HHC Program Final Draft

MARCH 13-14, 2012 @ INDIANA MEMORIAL UNION ~ BLOOMINGTON, IN

HOOSIER HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE ATTENDEES ................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................ facebook.com/visitbloomington

twitter.com/visitbtown

800-800-0037

THANK YOU, 2012 SPONSORS! Thank you to our 2012 Hoosier Hospitality Conference Sponsors! Hoosier Hospitality Conference hosts and attendees are sincerely grateful for the generous support of these hospitality and tourism industry leaders.

INDEX Lt. Governor’s Welcome.............................................................................................................................................................5 Indiana Memorial Union Map.................................................................................................................................................7 HHC Schedule & Session Descriptions................................................................................................................................8 Speaker Biographies..................................................................................................................................................................14 Notes..............................................................................................................................................................................................21

Comfort

Just what you need. Just what we have.

The Indiana Memorial Union is an elegant hotel and conference center located in the heart of Indiana University’s campus.

Whether business or leisure brings you to Bloomington, let us help make your visit memorable.

For reservations • (800) 209-8145 / (812) 856-6381 • imu.indiana.edu/hotel

WELCOME ATTENDEES

OFFICE OF THE LT. GOVERNOR STATE HOUSE INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204-2797

Welcome Hoosier Hospitality Conference Attendees!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this year’s conference in Bloomington, one of Indiana’s great travel destinations. With the help of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, as well as the Indiana Hotel and Lodging Association, the Restaurant and Hospitality Association of Indiana and the Association of Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureaus, this year’s conference promises to be a great opportunity to learn and network with other hospitality and tourism professionals.

These organizations have worked hard to provide an outstanding lineup of highly informative and educational sessions ranging from current trends and customer service to technology and marketing.

In addition to the abundance of educational sessions, this conference is an excellent opportunity to spend time with your peers in the hospitality industry. You are able to build friendships, learn from others’ experiences and network with contacts across the state.

The tourism industry has a great story to tell. Tourism brings in more than 62 million visitors annually to the state of Indiana. All of those visitors spend $10 billion. Each one of you contributes to the economic impact of this industry.

Have a great conference.

Sincerely,

Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman

Hotel AccomodAtions Biddle Hotel Front Desk Lobby

Lobby Level

meeting Rooms Alumni Hall Charter Room Commemorative Garden Distinguished Alumni Room Federal Room Frangipani Room Georgian Room Hoosier Room K.P. Williams Room Memorial Room State Room East & West The University Club Tree Suites Meeting Rooms Whittenberger Auditorium

1 Mezzanine Mezzanine Mezzanine 2 Mezzanine 1 Mezzanine 2 1 2 1 Mezzanine 1

second University Club (Faculty Club)

K.P. Williams Room IU Bookstore

Hotel Rooms 200s

Federal Room 267

State State Room West Room East

sHopping / seRvices 900 Hair Design Bloomington Shuttle Ticket Machine Campus Card Services Computer Connection Computer Lab IU Bookstore IU Credit Union Lactation Room The UPS Store ®

Mezzanine Lobby Level Mezzanine Mezzanine Mezzanine Mezzanine & 1 Lobby Level Mezzanine Lobby Level

IU Bookstore

Activities And enteRtAinment Activities & Events Office / UNION BOARD IMU Bowling & Billiards

Student Tower 2 Mezzanine

Mezzanine Mezzanine 1 1 Mezzanine

Lobby Lobby Mezzanine Mezzanine Mezzanine Lobby Level Mezzanine

Solarium

IMU Gallery

Patio

Dogwood

Sassafras Tree Suite Meeting Rooms

meZZAnine

Poplar Redbud

Board of Director’s Office Trustees Tree Suite M005 Garden

Maple Walnut

*To Student Activities Tower Only

Catering/ Dining Services

Computer Connection

Conference Lounge

Oak

Distinguished Charter Hoosier Alumni Room Room Room

Freshens

Frangipani Room

Pizza Hut® Sugar & Spice

Sakura Sushi & Hot Bowl Charleston Market Cyclone Salads Market M067

Campus Card

900 Hair Design M095A

IU Conferences Annex

East Lounge

Hotel Fitness Room

IMU Marketing

Office of the Veteran Support Dean of Students Services M088 M084

IU Bookstore Meeting Support Services

Burger King® Baja Fresh Dunn Meadow Cafe Commons Dunn Meadow Patio

The Back Alley Billiards M095

Arcade Room

The Back Alley Bowling

M089 M096C M098A-D

lobbY

Dining Services Business Office

Payroll

Computer Lab

M097

Meeting Support Services

Administrative Services

Business Office & Personnel

IU Credit Union UPS Store®

Hotel Lobby

Student Tower & 3 Mezzanine Commemorative Garden

emeRgencY

fire In the event of a fire, exit the building through the nearest exit door or stairwell. Do not use the elevator.

