Hello Cvent Community,
Welcome to the August edition of our Member Spotlight series, where we spotlight exceptional Community members. This series aims to celebrate standout individuals within our community, showcasing their unique insights, perspectives, and experiences. 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, or events.
So, let's unveil our remarkable community star for this month without further ado!
My career path has been quite varied. I initially pursued acting, studying briefly at the Boston Conservatory in the late '80s. After working in retail, I shifted to banking when my husband joined the Navy, working at Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) from 1991 to 1997. During that time, I earned an AAS in Accounting and discovered my passion for event planning while organizing a holiday party in 1994.
In 1998, we moved to upstate New York, and I entered the hospitality industry with a role at the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Though I wasn’t a natural salesperson, I absorbed everything about the industry and applied it creatively as the Assistant to the President.
My first full-time event planning role came in 2001 at Albany Law School, followed by positions at Total Events Management and the New York State Credit Union League. In 2008, I earned my CMP designation and became active in the local MPI Chapter. I’ve been the Director of Education & Events at the Association for Community Living (ACL) since 2010, and in 2021, I graduated summa cum laude from Johnson & Wales University with a BS in Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management.
@Kameron Kidd was able to chat with Pam and ask her some questions.
Can you share a little about your current role?
We’re a very small office, so everyone wears multiple “hats”. In my main job as the Director of Education & Events at ACL, I am responsible for 4 regional conferences, which are roughly 100 people each, and 2 statewide events, which are 220 people and over 700 people, respectively. All of our events are in-person; we rarely do anything hybrid anymore because people have been so anxious to meet face-to-face again. In addition to the events, I’m also our IT person, handling our network set-up, software purchases/implementations, computer security, office equipment contracts, and general troubleshooting.
How long have you been using Cvent products?
I started using Cvent on a limited basis through MPI around 2009-2010 (that would have been the “Brown” release, for those of you old enough to remember!) I’ve been using it full-time through ACL since 2012. Right now, we use Event Management, eMarketing, Surveys, Abstract Management, and Attendee Hub.
Do you have a favorite event or venue that you've been a part of?
Hands down, my favorite venue is The Sagamore Resort! Our Annual Conference has been held there for almost 40 years, and our people adore going there. We take over the resort for a whole week, and their staff is always amazing; they work extremely hard to make it all come together for our group year after year!
Do you have a favorite Cvent article or training that you think helped you succeed with Cvent technology?
There isn’t any one particular article or training, but the entire Knowledge Base and Community Forum are two resources I use almost daily.
Are you Cvent certified, and if so, which certifications do you hold?
I've previously held the Event Management Professional Certification, the Event Management Advanced Certification, and the Mobile Event App Certification. I didn’t pursue them for career advancement; it was strictly for my knowledge and benefit.
How have you helped others within your organization be successful with Cvent technology?
Almost every day! I’m the one who knows the overall system best; others only know how to navigate one or two specific modules. So, when someone is venturing into a module they don’t normally use, I get asked a lot of questions. 😊
What advice would you share for those who are just starting with Cvent?
Learn the basics and get comfortable with how the platform works. Once that happens, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Cvent can do almost anything you need it to do if you understand how the pieces work together.
What is your favorite Cvent feature?
This is a hard one…I’d have to say that there’s not one specific feature that is my favorite, but the way everything works together because that’s what makes my job easier most of the time. At the end of the day, our end users don’t have any issues registering for an event, and I can use a data tag to display the same information in multiple spots, saving me loads of time - that’s what I love best about Cvent.
See Data Tag Cheat Sheet
We're hugely grateful to Pam for her time and contributions to the Community. We're looking forward to seeing what you accomplish in 2024! As a token of appreciation, Pam will receive a Cvent care package.
Anyone with comments or questions can respond below
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