Meeting Promotion Ideas

MSAE's Meeting Management & Education Networking Group met to discuss meeting promotions (i.e. discounts, scholarships, BOGO, etc.).  Here are the top takeaways:

1. Host a 5K to raise money for scholarships. Sole Motion is a company that can help you coordinate the event for a fee. Make it a family event and have on a Saturday.
2. Add a line to contribute to the scholarship fund with dues renewals
3. Consider a different pricing model for a conference – one price for an organization versus individual – goal is to build relationships with others in the organization, not just the top contact – don’t offer food or either you will lose money.  Download samples here.

Association BarCamp

MSAE hosted our 3rd Annual Association BarCamp on 9/27, topics were selected that day so they were relevant to the attendee needs, here are the takeaways from each discussion:

Trade Shows

• Focus on education and the exhibitors will come (similar to Ladies Night at the bar)
• Invite exhibitor feedback - form an advisory board and/or gather exhibitors after the meeting to get their input, give them a comment card
• Add a "reverse trade show" component to facilitate further in-depth conversations between buyers and vendors

Finding Time for Follow Up

• Time management - know what time of day works best for you
• Manage your time each day to handle email traffic, come up with a plan for a time each day to respond that is scheduled (beware of others expectations)
• Schedule time each day for follow up

Future of Membership Associations

• What's the future? Adopting a retail mindset - "what do you need today?"
• Being where our members are; mobile devices, learn where they are by tracking their preferences via your website
• Associations will stay as long as they remain relevant; what is the "priceless" value you give to your members?

Collaborating with Other Associations

• Before entering into any collaborative effort, having all parties sign off on a "memo of understanding" that outlines expectations, responsibilities and a time life of milestones
• "Adapt or Die" in terms of staying relevant; collaboration may be necessary to stay relevant
• Communication transparency is key; politics may not be avoidable - know this

Webinars

• Hire a "good" company - reliable, trustworthy, reputable
• Be aware of sales tax issue - new MN legislation regarding "digital products"
• Be cautious of "webinar fatigue" - the word 'webinar' = boring; title your webinars "web conference" instead

Sponsorships

• Engage the sponsors - customize for them
• Unique locations - think outside the box (Extreme Sandbox, Drive a Tank, car dealership, WhirlyBall, Horse & Hunt Club, etc.)
• Sell every space - window clings, foot prints, escalator runners, etc.

Future of Meetings

• Face-to-face meetings vs. webinars - face-to-face meetings are back, format is even changing
• Meetings are more creative, interactive; focus on group participation over speaker, lecture format
• Content of the meeting is key as you need to grab members attention to get them there; getting feedback afterward is key

Apps for Meeting Planners

• Evernote
• Super Planner
• Giant Timer
• Corbin Ball & Jim Spellos' website - tech for meeting/trade show industry

Social Media

• Have a strategy and specific goals
• Find out what target audience is following and tailor content towards it
• Timing - before workday, before lunch, at end of work? Tuesday - Thursday?

Event Marketing

• Use catchy language in subject lines
• Provide incentives for those that respond
• Use creative videos or animated videos in marketing and emails

Online Communities

• Member generated content - discussing together, don't be afraid to ask members to post
• Utilizing as a research tool to prospect new members
• Boost brand value and integrity by strong presence

See photos from Association BarCamp online at Flickr.

Finding Good, Quality Speakers

MSAE's Meeting Management Networking Group met to discuss tips and best practices for selecting speakers for meetings and education programs.  Here are the top takeaways:

1. Find speakers and topic ideas at:

• MSAE Speakers Showcase - coming Friday, February 21, 2014 
• SpeakerPedia.com
• TED Talks
• Speaker bureaus
• MSAE events and education

2. Look for fresh videos and recent testimonials, check out speaker videos (their website and YouTube/Vimeo).

3. Negotiation tips:

• Allow speaker to sell books after presentation (emcee announces opportunity, not selling by speaker)
• Trade out a booth, exhibit space or advertising
• Offer a sponsorship
• Tweet about the speaker
• Provide video footage
• Revenue share - split the proceeds
• Ask speaker to provide several sessions
• Share expenses with another group/partner

Additional Resources:

• MSAE August Focus (pages 7, 12) - Four Principles for Planning Brain-Friendly Annual Meetings
• Meetings & Conventions - Choosing a Keynote
• Speakers and Entertainment (pages 16-19) - The Newest Trends That Spark Attendance
• Smart Meetings - Speak Up