Tudor Room Coronation Room

Persimmon

Mezzanine

tornado In the event of a tornado or severe weather warning, move to interior areas without windows, such as restrooms, stairwells, or hallways and close any doors.

Stage

Alumni Hall

Starbucks

Whittenberger Auditorium

AdministRAtive offices Administrative Services Business Office / Payroll / HR Director’s Office Dining and Catering Services Dean of Students IMU Marketing IU Trustees Office Meeting Room Reservations & Services Student Activities Office & IUSA Veteran Support Services

Memorial Room

Georgian Room

Wi-fi lounges & public spAces Computer Lab East Lounge IMUG South Lounge Tree Suite Lounge

South Lounge

Hotel Rooms 100s

dining And snAck sHops Baja Fresh ® Mezzanine Burger King ® Mezzanine Dunn Meadow Cafe Lobby Level Freshens Mezzanine Starbucks ® 1 Sugar & Spice Mezzanine Sycamore Corner Hotel Lobby The Market Mezzanine Pizza Hut Express ®, Charleston Market, Cyclone Salads, Sakura Sushi & Hot Bowl Tudor Room 1

fiRst

*To Student Activities Tower Only

University Club

Kiva

Sycamore Corner Hotel Front Desk Dunn Meadow Patio Building Services

Legend

Sassafras M035

7th Street

Handicap accessible

Escalator

Men’s restroom

Elevator

ATM

E-mail station

Women’s restroom

HHC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Attendees are welcome to attend any session at the conference. However, for your convenience we have listed the main industry focus of each session.

- Tourism Industry - Hotel Industry

- Restaurant Industry - All Industry

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2012 LOCATION: YOGI’S BAR & GRILL

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - WELCOME RECEPTION

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012 LOCATION: FRANGIPANI ROOM

8:00 AM - REGISTRATION OPENS Wake up, grab a cup of coffee and browse the awesome HHC Silent Auction!

SILENT AUCTION OPENS SIGN UP TO TEXT YOUR BIDS FROM YOUR MOBILE DEVICE WITH QTEGO! CHECK OUT THE MANY WONDERFUL SILENT AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDING: • Vera Bradley tote bag and wallet • Getaway to Madison basket • $100 gift certificate to Sulivan’s Restaurant • One registration to the Midwest Cultural Tourism Conference • IU vs Ball State football weekend package • Lots of local food, wine and hand crafted gifts • And many more!

LOCATION: WHITTENBERGER AUDITORIUM

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM CONFERENCE WELCOME FOR ALL ATTENDEES

Welcome by Mike McAfee, Thom Simmons & Bloomington Mayor, Mark Kruzan

THE WONDER OF WHAT WE ARE DR. JILL BOLTE TAYLOR Jill Bolte Taylor, whose inspirational story of recovery from stroke is recounted in the best-selling book My Stroke of Insight, will deliver the keynote address at the opening Conference session on Tuesday, Mar. 13, at 8:30 a.m. Taylor’s presentation, “The Wonder of What We Are,” will inspire tourism, lodging, and restaurant professionals as we strive to be leaders in our respective fields.

LOCATION: OAK ROOM

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM FUTURE INNOVATIONS IN CONNECTING WITH VISITORS JAMES BURNES, INNOVATION & DIGITAL STRATEGIST, PROJECT BRILLIANT A glimpse into the near future of how social media, mobile platforms and technology are going to change the way you connect, communicate and build affinity with your tourism customers. The talk will include practical action items that can be implemented now to build a framework for the future.

LOCATION: WALNUT ROOM

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM OCCUPY YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE MAURA ALLEN GAST, FCDME, IRVING CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lessons Learned from the “OCCUPY” Movement, and how to use them to stake and take your seat at the table in support, growth and defense of one of your community’s most vital industries - ours!

LOCATION: MAPLE ROOM

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM HOW “TALKABLE” IS YOUR RESTAURANT ROBBIN PHILLIPS - BRAINS ON FIRE Unlike the latest shiny new media tool, widget or app of the day, true word of mouth marketing is based on real relationships between company and consumer.

These real relationships foster natural word of mouth movements – and can be the basis for people becoming loyal, repeat customers who share information on your restaurant’s behalf.

In this session, Robbin Phillips from Brains on Fire will show you how to see every single aspect of your business – from the “Please wait to be seated” sign to the way in which you take a reservation – as an opportunity to make your restaurant more “talkable.” She’ll show you how you can reframe the conversations you think you’re having with your customers into something that will inspire true word of mouth movement for your restaurant.

