Archives: Podcasts

We’re very excited to be interviewing Andy Sharpe today! As well as being a great storyteller, Andy is the astute and awesome entrepreneur who founded SongDivision, back in 2003.  Since then, SongDivision has been pioneering ways to use the scientific principles of music to strengthen social bonds and emotional connections and to consolidate corporate culture.  Sir Richard Branson once described SongDivision as a great company that uses the power of music to connect employees and customers.  SongDivision is the official music partner of organizations like IMEX and Hard Rock Hotel and Resort. Andy is from Australia, and he lives in Maui. Andy’s background Andy played the clarinet in his school band. He also played the piano, and keyboards in a rock band outside of his school, from when he was about fourteen years old. The band played some gigs in local pubs, and a few years later, they managed to..

Today, we’re delighted to be interviewing a truly unique individual! We have Joey Coleman, the guru of customer experience and customer retention, joining us as our guest. Joey has had some incredible experiences! He is number two on the Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list for his book, Never Lose a Customer Again, he is an award-winning speaker, he has worked as a criminal defense attorney, he’s sung in the Grammy Award-nominated Washington Men’s Camerata, he’s worked at the White House, and he has even been with the Secret Service and the CIA. Joey is the perfect person to learn from when it comes to customer experience and customer retention. In today’s episode, he will be sharing his eight-point methodology that can be applied to any independent business, and he will also share some brilliant stories to illustrate how things could be done better. In 2020, you have to provide more than just value Joey..

Today, we’re delighted to have Melissa Majors as our guest. Melissa is very bright and dynamic, and after having had an incredible career across several different fields within large organizations, she decided to step out on her own and start a business. Melissa spent the majority of her career managing education organizations in a variety of industries, from financial services to technology, non-profit associations, and professional services. Melissa launched her business, Melissa Majors Consulting, about a year ago. Now, she’s creating brain-friendly information. And, although her field of expertise is very broad, she’s decided to focus on strategic planning and inclusivity. Not making a difference Towards the end of her career, Melissa noticed that a lot of the training that she and her team were providing was not making any real difference because even though their audience seemed to be engaged, their brains were..

We have a fabulous guest today! We’re honored to be speaking to another icon in the industry, Carina Bauer, the CEO of IMEX. Carina works in Europe, at IMEX Frankfurt, and also in the US, at IMEX America, in Las Vegas. She is a role model for everyone in the industry, especially the women. Carina is with us on the show today to discuss the role of women in leadership, particularly the women who are involved in the industry. Carina’s background Carina graduated from college in 1998. She then joined her father in a new business that he had set up. It was a small chain of coffee shops and, together, they grew the business into a chain throughout the south-east of the UK over the next three years. The business was sold in 2001 and Carina took a break while deciding what she wanted to do next. At that time, Carina’s father was preparing to launch IMEX in Frankfurt. Carina returned from her break in the middle of 2002...

We have a truly incredible professional on the show with us today! Brad Weaber is joining us as our guest. There’s a lot that we can learn from Brad right now, in this very challenging time. He has been in associations, he’s been in the corporate world, he is an entrepreneur, and he has been just about everywhere in the meetings and events industry. Brad left the comfort of corporate life almost two years ago, to start his own business, Weaber Consulting. Telling stories The ability to tell stories is an important skill. Brad started telling stories when he was very young. He is very good at sharing stories, and he’s truly adept at conveying emotions. And he has many great stories to tell and lots of amazing experiences to share. Brad inherited his storytelling skills from his grandfather, George Potter, who was a wonderful minister. Brad remembers, as a very young child, sitting and listening to his..

We’re delighted to be speaking to a rock star in our industry today! We have the very insightful Sarah Soliman Daudin joining us. Sarah has been named a rising star by several magazines. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the MPI Global Board of Trustees, she’s the Co-Chair of the MPI Women’s Advisory Board, and she is the incoming President of the MPI Greater Orlando Chapter. Sarah has her own production company and she offers her services as a volunteer to many different organizations. She is very involved in the industry with the #MeetingsToo Movement, with Courtney Stanley, and she’s also an incredible entrepreneur and business owner. Starting her company Sarah has been in the meetings and events industry for ten years now. She started her own company, Soliman Productions, five years ago. Before starting her company, Sarah spent about four-and-a-half years doing small business startups for another production..

We’re delighted to be talking with a true icon in our industry!  David Peckinpaugh, President, and CEO of Maritz Global Events is our guest for today’s podcast. Taking good care of each other first has always been David’s mantra throughout everything he has done. You’re going to enjoy all the insights that he will be sharing on the show today! David’s career is synonymous with big brands. He has had many different roles throughout it, and he has also given a lot back through his role in the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, the US Travel Association, and the former Chair of the PCMA Foundation. The power of culture in purpose-driven companies David has worked for many different companies, not all of which have been purpose-driven or focused on culture, and many of which have been singly focused on the financial bottom line. When it comes to culture, David gives credit to Bruce Harris. (Bruce was the founder..

I’m speaking to an amazing entrepreneur today! Greg Habstritt knows what it takes to organize extraordinary events. He has been one of the top entrepreneurs in Canada for many years. He has built several businesses, two of which were in the top 100 fast-growing companies in Canada. Greg does many different types of businesses. He is a speaker, he has done training, and he’s in real estate. He is always ready and willing to share his knowledge, and help people. When the Covid crisis started, and we needed to react quickly, Greg was willing to participate in our popular Independent Business Owners: You’re Not Alone webinars. He has many gold nuggets of information to share in today’s show. Greg dropped out of university when he was twenty-one, to start his first business. Since then, he has been in a wide range of different industries. As live events have always been a big part of what he has been doing, he became a..

Anything can happen when you make the leap as an entrepreneur, and this fear often holds people back, but not Dan Berger. When Dan Berger launched his career as an entrepreneur and founded Social Table, he not only met great success, but was able to sell his business and propel himself onto his next project. In this interview, Dan shares his story, tips on how to position yourself in the meetings and events industry, and how to face crisis. This conversation is full of great advice on how to get traction for your business and an interesting perspective on generational cycles of the meeting industry. Dan’s Bio: Dan Berger is an American-Israeli entrepreneur and investor. He is the Founder and former CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based  Social Tables, which was acquired in October 2018 by  Cvent, a Vista-backed company, for a reported 8-figure deal. Founded in 2011, Social Tables provides event sales, marketing, and..

While we’re all currently facing unprecedented circumstances, there is still levity, humor, and hope to be found in our day-to-day lives. Today’s guest, Michael Dominguez, is the President & CEO at Associated Luxury Hotels International and is actively involved in leadership roles in the Meetings and Events Industry. Michael has an abundance of valuable insight and has been recognized for numerous honors within our industry. In this conversation, Michael reveals how we can overcome stress and look to the future during economic downturn, as well as ways to make sure your business is well covered and well protected. Michael and Eric discuss the importance of framing information and what they predict the recovery from the current COVID-19 pandemic is going to look like. Join Eric Rozenberg in this knowledgeable conversation with Michael to hear more about how you can keep you and your business safe. Show..