Tools to Access Current Education Topics

MSAE's Meeting Management Networking Group met to discuss Tools to Access Current Education Programs.  Here are the top takeaways and tools:

• Education Evaluation Matrix - concept from Mary Byers from Race for Relevance, utilized by Aging Services of Minnesota. Download matrix. Customize each column with measurements important to your organization (use your own!) and rows with current education programs to be evaluated. When evaluating, assign the same number of 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's - mark 5's first, then 1's, 4's, 2's and 3's. Have your staff, board, members or whomever you'd like to complete the evaluation, then compile total rating. This process is great for evaluating current programs, forces you to rank programs and highlights high and low items. Then discuss how you can make 1's into 5's or decide if you keep. How can you make the 5's even better? The group really liked this evaluation but noted that it does not help to generate new education programs. Sample matrix completed. Aging Services of MN Recap with more helpful ideas to get you started.
• Net Promoter Score - another helpful tool, great for evaluating speakers or meetings. Idea is that members/customers are either promoters (9-10), passives(7-8) or detractors(1-6). NPS = % of Promoters - % of Detractors. Article to get you started.
• Thoughtfulness in evaluating education process - will increase response rate!
• Ask forward thinking questions - such as, tell us what you want in the future, rank topics, etc.

Good luck with the process, let us know how it goes!

Supplier Pet Peeves

MSAE's Allied Networking Group met to discuss supplier pet peeves.  Here are the top takeaways:

• Never assume. Get clarification and ask questions. Its important to meet your client/customer needs and protect your organization.  
• Times are changing. The economy is getting better and it's no longer a planner's market.   
• If you give once, you may need to keep on giving. When the economy wasn't doing well, suppliers were giving a lot of concessions to get business. Now that the economy is getting better, suppliers can't offer the same discounts. There is no such thing as a free lunch and if suppliers give in one area, another area has to go up.

Customer/client relationships are key to success and need to be mutually beneficial. As a supplier, it's always good to under promise and over deliver.

How to Have Fewer Meetings & Accomplish More

MSAE's Young Professionals Networking Group met to discuss how to have fewer meetings and accomplish more.  The meeting dialogue was based off the book, "Read This Before Our Next Meeting" by Al Pittampalli.

What are the likes and dislikes of meetings?
Likes: decisions are made, collaboration, communication and continuity
Dislikes: too many people, repetitive, information is just being shared and many others

Ask yourself what do meetings cost. For example take the number of employees in your staff meeting times an average hourly wage to get a total.  Is your organization getting that amount or more out of that staff meeting?

Meetings are for:
1. Brainstorming
2. Decisions
3. Coordination

The Modern Meeting Agenda includes:
Topic, date, meeting location and time.

In addition, there is a meeting leader and decision owner.  Let those you send the agenda out to know what decision you will be talking about.

List which attendees you would like to be present. If any names listed don't feel they have anything to contribute, they wouldn't attend.

Include items you want attendees to read or review before the meeting. If they do not do so, ask them to leave the meeting.

State your objective.  What support or coordination are you looking for.

Tell attendees what is at state.  List the who and what your decision is going to impact.

Lastly, include any background information that may be important to the meeting.

After the meeting send out a memo.  This memo will include final thoughts and decisions.

Resources:
"Read This Before Our Next Meeting" - Al Pittampalli

Networking Group Day

60 members joined MSAE for our first-ever Networking Group Day on 1/31. It was a great way to kick off 2013, showcase and participate in MSAE's six networking groups, connect with members and share ideas. Here are the top takeaways from each Networking Group discussion:

Allied Networking Group

Marketing Sales Techniques

• “Cold calling” / prospecting – utilize resources like LinkedIn, Google search and Facebook; rethinking preferred method – email; send subtle follow up.
• Concessions – comp stay “secret shopper” evaluations with video testimonials; making sure both parties are benefitting.
• Building the relationship / creating the experience.

Creative Approaches to Close the Sale

• My competition doesn’t have “me” – the relationship is the close.
• The authentic close – engaged and aware of their needs. Listen.
• Simple gestures go a long way and sometimes inexpensive gestures go further and mean more to the clients.

Communications Networking Group

Google Apps & the Cloud

• Utilize Google Alerts to have specific web content delivered to you via email on the regular basis you specify.
• Use the "trick" of searching a specific website right from Google's homepage by typing into the search bar: "search term" site:[website domain]. Example: "communications" site:msae.com
• Consider the potential issue of "Who owns the data?" when it comes to cloud applications.