11:00 Break Sponsored By: 9:45 Break Sponsored By: Page 8

HHC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE LOCATION: OAK ROOM

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MOBILE AND ARE YOU READY? HOWARD TIETJEN, MADDEN MEDIA You’ve heard it at every conference that you have attended in that past year… “Mobile technology will take over communications!” But what does that really mean?

This informative session will look at several trends that you need to pay attention to in 2012: • Who is the audience and are they really looking for me?

• What comes first my web site or an APP? • How to reach this audience through Mobile advertising.

• Offline methods to promote your Mobile presence.

LOCATION: MAPLE ROOM

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM JUMP-START YOUR ONLINE VIDEO STRATEGY ROCKY WALLS - 12 STARS MEDIA PRODUCTIONS Lights! Camera! Confusing, time-consuming, and expensive...The problem with getting started with online video is that often nothing ever happens past getting started. Time or budget gets in the way, or skill sets don’t measure up and the benefits of using consistent, relevant online video are never realized. In this session, we’ll go over the pitfalls, common mistakes and best practices to jump-start your online video strategy and get you on the path to success!

LOCATION: ALUMNI HALL

LOCATION: WHITTENBERGER AUDITORIUM

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM LESSONS LEARNED IN IGNITING WORD OF MOUTH MOVEMENTS ROBBIN PHILIPS, BRAINS ON FIRE Authentic, sustainable word of mouth marketing is one of the truest forms of brand communication, and it can’t be manufactured or bought. And yet, as more institutions dedicate marketing dollars to assemble word of mouth and buzz marketing programs, how can you build an effective, meaningful movement for your brand that will directly impact your bottom line? How can you identify those brand advocates already speaking out on your behalf, and work with them to develop a natural two-way word of mouth program?

Robbin will explain how word of mouth marketing works and how it doesn’t, providing techniques on how you can start to identify movement-building opportunities for your brand, with authenticity and clear measurement results in mind. You’ll learn how to identify passion conversations versus product conversations, and how to “open the kimono” to your customers and fans. She will highlight successful and nationally recognized WOM case studies, as well as talk about ways to define ROI. In addition, Robbin will draw from lessons discussed in the book Brains on Fire – revealing how to ignite powerful, meaningful, sustainable word-of-mouth movements that are a “win-win” for both customers and business. Believing the focus should be on people and not simply new tools and tactics is the key to building long-term momentum both online and offline for companies, products, services or organizations.

2:45 Break Sponsored By:

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM LUNCH FEATURING WORLD CLASS BEVERAGE BEER & FOOD PAIRINGS

LOCATION: EAST LOUNGE

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

SPONSOR LOUNGE Relax and recharge with food and drinks in the sponsor lounge area courtesy of all the HHC sponsors!

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HHC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE building VARIOUS LOCATIONS

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM BLOOMINGTON TOUR OPTIONS 2012 HHC Attendees have the option to register for one of these great tours organized by our conference host: Visit Bloomington!

Behind the Curtain: Behind the Scenes at IU Auditorium and IU Cinema Presented by Doug Booher, Director, IU Auditorium Tour focuses on behind the scenes aspects of running a major entertainment venue, booking world renowned touring shows and musicians. Also provides insight as to how they work with members of the tourism industry to help sell tickets or create partnerships with restaurants, hotels, and other businesses throughout the community.

Follow the Limestone: A Walking Tour of Indiana University Presented by Brian Keith, Indiana Geological Survey This tour was the outcome of a wonderful collaboration between the Indiana Geological Survey and Visit Bloomington that was unveiled in spring 2009. Limestone is a major part of the history of the southern part of the state and serves as the primary building material for nearly all buildings throughout campus. This tour highlights some of the most beautiful buildings on campus and really takes visitors on a trip throughout the history of the university.

Grant Street Inn: Saved from Destruction by a Generous Gift from CFC, Inc. Presented by Paul Wagoner, Innkeeper, Grant Street Inn Special presentation by Jim Murphy Grant Street Inn, located on the edge of campus in the heart of downtown Bloomington, recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary at the corner of 7th and Grant Streets.

Its savior was none other than Cook Group founder and historic preservationist Bill Cook and his wife, Gayle. This tour will tell the story of how Grant Street Inn came to be and provide a special presentation by Jim Murphy to tell story of the massive efforts of CFC to take historic structures throughout the state and transform them into major attractions and lodging facilities.

LOCATION: IU ART MUSEUM

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM RECEPTION Join your colleagues for a fun and lively reception at the IU Art Museum. Enjoy delicious appetizers from One World Catering as well as beer and wine samples from our local breweries and wineries. At the end of the reception we will board charter buses and head out to local eateries for the evening’s Dine Around.

