What makes a team building session engaging, interactive, and fun for everyone? We know that “teamwork makes the dream work” but all too often, team building activities can cause hesitation, anxiety or feel like a waste of time. In this episode I am joined by Matt May, founder and CEO of Premier Team Building & Interactive Experiences, who shares why effective team building is so beneficial, especially in today’s remote-work world. Tune in to hear what led Matt into this unique line of work, learn some team building dos and dont’s, and discover why hiring a professional is your key to a successful experience.  After several years producing and facilitating corporate team building programs for a variety of companies throughout the USA, Mexico, and Canada, Matt May recognized that there was an alternate way to provide individuals and corporations with engaging, interactive experiences. As a result, he created Premier Team Building & Interactive Experiences, in 2017, delivering programs nation-wide, and abroad. As the company’s president, he is responsible for the design & development of its team building and interactive experiences, overseeing the production and facilitation of these programs, customer support, and staff training. In addition to having produced and facilitated hundreds of large and small-group team building experiences, in his career, May has served as a producer, director, manager, administrator, educator, and consultant for various event and live entertainment, theatrical, and educational organizations. Matt is the co-author/producer of the award-winning theatrical musical comedy DIEGO & DREW SAY I DO. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Theatre Arts and Arts Administration, and a Master of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Arts. A sought-after speaker and published author, Matt excitedly shares his passions and experiences in his book, Take The Fear Out Of Team Building.

Do single employees get the short end of the stick when it comes to office policies and politics? In her second visit to The Room Block, Colleen Brzozowski joins me to share her experience as a single in the workplace and explains why it led her to develop and present a talk on the subject for the 2022 SITE Global Conference in Dublin, Ireland. Whatever age or stage of life you’re at, being single creates some unique situations that should be considered in the workplace as well as in the world of business and incentive travel. As we continue to focus our efforts on being more inclusive in today’s world, be sure to keep in mind this large and growing segment of the employee population when it comes to boosting job satisfaction, retention and mental wellness. Colleen Brzozowski, CIS, CITP has 25+ years of experience in the hospitality industry, and is currently Director of Venue Sales with Sodexho Live! overseeing the Sales Teams at the Museum of Science & Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Past positions have included on-property as well as Global Sales positions for Hotel companies as well as Representation Firms and National Sales for a DMC organization. She values engagement in industry associations and has held several key leadership positions including the International Board of Directors for SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence), 2020 President of SITE Chicago and Chair of the HPAC (Hospitality Partner Advisory Council) for FICP (Financial and Insurance Conference Planners). The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) is the only Business Events association dedicated exclusively to the global incentive travel industry. SITE has 2500+ members in 90 countries with 29 local chapters. The SITE Global Conference that took place in April 2022 in Dublin, Ireland featured the breakout session presented by Colleen Brzozowski, “Table for One –  Why the Diversity and Inclusive Discussion Should Include Singles in the Workplace.”

What is experiential design and how can it help the events and hospitality industry? In this episode of The Room Block I am joined by Mallory Gott, Owner and Creative Director of G + A, An Experiential Design Firm which helps transform clients such as restaurants, bars, and other boutique hospitality event and brand experiences through their feelings-led 4D Framework.  Mal explains how experiential design helps your customers develop an emotional connection to your brands and businesses, as well as uncover solutions to challenges big and small. If you haven’t yet considered what you want it to feel like for your customers to experience your brand, then Mallory Gott is here to guide the way. After years designing experiences of all kinds (events, conferences, trade shows, learning programs, pop-ups, training, and more) for some of the world’s most discerning audiences, Mallory Gott, founder + creative director of G+A, realized that her approach – identifying the feelings she wanted an experience to evoke and then reverse-engineering those feelings through intentional design of each facet of the experience – was anything but typical. From her unorthodox style, The 4D Framework was born and Mallory began guiding clients through the experience design thinking process, salvaging events, products, and services that seemed beyond help. By focusing on emotion and desire first, working solutions instead of solving problems, and emphasizing intuitively-based decision making over a data-or-die mentality, G+A quickly amassed a portfolio of experiential design success stories helping client after client rediscover their innate magic to fantastic results and resounding success! Read about how to apply G + A’s 4D Framework to find a solution to any challenge by checking out this blog post. Learn more about The Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway.