2013 Communication Trends

• The idea that we are no longer in the "information age" - we are in the "attention age" - you must communicate to get people's attention and then keep it!
• Websites are the primary source of communication today and "responsive web design" is a trend to watch - part of the evolving conversation of what it means to "go mobile."
• Infographics are a new communications tactic that you can use to deliver information in a visually interesting, easily digestible way. Reconsider "stock" print collateral like membership brochures, annual reports and holiday cards to see if infographics could be employed to better deliver this content.

Financial & Accounting Networking Group

Budgets & Project Allocation

• Consider line item for reserve line item.
• Project allocation – consistency and look at big picture time allocation from software.
• Need detail to produce good reports and good association management software to provide accurate information.

Controls & Fraud

• Separation of duties, multiple people review purchases and statements.
• Credit card controls protect from unauthorized access.
• Financial audit is not fraud investigation. 

Meeting Management & Education Networking Group

Special Events

• Serve meal without dessert and auction off desserts.
• Incorporate community/charity outreach projects within events.
• Hold an event at a high-end car dealership.

Great Meeting Ideas

• Social Media Bar to train and increase social media presence.
• Ignite sessions – igniteshow.com.
• Experience – people want an experience at meetings/committee meetings.

Membership Networking Group

Increasing Dues and Revenue Streams

• Affinity programs / partnerships.
• Establish ROI – professionally and personally for members.
• Proprietary packaging brings in money.

Member Engagement

• To create an experience for everyone to take away.
• Engagement is about feelings; if you can create positive feelings in all events, communications, etc., you’ll be creating engaging experiences.
• Take join OFF your website; you’re not joining, you’re connecting.
• Have fun!

Young Professionals Networking Group

Generations in the Workplace

• Using a “mentor” to go to about advice / approaches with different generations can help in challenging situations.
• Important to find right communication styles between generations – will help working relationships.
• Build mutual respect is key.

Managing Relationships

• “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.”
• Follow up after initial contact with something light to maintain your relationship with the planner.
• Find a mentor.

For more information on MSAE's Networking Groups, visit www.msae.com.

Professional Development and Certifications

MSAE's Young Professionals Networking Group met to discuss the various certifications one can receive in the association and hospitality industry as well as where to get professional development courses, credits and classes.

• CAE (Certified Association Executive)
• Consists of 100 multiple choice questions based on 9 domains.  Each domain is content from different areas of association management and weighed based on importance. 
• Exam is given twice a year (May & December).
• Fees associated with application, study materials and re-certification.
• CMP (Certified Meeting Planner)
• Consists of 250 multiple choice questions based on a series of course content.  Content based on the meetings, convention and exhibitions industry. 
• This exam is given five times a year and has different windows to apply by.  
• Fees are association with application, study materials and re-certification.
• Professional Development
• MSAE offers a variety of education and courses to help earn credits towards either one of these certifications.
• You may get credits for online or in-person education.

Tips:

1. It helps to get buy-in from your company to help you along in this process. Whether it be in fees or flexible time to study.

2. The knowledge you learn from obtaining a certification can be directly transferred to your job and in turn help out your organization.

3. You have to make the commitment to taking an exam.  Once you make the commitment put 100% into in.

New Technology for Meetings

New technologies and opportunities to engage members are all around us - from apps, social media, mobile technology, webinars, e-marketing and more.  The Meeting Management & Education Council talked about what's working in their associations and ideas for the future at the November 7 meeting.  Here are the top takeaways:

• With the increase in members utilizing smartphones and technology at meetings and events, it is up to the speaker/presenter to set the expectation for using mobile devices during each session.  
• Twitter is a good resource at large conferences and events to get out information quickly and promote exhibitor drawings and prizes - consider using a big screen outside the exhibitor entrance to engage attendees.
• Is your website mobile friendly?  Mobile websites need to be coded to be mobile friendly (.mobi sites).  Don't have a mobile website?  Consider a responsive website design that adapts to fit the viewing device.  Example: http://elliotjaystocks.com/ - view this website on full screen, then drag to make smaller (you should see that the copy changes to fit the screen).  

MSAE members are creating conference apps (some providers include Amaratech-MSAE, Quickmobile-MNLA, in-house-Aging Services of MN) and seeing a change to offer more mobile options (print is still important though).  MSAE hosted trivia at the most recent Fall Conference and it was well received - http://cosgrovepresents.com/.