Sponsored by:

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

7:00 PM DINE AROUND

Dine out with fellow attendees after conference hours on Tuesday with our pre-arranged dinner plans! We’ve taken the pain out of the planning and set up arrangements (transportation included from the HHC Reception at the IU Art Museum) with area restaurants.

So grab a group of friends, attendees and coworkers and head out after hours for a bite to eat, talk about the sessions and some great networking.

Dine around is an additional charge (pay your own meal) based on menu items selected by each individual. This cost is NOT included in your conference registrations.

HHC Dine Around options include: • Finch’s Brasserie • Grazie! Italian Eatery • Lennie’s / Bloomington Brewing Company • Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Café & Wine Bar • Scotty’s Brewhouse • Upland Brewery

Behind the Scenes at the Indiana Memorial Union Presented by: Thom Simmons, Associate Director, Indiana Memorial Unionand Damian Esposito, Executive Chef, Indiana Memorial Union Simmons will provide a behind the scenes tour of the largest student union in the country, sharing tidbits and trivia on some of the unique items that call the IMU home.

From the bowling alley and arcade to even a rifle range, this building has it all and you will get to see it from the eyes of an insider. The second half of the tour will take you with Esposito as he provides an interesting perspective on working with third party food provider, Sodexho, inside the two story kitchen at the Indiana Memorial Union. From drop and go food items to full blown catered meals, this operation keeps its commitments to all events and also helps provide food to all twelve eateries inside the 500k sq ft Page 10

Schedule continued on page 12

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HHC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 LOCATION: FRANGIPANI ROOM

7:00 AM - REGISTRATION OPENS Wake up, grab a cup of coffee and browse the awesome HHC Silent Auction!

SILENT AUCTION OPEN Sign up to text your bids from your mobile device!

• Vera Bradley tote bag and wallet • Getaway to Madison basket • $100 gift certificate to Sulivan’s Restaurant • One registration to the Midwest Cultural Tourism Conference • IU vs Ball State football weekend package • Lots of local food, wine and hand crafted gifts • And many more!

LOCATION: WHITTENBERGER AUDITORIUM

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM RIDING THE BLUE TRAIN OF INNOVATION & SUCCESS JOHN KENNEDY Join international speaker, author and strategist John Kennedy as he takes us on a wonderful journey on the Blue Train of Innovation and Success.

From creating a culture of “why not?” instead of “why?” to challenging our employees to the highest level of innovation--”magical thinking”, John will not only change your way of thinking...he will change your entire outlook on life...both personally as well as professionally.

LOCATION: FRANGIPANI ROOM

John has presented to hundreds of conferences, associations, conventions and international events with a dynamic and powerful message of change leadership and customer experience. This will be John’s third visit to our great state of Indiana for our Hoosier Hospitality Conference...you won’t want to miss his valuable message and invaluable insight

Join fellow attendees for coffee and a bite to eat while mulling over one of these great topics!

LOCATION: WALNUT ROOM

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM BREAKFAST AND ROUND TABLES

• THE IMPACT OF FESTIVALS ON YOUR COMMUNITY Indiana State Festivals Association

• SPORTS TOURISM IS MORE THAN JUST A GAME Sports Indiana

• NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOURISM MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT Indiana Office Of Tourism Development

• MAXIMIZING YOUR FREE VISITINDIANA.COM PRESENCE Indiana Office Of Tourism Development

• MARKET RESEARCH Shannon Gray

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM TOURISM TRAILS: ACROSS COUNTY LINES Join representatives from trails around the state to hear about how trails can connect your communities and offer visitors a reason to stay in your area longer. Panelists will discuss the success stories of the Limestone Trail, the By Hoosier Hands Trail and the Nickel Plate Arts Trail. A new trail grants opportunity from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development will also be discussed.

PANELISTS: Amy Vaughan, Director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, will moderate the trails panel session and discuss a new trails grant program opportunity.

Betsy Jones with Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau will represent the Nickel Plate Arts Trail.

This trail is a 30-mile arts region in central Indiana that follows the historic Nickel Plate rail line.

Dave Lawrence with Limestone Country in Lawrence County will represent The Limestone Trail. The Limestone Trail promotes the underutilized, and Indiana-specific, tourism resource offered only in Lawrence and Monroe counties.

Linda Lytle with Visit Madison will represent the By Hoosier Hands trail in southern Indiana. The recent Handcrafted and Homegrown by Hoosier Hands in Southeast Indiana Artisan Trails book features four trails for art lovers, foodies and road-trippers and take visitors through seven counties in southeast Indiana.

Page 12

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Housekeeping Supplies: brooms • buckets • cleaning chemicals • laundry bins/carts • mops.

