Kimberley Gishler
CEMA
CEO / President
We did it! We survived our first Digital Summit!
If you would have told me in February that we were going to upend everything about Summit and move it to digital platform in three months I would have laughed…and cried. In truth, I’ve done both. But CEMA is about taking crazy, challenging situations, and coming together to create something exceptional. Our amazing team, partners and sponsors stepped up and did one hell of a job. Thanks to everyone who participated over the two days to make Summit 2020 educational, interactive, and fun.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2020 and into the coming year, the view is sobering. Like everyone in our industry, CEMA has been hit hard financially. While Summit 2020 was a success by almost every measure, it didn’t generate nearly the revenue that a live CEMA Summit event would have brought in. CEMA Summit is our second biggest revenue source, so we are facing a tremendous challenge in sustaining the association through all this uncertainty.
We are aggressively exploring innovative ideas to generate new revenue to keep the association going and to maintain the high-quality educational and networking opportunities that have defined CEMA for more than 30 years. You’ll be hearing about those in the coming weeks.
There are two things that you can do to help: renew your membership now, and if possible, make a cash donation to CEMA.
Membership is our main source of income, so early renewals will help us gauge our revenue stream for the coming year. Your donation is a chance to give back to this Association that has given us all so much.
If you have budget remaining for 2020 that you need to “use or lose,” acting now can be a win-win. You can renew your membership or donate <HERE>.
It’s not easy to ask for financial help, but this is a time when we all need to rally behind our Association, so that we can stay afloat and celebrate our continued success when we come back “Live.”
Thanks for everything you do. Your energy and love for CEMA makes me proud to work for you.
– Kim
CEMA Premium Member e-Newsletter Sponsor
ProGlobalEvents is a premier experiential events agency based in Silicon Valley and a proud CEMA sponsor. Our ability to approach a project with the mindset of “How can we reinforce branding” and “What is the best way to help tell your story” allows us to deliver a memorable customer journey using technology to its fullest extent including immersive hybrid and virtual events. For more information see www.ProGlobalEvents.com.
Board of Directors Nominations
Are you interested in helping our industry plot the path forward with your innovative ideas and dedication? Consider joining CEMA’s Board of Directors. We are currently seeking candidates for several CEMA Board positions.
Now more than ever we need the best and the brightest at the helm as our industry recovers and rebuilds. If you or a colleague feels called to this challenge, please submit a board nomination form
Final applications must be in by October 11th.
CEMA 2020 Calendar – Upcoming Events
Adding Hybrid Engagements and Experiences to your Marketing Portfolio
The global Coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on our industry and created considerable uncertainty about the future of in-person events. As COVID-19 and restrictions are relaxed, smaller scale live events will reappear and it will be essential that they include virtual elements. Most of us agree that hybrid events are key to revitalizing and sustaining our industry. We are challenged with delivering financially viable, customer-centric hybrid events and becoming hybrid-competent has become an imperative for staying relevant as an event marketer.
To that end, CEMA is proud to announce our first Hybrid Event Marketing Workshop: Creating innovative, engaging and profitable hybrid events. This 5-week roundtable-style workshop, is designed to help senior industry professionals expand their event marketing portfolios with creative, innovative, and highly engaging hybrid programs.
What You Will Learn:
- Develop and integrate a hybrid event marketing strategy
- Setting clear and realistic goals and KPI’s in the “next normal.”
- Expanding hybrid events with technology and data
- Understanding requirements related to onsite health and safety, digital platforms, data security and other related technologies.
- Accurately budget and forecast your event including sponsorship opportunities
- Architect your team infrastructure with the right skill set for hybrid events
You will also get answers to your toughest planning and execution questions to help with your specific hybrid event plan through our small group sessions with an expert of your choice. The workshop also provides CE accreditation.
Date: TBD – Invitations coming soon!
Webinar:
Transforming Bland Virtual Talks into Memorable Experiences
CEMA Summit keynote speakers Shane Snow and Jay Acunzo team up to share their ideas on how to amp up virtual meetings and presentations. Come see these noted live presenters blow away the notion that webinars must be boring. Learn how to harness the unique engagement tools available in the virtual environment to captivate your audience every minute of your event. The webinar beings promptly at 11am PT.
Date: TBD – Invitations coming soon!
A Special Shout Out to Stacey Diemer
For the past four years, Stacey has brought energy, enthusiasm, and tireless dedication to her role as CEMA’s Membership Manager. During her tenure, CEMA has witnessed sustained member and sponsor growth. As she moves forward in her career, we will all miss her smiling face and helping hands at our events. All the best in your new position Stacey!
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Save the Date
CEMA Summit 2021
July 25th – 27th, 2021
Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center
Aurora, CO
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Chris Meyer
Best wishes to Chris Meyer as he moves on after 20 years of service from his role as the VP of global sales at LVCVA. Many of us worked with Chris when we hosted events in Las Vegas and benefitted from his innovative approach and get-it-done energy. He has been an ardent supporter of CEMA, serving as our first Industry Partner Chairman in 2015. One of Chris’s legacy contributions was to help strengthen CEMA by defining and employing business objectives, association goals and strategies to drive our program planning.
We look forward to working with Chris in his next position. Save the date September 30th at 4pm PDT and join us for a Zoom Happy Hour for a proper CEMA send-off.
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CEMA Members in The News
Congratulations to CEMA members who have new roles. We know you’ll rock events for these businesses.
Julie Lynch was recently named Global Events Leader at F5 Networks; Amanda Solon is now the Event Manager at T-Mobile; and April Abernathy is Senior Virtual Operational Manager at AWS.