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Kari Messenger, “Pivoting” as a Planner
Adapting to a new role in the era of COVID-19 By Kari Messenger, CMP, DES
Not long ago, I felt like I was in the prime of my career. I was confident about executing meetings and built strong relationships with my clients as well as the general industry.
Then COVID-19 hit.
I watched as my industry partners and friends were furloughed and laid off day after day, and began to worry and wonder what my own future would hold. My once very busy spring of traveling to conferences back to back was canceled, and I found myself in a new position of applying force majeure and halting all projects leading up to conferences.
Like many others, my heart was broken watching our beloved hospitality industry come to a screeching halt, and I felt lost for many weeks to follow. As time went on, I began to think about what I wanted for my career and starting asking myself these questions: • What will the hospitality industry I love look like in the future due to the repercussions of COVID? • Will I be planning in-person meetings any time in the near future? • Am I capable of planning virtual meetings? • Is there a place for my skills in the virtual meeting world? • Do I need to start thinking about switching to a new industry? • Do I need to start thinking about what unemployment will mean to me and my family?
As time progressed, there was still work to be done, and I found myself transforming into a new role within the association meeting planning industry. This new role inspired a new attitude, and instead of asking questions of doubt, I started telling myself what I can control. Here is what I came upon:
I am a project manager. One of the first steps my team took when moving our in-person meetings to virtual was creating a virtual meeting project plan. This plan consisted of defining tasks and roles for each team member and what needed to be done in order to execute a successful virtual meeting. Our team naturally fell into the role of managing this plan and working with our clients in a new way to ensure our attendees had a positive experience at conferences in a digital format.
I am a partner. Reality struck — understanding conferences were not going to happen in person any time soon, I found myself relying on the industry relationships I If COVID has taught me anything, it is that I can adapt to whatever obstacle comes my way in life
have built over the past several years. These relationships were more important than ever when we navigated the terms of our contracts with venues. Whether the result was rebooking or cancelling due to force majeure, my industry partners worked side by side with me throughout the process.
I am a digital expert. During this time, I was able to receive my Digital Event Strategist (DES) certification. This program helped me understand how to plan, produce and measure digital events from start to finish. These were completely new skills for me in my career, and having the opportunity to receive this certification helped my confidence flourish in this new setting.
I am an adapter. If COVID has taught me anything, it is that I can adapt to whatever obstacle comes my way in life. Last month, I conducted my first virtual site visit. While I would rather have been on the plane to the destination, a virtual site visit meant that more of my team could experience what the property looked like. It was a proud moment knowing I was able to share a new experience with my team, and that there will be new opportunities to do this in the future.
I am looking forward to meeting in person once again, but in the meantime, I know that I have found my place in the COVID planning world. I would not have made it without the support of my network consisting of industry partners, friends, coworkers and family.
Kari Messenger, CMP, DES, is Senior Meetings Manager at the Association Management Center (AMC). She has been serving the AMC and its clients for five years, and in the association industry since 2010. In 2019, Messenger was elected to serve on the board for the Association for Women in Events. She has also been involved with PCMA, ASAE and Association Forum, and received the 2020 Association Forum Forty Under 40.