800.772.7676

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HHC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE LOCATION: OAK ROOM

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM TRADITIONAL VS. SOCIAL MEDIA PROSPECTING - WHERE IS THE PROFITABLE BALANCE? SIGNATURE WORLDWIDE On average, how many times should you continue to contact a prospect? The answer may surprise you.

Salespeople hat to prospect, yet the most successful salespeople make the most prospecting calls- what’s the difference between you and them? Is it better to spend your time prospecting on the phone, in person or online?

Or should you strike a balance?

This session focuses on prospecting in the digital agewithout abandoning what has worked and continues to work in the offline world. Our goal is to get your sales pipeline overflowing with good prospects and opportunities.

In this session you will learn: *How to leave effective voicemails *What gets your emails through spam filters and into the hands of your best prospects? *What’s the difference between a sales call and a prospecting call? *Where is the most profitable balance between in person, telephone and social media or email prospecting? *Where on the web can you find great leads?

LOCATION: WHITTENBERGER AUDITORIUM

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM CREATING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE JOHN KENNEDY The biggest competitor in our industry is not the destination around the corner…it’s the pocket book or wallet of the world!

Join international speaker, author and strategist John Kennedy as he unfolds the difference between delivering customer service and creating the customer experience.

We compete in a “wants-based” economy…and our clients’ expectations are higher than they have ever been before… so do we offer a service or an experience?

One is more of a reactionary offering and one is an anticipated offering. One offers good opportunity and possible repeat business, the other offers client loyalty and galvanizing partnerships.

One is what you might be …and one is what we all should become!

You won’t want to miss this session that takes John’s international experiences of excellence and delivers them in a powerful and insightful workshop!

Page 14

LOCATION: FRANGIPANI ROOM

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM REJUVENATE

Take a break, network, relax!

Sponsored by:

SILENT AUCTION CLOSES

LOCATION: DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ROOM

9:45 AM - 12:30 PM INDIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING

LOCATION: WALNUT ROOM

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM HOW NEW MEDIA HAS CHANGED YOUR BRAND MANAGEMENT SHANNON GRAY In the past destination marketers were able to control their brand message through traditional communication channels including print media, outdoor, email marketing, public relations and online banner ads. But the rapid evolution of social media – particularly in combination with the real-time capabilities of digital phones – has empowered visitors to create their own content about our brands. Exacerbating the problem is the strong credibility of word-of-mouth for travel; which eclipses the credibility and efficacy of the traditional media model. So does this mean destinations have lost all influence over their brand messaging? Not at all! This session introduces DMOs to the idea that they must become facilitators who manage the messages, rather than directors who control them.

Time will be spent on branding tools that can guide both traditional and social media marketing. Special emphasis will be placed on unique ways communities can guide social media expressions by feeding channels with authentic (and branded) content that touches consumers’ passion points. Case studies from communities and retailers will be used to illustrate key points.

HHC CONFERENCE SCHEDULE LOCATION: OAK ROOM

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM STOP ACTING LIKE A SALESMAN BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES YOU! SIGNATURE WORLDWIDE

LOCATION: TUDOR ROOM

CLOSING LUNCH LUNCH WINNERS OF SILENT AUCTION PICK UP ITEMS

No one likes to be sold to, but everyone likes to buy! When your employees act like sales people instead of trusted advisors, customers are turned off and want to look elsewhere for help. But how can your employees learn that selling doesn’t have to hurt? That they should be viewed as a client advocate who is there to help the customer with the decision making and buying process?

In this session, you will learn how to help people buy after you stop selling. Salespeople today are as welcome as visits to the dentist or political speeches. Stop being a cliché and learn what questions to ask and what questions to avoid at all costs. Compel your customers to want to do business with you instead of feeling like it is a painful process they have to endure.

You need to sound different than your competitors. If you have ever called around to your competitors, you know they are all pretty similar- asking for dates, rates and availability. Learn how to stand out right from the start and let your prospect know they have called the right place.

In this highly interactive session you will learn how to: *Open a sales conversation that sets you apart right away *Set real sales call objectives that are measurable and results oriented *Identify what questions to ask, what questions to avoid *Stop sounding like a salesperson and take a business approach to your prospect that they will truly appreciate

LOCATION: FRANGIPANI ROOM

BOOK SALES & SIGNINGS Books from 2012 HHC speakers, including John Kennedy and Robbin Philips, Brains on Fire will be on sale near the conference registration tables. Catch John Kennedy after lunch on Wednesday and Robbin Phillips after each session on Tuesday!

Take their ideas home with you!

