2015 NACE Leadership Summit
2015 NACE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Associations, businesses, nonprofits and sole proprietors have at least one thing in common – they do not function in a vacuum. Associations need members, businesses need clients, nonprofits need businesses and sole proprietors work with all three entities. Each year I am reminded of this when I represent Party Reflections as a leader of the Charlotte NACE chapter at the annual Leadership Summit.
This year the NACE National Leadership Summit was held in Washington, D.C. The goal of chapter leaders gathering together once a year is to focus on the core objectives of NACE, the National Association for Catering & Event Professionals. I am thankful as a chapter leader for the opportunity to concentrate on my individual leadership development as well as return with industry information for both my local chapter and Party Reflections.
The goals outlined at the beginning of the summit focused on four main areas of association membership: Education, Networking, Collaboration and Feedback. To me these focal points are applicable in my NACE Chapter, in my role at Party Reflections and in my personal life. In particular, networking and collaboration are all about relationships: developing them, nurturing them and supporting them. Understanding the importance of consistently networking in the Charlotte business community as well as being open to opportunities to collaborate with event professionals is at the core of what I do every day.
One of the significant takeaways from the summit this year is a new marketing piece pictured above. I identify with all of the descriptive words outlining a NACE member: Professional, Volunteer, Leader, and Strategic Thinker to name a few. I feel privileged to work for a company that sees those attributes in me and understands the importance of its employees participating in industry organizations such as NACE.
One thing is certain, if members of our event professional community commit to growing their business by strengthening their expertise and collaborating with each other on projects, we will all reap the rewards.
Fellow NACE Charlotte & Triangle NACE Members: Valerie Ward & Shawn Christopher Olender of American Tobacco/Capitol Broadcasting, Justen Hix of Le Meridien Charlotte, Kim Werner of Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, Cristin Lee of Party Reflections, Stephanie L. Garrett of Floral Dimensions, Kim Bibb McDonald of BBJ Linen, James Walters of Walters & Walters Photography and Aundrea Hopkins of AFR – Carolinas.