Welcome to the February edition of our Member Spotlight series, where we shine a spotlight on exceptional Community members. This series aims to celebrate standout individuals within our community, showcasing their unique insights, perspectives, and experience. Chosen for their active participation and expertise, our spotlights promise to bring you a captivating glimpse into the journey and contributions of our featured members.
Step into the Spotlight - Nominate Yourself or another Standout Member for Our Next Feature
Just send an email to communitymanager@cvent.com to volunteer or nominate one of your peers.
Minimum Requirements: Have a profile photo uploaded and a history of participating in Community discussions, activities, product ideas, and events on a semi-regular basis.
So, without further ado, let's unveil our remarkable community star for this month!
Meet Mike
I started working in theatre during my college years while I was working on a BFA in Design and Musical theatre at East Carolina University. I spent a couple years in NYC doing design work for Howell Binkley on Broadway shows while also working for multiple events companies doing lighting and planning for them. I then moved back to Raleigh to be closer to family and worked with an events and production company doing events of all sizes and shapes from small dinners to large scale university campaign events.
All in all, I have worked in the events industry for over 18 years. I have been a mix of Theatre (Production) and events work and specialized for many years in the technical production of events. In my newest role (5+ years) I have been in event planning for a corporate insurance company planning and executing large scale events and incentives all over the world.
You can find and connect with Mike on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-rummage-16824543/
@Kameron Kidd was able to have a chat with Mike and ask him some questions.
Can you share a little about your current role at the company you work for?
In my newest role (5+ years) I have been in event planning for Quility, a corporate insurance company planning and executing large scale events and upscale incentives all over the world. Working almost entirely on internal events for the company, we have transformed our events with leadership from our VP of Events Jonathan Burleson.
How long have you been using Cvent and what products do you currently use?
We have been a Cvent client for 3.5 years and use Event Management and Sourcing. It has completely changed the way we do registration and sourcing and we have found it completely invaluable.
Do you have a favorite event or venue that you've been to?
Our National Conference is always our number one. We gather about 5,000 of our attendees in Denver Colorado in the Bellco Theatre for 3 days of amazing content! Without Cvent, the registration and check-in process would obviously be cumbersome at best! In 2024, we will be adding RFID badging to simplify things even further! Here is a video of our after party for the conference! I’ve also attached an image of our general session!
Do you have a favorite Cvent article or training that you think really helped you be successful with Cvent technology?
For me, I have found that immersion is best for me! I wanted all of the major videos and read everything I could ingest and then I jumped in and built a test event. Tried all the different options and modules and made sure I understood them before we implemented them on events. I also leaned heavily on the amazing Cvent team to help guide our builds. We do things a bit differently over here and have some complex ticket types and needs for our conferences, so Cvent helped us build the ability to do this.
Are you Cvent certified and if so which certifications do you hold? Do those certifications help you train others? Have they played a role in advancing your career in some way?
I am not! We have stayed so busy I have not had the time! As our team grows I will be able to get all of my certifications! It is a goal for 2024!
For those interested you can find Cvent Certifications through our Cvent Academy here : https://www.cvent.com/certification/event-professional
How have you helped others within your organization be successful with Cvent technology?
Learning and immersion. Cvent does a great job of letting us know of new technology, options or learning opportunities. I have been able to use those new technologies to offer gamification, app updates, and new things to our conferences. Some of our departments were using Jotform for registration, so we simplified everything and brought it into Cvent to maximize our data that we could report on!
For those who are just starting with Cvent, what advice would you share with them?
Read, Read, Read, and engage! Get in the forums and read. There are so many incredibly smart people who post. Network with them, learn from them! The help articles are beyond helpful and your account rep, they are your best friend! Having an issue? Submit a ticket or send a chat! The information at your fingertips can help you overcome any feelings of being overwhelmed or scared! Jump in and enjoy!
What is your favorite Cvent feature and why?
OnArrival. Having a simplified check-in process for a conference of our size is beyond necessary. Being able to check someone in, print their badge, and share the information needed in less than 60 seconds is amazing. The project managers who handle that system are beyond incredible and can guide you and provide you with opportunities that will help you in so many ways!
Huge thanks to Mike for his time and contributions to the Community. We're looking forward to seeing what you can accomplish in 2024! As a small token of appreciation, Mike will receive a Cvent care package.
Anyone with comments or questions can respond below
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