A Time for Change
Change is afoot. The current economy presents the event community with possibly the greatest challenge we have ever faced
by Meredith Mcllmoyle | Published in March 2009 economy | From the Publisher | Departments
Metamorphosis. We picked that theme eight months ago for the Fabulous Showcase Event at the Event Solutions and Catersource Conference & Tradeshow. Little did we know just how relevant it would be for our industry today.
Change is afoot. The current economy presents the event community with possibly the greatest challenge we have ever faced.
And there’s never been a time when we were better equipped to meet it than now.
You can see it in the faces of the young event planners who know as much about leveraging social media as they do about how many rounds fit comfortably in a 50 by 50 room. This infusion of enthusiasm couldn’t be better timed. Our community is ready for the next round of reinvention: acknowledging our strong foundation and building on it, embracing change, transforming. That’s metamorphosis.
Event Solutions is no different.
You will start to see changes in the way we communicate with you. While we work to continue offering you the power of the printed word through Event Solutions magazine, we will also facilitate conversations in the event community via Twitter, Facebook (look for us on both right now) and other platforms. And we will offer you new marketing and advertising solutions, both in print and through new media.
In all of our efforts, we will demand of ourselves the same thing you demand of yourselves: curiosity, innovation, boldness, pluck. We will continue our mission of giving event pros the solutions you need — whether via print, online or live events — because we know that what you need is not more information, but better information.
This, under new leadership. I am extremely proud to say I have accepted the role of publisher, after 10 years with Event Solutions. While publisher is my title, however, the events industry is my career. So I’ll be looking to build partnerships that will make us all stronger. Over the upcoming months, I will seek input from all of you. I will ask newcomers and veterans alike to share your ideas. And I will look for ways to engage our overall community so that we continue to grow and evolve.
I look forward to being a part of our industry’s metamorphosis.
About the author: Meredith Mcllmoyle
Meredith McIlmoyle is the publisher of Event Solutions magazine and leads the Event Solutions team in coordination of the Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow.
She brings more than 15 years experience managing relationships with partners and clients across a broad spectrum of the event industry. She joined Event Solutions in January 2001, and has since excelled in a number of roles including magazine sales, tradeshow sales, sales manager, and conference director before assuming the lead role as publisher.
Her roots in the events industry run deep, beginning in her college student days, planning alumni, sports and fundraising events with the Office of Special Events at Arizona State University, from which she earned a B.A. in Journalism.
After earning her degree, she moved on to work for multiple event services and production companies, including TBA Global, Image Entertainment Productions and Ultimate Events. Meredith’s expertise in new business development grew through experience in every aspect of events, including: entertainment, weddings and social affairs, corporate events, meetings, conferences, plus outdoor fairs and festivals.
Meredith is an avowed outdoor junkie and constant volunteer, working as a Certified Marine Naturalist, volunteering for an assistance dog program, participating on a committee for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and walking annually in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day event. She lives in Anacortes, Wash., with husband Sean, son Brayden and their golden retriever, Blaze.
You can contact Meredith via e-mail or by calling at 612-238-7557.