ASAE Great Ideas Conference Scores Highest Attendance in Orlando
March 17, 2015
The American Society of Association Executives’ Great Ideas Conference, held March 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, scored its highest attendance ever, with 806 coming to the meeting.
This represents the highest attendance in its 12 year history and 15-percent increase from last year’s record-breaking numbers.
During the Opening General Session, Alan Gregerman, author, president and Chief Innovation Officer of Venture Works Inc., walked attendees through how they can discover the power of strangers and the importance of being open to new possibilities because it can be the key to enhancing your organization.
He encouraged attendees to be curious and humble and asked them to think about how they can better invest and engage others.
Participants took part in a new learning format called discussion dens, which are 20-minute causal conversations between learning labs. They covered a variety of topics including sharing technology triumphs, productivity tips, and learning from failures.
“For the second year in a row, we have set attendance records for the conference, which highlights how the Great Ideas Conference continues to evolve through new content formats and great speakers,” said ASAE President & CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE.
He added, “Participants gained insights, strategies, and ideas they can take back and implement into their organization.”
Attendees participated in a variety of sessions including: communication and marketing strategies, volunteer management, data-decision making, member engagement and navigating association careers. They also participated in 30-minute express learning sessions called Snap Learning Spot, which covered topics ranging from how to engage exhibitors in conference education to creating an open online course.
Wrapping up the innovative conference was founder and author, Todd Henry, of Accidental Creative. He encouraged attendees to create more white space in their lives because it will help breed creativity. He outlined the seven deadly sins that cause mediocrity and identified ways attendees can unleash their best work.
ASAE held a pre-conference Executive Leadership Program March 7-8 with Rafi Mohammed, author of “The 1% Windfall”. In its third year, 98 association executives and consultants participated in a discussion about key pricing concepts.
They obtained a blueprint-template on how to create a comprehensive pricing strategy, so they can develop and implement one inside their organization.
Next year’s conference will be March 13-15 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more information, about this year’s conference, visit Great Ideas website.
Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
Add new comment