LOCATION: WHITTENBERGER AUDITORIUM

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM MANAGEMENT THAT COOKS JOHN KENNEDY

Join international speaker, strategist and author John Kennedy as he picks up where he left off with his keynote “Riding the Blue Train”. John will take a few pages out of his book “Management That Cooks!” to present the leadership necessary to motivate transformational change.

From the importance of clear vision to the “cannoli factor” of emotional engagement, John will arm your toolbox with all the latest skills to lead in this challenging time.

John will be available after his presentation for coaching and a book signing!

Page 15

GENERAL SESSION SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES JOHN KENNEDY, JOHN KENNEDY CONSULTING For well over a decade, John Kennedy has inspired over 100,000 audience members throughout North America, Europe, Australia and the Caribbean.

John’s success was galvanized in the hospitality & tourism industry as a restaurant & hotel executive with a strong sense of teamwork, sales and leadership. He learned from the best and now speaks to many who want to be their best. “Bringing out the best in others is the most rewarding aspect of my life, right behind being a dad.”

John’s success list includes: Marriott Hotels, General Electric, Elizabeth Arden, Canada Bread, Air Care Bermuda, Taco Bell, Exxon Mobil, Strathfield Austraila, Baltimore Ravens, Precision Tune as well as over 50 associations and government agencies worldwide. John is often invited back after his first engagement, due to the invaluable insight and immediate impact he brings.

John’s greatest offering to his clients is his total immersion into their culture, issues and interests. He then creates a program targeted directly to the audience.

ROBBIN PHILLIPS, COURAGEOUS PRESIDENT, BRAINS ON FIRE As one of the founders and Courageous President of Brains on Fire, Robbin has recruited a highly talented team of kindred spirits committed to the belief that marketing has the power to truly touch lives. Having begun her career as a graphic designer, Robbin remains involved in the creative development of client identities, while tapping into her keen business sense to facilitate strategy.

Inspired by the power of purpose, passion and people, Robbin and her team rally daily to deliver innovative, impactful solutions that elevate and celebrate a diverse range of clients including Love146, Foundation Recovery Network, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, BMW, DeVry University, GreenDot Public Schools, Fiskars Brands, Perception Kayaks, Ryobi Tools, Colonial Williamsburg, the National Center for Family Literacy and Best Buy. During Robbin’s tenure, Brains on Fire has received numerous national awards including a GOLD EFFIE and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s WOMMIE Award. As co-author of the book Brains on Fire; Igniting Powerful Sustainable World of Mouth Movements, and a highly sought-after presenter, Robbin frequently hits the road to speak at conferences and private events around the country. She has shared her insights on word of mouth marketing with groups big and small, including the Word of Mouth Marketing Association and the Association of National Advertisers.

DR. JILL BOLTE TAYLOR Jill Bolte Taylor, whose inspirational story of recovery from stroke is recounted in the bestselling book My Stroke of Insight, will deliver the keynote address at the opening Conference session on Tuesday, Mar. 13, at 8:30 a.m. Taylor’s presentation, “The Wonder of What We Are,” will inspire tourism, lodging, and restaurant professionals as we strive to be leaders in our respective fields.

Taylor is a Harvard-educated and published neuroanatomist who chose the field to be able to help people like her brother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. On Dec. 10, 1996, Taylor came face-to-face with her chosen field when she experienced a severe left hemisphere brain hemorrhage. “In the course of four hours,” Taylor said, “I watched my brain completely deteriorate in its ability to process all information.” The rare form of stroke, known as an arterio-venous malformation (AVM), left her unable to walk, talk, read, or write, and wiped clean all memories of her life before the stroke. “I essentially became an infant in a woman’s body.”

In a presentation recorded for TED (a free website of “riveting talks by remarkable people”), Taylor recounts her story in detail, describing her loss of the ability to consider the past, future, and her place within it—in short, the ability to say, “I am…” Instead, she was left with only the right-brain ability to exist in the present moment, but unable to distinguish herself from the energy she perceived flowing from her surroundings. “In that moment, my brain chatter—my left-hemisphere Speaker Biographies continued on page 19

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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES brain chatter—went totally silent, just like someone took a remote control and pushed the mute button. Total silence.” In the weeks after the stroke, as she struggled to come to terms with what she experienced, Taylor was inspired to recover.

The presentation, recorded Feb. 27, 2008, is the most-viewed ever on the TED site.

Over the next eight years, with her mother’s help and her own resolve, Taylor rebuilt her memory and neural functions, relying on her brain’s right hemisphere to compensate for and help repair the damaged left half. Taylor completely recovered her mental and physical capacities—and more—by seeking a new balance between left- and right-brain capabilities. Now Taylor seeks to help people maximize their quality of life by “tending the garden of our minds” to balance the particular aptitudes of the right brain with those of the left.