In this role-reversal episode of The Room Block I’ve invited Courtney Stanley of Courtney Stanley Consulting, LLC to help me officially launch and share exciting updates about my new venture, JTS Connect, LLC. Courtney takes the reins as guest host to interview me for the full story behind JTS Connect, as well as chat about how meaningful conversations can change the world and why being your own boss is so challenging yet so rewarding at the same time. Tune in to learn about what I’ve been up to, and how Courtney has been a guiding light as I continue down my new path.  Jen Salerno, CMP, DES is the owner of JTS Connect, LLC, which provides emcee, moderation and facilitation services for live, virtual and hybrid events, as well as podcast hosting and consultation. She is also host of The Room Block, the podcast where hospitality and event professionals meet. Jen is passionate about the way meetings and events can positively impact the world, and is ready to connect your team or audience with ideas that inspire action. Jen spent over 20 years in various facets of the hospitality & events industry and has worked with and consulted for several major hotel brands, meeting professionals and event organizers. Through this experience, Jen has the ability to understand the different priorities of her customers and brings extensive knowledge of the industry to help achieve them. Jen’s hospitable background enables her to engage with any guest or audience in a genuine, authentic way, building a sense of community within your organization or event.  Jen continues to partner with key event industry organizations such as the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and is an active volunteer with the Greater Midwest Chapter. She is also a proud associate of conferenceemcees.com. Courtney Stanley of Courtney Stanley Consulting, LLC is recognized globally as an award-winning changemaker, keynote speaker and event emcee, and acclaimed creator of the women-inspired podcast, Dare to Interrupt. With a background in experience design, leadership studies and business hospitality, Courtney helps ambitious professionals from all walks of life lean fiercely into the power of leading with empathy, advocating for themselves and others, and seizing “silver lining” opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Courtney is the youngest member to have ever been elected to Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) International Board of Directors. She is the recipient of Smart Meetings’ 2020 Women in Events Entrepreneur Award, Meetings Today’s 2019 & 2020 Trendsetter Award, MeetingsNet’s 2019 Changemaker Award, the Association for Women in Events (AWE) 2018 Disruptor Award, the 2015 MPI Chairman’s Award and 2011 MPI RISE Award, named Collaborate and Connect Magazine’s 40 under 40 in 2011, and is recognized as one of the event industry’s most impactful change-makers. Courtney serves on the Events Industry Sexual Harassment Task Force, MPI’s Women’s Advisory Board, is a Meetings Mean Business Ambassador and is the co-founder of the award-winning movement, #MeetingsToo. You can find Courtney on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @courtneyonstage and Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/courtneystanley Learn more by visiting www.courtney-stanley.com Referenced in episode: Keri Kelly of Keri Kelly Photography David Kliman of The Kliman Group Judi Holler and the Yes, And Podcast  

Are you using data in a way that drives maximum impact for your organization? Most of us are aware that data is something to collect and analyze, and that it can guide us towards making the right decisions. To Steve Gabourel, Principal Investigator of SG Insights, however, data is a science and an art. After years of consulting for organizations that hold annual meetings he sees data as a way to communicate with and serve those who matter the most to your business – your community of employees, attendees, guests and members. After listening to this episode you’ll find that some of the biggest questions and challenges your organization faces can be solved by taking the first, or next, step of your data journey.  Stephen Gabourel is a social science professional specializing in mixed methods research to provide quantitative and qualitative insights.  His work with associations and participation in the strategic evaluation process of their meetings and events has given him the opportunity to navigate and enrich his knowledge of dozens of industries and sectors. Stephen is the Principal Investigator and Founder of SG Insights (SGi), a business formed to help empower organizations with data to drive decision-making processes which help them grow, prosper, and enhance the impacts they make in their respective communities or industries. When he is not working you might find him spending time at the beach, hanging with family, traveling, or doing anything else to learn, strategize, or create.  Learn more at sginsights.net.  The Room Block can also be found on Hospitality.FM. 

