Chamber University - Building Your Business Through Meetings, Events, & Conferences

Chamber University
Building Your Business Through Meetings, Events, & Conferences

Meetings, events, and conferences can do far more than fill a room. When planned strategically, they can elevate your brand, strengthen customer relationships, showcase your expertise, generate new business, and position your organization as a leader in its industry.

Join us for an informative and practical Chamber University session focused on how businesses can use meetings, events, and conferences as powerful tools for growth. From intimate gatherings to large-scale conferences, our panel of experienced event and hospitality professionals will walk through what it takes to create an event that delivers meaningful results from the initial concept through the final follow-up.

Attendees will learn how to define the purpose and audience for an event, develop a realistic plan and budget, select the right venue and partners, create an engaging attendee experience, promote participation, and avoid common mistakes that can undermine an otherwise successful event.

Whether you are considering hosting a customer appreciation event, educational seminar, industry conference, corporate meeting, product launch, fundraiser, or other business gathering, this session will provide practical guidance for turning an idea into an event that supports your larger business objectives.

Presenters

• LoriAnn K. Harnish, Event and Meeting Designer and Adjunct Professor for Hospitality and Business at Scottsdale Community College
• Stephanie Miller, Executive Director of Programs & Events, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Owner, Allure Couture Events
• Additional Industry Expert, A representative from Scottsdale's hospitality and resort industry will offer insight into planning and executing large-scale meetings and conferences.

Key Takeaways

• Learn how meetings and events can support business development, branding, customer engagement, and industry visibility.

• Understand the essential steps involved in planning a successful event from concept through completion.

• Discover how to establish clear goals, identify the right audience, and select an event format that supports your objectives.

• Explore considerations for budgeting, venues, vendors, logistics, programming, and attendee experience.

• Learn strategies for promoting your event and encouraging attendance and engagement.

• Understand the differences between smaller business events and larger meetings and conferences.

• Identify common event-planning mistakes and learn how to avoid them.

• Discover ways to measure success and extend the value of an event after attendees leave.

Event Details

• Wednesday, September 23

• 3:30pm – 5:00pm

• Scottsdale Community College, ICC Conference Room, 9000 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale, 85256

Why Attend?
This event is ideal for business owners, marketing professionals, event planners, nonprofit leaders, association professionals, hospitality professionals, and anyone responsible for bringing people together on behalf of an organization.

Whether you have never planned an event before or already host meetings and programs throughout the year, this session will help you approach events more strategically. You'll leave with practical ideas for creating experiences that build relationships, increase visibility, reinforce your brand, and contribute to long-term business growth.

Pro Tips for Attendees

• Bring business cards and be ready to connect with fellow attendees.

• Come with an upcoming event or meeting in mind and apply the discussion to your own plans.

• Ask questions and take advantage of the presenters' real-world experience.

• Think beyond attendance numbers and consider what business outcome you want your event to achieve.

• Follow up with new connections and continue the conversations started during the program.

Chamber University is a joint program of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Community College.