This week is pretty special in my books -- especially having helped launched the evolution of strategic meetings management over the past decade or so.
You see, Nov. 2-6 is Core Week #1 of the NBTA's Strategic Meetings Management Certification (SMMC) program, being taught in Atlanta at Emory University. My friend and a true SMM pioneer, Kari Knoll Kesler (she was lead developer of SMMC and a former co-chair of the Groups & Meetings Committe of NBTA) is busy teaching. But we've managed to keep in touch via e-mail this week, and I'll share a line that I think best describes her excitement: "You would be AMAZED if you were here – it almost brings me to tears how cool this is – 20 brilliant industry pioneers..."
From afar, I'm proud to see SMMC take off, not only because I had an instrumental role in creating it when I formed the NBTA G&MC in '01 -- but also because I'm witnessing the hard work of my colleagues pay off. They were also deeply committed to the notion of professional certification, just like CCTE.
Here's an overview of what Kari's teaching this week. Wish I could be a fly on the wall:
- A guide to identifying and recruiting internal stakeholders, and how
to manage customer expectations
- Training in communication and leadership
- How to integrate business functions with select SMMP components
- Building a business case for an SMMP
- Policy development and compliance
Let's all wish her good luck and a smashing success this first round, continued interest among travel and procurement folks in going for this professional designation, and of course, the growth of the SMMC program itself.
Curious about what an SMMP can do for your company? Check out this StarCite whitepaper on how hidden meetings expenditures can hobble your cost-control efforts.
If any of you attended Core Week #1, I'd be thrilled to hear your impressions!
You see, Nov. 2-6 is Core Week #1 of the NBTA's Strategic Meetings Management Certification (SMMC) program, being taught in Atlanta at Emory University. My friend and a true SMM pioneer, Kari Knoll Kesler (she was lead developer of SMMC and a former co-chair of the Groups & Meetings Committe of NBTA) is busy teaching. But we've managed to keep in touch via e-mail this week, and I'll share a line that I think best describes her excitement: "You would be AMAZED if you were here – it almost brings me to tears how cool this is – 20 brilliant industry pioneers..."
From afar, I'm proud to see SMMC take off, not only because I had an instrumental role in creating it when I formed the NBTA G&MC in '01 -- but also because I'm witnessing the hard work of my colleagues pay off. They were also deeply committed to the notion of professional certification, just like CCTE.
Here's an overview of what Kari's teaching this week. Wish I could be a fly on the wall:
- A guide to identifying and recruiting internal stakeholders, and how
to manage customer expectations
- Training in communication and leadership
- How to integrate business functions with select SMMP components
- Building a business case for an SMMP
- Policy development and compliance
Let's all wish her good luck and a smashing success this first round, continued interest among travel and procurement folks in going for this professional designation, and of course, the growth of the SMMC program itself.
Curious about what an SMMP can do for your company? Check out this StarCite whitepaper on how hidden meetings expenditures can hobble your cost-control efforts.
If any of you attended Core Week #1, I'd be thrilled to hear your impressions!
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