Why is it important for a hotel general manager to practice gratitude? The recovery of our industry depends on it. Despite the many challenges that’ve plagued the hospitality industry over the last 2 years and into today, Neil DeGuia, Complex General Manager and Chief Enthusiast of the Hilton Garden Inn and Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop greets each day with optimism, resilience, and confidence that he can guide his team through anything that comes their way. He can do this because he’s chosen to learn from and be thankful for every opportunity and challenge that he’s encountered. Supported by the team at Aimbridge Hospitality for the last 19 years, Neil’s story reminds us why the hospitality industry is worth fighting for and shows us how gratitude is a powerful game changer. About Neil DeGuia: A native of the Chicagoland suburb of Schaumburg, Neil DeGuia’s passion for hospitality is unparalleled and has bloomed over two decades in key roles including General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Deerfield, General Manager of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Lombard Oak Brook, and the General Manager at Aloft – Chicago O’Hare. For his efforts and ingenuity in providing an unmatched experience, DeGuia’s talent has shined in his work and as such, he has been named a nominee of Hotel Management Magazine “GM to Watch”, as well as a nominee for Aimbridge Hospitality’s GM of the Year three times over. DeGuia has brought his infectious warmth and vast experience to his new role as the Complex General Manager of the Canopy and Hilton Garden Chicago Central Loop Hotel, which opened in 2021.  He has been with Aimbridge Hospitality, the largest 3rd party hotel operator in the country for 19 years and is currently on his 9th project with the company. Connect with Neil on LinkedIn or via email at neil.deguia@hilton.com. www.chicagocentralloop.canopybyhilton.com www.chicagocentralloop.hgi.com IG: @canopychiloop and @hgichiloop

In this episode of The Room Block I am joined by Jolene Jang, Asian Inclusivity Expert and #StopAsianHate advocate. Jolene gives us a glimpse into current Asian American concerns and explains how Asian American lives are being affected by hate – as well as why this matters to the hospitality and events industry. In this honest and raw conversation, Jolene Jang speaks up for the many who can’t, or won’t speak for themselves, for reasons that you will hear about in this episode.  As hospitality workers, meeting and event organizers, and community builders who truly care about the experiences of our guests, colleagues and customers, listen in to hear how you can do your part to #StopAsianHate. Jolene Jang, Asian Inclusivity Expert, creates workplace cultures where Asian employees feel like they belong.  She equips employees with knowledge and skills to integrate Asian inclusivity into your daily practices.  Your company will attract and retain more Asian clients and employees, and tap into the fastest growing ethnic market in the US.  Many corporations are not aware of the fastest growing buying power – that of Asian Americans. She sheds light on these unexplored profits and possibilities and how to appeal to Asians. She created Empowered Asians Facebook group providing a safe place for Asians to find support, speak up, and make their voices heard.  She created Asian Allies Group, a weekly drop-in discussion and on-going Facebook group for non-Asians to learn about the impact of Anti-Asian Hate, how to amplify Asian voices, and how to build safer, more inclusive communities. Jolene is an energetic, entrepreneurial, curious, do it yourselfer, swing dancing, Japanese, Chinese, Swedish American Seattleite. In her 25 years of business as an entrepreneur, most of her professional career was in corporate team building, maximizing meetings and speaking on innovation for Fortune 500 companies. Jolene thrives on stepping into the unknown and dabbling in the differences. She pops into new environments where she doesn’t belong in order to meet people she wouldn’t bump into, discover topics she hasn’t heard of, and this results in experiences she has not dreamt of. The value of comfort zone pushing besides feeling alive is getting a window into other people’s lives and building community. This sparks a surge of creativity she uses to innovate. Jolene fought and inspired others to get a law passed and succeeded in all 50 states. She is a three-term Past President of the Washington Chapter of the National Speakers Association and 3 term event chair and founding board member of the Seattle international Live Events Association. Jolene has been interviewed by  Oprah, the Today Show, and Good Morning America. Website: https://jolenejang.com/ Youtube: subscribe https://www.youtube.com/c/JoleneJang/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jolenejanghappy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolenejang/ Empowered Asians Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredasians Asian Allies Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/asianallies To support the cause, to keep Asian Americans safe, support https://www.patreon.com/jolenejang

