EDUCATIONAL session schedule

A complete listing of 2016 Educational Sessions is listed below.

All sessions are included in the conference registration fee unless otherwise noted. Speaker bios are available by clicking on their name. Additional speakers may be announced at later dates. Room assignments and will be posted in the Mobile Event App (available for iPhone and Android in July 2016) and on Event Signage. Each session is labeled with a target experience level set by the speaker in order to help determine which sessions are appropriate for the attendee.

Wednesday, August 10th 9:00am - 11:00am

Opening Session Keynote - "Defining Moments"

Presented by Dave McGillivray, DMSE Sports

Everyone has a story to tell, and for Dave McGillivray, it was his strong desire to be an athlete that led to his run across the country at age 23 in 1978. Since then he has become one of the country’s top race directors and runs a sports management business that has overseen more than 900 events. He knows what it takes to complete an endurance event and also direct a major event – whether it’s the Boston Marathon or a local charity walk.  

That 80-day trek in 1978 across the United States led McGillivrary to a life of pushing himself both mentally and physically.  He is now Race Director of the BAA Boston Marathon and has directed many of the country’ most prestigious races such as the 2004 and 2008 US Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K, the Mt. Washington Road Race, the Harvard Pilgrim 10K at Patriot Place, the Run for the Dream in Williamsburg, Va. and now the famous New Balance Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod. He addresses audiences with a motivational account about what’s possible if you believe in yourself and your own ability to do the seemingly insurmountable.

Wednesday, August 10th 10:45am - 12:00pm

Yes You DO Need an App For that!
Presented By: David Anderson

Mobile Apps are essential to reach today's ever more connected customer, over 35% of whom never use a computer except their phone. In this session we'll look at why mobile apps are essential and the tools/methods you need to have one built for you as cost effectively as possible.

Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Session Category(s): Technology. Operations, Marketing, Communications
Room: Poinciana AB

Presented By: Joe McLeod

Whether addressing a crowded auditorium or a small team of executives in a board room, the ability to deliver a quality presentation is essential in today’s business world. With mobile devices and social media at our fingertips, it’s critical that speakers communicate in a way that will break through the distractions and connect with an audience in a meaningful way. In this session, Joe McLeod will share how storytelling, emotion, imagery, and brevity can be used to deliver a memorable message. He will cover some of the common public speaking mistakes made by professionals, and offer a few tips on how to reduce speech anxiety.

Presented By: Hardy Smith

This session will address the challenges affecting volunteer engagement. Specific action take-always will be shared for dealing with the revolving door of volunteers being recruited, trained, and replaced. Actions for implementing a successful volunteer involvement program will also be provided.

Attracting the Right Sponsors
Presented By: Evan Carroll

Aren't the right sponsors the ones who will pay? Perhaps so, if you only want one-time sponsors. But if you want renewals, you will take a different approach to prospecting and sales. The secret is creating alignments between your event goals and your sponsor's, integrating them into the fabric of your event.

Attendees will leave this session with the inspiration to:

• Create specialized and unique opportunities to showcase sponsors
• Attract attendees to sponsors in non-annoying ways
• Think outside the booth and integrate sponsor promotions into your event
• Build long-term strategic partnerships with your sponsors.

Session Category(s): Sponsorship
Room: Palm ABC

Presented By: Aubri Nowowiejski

If you are an experienced social media user looking to elevate your game, this session is for you! We'll cover: the difference between major social media platforms and how to tailor your message to the right audience; how to develop a social media strategy, with or without a budget; social selling 101; the newest platforms and how to capitalize; and some insider tips and tricks that you'll want to write down!

Wednesday, August 10th 1:45pm - 3:00pm

Presented By: Heather Warthen

Let a former award-winning newspaper editor turned event planner give you the in's and out's on how to market your events effectively with the help of local press and social media.

Best Practices for Sustainable Events
Facilitated by: Patti Hamilton; Panel: Patti Hammond, Rick Vymlatil

Events are highly resource-intensive, and can have negative environmental consequences for the host city and population. Globally, more and more events are being produced in an environmentally, socially and economically responsible way. Join this interactive panel for a discussion on ways to create a sustainable event plan that will not only reduce the negative environmental impact, but also leave a positive and lasting legacy for your local community.

Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Session Category(s): Operations
Room: Poinciana CD

Presented By: Stacey Wade

This interactive, hands-on session will cover how you can create POWerful Educational activities and programs for your next event. 

