Meet MTA: Matthew Fetzer, Senior Software Engineer

Meet Matthew Fetzer

 

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 Matthew Fetzer, Senior Software Engineer. Matthew works diligently, behind the scenes with our Technology Department, developing user-friendly technology solutions for our clients and Miller Tanner Associates (MTA). Continue reading “Meet MTA: Matthew Fetzer, Senior Software Engineer”

A Simpler Strategy for Successful Employee Onboarding

employee onboarding

Do you have processes or procedures that are required to be completed and need to be documented by your staff in the same manner regardless of their location?

Do you need to assess your workforce’s understanding of your procedures?

Are you creating training manuals and requiring your workforce members to sign a hard copy to help you document their training?

Do you struggle to keep track of all of these moving parts when it comes to onboarding new employees?

In a recent survey conducted by CareerBuilder, more than a third of employers (36 percent) do not have a structured onboarding process. This can have costly ramifications. Forty-one percent of these employers believe the lack of a structured onboarding process has had one of the following negative impacts on their company including lower productivity, greater inefficiencies, higher employee turnover, lower employee morale, lower level of employee engagement, lower confidence among employees, lack of trust within the organization and missed revenue targets.

Maybe it’s time to upgrade your approach to the onboarding process. 

Why using a learning management system like VALTs makes sense for onboarding:

1. House your training in one easily-accessible automated system

You can breathe a sigh of relief. No more hunting through various files and emails for onboarding documents. When using VALTs, all training documentation is housed in one, easy-to-access system for both the user and the administrator. Use your company’s internal documents and also include reference documents or website links that can be housed or linked within VALTs creating a one-stop shop for all onboarding training. Post employee handbook updates and new or revised policies, best practices, safety regulations, assessments, policies and procedures, and reference documents. Use a variety of media for your training such as video, slideshows and more. Additionally, administrators can gain access to real-time reports, and set training deadlines with reminders to complete training within companies requirements.

Technology not only makes the onboarding process more efficient, it also cuts down on mistakes. However, not all companies are handling things digitally. Looking at a subset of HR managers, 39 percent say they electronically capture most or all of their onboarding information for new hires at their company, while 47 percent capture some of it. – Career Builder

2. Customized learning plans for each new hire as it relates to their position

Not all roles require the same training. With VALTs, each training can be tailored per employee, per role, with secure sign-in to enhance security. You can include required or non-required materials to be viewed based on the employee’s title, role, job function and with the option to create customizable training as it suits your employee’s specific role.

3. Makes it easy for new hires to review training on their own time, on-demand, at their own pace or by a given deadline

Why not make onboarding more versatile for your new hires? With VALTs,  training documents are accessible 24/7. Instead of keeping track of deadline, the system does it for you! Set it and forget it. Users and administrators receive alerts for approaching or missed deadlines. As an administrator, you have access to pull progress reports to keep training on track for new hires and existing employees alike.

4. Makes training a more efficient process

In today’s busy working world, who has time to paper chase? By eliminating cumbersome paperwork and, instead, implementing electronic-based training, your training is much more efficient. And saves you time.

The Career Builder study also explored the consequences associated with manually collecting onboarding documents versus automating the process, which included everything from delayed start dates to required documentation, like compliance forms, gone missing.

“Manual collection and processing takes time – 42 percent of HR managers who don’t capture onboarding information electronically spend three hours or more per employee manually collecting and processing onboarding information, while 16 percent spend five or more hours,” according to stats from a new Career Builder Survey.

5. More engaging than a binder of documents

Not every learner is the same. We all have different learning styles. Reading a binder of documents may be effective for a small percentage of people but odds are, a majority will not be engaged. The benefit of using VALTs for your onboarding is that you can include a variety of materials such as video, slideshows, or pre-recorded presentations to engage and increase learning retention. And if a user has a question, he/she can send questions directly to the presenter in real-time.

6. Can include assessments to reinforce learning principles

Another great feature of VALTs is the ability to provide assessments throughout the training. Assessments are a key to reinforcing learning principles. Not only can you measure your new hire’s understanding and knowledge retention, but these metrics serve as a metric to improve future training.

7. Easily document signatures with timestamp capabilities and electronic format

With VALTs you can also track training by applying assessments for outside training along with e-sign. As an administrator, you can gather electronic signature with ease and have the ability to pull and file the signature relating to the new (or revised) policy and well as track that each has read and signed off on the new (or revised) policy.

