It’s Tuesday….ok it’s really Sunday but I’m gonna take us back to
Tuesday to talk about day 2 of the SMPS SERC Conference. Then we’ll get into
Day 3, AKA Wednesday. I’ll admit once the conference started it was a whirl wind. It was
sessions, then more sessions, then lunch and afternoon sessions before a meet and
greet and the nights activities. I will also add I didn’t sleep well Tuesday
which didn’t help with my not feeling like I’m in a whirl wind throughout this
conference. So let’s take it day by day.
Day 2 Tuesday:
Day 2 started early, after a very easy going Monday Tuesday hit the ground
running. The Opening Keynote/Breakfast was very interesting … Breakfast was
kind of blah. It was basically granola, bagels, and some fruit in this weird
sauce. I didn’t partake. I did drink some juice while the Keynote speaker was talking
but by lunch I was very hungry. I hadn’t run into my group from the Emerald Coast
chapter yet this morning, I knew they were in the room but I didn’t know where.
I was one of the last in the room so I just grabbed a seat near the front so I could
see and hear what was being said.
The Opening Keynote if I had really been paying attention set the tone
for not only the day but the next few days as this conference seemed to be
about keeping emotions in check, finding creativity and using it, and setting
yourself and message apart from the pack. Lots of what I call Cheerleading
sessions in which it sounds good and is very inspirational but not so
practical. Then again I’m a pessimist so there’s that.
The worst part of this conference was the overlapping sessions that I wanted
to attend and having to choose between one vs the other. For the most part I
chose well, I think. Only once did I feel that I chose wrong. They had a session
about how to read Construction Documents for use in proposals, but the description
made it sound like they were going to focus on architectural construction
documents, which isn’t at all what I do. However for 2 days all I heard was how
amazing and awesome that session was. I can’t wait to download that session.
That’s the coolest part of this entire conference, sometime next week SMPS will
put all of the presentations and handouts online for us to download.
One session I really enjoyed was about Thematic Interpretation. In
which they focused on developing a theme for the proposal and allowing it to
take over every piece of the submittal. I wish I had been to this session two
weeks ago cause my last submittal could have really used a theme or well
anything to make it better than what it was. My issue with these plans is that they
assume you have the time to actually build these things into the submittal. I
guess one day I will but so far I haven’t see that happen yet.
In the afternoon session I’ll be honest I’m still surprised I didn’t fall
asleep. I don’t know if it was a combination of being hot, and not being able
to sleep The topic was really interesting it talked to things I think I really
need to know but I think it was over my head. I did also enjoy the one about
Branding. Our company recently went through kind of an overhaul and it talked
about how you can take those elements and use them as a way to make your
proposal really pop as opposed to being boxed into something.
That night we had a social at a local Brewery called New Belgium
Brewery. It also happened to be the birthday of one of the girls in our
Chapter. So we joined everyone for dinner and drinks at the Brewery. I’m not a
beer drinker so I had a glass, and everyone else had 2 then we were told the
Bus was going back early if anyone was interested. We jumped on the buss and hit
the hotel bar for shots and chatting with others who headed home. I thought for
sure I’d sleep great that night but I went back to my room, packed up everything
for leaving the next day and then laid there for far too many hours with an
Advil PM in my belly.
Day 3 Wednesday:
First off let me say if you are hosting a conference at your hotel for
a group of people, most of whom had flown in for the conference….how about you
allow for late checkouts? I mean the check out time for the hotel was 11 am …
the conference didn’t end until nearly 2 so the Wednesday sessions were filled
with people lugging around luggage and just made and already packed room even more
packed. Just a thought for next year. Which btw will be in Tampa next year! We
have an office in Tampa …. Just saying! :D
So first thing first was packing the car since i'd have to checkout after the breakfast/announcements. I really almost skipped
breakfast after yesterday’s lame breakfast but was soooooo happy I didn’t when I
got there to bacon, eggs, biscuits … everything was yummy. My first session was
about mentorships. My boss is definitely a mentor to me, I’d like to be that
for my team, or the ladies who work with me. I like to think I am but some days
I think I’m just a crutch for them. Often they come to be for advise but sometimes
I worry that I’m giving them the answers instead of showing them the process to
get the answers. This session was especially interesting to me but I wish it
had gone more into how we can be mentors to others as opposed to determining
who your mentors are. Then again that’s exactly what was advertised.