March is Women’s History Month, which is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. In this episode of The Room Block, I celebrate Anca Trifan, founder and CEO of Tree-fan Events, a woman-led boutique event planning and production agency. Anca is a podcast host, content creator and storyteller who builds lasting connections by unapologetically being herself – even if that means being a woman in a male-dominated field. Anca explains how she turned her dreams into reality and why she feels so strongly about being a cheerleader for every role that goes into making an event an outstanding experience for all. After you hear Anca’s story, you will see why she is a woman to be celebrated not just this month, but every month.  Anca Trifan, CMP, DES is the founder, creator and CEO for Tree-Fan Events – a woman-owned, boutique technical event planning and production agency that provides the strategy, technology and gear to host a successful virtual or hybrid event. Anca has worked in event productions for almost twenty years and has extensive experience and knowledge in the areas of technical event productions, event planning, event design, event management, and will happily walk you through the entire event planning and production process with the highest level of standards to design a perfect and seamless event. She is a Certified Event Professional, a Digital Event Strategist and the recipient of the 2022 40 under 40 Biz Bash Connect Corporate Meetings Awards. Anca is the Host of “Events: demystified”, a tactical podcast for anyone in the events industry, beginner or pro, where entrepreneurs, event professionals, influencers and event industry leaders from the events community share their personal & professional experiences with her audience. Anca is the Founder of the online community, Women in Events (Tech + Prod), a platform that advocates for women in the technology and production world, a passion fueled by a deep conviction that there’s need for more women role models in the production event world. Volunteer Experience: Anca sits on the board of Idaho Women in Technology, Unity Ministries, and has volunteered her time in planning events produced by Idaho Non-profit Center, She Tech, Boise Entrepreneur Week, and Meeting Professionals Internationals.    

What makes a live event worth your time and money to attend? Author, speaker and MIT instructor Mark Herschberg has been to his fair share of conferences and joins me in The Room Block to chat through the elements an in-person conference needs to provide the value attendees are looking for in today’s content-saturated, virtual world. From event design that drives networking to special touches above and beyond the usual swag, by the end of this episode you’ll walk away with some new tools for your next event, and maybe even your next must-read book or keynote speaker.  Mark Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You, which provides actionable advice to all levels of professionals in the areas of Career, Leadership & Management and Interpersonal Dynamics. From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia. He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT’s “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. At MIT, he received a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and a M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science, focusing on cryptography. At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He also works with many non-profits, including Techie Youth and Plant A Million Corals. He was one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where he is known for his social gatherings, including his annual Halloween party, as well as his diverse cufflink collection. Blog post referenced in the episode: Creating Engaging Conferences Your Attendees Will Love Download The Career Toolkit App for free here!

Have you ever noticed how our past life experiences can end up contributing to our future in a significant way? Jeff Civillico is an event emcee & keynote speaker who joined me in The Room Block to share how performing juggling shows in his kitchen as a child led him to become a Las Vegas headliner, philanthropist, and corporate entertainer. In this episode, you will hear how Jeff’s early experiences, lessons, and struggles evolved into what are now his biggest strengths. Jeff’s ability to perform under pressure and engage an audience alongside a willingness to work really hard make him to stand out as an entertainer and enable him to be a true partner to the meeting professionals and event venues he works with.  Jeff Civillico recently celebrated a 10-year run on the Las Vegas Strip as a Headliner with Caesars Entertainment at the iconic hotel properties The LINQ, The Flamingo, and The Paris. His clean, family-friendly “Comedy in Action” show remains highly acclaimed: voted “Best of Las Vegas” three years in a row by the Las Vegas Review Journal, named “Entertainer of the Year” by Vegas Inc, and honored by his fans with a 5-star rating on Yelp, Ticketmaster, and Google. Jeff now takes his renowned clean comedy show to live, virtual, and hybrid corporate events and conferences globally. Having been featured in national publications including Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, Jeff also serves as a Host Personality and Keynote Speaker for major corporations, associations and nonprofit organizations. When Jeff is not on stage or on camera, he is working on the continued expansion of his national nonprofit Win-Win Entertainment. Win-Win Entertainment brings smiles to children who need them in hospitals by arranging in-person and virtual visits from performers, athletes, and celebrities. http://www.jeffcivillico.com | @jeffcivillico http://winwinentertainment.org | @winwincharity