Ready to try a digital approach to onboarding? Contact the Virtual Events Team for a demo of VALTs, one source for all your expertise available to your team accessible at any time from any location.

 

Other Resources:

http://press.careerbuilder.com/2017-05-11-Thirty-Six-Percent-of-Employers-Lack-a-Structured-Onboarding-Process-for-New-Employees-According-to-New-CareerBuilder-Survey 

https://trainingmag.com/board-onboarding

https://www.td.org/newsletters/atd-links/10-onboarding-best-practices

CSR Spotlight: Circus Kathmandu

Circus Kathmandu CSR

At the heart of Miller Tanner Associates, you will find two distinctions: a team of dedicated individuals who strive for excellence in the work that they do every day; and a work culture that promotes a spirit of generosity and hospitality through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Recently we sat down with Glenda Ann Robertson, Global Event Specialist who, in February, participated in a CSR opportunity with Circus Kathmandu.

Continue reading “CSR Spotlight: Circus Kathmandu”

Powerful Technology Tools to Boost Your Events

Boost your event with these powerful tech tools.

Chris Scott

It is crucial to think about your training and event needs in a holistic way and to utilize all of the tools at your disposal to make the greatest impact on your attendees’ comprehension of the data and to get the most out of your training budgets.

As event solutions experts, we are all constantly in search of amazing ideas and tools to up the engagement levels for our attendees.  We have some clever and powerful technology tools to add some pop and sizzle to your face-to-face events:

  • Bird  – It is a wearable presentation tool à la the movie Minority Report, that turns any surface (e.g. wall or table) into an interactive touch screen, giving presenters tons of options to make presentations more engaging and compelling.
  • Hologram –  Yes, the future is here, and the cost and complexity of this technology have come down from the stratosphere to terra firma. We are getting a lot of client feedback and interest in this novel way to bring remote presenters into the room in an exciting way.  Look for the magic at one of your upcoming events or reach out to us for more information!

We are also very keen on using other tools to supplement the face-to-face event such as:

  • Virtual Events – Deploy for other training needs like amendments and updates which may not require the time commitment and financial outlay of bringing folks to a physical location.  The adoption of this technology is now, fully global and many of our clients are maximizing reach, flexibility, and cost savings by using virtual events to continue training.
  • VALTs Virtual Assessment, Learning & Training Source –  Use in creative ways to get folks trained before they get onsite to focus or shorten the agenda, allowing more targeted discussion and time together face-to-face.  In addition, we can deploy this training method to continue, replicate, and refresh previous training for new staff in perpetuity.

At Miller Tanner Associates, we never stop looking for ways to make your event impactful and meaningful, so your attendees can experience excellence! Contact us today for help with your next event or meeting

Sincerely,

Chris Scott
Director, Media and Production

Meet MTA: Amanda Poling, Project Development

meet mta amanda poling

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 Amanda Poling with our Project Development Team.

Amanda Poling specializes in garnering the best venues for our clients, whether it’s a luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas for a President’s Club or flexible event space in Prague for a medical meeting. No matter where you need to take your meeting or event, Amanda can scout the perfect venue for your needs.

Meet Amanda Poling

Tell us about your current role with MTA. What are your primary responsibilities?  

Project development, venues, sourcing, and the contracting process with the hotel are among my primary responsibilities.

How long have you been with MTA?

6 years

What do you feel are the most fulfilling aspects of your job?

It is always so fulfilling to find the perfect venue for our clients and receive feedback that their program and the venue choice were a success.

What’s the biggest mistake that you feel companies make when planning an event?

It is best to let us plan an event from beginning to end to ensure all details are worked out and the program is successful. Otherwise, if a contract is already in place, it limits our ability to negotiate or revise the contract.

What do you think is an important factor for clients to consider when choosing a venue for their event?

We try to stress to our clients how important the space is and what the hotel can offer as far as seating, ceiling height, screen projection, etc. Location is obviously very important too. We try to keep our clients well informed about prices versus location and educate on the selling points for certain locations.

What are some ways that the Project Development Team takes the burden off of the client when planning an event?

We do our best to work with hotels to ensure that every meeting requirement and request is met so that we can deliver a seamless program. As a team, we also have experience working with many hotels in various locations and can speak to that experience when suggesting or when asked about venues. We do everything we can to help the client understand exactly what to expect and how their program will flow so that there are no surprises along the way.

