clients. She pushed for people to “meet the client where they are” in terms of marketing and sales communication strategies. She stated that too often, companies try and push their clients to particular marketing mediums (Social Media, E-Marketing, etc.) or only use one way of contacting a lead. Ms. Francis feels that in all actuality, as the sales person you should be reaching out to your clients in whatever way they personally choose. She told a story about one of her clients who was impossible to get a hold of on the telephone or by email, but in the end negotiated a multimillion dollar deal over text message. Ms. Francis felt passionate about the relationship and humanistic aspect of sales, and raved that you are in business to help individuals, not sell them a product. Regardless of what you are selling, the service oriented person will be much more successful in the long run.

As a technology geek, I was most excited about the two breakout sessions featuring University of Central Florida Professor James Hogg, PhD.  Dr. Hogg’s first session titled, “Mobile Technologies for the Meeting Professional” was a much deeper look into the coming trends in event technology than other tech based presentations. There are so many mobile devices on the market today that have the ability to improve the productivity of a meeting professional. One of the devices discussed was Pico Projectors, hand held projection systems that display a smaller size image for personal presentations and video viewing. Various companies including Apple are coming out with their own versions of the device. Companies are also in the process of integrating this technology into cell phones.  Many brands are also in the process of producing video conference cell phones, with Apples iPhone leading the way with their “Facetime” technology. Mobile applications such as Skype, Webex and gotomeetings are also in the works which will integrate this technology as well.

The most eye opening topic discussed in the fact that many people do not realize that we have left the “information age” of technology and are entering into the “Nano and Bio Tech” age. Companies are building computer cells that are smaller and smaller, with even more power, resulting in microscopic designs with capabilities that were once unimaginable. Dr. Hogg showed a short video of a Nokia product in the research and prototype stage called Morph Technology. This device will be designed entirely with nanotechnology, integrating microscopic electronic material based around fabric. Experts such as Dr. Hogg look for devices such as Morph to make their way to shelves within the next decade.

Monday’s luncheon was sponsored by Lake Erie Shores & Islands and Kalahari Resorts which will be the host of the 2012 MidAmerica Conference in Sandusky, Ohio. The space was decorated beautifully with stuffed animals at each place setting and a Lake Erie gift package inside a safari hat as the center piece.  Following the luncheon, attendees were lead into the main event space for afternoon keynote speaker, The Passing Zone with Jon Wee and Owen Morse. The Passing Zone is a comedy juggling entertainment duo that brings their own sense of exuberance, comedy and innovative theories that make for an entertaining and informal keynote. The duo have been featured on America’s Got Talent and have opened for legendary comedians Bill Cosby and George Carlin. Many of their dangerous juggling sets were a hit with the audience, including their finale, which featured chainsaws and tutus.

The evening reception was sponsored by and located at the brand new KFC Yum Center in Downtown Louisville. Attendees were bussed downtown and greeted with clown noses by members of the circus which was being held at the arena that week. With belly dancers, clowns, mimes and just plain strange people all around it was a great way to have interactive entertainment while still giving attendees the ability to talk and mingle. The food for the event featured a variety of very modern stations including pork belly, mini-sliders, shrimp risotto and even a bacon cotton candy station. Overall the evening was very well received and made for an exciting conclusion to a great day!

Day three’s morning key note was certainly one to remember. The agenda listed the speaker as our “special guest” with Why Intelligent misbehavior makes a meeting successful, leaving everyone in the audience very interested as to whom would take the stage. During breakfast, groups of attendees were mingling as one of the members of the wait staff made his way from group to group with a serving tray trying to pass out straws. Once attendees were seated in the main event space for the presentation, he began approaching people to take their trash. His demeanor was very awkward and it was evident that people began buzzing about him after each meeting. Emcee John Petz, took the stage to welcome the speaker, but started by apologizing to the audience on behalf of the hotel management for the actions of the awkward server at breakfast. He then informed us that the server wanted to come and apologize in person, all the while the server was walking towards the stage. To the surprise of the audience it then became evident that the weird server was actually the “special guest” speaker, Rick Lewis.

Mr. Lewis went on to perform a number of mime and juggling acts and even rode a 15 ft. tall unicycle, with audience members helping to get on top. But what really blew me away was the acting job that he had done the entire morning without ever breaking his cover. At the end of his entertaining presentation he spoke to the audience about the act and gave a little background about himself. The fact that he was able to start conversation amongst attendees over his odd mannerisms is such a creative way to get people to realize that people naturally feel a need to act “normal”, but in fact the most successful people are far from normal.

The closing session speaker for the 11th annual MidAmerica Conference was BizBash Media President and one of the foremost experts in the special events industry, Richard Aaron, CMP, CSEP. Mr. Aaron is also an associate professor in Event Management at New York University, the founding President of MPI New York and has been named “Event Guru” by Meetings News. Through his immense amount of industry experience Mr. Aaron has gained valuable knowledge on where the events industry is heading in the near future. His presentation consisted of various industry trends that are being used for both large and small scale events. Mr. Aaron discussed everything from décor options to innovative ideas that are shaping the way that the attendee experience is integrated into the event. It was a great chance for attendees to hear from a well known event professional that covers some of the most highly touted events in the country. It was a pleasure to have Mr. Aaron as our closing speaker.

This years MidAmerica Educational Conference was certainly one to remember, and as the surveys were reviewed it was evident that attendees were very pleased with the educational content that was provided. It is amazing that the MidAmerica committee is able to pull together such a well rounded event for their peers year in and year out. A special thank you goes out to Co-Chairs for the event, Barbara Burgie with the Ohio Chapter and Tina Bowling with Kentucky. The event could not have been possible without all of the assistance from all of the volunteers. Also, thank you to all of the attendees for their continued support of MPI. We look forward to seeing everyone next year with Lake Erie Shores & Islands at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky!