Shawn Cheng, founder and lead strategist of Curious Bear Management, believes the jury is still out on whether AI has peaked in usefulness for meetings-related tasks. "It's too early to tell," Cheng said. "We're really just in some way taking a break." Cheng is an experienced events industry professional who has worked with many emerging technologies. He experiments with AI tools like ChatGPT and advocates for improving the relationship between event planners and tech providers. Cheng's skepticism towards AI's current capabilities stems from his work with the "#EventprofsBreakShit" initiative ..read more

As the senior director of events for Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Melinda Burdette oversees the association’s annual meetings. MPI's main events include the World Education Congress and the European Events and Meetings Conference. Planning experiences for thousands of meeting professionals can seem like a daunting task, but Burdette is well-equipped for the job. She is a Certified Meeting Professional and has worked in the medical, nonprofit, and corporate meetings and events industry. How to Think About Meetings Burdette's career has been varied. She has been a medical meeting p ..read more

Robyn Duda is the co-founder and CEO of RacquetX. From organizing high school parties to launching IBM’s Watson worldwide, Duda has had her fair share of experience in events and trade shows, spending a significant part of her career at UBM, now part of Informa. She took the shift from consulting for brands like Visa and Coca-Cola to taking the entrepreneurial leap to leading RacquetX in her stride. RacquetX emerged from a conversation with co-founder Marco Giberti, a previous podcast guest, and a group of investors passionate about racket sports. "We have this idea, this kind of an idea. Can ..read more

In this episode of the Skiff Meetings Podcast, we speak with Andrea Cadotto, director of sales at Visit Detroit. Cadotto sheds light on Detroit's dynamic evolution and promising future in large-scale events and urban development. Legacy and Reputation Visit Detroit, established in 1896, was the first-ever convention and visitors bureau. Detroit features many historical firsts, including the first stoplight and the first paved road. The city has continuously positioned itself at the forefront of innovation. Cadotto emphasized that this legacy provides Visit Detroit with invaluable experience an ..read more

In this special bonus episode of The Skift Meetings Podcast, Skift CEO Rafat Ali is joined by Skift Meetings Executive Editor Andrea Doyle and Head of Events Programming Brian Quinn to discuss the current state of conferences.  Prompted by Ali’s LinkedIn post critiquing the lack of thoughtful programming, attendee experience, and speaker support at conferences, the panel explores the importance of content in driving successful events. They emphasize that while logistics and technology have improved, the core issue remains the quality of on-stage programming. Ali and the team hig ..read more

Helen Bassett is senior vice president of Live and Events for Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. Working hand-in-hand with the Wall Street Journal’s newsroom helps Bassett and her team identify what, and who, are making the biggest waves regarding how we live, work, and play.  We discussed the upcoming the sixth iteration of the Future of Everything Festival, an event where industries, innovators, and ideas intersect. It's three days of concurrent sessions and experiences happening on multiple stages, with this year's focus on key issues around mobility, artificial ..read more

Timothy Glanzer, CMP, is the founder and CEO of Elevated Meeting Solutions. A former banker, he spent three decades working in various MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas before founding his company. A full-service meetings and events company, Elevated helps with sourcing and planning gatherings for as few as 25 to around 180,000 who gather in Las Vegas for CES, the world’s largest tech event. Las Vegas as an Events Destination Based in Las Vegas, Glanzer has watched the city grow into a sports and entertainment capital, including being the main stage for Super Bo ..read more

Not many can say they grew up in the events industry, but Gregg Talley can. He has been at it for more than four decades. Gregg H. Talley is the chief executive officer of Talley Management Group, an association and event management firm that works with U.S. national global associations. Talley also has an affiliated association and event management firm in Africa. With a degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in International Relations, he utilizes those skills to manage and consult with national and international organizations and boards. Talley has personally managed ..read more

Joe Rivers is the director of experiences and partnerships for Czarnowski Collective, a group of studios that have come together to provide event production, fabrication, and trade show agency services. Rivers discusses his journey as an event professional, starting as a brand ambassador and tour manager before transitioning into business development. He emphasizes the importance of experiential marketing and the value it brings to brands and agencies. Rivers also talks about event planning, production, and execution and the importance of engaging all five senses in experiential activations. H ..read more

Visit Phoenix is redefining its role in the community. It is positioning itself as a key player in economic development through strategic storytelling and event management. Lorne Edwards, chief sales officer at Visit Phoenix, highlighted the organization's commitment to driving visitation and showcasing Phoenix's unique cultural narrative. Behind the Scenes of the Super Bowl Hosting the Super Bowl required extensive preparation behind the scenes, making it the standout experience for the Visit Phoenix team. Edwards recounted the emotional impact and pride of executing such a prestigious global ..read more