She recounted her story in her book, My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey, which spent 17 weeks on The New York Times Hardcover Non-Fiction Bestseller list. Since then, she has given numerous presentations and speeches, including an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Remarkably, Taylor doesn’t consider her experience with stroke in a negative light but rather feels fortunate to have had the experience. She recalls her left brain telling her during the stroke, “This is so cool—how many brain scientists have the opportunity to study their own brains from the inside out?” Though her surgery and subsequent recovery were challenging, Taylor views her experience as worthwhile. She is now a passionate advocate not only for the ability of the brain to recover, but also for individuals’ ability to choose, moment by moment, who and how they want to be in the world.

“I believe that the more time we spend choosing to run the deep inner-peace circuitry of our right hemisphere,” Taylor said, “the more peace we will project into the world, and the more peaceful our planet will be. And I thought that was an idea worth spreading.”

Dr. Taylor is an adjunct professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, a Bloomington resident and native Hoosier.

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AMBER ANTHONY FOX, NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES - HOSPITALITY, SIGNATURE WORLDWIDE As Signature National Director of Sales with over 20 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience, Amber Anthony Fox is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with hospitality organizations throughout the United States. She serves as a respected consultant to her hospitality clients, offering suggestions to increase revenue and improve guest loyalty through training and business solutions.

Prior to joining Signature, Fox has held positions at hotel brand, management company and property levels. She has also worked as a Director of Sales and Marketing, Sales and Marketing Project Manager, Regional Marketing Manager, and Sales Manager in companies such as Accor, Impac Hotel Group, Sheraton, Westin and Intercontinental. Fox also served as a hotel account executive for Southern Marketing Services, an advertising agency in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

While in these positions, Fox successfully planned and implemented the marketing for new hotel openings, was a successful sales leader of hotel Director of Sales and Sales Managers, helped underperforming properties increase revenue, and provided sales and marketing support to over 150 hotels. She also helped develop and manage a sales program for a new brand.

Fox holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University. She currently serves as President on the board of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, Ohio Chapter. She is a frequent speaker and writer for many hospitality organizations and associations.

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} Official Visitors Guides

search engine Marketing & Optimization

Database Profiling

Meeting Planner Guides

Rich Media Display campaigns

Location Mapping

niche Publications

Lead Generation

Lifestyle insights

inserts

Microsites

Web Analytics

O, The Oprah Magazine Travel sections

interactive Brochures

conversion studies

email Marketing Mobile Marketing

contact me today!

Tricia Wisbrock Regional Account Manager 314-925-7297 | 314-882-0276 (MOBiLe) twisbrock@maddenmedia.com

since 1976 Madden Media has partnered with destination marketers to deliver proven payoff in a rapidly changing travel landscape.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES JAMES BURNES, INNOVATION & DIGITAL STRATEGIST, PROJECT BRILLIANT James Burnes is founder and a Managing Partner for Project Brilliant. His leadership and vision help organizations embrace new and emerging technologies to transform their organization to succeed in our highly connected, 24/7 economy. His expertise in business development, mobile, sales, innovation, product ideation, and revenue-centric thinking makes him a regular resource to corporate executives around the country who seek game-changing ideas and bigpicture thinking.

MICHAEL CIVITA, NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, SIGNATURE WORLDWIDE BUSINESS AND TRAINING SOLUTIONS As National Account Manger, Michael Civita is responsible for building long-term business strategies with Signature Worldwide clients in order to create value and allow clients to achieve a return on their training investment. Prior to his current role, Civita was responsible for supervising a team of training account managers in the delivery of legendary customer service and sales training.

Civita’s experience before joining Signature in July of 2000 includes creating the guest services training manual adopted by individual properties within the Hyatt Corporation. He also had an integral part in developing the revenue management system for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Corporate, which was implemented internationally.

Civita is a graduate of Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smiths, N.Y. His education coupled with more than 15 years of hands-on experience in the hospitality industry has made Civita a valuable asset to Signature’s leadership team.

MAURA ALLEN GAST, FCDME, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IRVING CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU An almost 21-year veteran of the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau, Maura Gast was named its executive director in October 2003. A leading destination for business travel, Irving welcomed 2.6 million visitors in 2010, who in turn invested $1.24 billion in this town of 210,000, which is also home to the world headquarters of ExxonMobil, Zale Jewelers, Flowserve and Fluor, and serves as a major national or regional headquarters for Research in Motion (the parent company of Blackberry), Kimberly Clark, NEC, Nokia, and many other prominent corporate brands. She recently opened the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, and was responsible for the on-time-and-under-budget oversight for the project’s design, construction, management, sales and marketing.