My last session of the conference was about infusing creativity into
your pursuits which was frankly just fun. The ladies were all dressed like Bob Ross
(with a big afro wig on – it was red so it was more Annie than Bob Ross but
they were fun, informative, and entertaining so I wasn’t going to split hairs
with them). This one also gave me some things to think about for upcoming
proposals. I think this was my favorite session of the entire event. I almost
went to a different session but went to this one at the last minute instead and
that was the greatest decision I made during the entire conference.
Then we had lunch and the close out of the conference with the closing
keynote with Danielle Gray talking about how to ignite and sustain passion. I
could sit at the feed of Ms. Gray for the rest of my life and live only on the soaking
up of her being and be forever fulfilled. She was definitely perfect for the
closing keynote. Apparently she’s also an SMPS member and is featured in their
new branding that was rolled out late last year. I know a good number of people
skipped the closing keynote and those guys really did themselves a disservice
cause it was fantastic. After that I took off to Charlotte for a few days of
R&R before heading home. However that’s another post.
Have a great week ahead!
Marcy
@beaslma
Day 1 was fun, relaxing but fun. Registration started at 9
but the first session wasn’t until 1. So I slept in a bit and took a little
extra time getting ready just cause I could. Then I registered for the conference
then went and got some lunch. At that point I ran into some of the ladies from
my chapter but they weren’t planning to go to any of the events this afternoon
so they went left and I went right. It was nice to not have to rush ...rush...rush.
The first session was about obtaining certification known as
CPSM. There’s a test that has to be taken to get it. I was hoping that the course
would spend more time talking about the actual test not just why getting the certification
was important. The two giving the course were very knowledgeable about the
process and the reasons behind getting the certification. It was a nice first
event don’t get me wrong but it wasn’t really what I was expecting.
From there I came back to the room for a bit then decided to
go to the 2nd session which was about how you can get more involved
in SMPS and in your own chapter. That was a spur of the moment decision but I'm glad I went. It was very interesting to see the time, effort,
and thought that has gone into this organization. It was given by the CEO of
SMPS so that was cool. All of the speakers were from Headquarters and they
spent a lot of time about how HQ could benefit the various chapters.
My office is hosting a webinar next week for possible
members to attend and they gave me some good ideas and conversation starters to
use. Our chapter is considered a “developing chapter” cause we don’t meet the member
requirements yet. We are about 10 shy but hope to get there within the next
month or so. Five other members are attending the SERC so that’s been fun
getting to know them a little better. We all went to dinner tonight and swapped
stories and networked a bit with others there. I have so many business cards
but can’t put a name with the card at the moment. It’s crazy how many people
you can meet in the span of 5 minutes.
Tomorrow is the first full day of the conference and starts
up at 7:45 with a breakfast and the opening key note speaker then a full day of
sessions. Several I’m very excited about others that I’m interested in but
would be ok with if it were full and I had to bail. Ha! I’m glad I got to come
to this event, I think it will be very beneficial and it’s definitely giving me
the break I needed.
Marcy
So on Sunday I woke up earlier than normal, grabbed my bag,
and headed to the airport for my first ever SMPS SERC (Society for Marketing Professional
Services Southeast Regional Conference). Last year my boss got to go in Atlanta
and this year is my turn. As I walked out the door the handle on my bag broke
and I thought well aint that a bitch. I hoped it was not an omen for the trip.