Association BarCamp

Over 50 members came out for MSAE's Association BarCamp on 9/14 - topics were selected that day, here are takeaways from each discussion:

Next Generation Retention and Recruitment

• Don't use structured English in communication. Don't use "join" - instead use "engage" or "participate." Be fast, quick, to-the-point. If you don't, you will lose their attention.
• They need to feel their contribution/opinion is valued.
• Identify groups by mindset rather than age.

Online Learning

• Offer a subscription service for purchasing online learning.
• 3 Association / Group Resources - ASTD, Digital Learning Forum, PACT.
• Online is great but continue with face-to-face.
• Ways to build online self-directed resources - software to use: Articulate.

Effective Communication in the Workplace

• Intentionally establish your communication culture (e.g. it's okay to be blunt).
• Stop emailing - go down the hall and talk to someone.
• Pay attention to your speaking tone. People read your written messages in the voice in which you speak to them.

New Membership Dues Structures

• Let members choose how they want to pay (monthly, quarterly, annually - but commit to entire year).
• Give option for members to pay for membership, events, education - "all inclusive" and give them a monthly fee. "Save time, save money."
• Don't ask them to "join," ask them to "engage" or "participate."

The Modern Meeting

• Read the book: "Read this before our next meeting" by Al Pittampalli.
• Instead of a meeting, have a work session.
• No more meetings to give information, write a memo instead. Only meet to provide dissent or coordinate effort.

More vs. Less

• Narrowing your message - keep it simple and target your segments - "FOCUS."
• "Vote with your dollars" to learn member needs - have members use fake money to put against programs - allocate their dues.
• Learn needs - focus - execute - and stay on plan.

Cold Calling - Get exposure for your association or company

• Try a sales system like Sandler.
• Cold calling isn't dead, it's different. Includes email, social media and calling.
• Find a unique connection to warm-up the initial conversation.

Apps for Associations

• Don't force members to login to access an event app. Maybe use an event code onsite to access?
• Sponsorship opportunity to cover cost of app development.
• Most useful apps for associations seem to be related to events. Hard to see value-add of an app just for membership.

Brand Management

• A logo is important and truly can communicate a lot about you. Fonts can show a definite feel. How will it look in print and online?
• Use an online logo creation crowdsource to get your new logo - LogoDesignGuru.com or DesignCrowd.com are examples.
• You need to know who your organization is before you adopt a new logo. And not just who you are, but also who you want to become, and who you are to outsiders?

Using Member Data for Planning

• Developing the right questions.
• Be consistent with questions and measures.
• How do you develop a system to track member activity?
• Incentivise!

Maximizing Trade Shows

• Interaction - Increase traffic? Tying your booth message into why you are presenting? Tie message to product.
• Money - price paid for booth does not equate to greater traffic.
• Failure - research why your message is not working. Revise your approach.

Email / Constant Contact

• Be as succinct as possible. Make emails "scanner-friendly." Shorten story titles and end with "..."
• Measure the effect your email is having. Are they truly reading? Are they finding it truly valuable?
• Experiment with different messages for different segments.

See photos from Association BarCamp online at Flickr. Download Free Tools handout.

New & Innovative Marketing Ideas for Meetings

At MSAE's September 12th Meeting Management Education Council, the group discussed new and innovative marketing ideas for meetings/conference.  Here are the top takeaways:

• Instead of printing handouts, direct attendees to handouts via QR codes.  
• Consider a conference app - launch 3-4 weeks in advance of conference, do your research, find ways to save money (sponsors) and remember the iPhone app approval process can take up to 6-8 weeks.
• Use video!  Film clips of members (testimonials) and consider getting a backdrop, lights, red carpet, photographer, etc. - one member created a paparazzi wall and it was really popular with members!  Also consider showcasing members (promote them).  Just try it - all you need is a camera and some creativity.  Click here to see some of MSAE's videos on YouTube.
• Print is not dead - try new paper textures, etc.  

The group will meet next on November 7 to discuss Creating a Conference App, Incorporating Social Meda and More!.  To register, visit www.msae.com/calendar.  

New & Alternative Education Formats for Meetings

At a recent Meeting Management Education Council networking meeting, we discussed new and alternative education formats.  Here are the top takeaways from the discussion:

• Show and Tell - the group liked the name as a perfect way to describe a BarCamp.  For more information and resources to create your own BarCamp, visit http://barcamp.org/ or sign up to attend MSAE's BarCamp on September 14. 
• Room set ups - be thoughtful on room set ups and try to use for multiple sessions if possible. 
• Just try it!  Schedule more time for planning but go ahead and try a new format for your group, such as: game show, theater, 60 ideas in 60 minutes, dinner with a winner, moot court, fish bowl, mock trial, debate, meet the pros, treasure hunt or other ideas.
• Presenter tips - offer interactive ideas for your speakers.