What do you do for fun?

Travel, crafting, shopping, decorating, photography & spending as much time as I can with my babies and family are what I enjoy most.

What makes Miller Tanner stand out as a meeting planning company? 

As a meeting planning company, MTA is very accommodating in that we have something for everyone as far as what we can offer to clients. Our services meet varied needs, including face-to-face events,  hybrid, or virtual event planning.  MTA goes above and beyond by doing whatever we need to do to ensure our clients are thrilled with the outcome of their program.

What is a benefit of working with MTA as it applies to our vendor relationships?

I have never met a vendor of ours that doesn’t just LOVE MTA. I feel this is because we make it point to go the extra mile to ensure we have great vendor relationships. It is very important to our Project Development Team, as we are constantly working closely with hotels on a daily basis and building a great relationship with them. That goes a long way and makes the process so much more enjoyable and successful.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I love working with such a wonderful group of people and having the privilege of watching the company grow!

{Infographic} Key Questions to Ask When Hiring an Event Planner

Questions That You Should Ask Before Hiring an Event Planner

Jump to Infographic

Whether it be for a pharmaceutical investigator meeting or a company’s national sales meeting, here are key questions to ask when hiring an event planner for your next corporate event.

General Capabilities & Support

  • What is the company’s area of expertise?
  • What is the process from start to finish?
  • What specific services will be provided?
  • What factors should I consider when determining a virtual or hybrid meeting versus a face-to-face meeting?

Operational Structure

  • Will I have one contact person or be working with a team of planners throughout the planning process?
  • How many planners will be available on the day of the event?
  • What method of communication is preferred?

Media & Production Services

  • Is there equipment/technician oversight?
  • Is graphics, design, and support available?
  • Is technical direction provided for the event?
  • What will I be responsible for providing?

Financial Reporting Procedures

  • How often will billing updates be provided?
  • Are final bills paid, documented, and provided as a single package?
  • How is healthcare provider (HCP) spend managed, if required?

Compliance & Security

  • Does the company offer compliance as a service?
  • Are standard processes in place and available for review?
  • Where is your meeting data stored and how safe is storage?

Company Philosophy

  • Will our company values align?
  • Do I feel like a VIP when interacting with your event planner?
  • How are the small details handled?
  • What’s the plan if an unforeseen issue should arise?

Infographic

 

Miller Tanner Associates has corporate event planning experience and expertise. Contact us today to learn how we can help plan your conference, business meeting or company recognition event.

Bring Remote Site Training With Virtual Events

remote site training millertanner.com

Reimagine Your Face-to-Face Events

What if you could bring training directly to your remote, global sites without the added expense of travel and logistics of a face-to-face event?
Now you can. Continue reading “Bring Remote Site Training With Virtual Events”

remote site training millertanner.com

Reimagine Your Face-to-Face Events

What if you could bring training directly to your remote, global sites without the added expense of travel and logistics of a face-to-face event?
Now you can. Continue reading “Bring Remote Site Training With Virtual Events”

Introducing VALTs: Virtual Assessment, Learning & Training Source

Introducing VALTs: Virtual Assessment, Learning & Training Source

We know that distance and time can be a
barrier to effective training. 

Why not have one source for all your expertise available
to your team accessible at any time from any location.
Right at their fingertips.
Designed with security, ease, reporting, and cost-savings in mind.

Introducing VALTs, our Virtual Assessment, Learning & Training Source, which allows you to train more effectively than ever!

Use VALTs to: 

  • Deliver resources & event content
  • Reach all onboarding requirements
  • Create assessments to validate comprehension
  • Generate completed training documents
  • Refresh rapidly changing content
  • Track your team’s progress

VALTs. Centralize your expertise. Propel your team.

MTA Celebrates Its 21st Anniversary

Celebrating 21 Years in the Events Industry!

A lot has changed in the past 21 years in the events industry and Miller Tanner Associates has aspired to adapt to those changes along the way, staying ahead of the curve with your events and with meeting technology. However, a lot has remained the same – like our longstanding commitment to compliance, our continued efforts to cultivate vendor partnerships around the world, and our dedication to delivering exceptional customer-focused service to our clients.

We’re proud to continue serving you in every corner of the globe and helping you plan and execute successful face-to-face and virtual events. We thank YOU for being part of our story for the past 21 years and we’re grateful to be part of yours through your events.