Presented By: Sylvia Allen

This session give you the road map to sponsorship success. What do sponsors want? How do you approach them? What your assets? Who do you approach? How do you close the sale? All of these topics will be covered in this fast paced session. Taught by sponsorship guru Sylvia Allen - you will not only learn, but you will have fun!

Presented By: Mary Swaffield

Just when you thought you couldn’t possibly use another social media platform, along came Periscope!  The video-streaming app is changing the way we experience events, and the possibilities for use are endless. Join Mary in this jam-packed, interactive session that will take you from “what’s Periscope” to “I can’t wait to use this!”  She’ll be covering how to use it, when to use it, and most importantly, why you should be using it as a strategic marketing tool in your events.  Bring your smart phone or tablet, as this is a hands-on session!

Wednesday, August 10th 3:15pm - 4:30pm

Getting the Most from Instagram
Presented By: Nick Borelli

Instagram's user base has grown faster than Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest combined. Learn how to get the most of this hugely powerful platform in the least amount of time. In this session you will learn:

• Learn why Instagram matters to your business.
• Creating your Instagram voice.
• How to get the right followers.
• Using Hashtags correctly without abusing them.
• Apps that schedule your posts and get your followers.

Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Session Category(s):Social Media, Marketing, Communications, Technology
Room: Poinciana AB

Presented By: John Melleky

Change is important for any festival or event.  But as you implement changes, what are some items you should consider.  Strategic planning is an important part of any organization and helps begin your change management process.  Setting a solid foundation for your organization to then implement changes in operational areas.  Considerations include the relationship of all operational areas and how change evolves throughout the entire organization and how it affects your own individual area.   This seminar includes real life case studies to help anyone in your organization understand the beginnings of change for an organization through proper planning and recognizing the importance of the relationship of all operational areas.

Presented By: Shanna Benson

Step by step process development to work through event problems and roadblocks. Discover ways to increase volunteer base, create more buzz and more with this interactive lecture and peer workshop. Work through current problems your event is facing and help troubleshoot peer event issues.

Presented By: Jessica Bybee

Millennials...does the very word make you cringe? Marketers everywhere are scrambling to understand what drives and inspires this younger generation's habits. In fact, you've probably been to a session or two about how to reach millennials or work with millennials- but have you ever heard a millennials side of the story? Join Jessica as she presents an interesting twist on how to market to this extremely lucrative audience. Leave with the millennial mystery finally solved!

Thursday, August 11th 9:15am - 10:30am

Getting the Most from your Volunteer Program
Presented By: Cindy Blackburn, Festival Solutions Consultant, Vendini; Jennifer Brown, Senior Account Executive, Vendini;

The average FFEA member organization has 3 full-time employees and utilizes over 275 volunteers per year. Whether you're throwing a festival, concert, fair, or operating a venue, you're using volunteers in some form or another. But if uncoordinated and unplanned, a volunteer program can quickly unravel and become not only ineffective, but also a potentially litigious situation. In this session, you'll learn how to get the most out of your volunteers, how to organize your program and general volunteer best practices.

Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Session Category(s): Operations, Volunteers
Room: Poinciana AB

Zag When Others Zig
Presented By: Sharon Fisher

Is your event starting to Zig – repeating the same tried and true formula as last year (or even worse, as your competitors)?  If so, it’s time to ask yourself: “What if I Zag in a different direction?”  When you're serious about innovating, you need fresh ideas to improve your mental agility and fuel the process. In this hands-on session, you’ll practice real-world strategies for expanding and sharpening your creative output.  Tools such as IdeaLeaping & Assumption Busting let you banish bland, worthless brainstorming and learn the tips and tricks of creative giants.  You'll discover how to jumpstart idea generation, so your brainstorming sessions are fast, focused and productive.  Are you ready to Zag?    

Presented By: John Melleky

Any festival needs to rely on vendors for activities, food, merchandise, or even as a main component of the event itself.  Learn all aspects of vendor management from soliciting vendors for your event, communications, vendor roles in your event, legal issues, and after action items to build these important relationships.

Presented By: Kris Mathis

According to a SponsorPitch survey, 95% of sponsorship sellers say they spend more than 1 hour researching a sponsor before submitting a proposal and nearly 60% spend more than 2 hours. With sellers devoting so much time to research, and with sponsors increasingly requiring customized proposals, finding the right partners faster from a universe of possibilities is the name of the game.  Kris Mathis, CEO of SponsorPitch.com, will give you sponsorship prospecting tips and tricks as well as take Q&A at the end of this session.