The group will meet next on September 12 to discuss New & Innovative Marketing Ideas for Meetings.  To register, visit www.msae.com/calendar. 

Budgeting & UBIT

MSAE's Financial & Accounting Networking Group met recently to discuss budgeting for associations and UBIT (unrelated business income tax), as it relates to the financial side of business.  Below are the top takeaways from the meeting:

• Rolling Forecast - seeing more nonprofits use this type of budgeting, there is no set budget but the organization is constantly looking at numbers (for example, 12 months ahead at all times, vs. one calendar year).
• UBIT - the group talked about the difference between sponsorships (no qualitative statement about product or service), endorsements (hands on activity or call to action for preferred vendor) and royalties (excluded from UBIT).  
• Always remember that profit is good and if UBIT is required, it's still profit

The group will meet next on Tuesday, October 2 to discuss Health Insurance & Benefits. To register, visit www.msae.com/calendar.

New Trends in Trade Shows/Exhibits/Expo and Sponsorships/UBIT

At our recent Meeting Management Education Council meeting, the group had a lively discussion on sponsorships & UBIT (Unrelated Business Income Tax) and new trends for trade shows. Here are some of the takeaways:

Sponsorship

• First and Foremost - always consult your legal and tax personnel for more details and advice. The information provided below was taken from our meeting and is not meant to be used as tax or legal advice.
  
• Some of the big changes with UBIT relate to ads - the words marketing, advertising, ads, advertisements make the sponsorship dollars taxable, need to acknowledge sponsors instead of advertise for them - use words like sponsorship recognition, alternated recognition (instead of rotating ad), etc. in your sponsorship programs
• Sponsorship Q&A Article from Moore, Costello & Hart
• Create more opportunities for sponsors - conference and association apps are popular right now, some of our members have paid $6,000 and up to have a professional app created, free app builders are available too, like ibuildapp.com and guidebook.com.
  

New Trade Show Trends

• Open format with exhibitors around the perimeter; food, big sponsors and sessions in the middle
  
• Provide a session for exhibitors to train them how to make most of experience (benefit if register early, at event or prior add-on)
• Beer & Wine Tour to check out all areas of the trade show floor (have drawings, tastings, etc.)
  

A conversation or a meeting?

Harvard Business Review says... have conversations instead of meetings. That's just what MSAE has been doing with our bar camps and our recent CEO only conversations. It's a good way to collect data and create community. http://bit.ly/uZek7l

Marketing Strategy & Evaluation of Programs

Here are a few good questions to consider asking in your next education survey (these questions help measure the experience, not just the quality of the programming):

• How did you feel after the conference?
• What made you come?
• What did we miss?
• What keeps you up at night?
• Everyone in the industry is talking about...?
• Your top priority this year is...?
• This will be a great conference if...? (include on the registration form)

Other ideas to consider for your next survey:

• Offering an incentive or prize is a good way to encourage attendees to complete surveys; several of our members give away free tickets to the conference next year, others have a budget for survey prizes (iPads, etc.).
  
• PollEverywhere.com - survey text option and inexpensive, can also email and tweet responses.
• Send out a "Didn't Attend the Conference Survey" to find out why members aren't attending.

Marketing Ideas

• Turn features into benefits - take your marketing collateral and highlight all features in blue, benefits with yellow - how much is highlighted in yellow? Turn these features into benefits (sometimes asking the question, so what? helps).
  
• Customize when at all possible.
• When in doubt, less is more.
• Have a social media policy. MEA Forum Rules & Social Media Guidelines MEA Conference Policy
  

Public Speaking Doesn't Have to Be Scary

If public speaking is something that keeps you up at night, causes you to sweat and shed a tear at the sight of a microphone, you are not alone. Here are some tips from the last YP discussion on how to make sure the next time you have to speak in public you will feel prepared, confident and ready to give them your best. Whether introducing a speaker at a conference, giving a presentation to a client or board you can follow these simple solutions:

• Realize that your audience, whoever it is, wants you to succeed and are rooting for you. They don't want you to fail.
• Don't apologize for fumbling. Take a moment to collect yourself and move to the next point or correct your error.
• Understand if you are an extrovert or introvert...this will help in how you prepare.
• If the presentation is an open discussion, a moderator can help guide and lead conversation.
• Handouts are a great tool for your audience to follow along.
• Practice, practice, and practice some more.

