The Events Experience: Recent Episodes
Bishop-McCann
Welcome to The Events Experience brought to you by the event planner’s at Bishop-McCann, an agency devoted to creating JOY through meetings, incentives, and events. On this podcast, we take a deep dive into everything event planning, and our experts will discuss the latest tips and trends for virtual, live, and hybrid events to keep you up to date on the events industry.
With more than 15 years of experience leading incentive travel programs, Justin Myers discusses the evolving incentives landscape. Utilizing insights from our strategic partnership with SITE and his own knowledge, Justin explains how to create personalized, transformational travel experiences. Topics include:
- Bishop-McCann's partnership with SITE
- Benefits of leveraging incentive travel for corporate success
- Challenges, solutions, and strategies for incentive trips
- Incentive travel trends and the future of the industry
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Join us as we dive into the dynamic world of event technology with our new Vice President of Event Technology, Todd Moritz. With more than 20 years of experience in the events industry, Todd shares his insights and innovative approach to event tech, discussing how you can explore and navigate the event tech landscape. Topics include:
- The latest event tech trends
- AI's influence and how to utilize AI safely
- New tech tools
- The future of event tech
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To celebrate Women's History Month, this episode highlights a unique benefit that Bishop-McCann offers our female associates to help them thrive in their lives and careers. Our VP of Talent and Culture, Melanie Maddock, interviewed Founder and CEO of Leva, Vanessa Jupe. Leva was founded to ensure women are successful both personally and professionally, and we delve deeper into this benefit. Topics include:
- Why Leva was founded to empower women
- Benefits of investing in and supporting women in your organization
- Leva's unique offerings and long-term outlook
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Dive into the dynamics of the events industry in 2024 with Bishop-McCann's President and Co-Owner, Rob Adams, during this podcast episode. Gain valuable perspectives as he explores the industry's shifts and emerging trends that will define this year and beyond. Join us as we uncover key insights, analyze the economic landscape, and so much more. Topics include:
- Lessons learned in 2023
- Analysis of the current economy
- Key 2024 event trends
- Overall event industry outlook beyond 2024
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In this episode, our VP of Client Development and Marketing, Justin Myers, interviews our special guest, John O’Sullivan, the Regional Vice President and General Manager of the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. Tune in to hear Justin and John discuss how to master the art of hospitality and the importance it plays in the client experience. Topics include:
- How team morale impacts a guest’s experience
- Why personalization is key to incentive programs
- How to create memorable experiences and deliver high-quality hospitality
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From telling you how to overcome pharma programs' unique challenges to explaining how to stay up to date on compliance changes, Strategic Account Director, Shelley Huez, covers various pharmaceutical event insights in this podcast. Topics include:
- Types of pharma programs we plan
- Unique challenges of pharmaceutical events
- How to stay on top of regulations and compliance requirements
- Trends to watch for in pharma events
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In this episode, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day with our talent and culture team's Melanie Maddock and Shea Paredes! As a 90% female company in a female-dominated industry, we discuss what this day means to us and how we empower the women at our agency. Topics include:
- What International Women’s Day means to us
- How we promote women’s empowerment
- Why inclusion is one of our values and how we foster inclusivity
- Amazing female accomplishments achieved by Bishop-McCann women
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With the new year just beginning, we discuss what’s to come in 2023 in the meetings and events landscape and what event industry trends to watch for with Amber Heintz, Vice President of Program Operations at Bishop-McCann. Topics include:
- Key lessons learned in 2022
- How economic conditions will affect our industry
- New event trends to watch for in 2023
- Challenges and opportunities for event planners this year
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Joined by Bishop-McCann’s President and Owner, Rob Adams, and Soundings’ Founder and CEO, Tracy Judge, this episode covers issues relating to independent talent in the events industry, along with trends and the future of events. Topics include:
- How the US Department of Labor defines independent contractors
- Trends relating to independent talent
- Short-term and long-term outlook for our industry
- What attracts freelancers when choosing employers
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With the season of giving right around the corner, we’re discussing our community relations program, Project JOY. Our guests are our Founder and Owner, Dan Nilsen, who created our program, and our Business Manager, Megan Barton, who has relaunched the program. Topics include:
- Why Dan started our community relations program
- Why we rebranded the program as Project JOY
- How Project JOY works
- Favorite memories from giving back
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During this interview, Rob Adams speaks with Michael Dominguez, President & CEO at ALHI and event industry expert. Discussing the industry's outlook, innovations, and much more, the pair have an in-depth conversation covering various topics affecting our industry today. Topics include:
- Current economic conditions and their effect on the event industry
- Increase in mergers and acquisitions
- Innovation in meetings and events
- Outlook on virtual and hybrid events
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Talking with Justin Myers, Head of Commercial and Hospitality Client Group, we discuss everything incentive travel. From the trends being seen for incentive trips to the value of planning these kinds of events, we coverall the reasons why you should be planning an incentive program. Topics include:
- Benefits of incentive programs during the Great Resignation
- Current trends and important elements of a successful incentive trip
- Top destinations for incentive trips
- How incentive programs offer real ROI
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For this Pride Month episode of The Events Experience, we spoke with our Founder and Owner, Dan Nilsen, about the importance of Pride Month for our agency and how we ensure everyone feels welcomed and included. Topics include:
- Why inclusion is one of our core values
- How inclusion became a part of our company culture
- Why Dan founded the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- Dan’s personal story regarding pride
- How other organizations can support the LGBTQ+ community
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Joining this episode is our sales director, Rameka Jennings, who has over ten years of experience working in franchise meetings and events. We discuss our franchise and retail vertical, along with how our agency goes about planning programs for this type of event. Topics include:
- Types of franchise events we plan
- What makes franchise meetings unique
- How to incorporate engaging elements in these events
- Most important elements to consider for franchise conferences
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At Bishop-McCann, we have the amazing benefit of a month-long sabbatical every five years for our associates. In this episode of The Events Experience, listen in to hear our President and Owner, Rob Adams’, experience during his sabbatical. Topics include:
- Explanation of our sabbatical program
- The importance of our sabbatical program for event professionals
- Adams’ goals for his sabbatical and the journey to achieve those goals
- Key lessons learned during his sabbatical
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In this episode, two of our lead attendee experience managers, Libby Zito and Monica Korte, discuss everything event apps and dive into why you should be utilizing an app at your next meeting or event. Topics include:
- Importance of apps for virtual, live, and hybrid events
- How to encourage event app downloads
- What event app features are most important
- How to boost attendee engagement through apps
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Joined by Melanie Maddock, we discuss her role as Vice President of Talent and Culture for Bishop-McCann and how she is able to infuse JOY into our company culture for our event professionals. Topics include:
- How to create strong work-life balance
- Ways to show appreciation for our associates
- Unique benefits for our team
- How to foster a strong company culture
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After two challenging years for the events industry, Bishop-McCann’s President and Owner, Rob Adams, discusses lessons learned and how our agency was able to make it through those difficult times. Tune in to hear upcoming trends and innovations for events, along with why Rob feels confident in the event industry’s outlook. Topics include:
- Lessons learned in 2020 and 2021
- How Bishop-McCann was able to overcome the pandemic’s obstacles
- Industry trends for 2022
- Overall events industry outlook
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In this episode, Bishop-McCann’s Head of Creative & Production, Shannon McSpadden, discusses virtual events and how to elevate them to meet growing attendee expectations. Topics include:
- How to create visually appealing virtual events
- Ways to combat Zoom fatigue
- Virtual entertainment considerations
- Key elements of virtual event production
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In this case-study-style episode, Bishop-McCann’s strategic account manager Megan Roberts and executive producer Melissa Patruno review Krispy Kreme’s virtual US & Canada Operations Leadership Conference. The pair discuss what went into planning the doughnut giant’s virtual event and how they overcame challenges along the way to create a spectacular conference for the attendees viewing at home. Topics include:
- Theme selection and integration
- Challenges faced and overcome
- Most memorable aspects of the event
- How our agency was able to execute successfully
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Joined by Melissa Patruno, Bishop-McCann’s virtual superstar and executive producer, we discuss virtual events. Tune in to learn everything from platform selection to how to engage attendees. Topics include:
- Virtual event platform considerations and challenges
- Virtual meeting trends and how they’ve shifted
- Longevity of virtual events
- Attendee engagement virtually
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In this episode, we discuss health and safety for live corporate events. Amber Heintz, Bishop-McCann’s Vice President of Program Operations, discusses what you need to know when preparing for in-person meetings. Listen in to learn what health protocols you need to consider as you return to live programs. Topics include:
- Health trends due to COVID
- Prevention strategies to minimize risk
- How to handle an outbreak
- Communications for live events
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Whether virtual, live, or hybrid, one thing is for sure: your event is not complete without gifting. In this episode, we talk with Rameka Jennings, a Gifting Guru at Eventure, to better understand event gifting and to learn the best corporate swag ideas. Topics include:
- Virtual event gifting and ways to take it to the next level
- Hybrid event gifting and how to bring both audiences together through gifting
- Live event gifting and unique ideas for those in person
- Overall gifting trends
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With the expected increase in hybrid events comes a unique challenge: balancing two different audience types. Not only do you have people in person watching your event unfold, but you also have attendees behind their computer screens that you must cater to as well. In this episode, Devin Carver, the Director of Sales & Marketing at Bishop-McCann, explains how to master audience engagement for hybrid. Topics include:
- What both live and virtual audiences expect from your event
- What is re-entry anxiety and how to alleviate it
- What to consider for a hybrid communications plan
- What are ways to bring both audiences together
Subscribe to The Events Experience, and create JOY wherever you go!