Events are taking place in-person again, and many of us are more than ready to attend. But what about those of us who aren’t yet ready, or simply can’t attend in person? Fortunately and as event professionals know, there are numerous virtual event platforms to choose from, each with their own special features, or as my guest puts it, “superpowers.” Hoyin Cheung is the founder & CEO of Remo, an online interactive events platform whose superpower is the ability to transform the experience of connecting, communicating, and collaborating with people across the globe by “humanizing” online interactions. Hoyin joins me in The Room Block to chat about how his desire to create a more connected global workforce morphed into a business model that is now serving the events industry. Hoyin Cheung is an entrepreneurial visionary with a knack for being ahead of the curve. Accurately predicting the social and psychological harms associated with Social Media, he moved on from his successful Social Media agency to pursue the future of humanized digital interactions. He went on to pioneer technology and ground-breaking concepts in remote work and real-time virtual collaboration. In just over a year, Hoyin has grown Remo, from 5 to over 100 members all working globally. He is currently passionate about creating authentic conversations that drive meaningful relationships in the most human way possible with the help of technology.

Sometimes we get stuck in certain areas of our life because we can’t see other options. Amanda Zahner, a former event planner who is now Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of the Haus of {&} joins me in The Room Block to share her journey to recovery and how she changed her life by unlocking new doors. My conversation with Amanda is about possibility. The unknown options we have, the surprising ways we find the courage to explore them, overcoming our hidden demons (some of which run rampant in the events industry), and what happens when we choose to do what serves us and eliminate what doesn’t. Amanda Zahner is the Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of the Haus of {&}. Haus of {&} is a mindset, methodology, and lifestyle brand on a mission to help you open the door to possibility. You can usually find her in Cincinnati (her hometown) or Chicago, the cities where the people she loves the most live. Credentials are boring so if you want to learn about her education, work history, and anything else for that matter, just consult the knower of all things, Google, where you can find her various social profiles. You can also check out Amanda’s website by visiting amandazahner.com. IG:  @amandazahner IG:  @hausofand Join the Haus of & Fam Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/fearboss Connect with Amanda on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011699268416 Previous podcast episode referenced can be found here: https://roomblockpodcast.com/podcast/boss-up-and-show-up-to-level-up-with-judi-holler-and-courtney-stanley/

Those who are actively having conversations in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space know that the work is ongoing. So, how can we move into 2022 with a continued sense of purpose that builds upon what’s been done so far? In this episode I am joined by Cherai Lewis of the Cherai Lewis Consulting Group and Tamara Jones, Senior Director, Association & Tradeshow Sales at Choose Chicago. Cherai and Tamara are both founding members of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Greater Midwest Chapter’s IDE Task Force that was formed in 2020. Now, as we are moving into 2022 and it’s 3rd year, Cherai and Tamara are here to talk about how we can move these conversations out of task forces and committees and into the rest of society, seamlessly. Instead of digging deeper into a few select topics with a few select people, the path to a collective “unconscious consciousness” may be broader than it seems.  Listen to the origin story of the GMC PCMA IDE Task Force at: https://roomblockpodcast.com/podcast/doing-the-work-a-look-inside-an-ide-task-force-with-yolanda-simmons-battle-jatare-barrett-and-alli-shebek/ Cherai M. Lewis, CMP, CTS has been in the live events profession for most of her career.  She has served as a sales consultant for event strategists, representing hotel brands, destination management organizations (DMOs) and an audiovisual company.  During her tenure with the YMCA of the USA, Cherai switched hats to become the event strategist, engaging with volunteer leaders and C-Suite execs to produce various Y Movement-driven conferences and events.  Most recently, Cherai scaled a start-up division within Steelcase, helping clients reimagine a richer participant engagement experience through unique spatial design for business events.   Cherai has recently launched The Office Politics Playbook, a training course for female professionals designed to help them navigate through the political pitfalls we all encounter at work to the peace of thriving in your career. She also supports organizations with facilitation, strategic planning, and project management services through Cherai Lewis Consulting Group, Inc.  Cherai enjoys expanding her burgeoning culinary skills, volunteering with live events industry organizations and cherishing her relationships with friends and family. Tamara Jones started her hospitality career as a waitress/bartender while attending college in Minnesota. While not pursuing a Hospitality Management major, Tamara found a true passion for the industry. This led her to positions at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis and opening Hilton hotels in both Omaha and Baltimore. In 2009 Tamara was asked to join the Hiltons of Chicago Sales Complex. She represented the hotels for 6 years then moved her focus to Choose Chicago. Choose Chicago is the sales and marketing arm for convention sales in the city of Chicago. Tamara joined the team in April 2015 and has been there since. She represents the fabulous city of Chicago and works diligently to bring major medical, sports, tradeshows and other large conventions to McCormick Place Convention Center; the largest convention center in the Western Hemisphere. She is on the Greater Midwest Chapter PCMA Executive Committee as Treasurer for 2022-2023 and part of the foundation of creating the Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Task Force, now a Committee, for the chapter.

