The educational sessions at the 2022 NEC were some of the best I have ever attended.  All of them were excellent.

My favorite was the closing, “Brand Like a Rock Star.” The speaker was Steve Jones of Stingray Radio.  He shared, very energetically, the lessons we can learn from the legends of rock ‘n’ roll.  He was full of enthusiasm and entertaining.  He showed us how to create a stronger and more successful organization, how to be flexible and resilient, and when and how to change.  I am so glad that I did not miss this session.

My next favorite was titled, “The Pivot: Cultivating an Agile Workforce in Times of Change.”  The speaker was Dr. Kelvin McCree, Laser Focus Leadership Solutions LLC.  McCree told us that it is time to rethink how we all work and to think differently about the potential of our employees.  He also quoted American philosopher and writer Eric Hoffer who said, “In times of change, the learners will inherit the earth, while the learned will live in a world that no longer exists.”

The breakout session entitled, “Unpacking Child Sex Trafficking: Red Flags, Indicators, and Action-oriented Reporting Practices.” was very eye-opening and educational.  The speaker, Staca Shehan, VP/Analytical Services Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, was very knowledgeable about this subject and explained how the hospitality industry has a unique opportunity to assist with detecting sex trafficking.  I have heard several speakers on this topic, and she was very informed and able to share a lot to help attendees understand the importance of being aware and reporting this information.

“Eating at a Meeting: From RFP to Service” included a multitude of information on different topics. Tracy Stuckrath, Founder of Thrive Meetings & Events, discussed RFPs, site inspections, dietary needs, BEOs, food and beverage, and allergies.  She also talked about how to include information on food requirements and allergies into the RFP.  This was something I have never included at that point in the process.  She was very informed on multiple areas of the process and shared this with attendees.

I want to thank SGMP for awarding me a scholarship to attend the conference.  It went by fast!  It was lots of fun, great networking, and full of information!  Thank you!

Joyce Fogg is a past president and current member of the SGMP Old Dominion Chapter. She is a communications manager for the Virginia Employment Commission.