Resources on Public Speaking:

1. sixminutes.dlugan.com - website with speaking tips and resources
2. Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun - great book
   

Technology: AV, Media and Video

Takeaways from the Meeting Management Education Council meeting on August 18, 2011:

Discussion was on ways to utilize technology to enhance meeting/conferences. Video is a dynamic way to inform and educate your members.

• Using promotional videos in conjunction with a speaker during an opening session makes your session more interactive and fun for participants.
• Keep your costs low by utilizing a freelancer, association member(s), or students from Mpls College of Art & Design (MCAD) versus a production company.
• Imbedding video on power point presentations can create more interactive presentations. Ensure you have all files associated with the videos on the computer you are using so you don't have problems with the videos not working.
• Bring your own AV equipment or outsource to a member company to minimize production problems.
• Negotiate the AV costs into your contract with a venue and insure they will have someone on staff to assist in the use of their equipment.

To learn how to create your own videos, sign up for MSAE's Video for the Web in 5 Steps at the Continuing Education and Conference Center - U of M on October 28.

Program Design, Development & Implementation

Takeaways from the Meeting Management Education Council meeting on June 22:

• When planning education, the group gets input and ideas from: committees, call for proposals, evaluations, surveys, focus groups and listserv groups.
• RFP’s for speakers – suggest potential topics (and why they are important to your group), include background on the audience (challenges, etc), ask when the speaker last spoke and for how many people, have a preconference call, expect them to customize the presentation for your group. Sample Call for Presentations
  
• Consider hosting a BarCamp for your association
  • Definition of BarCamp: a) an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. b) an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants who are the main actors of the event.
  • Quick notes about BarCamps – they are free, the attendees pick the topics so it’s “just in time education,” planners need to let go of the planning.
  • For more information on BarCamps, visit barcamp.org or attend the MSAE BarCamp in September!
  

Career Development, Professional Certifications and Advanced Education

Professionals who are interested in making a commitment to their profession, career and future look to earning advanced education or potentially obtaining a credential. MSAE's Young Professionals Group hosted a discussion on four hot topics: Certified Association Executive (CAE), Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Masters Degree/Post Education and General Career Development. Here are the top takeaways from this discussion...

CAE

• ASAE has revised their exam - MSAE has not had any applicants for this new format, but are interested in hearing how the exam is now formatted.
• CAE requires 100 CEU to be eligible for the exam.
• You need to have 5 years experience with a degree or 3 years experience with a degree if you are an executive director.
  
• Each applicant needs to have a certain number of hour per domain or subject area.
• CAE text is administered twice a year - May and December.
• Cost is relatively high - on average it will run you $500-1,000.

CMP

• The CMP exam is provided through the Convention Industry Council.
• You need 36 months of experience or 24 months if you have a degree in a related field to qualify for the CMP exam.
• 25 hours of continued education are required.
• The CMP is administered twice a year - January and July.
• The closest exam site to Minnesota is Chicago, IL.

Masters/Post Education

• University of St. Thomas offers a great mini MBA program in non-profit management. This is intensive learning with no exam. You receive a certificate at the end of your course. There are many options on format - 3 hours at night/once a week, 5 days of full learning or a 6-8 week course. The cost for this program is around $300-500.
• Institute for Executive Director Leadership offers a 10 month program designed for higher level professionals. This will cost around $2,000-3,000.
• St. Kate's offers a Masters in Organizational Management that focuses on both profit and non-profit management. This is designed for professionals who have been in the field for at least 5-7 years. Cost is based on tuition rates.

Career Development

• MSAE offers many educational sessions to help reach you CEU requirements.
  
• You may also get CEU's from ASAE, webinars and other associations.

Resources

1. More information on obtaining your CAE designation
2. More information on obtaining your CMP designation
3. MSAE educational sessions

If you would like to connect with an MSAE member on the CAE contact:

Cassie Larson, CAE, Associate Director
Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association
651-633-4987
cassie@mnla.biz

Katie Jamieson, CAE, Director of Member Services
MN Society of Professional Engineers
651-457-2347
kjamieson@mnspe.org


If you would like to connect with an MSAE member on the CMP contact:

Denise Woods, CMP, Director of Communications & Events
Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
651-796-2186
dwoods@agcmn.org

Amanda Pasek, National Account Executive
Visit Saint Paul
651-265-4900
apasek@visitsaintpaul.com