Presented By: Kevin McNulty

When an emergency strikes, whether your event or your whole area, customers flock to social media for information... do you have a plan to give it to them? In the absence of accurate and timely information, people will fill in their own blanks, and you can't afford for that to happen. That's why it's critical to have a crisis communication plan that includes social media. In this workshop, social media veteran Kevin McNulty will take you through the steps of forming and executing your plan to stay ahead of the game when seconds count.

Thursday, August 11th 1:30pm - 2:45pm

Presented By: Jayson Lynn

In this session we will go through the top ten best ways to utilize various social media outlets and online programs to lock-in and grow your attendees. We will also go through in some "dishonorable mentions" of things no event should do with their social media tools.

Facilitated By: Cinde Martin, Panel: Rita Lincoln, Mary Pinak

Ever wondered what it takes to create nationally award winning programs and campaigns? Want to be inspired by some of the winners that you just saw on stage at the Sunsational Awards Ceremony? Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A with event leaders who consistently rank high among their peers and win awards at the state, national and international level.

Presented By: John Harris

SB 698 brings some changes to the laws regarding Temporary Liquor Licensing for Special Events that counties, municipalities, non-profit organizations and Civic groups need to be aware of. John Harris, a veteran with the ABT will review these changes and what they mean for your events.

Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Session Category(s): Sponsorship
Room: Palm ABC

Presented By: John Jamason

There are few things more uncomfortable than facing the media unprepared. And, lack of preparation can create more than discomfort. Legal issues can be involved. This training will explore the best ways to interface with the media and how to avoid a host of pitfalls. Discussion includes: understanding the media’s rights under the Sunshine Law; responding effectively to media inquiries; interview techniques; recognizing leading questions and media trickery; developing an effective media policy; and a hint of social media. This program is designed for field workers and those who have contact with the media but are not fortunate enough to have a fulltime PIO to rely on for guidance.

Thursday, August 11th 3:00pm - 4:15pm

Presented By:Todd L'Herrou

How can you know how many people attend your non-ticketed event? What are the demographics of attendees? Who looks at your sponsor banners/promotions/activities? We will explore these topics, using the 2016 Delray Affair as an example. A unique technological solution as well as more traditional approaches will be discussed.

LinkedIn has become the leading website for professional networking and the preferred search tool for professionals and executives. Knowing how to use it most effectively is therefore of critical importance for your business planning. Recently LinkedIn introduced several design changes that you need to be aware of to use the website to its best potential. 

Thomas will conduct an extensive analysis of LinkedIn best practices and critical success factors for effective web presence. In this advanced user LinkedIn presentation he will share his key insights on these topics:  

• Basic understanding and critical factors of the VALUE of LinkedIn
• How to set-up a profile that is PROFESSIONAL (It's NOT FACEBOOK!!)
• Empowering LinkedIn innovations and how to control this for  your online presence
• Leverage LinkedIn and its Professional networking for your career & company advancement

• Implementing the "So What, Who Cares?" factor to impress those looking at your profile
• Modifying your profile to make it "Public & Professional" - The "Ghost Factor" - are you one? 

This will be a “Live – hands-on” event so please prepared to bring your Laptop or Tablet enabling you to be more informed and empowered!

Threat & Risk Management for the Event Professional
Presented by: Michael Julian

What happens when there is an active threat against your event, or even worse, a violent attack? What is your responsibility as an event professional? Where can you find information and training for threat management? How can you prepare? It's a topic that leaves us cold, but one that we need to learn about and prepare to handle should the situation arise. Statistics tell us that active threats are on the rise worldwide and the probability is increasing that the event professional may have to deal with some form of threat during their career. The absolute worst thing to do is to deny that the opportunity exists for terror or violence to strike during an event. There are many situations that drive people to the unthinkable. The good news is that you can be prepared.  "In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt 

In this session you will learn about active threat situations, the psychology of an active shooter, and the steps you can take that may save lives.

• What you as an event professional can do to increase guest safety when a credible threat has been made against your event.  How to create a safer scenario to decrease the chance of catastrophe
• Understand your legal obligation in the face of a threat.
• Learn why preparedness training is integral for a survival mindset.

Presented By: Kevin Grothe

An in depth look at how a 24-year sponsor started out at a very modest level and became an event's premier sponsor. Examination will include unique sponsor activation elements, planning and benefits to both the sponsor and event.

Presented By: Bill Fife

You work all year to put on an Amazing event - but what if no one shows up? We don't all have huge budgets to spend on marketing and advertising. This session will walk you through some methods to promote your event without breaking the bank.

Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Session Category(s): Marketing
Room: Palm DEF