Recognized as an industry expert on technology and marketing issues, and a trailblazer on reinforcing tourism as a vital component of a community’s economic development strategy, Gast recently completed her term as the chair of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the third female chair in the organization’s history. She chaired DMAI’s Futures Study, and served on the inaugural Destination Marketing Accreditation Program board. She has developed curriculum for the association’s Program in Destination Management and leads several courses at its conferences and other industry forums. She has earned the industry’s highest educational certification, Fellow Certified Destination Management Executive (FCDME). In her spare time in Irving, she serves on the Boards of Directors for the Irving Salvation Army, Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and the La Cima Club Board of Governors. She has been a member of the Press Club of Dallas since 1986, and currently serves on its Board of Directors. She is also the former Chair of the American Advertising Federation – Dallas Chapter, formerly the Dallas Ad League.

Before joining the hospitality industry, Gast spent time in the retail and newspaper worlds, in a variety of sales, marketing and event management roles. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and spent most of her childhood years in San Angelo, Texas. An Air Force “brat,” Maura’s family spent its primary tours of duty in the Philippines and Taiwan.

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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SHANNON GRAY, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, NORTH STAR Shannon was born with an insatiable curiosity about people and what drives them to do the things they do. When she discovered anthropology, the study of human behavior, she never looked back. Shannon received her BA in Cultural Anthropology from Eckerd College and the dual degree of an MA in Anthropology and an MBA with emphasis on marketing and market research from the University of Colorado at Boulder–Leeds School of Business. These days Shannon is a consumer anthropologist and ethnographer for North Star, which means instead of digging up bones or studying tribal ritual she studies the humans in our current society: their choices and decisions, traits, motivations, relationships, needs, joys, experiences and day-today lives.

Shannon’s demand as a public speaker is a direct result of everyone else’s insatiable curiosity about people and what drives them to do the things they do! Her speaking star is certainly rising; in the last few months Shannon has spoken at the Travel and Tourism Research Association, the Nebraska Travel Conference; the Ohio Association of CVBs; the Georgia Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Visit South Bend National Tourism Week Luncheon and WNIT Northern Indiana’s cable show on economic outlooks. She consistently receives accolades not only for her expertise but for her ability to translate all intimidating research subject matter into presentations that are as interesting as they are helpful.

HOWARD TIETJEN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND STARATEGY, MADDEN MEDIA With 30 years of real-world experience and a passion for new challenges, Howard has helped Madden Media become true innovators in the travel and tourism industry. Since he joined the Madden team in 2000, Howard has utilized his wide range of interests to excel in many roles.

He led the team that developed VacationFun.com, including the electronic fulfillment options that help Madden’s clients save thousands of dollars on fulfillment expenses every year. He was the primary architect of Madden’s demographic targeting systems, which allow for the most effective and efficient distribution of Madden’s newspaper insert programs. And, he led the team that launched the travel inserts in O, The Oprah Magazine.

Today, Howard and the Madden Media team have focused their efforts on the development of online marketing campaigns that are both effective and cost-efficient. Working together with industry leaders, Howard is helping to bring new ideas, new technology, and new partnerships together that allow Madden’s clients to get the most “bang for the buck” during these difficult economic times.

ROCKY WALLS, 12 STARS MEDIA PRODUCTIONS With more than 10 years’ experience in digital content creation, as CEO of 12 Stars Media Productions, Rocky Walls works with businesses to create video that’s so real and simple it changes audiences into relationships. In 2009 he received a nomination for the Most Influential Social Media Up & Comer and in 2010 his company was nominated as Indiana’s Most Ethical Company at the Indiana Social Media Summit. An avid networker, Rocky is a graduate of the Referral Institute and currently a member of the IBC Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI) and regularly serves on various boards and committees. He was also one of the first five Honorary Commanders of the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base. With the launch of its new service Candidio, 12 Stars Media saw a 400% increase in gross revenue in 2011.

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Schedule

Artist/Speakers

Venues

Social Media

Links and more

Places

NOTES

NOTES

MIDWEST LIVING IS THE LEADING LIFESTYLE MEDIA BRAND THAT EXPLORES THE REGION, savors its unique flavors and celebrates the people who make the Midwest shine.

March/April 2012

Spring spirit!

Lilacs | Woodland wildflowers Nature road trips | Morels

MIDWEST LIVING ® midwestliving.com

For more information please contact: Melissa Luebbe, National Travel Manager Melissa.Luebbe@meredith.com | 312-580-2554

January/February 2012

Midwest Living delivers over 4 million active Midwesterners who love where they live and come to the brand to enhance their lives. We celebrate their accomplishments, their spirit and their commitment to a better tomorrow.

midwestliving.com

Sweet recipes from bakeries Plus!

Readers’ prizewinning dishes

Make this spring door bouquet!

SEE PAGE 96

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