I soldiered on cause I wasn’t repacking that bag into another bag at that
point. I mean come on bag that wasn’t cool at all.
The plane ride was uneventful which is just how I like em.
It was my first time traveling American Airlines and no I wasn’t in the 737, I
checked that last week. The plane however seemed really really really small. Like stupid small. I’m usually a Delta girl, I like the brand, the people are
always friendly and I just feel comfortable in their planes. However upon
booking this flight I realized that my connection in Atlanta to Charlotte
(cause you can’t do anything with Delta without it involving Atlanta) would
have been taking off in Atlanta at the same thing that American would have been
putting my luggage on the carousel for me to pick it up in Charlotte. AKA this time
a direct flight won.
Upon arriving in Charlotte I went to find my rental car, another
first for me, I chose Avis instead of Hurts my usual go to. Why did I choose
Avis …. Cause one that’s what American Airlines was affiliated with, two I was
able to get the car I wanted. See dear reader I’m in the process of thinking
about my next car. My current Sonata is about 6 years old and while I’m like it
to last a few more years I’m starting the process of thinking about it now. I’m
ready for something different. I’m thinking Hyundai Kona (cause I love the look
of it and the fact it’s kind of a newer car), but have also looked at the Santa
Fe (I’d like to stay in the Hyundai family. I’ve also thought about the Honda
CRV as an option. So I’m using this trip as a “test drive” of a vehicle of this
type. I ended up renting a Hyundai Santa Fe. I do like the car, I liked the way
it drove. I spend 90% of my time in my car alone so it’s hard for me to justify
a car like this but I think I’m past just having a sedan. I do need to make
sure mom could climb into it. My
conference is in Asheville, NC but I have friends who live in Charlotte, NC. So
I’m going to spend a few days after the conference ends hanging out with them.
I do kind of hate having to rent a car on Sunday so that I can use it Thursday
and Friday it’s just chilling in the parking lot for a few days which seems
like a waste. Oh well ….that’s adulting.
Upon arrival in Asheville, NC (about an hour and a half from
Charlotte) I drove into the hotel resort and was blown away cause it’s kind of
tucked away and like crossing a portal to another kind of world. The resort lobby
was beautiful, the detail they put into the place was amazing. Walking up to the
front desk the guy could have ben a little nicer but whatever maybe he was near
the end of his shift ….whatever. He definitely could have told me how to get to
my room with a little more detail but I’m sure he’s giving that speech a
billion times and just doesn’t think the complex is very hard to navigate cause
he does it daily. This resort has different areas that you could be staying it
each with a fun different kind of name. However there are ZERO signs, I take
that back there are signs but they are very hard to see. I finally found my
room and realized that they spent the majority of their money on the lobby. The
room is nice don’t get me wrong but this room could have been at any hotel.
None of the charm or love that the lobby has was also utilized in the rooms.
At this point I was starving, it was after all close to 3pm
and I hadn’t eaten anything yet. So I decided to jump back into the Santa Fe
and drive around the area. I was disappointed. As beautiful as the complex around
the resort is the area around it left some to be desired. I did make a stop at
a local convenience store for some snacks and drinks for the next few days.
Day 1 was just a travel day. The actual conference starts Monday
am with registration and some events in the afternoon. So I worked some on
Sunday just to put my mind at ease. A few things I needed to get done so that
others could do their part while I was around. This made me feel better about
sleeping in Monday morning and just chilling a little bit. I think I might need
professional help.
This is my first conference I’m looking forward to how it
goes, I’m also looking forward to meeting some new people.
I’ll check in a few times this week to tell you how this is
going for me …. Giving up Social Media and Soda for lent has been hard. I love
getting an Icee on road trips, couldn’t. Just about every drink I like has soda
in it. So no drinking. Every event talks to sharing this or that on Social Media.
If you are interested they are asking people to use #SMPSSERC in any of their
posts.
Marcy @beaslma
