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Make a Huge Impact at Your Events with CSR

Make an Impact at Your Next Event with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

For the past 20 years, Miller Tanner Associates (MTA) has brought our global team together for training and team building at our annual MTA Workshop. One of the highlights of this time together is our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project. Every year, our team dedicates part of the day to work together on a project that benefits the local community. Take a look at our recap highlighting this year’s project:

Why CSR Matters

With our team dispersed across the globe, it’s an important opportunity to connect with each other and also with the community at large and the needs of those around us. It’s become a foundational and favorite component of our own Global Workshop and our company culture as a whole.

We asked our team of event experts why CSR is important to them and why it’s an asset for ANY company event. Here’s what they said:

1). Creates a Memorable Experience Together

Our task was to clean and paint the dining room and furniture, and it was neat to see how everyone quickly offered their expertise to create a plan. Some had experience in refinishing furniture; some liked cleaning; others were great at taping; some helped with the heavy lifting; others took to the paint brushes. Throughout the project, we all contributed methods and ideas from our own life experience and got to know each other better while doing it! The opportunity to get to know another team member while serving alongside them is unique. It creates a memorable bond – one that began with the focus on someone else’s betterment rather than your own. – Carolyn Hendricks, Global Event Specialist/Special Projects

2). Strengthens Comradery and Team Building

I think it’s awesome that Marnie, our founder, has CSR activities at the workshops.  I enjoy working alongside co-workers because it gives me a chance to see them in a different light that I typically don’t see when working together. – Lori Flicek, Accounting Manager

I believe other companies could learn more about their staff and their company as a whole if they participated in these programs.  It is a great team-building exercise with the bonus of helping others. – Wynema Ware, Lead BT Specialist

It definitely brings a company together because most of the time we all work in different departments, and don’t interact regularly based on the different roles we play.  However, in a CSR project, you come alongside individuals that you probably have never had a real conversation with, and that’s where the bonding can happen.  I think that the bond that is created allows you to become more productive in your day-to-day position. – Carla Mahlberg, Technical Projects Lead

The MTA team assembling gift baskets to benefit a local children's hospital at our 2016 Workshop.

Our team assembling gift baskets to benefit a local children’s hospital at our 2016 Workshop.

The laughter, the purpose behind the project, and the spontaneous jumping in to offer aid to the others whether if it is bringing water to thirsty colleagues or carrying heavy stuff. I also enjoyed finding out secret skills from some of the folks – such as nice handwriting or technique at repairing wood. – Gemma Plans, Global Service Director

It is great to be able to work with colleagues in a different way and on a different project than our regular work. I think you see a different side to people which can help your working relationship. – Natalie Lowndes, Global Event Director

These projects have provided an opportunity to get to know others on a personal level and not just through business. – Bonnie Sheets, Global Event Director

3). Gain a Sense of Accomplishment (Both Individually and as a Team)

It was amazing to see how much work we were able to accomplish as a group. It gives one a sense of pride, job well done, and feeling that every little effort goes a long way. I think it is important for companies that have been as blessed as MTA to do something for others. It really creates a feeling of community – both locally and abroad. – Julie Hacker, Global Service Director

The MTA team helping with painting and repairs at a children's facility at our 2017 Workshop.

Our team helping with painting and repairs at a children’s facility at our 2017 Workshop.

CSR reminds me that many hands make light work, and a big impact. I am always amazed by the scope of influence we have as a group, and how much we can accomplish. I’m also encouraged by the generosity of our MTA team – it speaks to the depth of character and genuine kindness of our employees. – Carolyn Hendricks, Global Event Specialist/Special Projects

CSR projects show the true team spirit of MTA and demonstrate what hard workers we have at MTA.  Give us the task and we just do it.  Whether it was decorating, painting, scraping, or repairing, we went to work. – Wynema Ware, Lead BT Specialist

4). Inspires Gratitude

I love being able to contribute to a project locally in the city where we have our MTA Workshop, this makes me feel more connected to the community and the needs they have. Whether it is building bikes for children or painting an office it is so fulfilling to see how much many hands can do together when they have time and resources. I have enjoyed every minute we have dedicated to the CSR projects with MTA – memorable moments with the local communities and MTA colleagues, being grateful for what we have and seeing graciousness in the others. They say “we are what we do” and doing good for others makes us and everyone else feel better and little bit happier.– Gemma Plans, Global Service Director

The MTA team participating in the Build-A-Bike project at the MTA 2015 Workshop.

Our team participating in the Build-A-Bike project at the MTA 2015 Workshop.

5). Makes a Difference

Participating as a company in CSR projects makes a strong bond for all employees by providing a common goal.  It makes one realize that making the bottom line is very important to a company but giving to others, gives one satisfaction on a different level.  In the end, I feel that it brings all employees together for the common good of the company. – Bonnie Sheets, Global Event Director

MTA donated 7,050 school meals through the Feed Projects at this year's MTA Workshop.

MTA donated 7,050 school meals through the Feed Projects at this year’s MTA Workshop.