When you want to increase engagement or foster connections at your company or event, where do you turn? Thom Singer, otherwise known as “The Conference Catalyst” is all about community, collaboration, and connection. As the host of several podcasts and a celebrated keynote speaker and event emcee, Thom has a passion for connection and a strong awareness of the power of meetings & events and all who make them happen. Join me in The Room Block to hear how networking led Thom to his dream career, why he values this industry as much as he does, and the value an emcee can bring to your event. Thom Singer is an advisor to executives, a speaker and content creator. After a successful career in sales and marketing, he became a growth leadership speaker in 2009. A decade later he has brought his high energy presentations and action-oriented content to over 950 audiences. Thom knows that as the speaker or master of ceremonies he has a responsibility to set the tone for a strong conference attendee experience. Known as “The Conference Catalyst” he creates an atmosphere of fun and interaction that lasts beyond his presentation. In this role he does not simply speak and leave, but is engaged with the participants before, during, and after the conference. Thom earned his Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) in 2014 and is committed to the business of meetings.  He is the author of 12 books and is the host of two podcasts, “Making Waves at C-Level”  and “The Digital Enterprise Society Podcast”.  On these shows he has interviewed over 550 business leaders and others with a focus on discovering how the most successful people get farther across the gap between potential and results. He and his wife make their home in Austin, Texas and are the parents of two highly-spirited daughters. Website: thomsinger.com  

It’s safe to say that the world has changed quite a bit over the last 20 months and some of us may be a bit rusty when it comes to showing our appreciation for those who make our lives easier and provide quality, dependable service. No need to worry; today’s timely episode will help make your holidays a bit brighter so you can stress less. I am pleased to welcome Nancy O’Brien, Founder & CEO of The Magnetic Truth back to The Room Block to chat through her 2021 Guide to Holiday Tipping. Nancy advises how to express gratitude to those we do business with on a regular basis, and also offers guidance on how to best support our hospitality community for those of us traveling over the next few months. Happy tipping! Sign up to receive the 2021 Guide to Holiday Tipping here. Nancy O’Brien is an Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker and the CEO & Founder of The Magnetic Truth Advisory, LLC, a personal performance advisory dedicated to assisting clients in successfully navigating corporate and social landscapes with the necessary skills and confidence to achieve personal and professional goals. Clients master subtle, yet critical interpersonal skills by enhancing soft skills that hit hard on the bottom line. The Advisory serves a clientele including colleges students, professional athletes, newly minted MBA’s, mid-level managers, C-Suite executives and corporate sales forces focused on achieving more and distinguishing themselves from the competition. Prior to founding The Magnetic Truth Advisory, LLC, Ms. O’Brien enjoyed an award-winning career in sales and marketing with over 25 years of experience in hospitality, destination marketing and consumer brands/B2B including senior sales and leadership roles at Garrett Brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Choose Chicago and Tishman Hotel Corporation.  Ms. O’Brien is a multi-year recipient of Starwood Hotels & Resorts prestigious Sales Executive of the Year award, and Executive Leadership Award. Throughout her career she has cultivated strong client relationships, mentored countless individuals, and created meaningful connections while driving significant results. A native of Chicago, Ms. O’Brien holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from DePaul University and a license to instruct intercultural etiquette and protocol from the renown Protocol School of Washington. Additionally, Ms. O’Brien is a member of the Driehaus College of Business School of Hospitality Leadership Council, Vistage International Trusted Advisor Group, Greater Chicago Food Depository volunteer and former member of the United Way Women United. Ms. O’Brien and her husband, Ken Widelka, reside in Chicago and enjoy traveling, cooking, cycling, hiking, and spending time with their two sons.

