The International Idea Exchange
How PCMA education is connecting the meetings community around the world
by David McMillin
While PCMA members can take advantage of educational offerings close to home, Michelle Stoddard, Manager of Global Development and Programs, is leading the charge to deliver learning opportunities around the globe. It’s an effort to open the lines of communication for what she calls a worldwide industry “idea exchange.”
Last week, PCMA partnered with MCI to provide valuable lessons to the rapidly growing meetings community in South America, and the schedule included programming in São Paulo, …

A couple of weeks ago I attended the PCMA Education Foundation Dinner Honoring Professional Achievement, where three outstanding members of our community were recognized. This event is always well attended and, despite the political duties that come with an event like this, I always enjoy catching up with people that come from all over to be a part of this. While I don’t necessarily want to extend the monkey suit wearing time, I do wish that I had more than a minute or two to spend with people that I …

There’s a famous story in my family about my insane love of reading books.  As a child, my older brother was captain of the football team in high school.  Our entire family had to go to every one of his games to support and cheer him on regardless of the weather.  There was one particular game they were playing during a ridiculously blizzard-like snowstorm.  There we all sat in the stands under blankets.   And I was literally completely underneath the blanket, secure in my fort, so that I could read my …

>You decide if this is testament to the power of meetings in general or of the TED conference in particular: As part of their viral-marketing campaign for the upcoming summer blockbuster “Prometheus,” filmmakers Ridley Scott and Damon Lindelof have released a TEDTalk from the year 2023 by one of the film’s characters — industrialist Peter Weyland, played by Guy Pearce. The three-minute video was created with the full cooperation of TED, and even has an official page on TED’s blog, complete with “About This Talk” and “About the Speaker” tabs.
Why …

We are all quite familiar with the current state of the world economy, by now I would venture to state that each and every one of us has been impacted by the vise-like grip of the financial realities that exist today. “Cautiously Optimistic” appears to have become the nebulous conversational equivalent of a physical shrug of the shoulders.
The generational divide in today’s workforce has been the other hot topic of much discussion.  Like the Oldsmobile, this is not your fathers’ workplace.  Technology, attitude, loyalty, expectations, and communication are so completely …