I love how at every workshop, Marnie plays a video about living a life in such a way that impacts the entire world.  This is what the CSR projects are all about – leaving behind a legacy.  MTA will always be remembered for its generosity and that is because of Marnie’s heart.  I wish I could do a CSR project all the time.  When one says “Thank you”, you can’t help but feel like you have made a difference.  This is what life is about, in my opinion. We were put here to make a difference whether big or small. – Carla Mahlberg, Technical Projects Lead

Transform your event with CSR! Miller Tanner Associates can help you find a rewarding CSR project that best suits your teams and your event! 

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Global MTA Team Training July 10 -14

 

The global MTA team will be meeting off-site from July 10-14 for our annual workshop to complete mandatory internal training.

Our main office will remain available if you should need assistance at +1 615-466-5602; however, please note that emails may be slightly delayed.

This time together is invaluable to us and we thank you for your continued support and understanding.

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#MeetMTA: Carrie Hui, Global Experience Specialist

The Miller Tanner difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our clients.

Today, we introduce you to Carrie Hui, Global Experience Specialist. Carrie, fluent in both Cantonese and Mandarin, is a highly-valued member of our Asia-Pacific team based in Hong Kong. She is always willing to take on new challenges to support the Global Experience Team in delivering a successful outcome for our clients. 

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Choose a Room Set that is Right for Your Event

Room Set

 

Choose a Room Set That is Right for Your Event

 

stage

The room set should be one of the first factors that is determined for your meeting. It’s helpful to choose your room set before ever sourcing an event venue. This allows us as planners to search for the perfect venue that can accommodate all of your event needs. With the right room set design, the audience also knows what to expect from your event.

What are the basic elements that are considered as part of a room set?

  1. Seating Design
  2. Stage
  3. Lighting
  4. Audio Visual
  5. Space Layout
  6. Event Theme

1. Determine Your Goals

A meeting planner can guide you through your goals and objectives for your meeting. It’s important to know the variables such as the size of the group, type of event, and its purpose in order to design the best room set for your event. Once we have this information and understand your expectations for your meeting, we can begin designing your room set.

room set 2

 

2. Plan the Ideal Seating Design

Depending on the type of training you are planning, the seating design plays an integral role in the delivery of your messaging and overall success of your meeting. Will your attendees be taking notes, working in groups, or using their computers? Do you want them to focus primarily on the screen and its contents? Or do you want them to connect with one another? Is this formal or a more casual meeting? Once you’ve considered these questions, we can suggest a seating design that will work best for your event.

These are the most common seating styles used at meetings, trainings, and events:

Theater-Style – Theater-style seating works well for short breakouts where notes do not need to be taken. It’s ideal for commercial/corporate meetings.

Boardroom – The boardroom-style seating is typically used for small groups, 10-15 people, for meetings such as ad board. This setting works well when a working space is required.

U-Shape – The u-shape-style seating works best for small groups of 10-20 people and is useful for CRA trainings,  board meetings, and some investigator meetings. It’s ideal for interactive working and planning meetings and easily accommodates for a presentation or speaker.

Classroom-Style – The classic classroom-style seating offers a more formal setting where 100% of attendees’ attention is on the screen and its content. It’s an ideal setting for larger audiences. This works nicely for investigator meetings or CRA trainings.

Crescent-Rounds/Cabaret-Style (half-round) – If your meeting includes a lot of collaborative work or work groups, the crescent-round or cabaret-style seating is ideal. This seating arrangement better allows for discussion and offers a way for attendees to connect easily with each other.  It’s a casual setting typically used for investigator meetings and some commercial and corporate meetings.

room set 3

 

3. Understand the Venue Space and Its Limitations

When considering your room set, be sure to understand the venue space in its entirety. For example,  a hotel diagram may reference 100-person maximum capacity, but that is wall to wall. Typically about one-third of the room will be used for foot traffic. And don’t forget additional space is needed for the tech desk, rear screen projection, etc. The bigger the room, the more options you will have overall.

Space design also needs to accommodate for the screen. Be aware of pillars and chandeliers. You may need to move the screen or have two screens which can increase your event budget. And also take note of the ceiling height. For example, you need a 14’ ceiling to use a 9’x12’ screen.

4. The Impact of the Stage, Lighting, Audio, and Screen

A stage, audio, and projection are essential, and the right lighting adds impact to the overall design.

Stage

With staging, a custom-made stage background with a hardcover backdrop or pipe and drape is necessary.  A lectern or podium is always suggested for the presenters; however, if you’re planning a Q&A panel, a bigger stage with head table helps all the presenters to be on stage and answer questions.

Audio

Even in small rooms with small audiences, we recommend using audio. You don’t know who in the room may have difficulty hearing.

Screen and Lighting

Get the screen size right.  Are there a lot of charts and graphs in the presentation? This will determine the screen size and ultimately the viewability of the presentations by the audience. Using the largest screen possible is generally a good rule of thumb.

If there is a big screen with a small stage and a lectern only, your audience is most likely to pay attention to the content rather than the presenter. If there’s a large stage with colorful lighting, your attendees are going to pay more attention to what is happening on the stage.

Some events require multiple screens. The benefit to having two screens is that your presenter can show two different images at the same time, which can be helpful to show slides during an online demonstration or with the Audience Response System.