After more than 2 decades working in the hospitality and events industry, Deanna Nwosu chose to step out on her own during the pandemic. Today, she is Founder and Event Strategist at Deanna Camille, which assists organizations with all aspects of virtual and in-person events. What makes somebody take the uncertain step of becoming a solopreneur during such an uncertain time for the events industry? Deanna has the answers, and they all come down to a deep trust in, and knowledge of, yourself. If you’re somebody who loves being challenged, takes immense pride in your work, and isn’t afraid to bet on yourself then Deanna Nwosu is somebody you should know. A perfect storm led to the creation of Deanna Camille; let this episode show you that planting even the tiniest of seeds can eventually yield the most fruitful results.  Deanna Nwosu is a hostess at heart. This led to her career in event planning which allows her to coordinate countless opportunities to connect with clients, vendors and stakeholders across all social strata. With more than 20 years of customer service related work, taking care of clients, members and attendees is second-nature and the driving force behind her work. A CMP since 2017, and a DES recipient, Deanna is also an active member of Meeting Professionals International, serving on the RISE Awards committee globally, and the Director of Marketing for the Ohio chapter.  In 2020 she launched DeannaCamille.com offering event industry strategy, public speaking and emcee services. As a mom of two girls and born and bred Ohio girl, Deanna is always dreaming of a beach vacation. Follow Deanna on Instagram @deannacamille20 Listen to the Experience Junkies Podcast

Many people who work in the events industry may be prone to stress and burnout, but Will Curran is not one of them. As Founder and Chief Event Einstein of Endless Events, Will seems to have found the antidote: do what you love and what you’re good at. Will loves the career and life that he’s designed so much that he almost makes it sound easy to produce in-person, virtual, and hybrid events for a portfolio of over 1,000 customers. While I know that’s not the case, I have a feeling this episode will show you that there are truly endless possibilities to living the life you desire. During his stay in The Room Block I asked Will why people love him and his company so much, how he became “THE guy” in the event tech space, and what he learned from starting Endless Events when he was just 17 years old.  You’ll hear from Will that one of his specialties is taking things that seem complex or even impossible and demystifying them, and realize that he has used that skill to create a life of true happiness. Will Curran has been named one of the most influential people in the meeting & events industry, one of the 40 under 40 event industry leaders, 35 entrepreneurs under the age of 35, and Inc Magazine’s Coolest College Start-up all before graduating college. Will has been producing in-person and virtual events since high school when he started his first company and has now worked in the production of large event clients such as Emerald City Comicon, Anheuser-Busch, Warner Brothers, Morton Salt & Uber. His team’s mission is to simplify the event planning process by creating the equation for an event’s perfect solution. They also relentlessly seek to be the name in customer service in the events industry. From event logistics to business development to technical production, Will Curran has a diverse background in growing events and companies to the next level. Where to find Will: Twitter: @itswillcurran Instagram: @itswillcurran Facebook: fb.me/thewillcurran LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/willcurran Where to find Endless Events: Twitter: @helloendless Instagram: @helloendless Facebook: facebook.com/helloendless LinkedIn: linkedin.com/companies/helloendless

The events and hospitality industry is a leader when it comes to resilency and creativity.  It’s easy to see why, being made up of idea generators, people connectors, deep thinkers and solution seekers. My first guest of the new season embodies all of these things and as a result, has made a lasting impact on the strength of the industry. David Kliman, founder and president of The Kliman Group has been serving the industry in this capacity for almost 2 decades, but his legacy of holding space for hospitality and events extends beyond that. From hotelier and event planner to meeting facilitator and connector, hear about where David started in the industry, how building relationships and making connections catipulted his career, and what led him to be the epitome of servant leadership as co-founder of the Events Industry Council APEX COVID Business Recovery Task Force.  David Kliman, CMM is founder and President of The Kliman Group, which specializes in creating and facilitating think tanks and performing in depth research and training for tourism industry organizations. The Kliman Group’s clients include numerous destination marketing organizations, convention centers and hotel companies. In 2020, David co-founded the Events Industry Council APEX COVID Business Recovery Task Force and also currently serves on the MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees. David has served as International Chairman of MPI (Meeting Professionals International) and on the White House Council of Travel and Tourism.  He’s been awarded MPI’s International Planner of the Year and was named Top 25 Influencer of the Meeting Industry by Northstar Meetings Group for 2020.  

Life can so easily feel like an endless stream of tasks. We get so caught up in all of the things we have to or should do, that we ignore or feel guilty about the things we actually want to do. In this episode, I share what I learned by stepping away from my vast “have to-do” list, instead spending the summer checking off my “want to-dos.” If you find it challenging to indulge in the things you really want to do over the things feel you have to, consider this episode a permission slip to revamp your to-do list. You may be surprised how much more you’ll be able to accomplish in the end. This episode is brought to you by JTS Connect, offering host, emcee, and moderation services for live or virtual events, as well as podcast hosting and consultation.  Want to connect your customers or audience with ideas to inspire action? Learn more about JTS Connect here!  Referenced in episode: Digital Event Strategist (DES) Certification The Wise Pineapple Juicy Tidbits Jen Salerno Connecting the Dots between Events and the Rest of the Hospitality Industry with Jen Salerno GMC PCMA IDE Lunch & Learn – Double Check your Digital Accessibility Judi Holler This is The Courtesy Block, a chip off The Room Block podcast.

Almost a year into the development of the PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) Task Force I sit down with founding members, Yolanda Simmons-Battle, Jatare Barrett and Alli Shebek to talk about how and why it was formed, the type of programming it provides, its future goals and what they have learned. We also reflect on some of the other significant events and anniversaries that are important to discuss when exploring IDE efforts. Our history may be in the past, but it created the foundation that we stand on today and that foundation is in need of some major repairs. Tune in to learn how you can begin, what role we all need to play and why it’s so important to continuously seek new information. Yolanda Simmons Battle is a born and raised Chi-town girl as the only child to wonderful parents. She was raised to desire to learn more, to love people and enjoy life that more abundantly. She is married and the proud mother of three children. Yolanda holds a B.A in Psychology from Roosevelt University, currently working on her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Certified Meeting Professional. As her role as a Senior Meeting Manager, she also serves as the Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Task Force of GMC PCMA, the Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee at AHIMA, and a licensed Minister at Purposed Christian Church, under Rev. LeAundre and Prophetess Patricia Hill, Pastors. Yolanda is an eternal learner, an avid reader, and a consummate seeker of justice. Jatare Barrett is a certified meeting professional with more than 15 years of international and domestic event and meeting management experience. She was invited to join the GMC PCMA Inclusion, Diversity and Equity task force, which was the first task force for PCMA in 2020. Passionate about learning more about the topic, she has recently completed the University of South Florida MUMA Inclusion Diversity and Equity certification program. She has co-created two inclusion, diversity and equity workshops with GMC PCMA within the last six months as well as served as a panelist for a Choose Chicago staff IDE workshop. Alli Shebek, DMCP, is a Senior Experience Designer with PRA Events in Chicago, a leading business events management firm. She first got involved with PCMA after being selected as one of the “20 in Their Twenties” Class of 2018, and has been an engaged member since then. Alli currently serves as Marketing Co-Chair for the PCMA GMC Chapter, as well as a member of the IDE Task Force. She is also actively involved in MPI, serving as Director of Marketing for the Chicago Area Chapter. Alli is passionate about voting rights and access to free and fair elections, and volunteers with Vote Save America and MoveOn to serve this passion. When she isn’t designing events, creating marketing campaigns, or engaging with voters, Alli can be found enjoying live music at concerts or relaxing near Lake Michigan with her dog, Roo.