Designing a room set requires lots of advanced planning and considerations. The bottom line – it is key to start the planning as soon as possible in order to find the right venue with an optimally-sized conference room.

Rely on the experts to plan your room set. Miller Tanner Associates can walk you through the steps to determine a room set that is ideal for your meeting needs. Contact us today to get started.

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Cost-Saving Virtual Event Solutions

cost saving virtual event solution
Chris Scott

Greetings! It is hard to believe that we are nearly into summer already – time sure flies.  Realizing the year is nearly halfway over and that 2017 annual budget targets and event timelines are starting to get tight, Miller Tanner Associates’ virtual service offerings may provide a solution to mitigate these challenges.

Our Virtual Event Services

Our Virtual Events Team has a plethora of tools and strategies to support your need to connect with your teams around the globe.  With a focus on key information sharing, attendee engagement, and team building, we have a variety of virtual event platforms in which to connect and share, allowing us to customize your vision and share it with your event guests.

We also have the most important piece of the virtual event puzzle, a stellar group of Virtual Global Event Managers (VGEMs) to manage the entire virtual event from initial client RFP to final event reporting and closeout as well as your attendees from pre-event communications and registrations to the event close.  Our Miller Tanner VGEMs can do almost anything and are eager to make your virtual event memorable, cost-effective, and engaging.

VALTS, Our Proprietary MTA On-Demand Training/Learning Management System (ODT/LMS)

Looking to get the most bang for your buck with the remaining 2017 budget while attempting to get information out to a diverse and global audience?  Take a look at VALTs, our proprietary MTA On-Demand Training/Learning Management System (ODT/LMS).

Having gone through several version releases to date, the current MTA ODT/LMS has a new look with all of the bells and whistles that our clients need to disseminate information and to meet training goals.  The system is secure, compliant, intuitive and a very powerful way to repurpose training for online learning that can live in perpetuity.  These trainings can be for pre-event to bring your teams up to speed for upcoming gatherings and also to support post-event, continued training as new team members come on board and/or to retrain team members who need review.  The back-end reporting is incredibly robust and tracks attendee progress in real time.

Please reach out to us if you would like more information and a demo of the capabilities of our virtual event services and VALTs. We would love to be of service to you and your team!

Be Well,

Chris Scott
Director, Media and Production

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#MeetMTA: Daren Geremia, Business Technology Manager

Daren Geremia

The Miller Tanner difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our clients.

Today, we introduce you to Daren Geremia, Business Technology Manager. Daren brings a careful, analytical perspective to his role with the Business Technology Department as he supports the Miller Tanner Team and our clients through information technology (IT).

Tell us about your current role as Business Technology Manager?

The Business Technology Team is fairly svelte, so I have a mix of support, administrative and managerial duties.  Like other Business Technology Department members, I field technology support requests from the larger Miller Tanner Team.  I also handle a lot of systems administration such as maintaining file access, email accounts, mobile phone security, etc.  Finally, I perform managerial tasks like budgeting, project management, personnel management, and policy management.

What did you do before joining MTA?

Most recently, I was the director of information technology for a steel and architectural metals company and its subsidiaries.  All in all, I’ve been in information technology for about seventeen years. I was pursuing an advanced degree in philosophy, theology, and ethics prior to that.

What do you enjoy most about working at Miller Tanner (MTA)?

I appreciate fact that MTA is a human environment, which may seem strange given that many of us rarely see our colleagues.  Though MTA is a sophisticated company with global reach, it retains a certain mom-and-pop charm, and Marnie has a commitment to her employees that transcends lip service to work-life balance.  She cares about her team, and that caring permeates the entire operation right on through to our clients.  That’s Marnie’s genius; she engenders hard work and loyalty via warmth and kindness.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I worked in construction throughout my youth, so I spend most of my non-work, non-family time working on home projects, which keeps me close to home.  Other than that, I fritter away too many hours in eclectic ways during which I should be sleeping.

To you, what makes Miller Tanner stand out as meeting planning company?

I believe MTA provides a level of caring and commitment to our clients that is palpable and tangible.  Our clients understand they aren’t just a payday, but a group of human beings in an ongoing and mutual relationship with another group of human beings who happen to go by the name of Miller Tanner Associates.

What are your favorite technology tips?  

To be honest, the best tip I can give people is to remember to unplug.  We all live with technology every day, and most of us underestimate its impact on our lives.  I’m no technophobe; I got my first computer when I was seven, and I’ve kept up with technology in the intervening forty years, but it’s far too easy to let technology dictate the pace of our lives.  You should be the boss of your mobile phone, your email, your feeds, not the other way around.  It’s really quite liberating to not check your personal email for a day, or two or three; just make sure people know they should call you in the case of emergency!

 

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5 Must-Have Travel Apps

5 must have travel apps

We know first hand that travel can be hectic for folks who travel regularly for business. With these 5 tools and apps from our Miller Tanner team of event industry professionals, you can greatly minimize the stress of travel. We polled our team and these are the apps that they most regularly rely upon when traveling:

5 Must-Have Travel Apps

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