The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to Software Engineer Joseph Carberry. As a software engineer, Joseph works behind the scenes creating, enhancing, and maintaining MTA’s products.
Meet Joseph Carberry, Software Engineer
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Learner, Achiever, Analytical, Discipline, Includer
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
I am a software engineer with MTA’s Technology Services department. My responsibilities include creating, enhancing, and maintaining our suite of software. I work with the front-end (what you can see), the back-end (how everything works behind the scenes), and the database (how all our data is stored).
What did you do before joining MTA?
Previously, I worked as a software engineer at a global moving logistics company.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the flexibility, working with my team, and any new problems I can help solve every day.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company particularly regarding our technology/products?
I appreciate that MTA is always looking for new ways to improve our current software, fill gaps in our products, expand our reach, and embrace emerging technology.
What are some of your favorite tech trends?
I am passionate about sustainability and have been excitedly following recent trends that push for technology-driven green solutions that allow users to impact and understand environmental problems both large and small.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
As a remote worker, I think it’s a valuable experience to meet my team face-to-face and get the chance to talk with my co-workers from other departments that I don’t usually get to interact with.
Where do you live and what do you love most about your state/city?
I live in beautiful sunny Seattle, WA. I love nature – the evergreen forests, snow-covered peaks, and vibrant waterways. My favorite part of the city is the hustle and bustle, the culture, and the food – especially the food. If you’re visiting, check out Pike Place, Olympic Sculpture Park, and enjoy local favorites like sushi or teriyaki.
What do you do for fun?
I am an avid coffee nerd; I love learning about local roasters and sharing my passion with others. I am also a die-hard Patriots fan, cook, gardener, and amateur mushroom cultivator.
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to Financial Compliance Associate Sue Bridges. Sue supports the Finance Team in a number of ways, keeping all events on track and in check with compliance and transparency processes.
Meet Sue Bridges, Financial Compliance Associate
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Consistency, Empathy, Harmony, Positivity, Responsibility
Tell us about your current role with MTA. What are your primary responsibilities?
My current role is financial compliance associate. I complete transparency reports within the guidelines and documentation of client-specific processes after an event. I also work on expense reimbursements submitted by the attendee, which are audited and approved, based on the client guidelines.
How long have you been with MTA?
I was originally at MTA from 2018 until 2020, then COVID-19 hit. Thankfully, I was contacted to come back to my same position in November 2023. I jumped at the chance since I love working at MTA. I didn’t have to think twice.
What do you feel are the most fulfilling aspects of your job?
In my role, being able to provide our customers with the data they request in a timely and accurate manner is a fulfilling aspect of my job. Also, I love the diversity of the group of people that I get to work with every day.
What are some ways that the Finance Team takes the burden off of the client when planning an event?
There is a lot of data and spend you have to put together between hotel rooms, meeting rooms, food and beverage, air travel, ground transportation, etc. MTA does the work of gathering this data and compiles it into a nice template to send to the customer.
What do you do for fun?
I especially love hanging out with family and friends. We don’t have to be doing anything or going anywhere – just spending time together. I also love SEC college football and the Tennessee VOLS! We have a basement dedicated to the Big Orange (Tennessee Vols)!!!! I also enjoy going to vendor craft fairs and hanging out with my fur babies.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company?
Miller Tanner Associates strives to be the very best not only in planning meetings but also in customer service. MTA cares about the customers and the MTA employees.
Where do you live and what do you love most about your state/city? Any must-see tourist spots?
I live in Middle Tennessee and love it! One of my favorite places to visit is Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
It is great to meet people I work with from all over the world and get to know them more personally. Through CSR, we also help out a community in the location where we are holding our meetings and that is so awesome for me.
Why Investigator Meetings are Important for the Success of a Clinical Study
While there continues to be tremendous innovation throughout the clinical trial industry, everything from decentralized trials to remote monitoring to eCOA solutions and everything in between, having motivated and highly-trained healthcare professionals (HCPs) remains paramount to achieving quality patient enrollment and clinical study data.
Despite a shift to virtual meetings during the pandemic, pharma/biotech sponsor companies continue to prioritize relationship-building with their sites in person. There has been a significant return to face-to-face and hybrid meetings over the last few years, with a current preference for full face-to-face meeting format. By collaborating in person, HCPs are better able to share opinions, discuss ideas, learn collaboratively, and build stronger relationships. For sponsors, there is a need to focus on current market trends to enhance the engagement and quality of investigator meetings to achieve successful outcomes.
The Challenges of Planning Investigator Meetings
The clinical research space is facing a significant challenge in limited resources, which puts a strain on the ecosystem and individuals. This is felt across the board at the site level, as well as pharma, biotech, and CROs. This challenge is further magnified within investigator meeting planning. Miller Tanner Associates (MTA) often sees companies initiate planning much too late in their overall study timeline and this unfortunately has a critical downstream impact on the success of programs.
This lack of resources and shorter planning time directly impacts attendance ratios, costs, and the overall success of the investigator meeting. For example, if HCPs are not receiving enough advanced notification with a save-the-date or an invitation, then the per-attendee travel costs increase and, ultimately, attendance is significantly impacted. We recently had an expedited meeting with international travel in which airfare costs had tripled per ticket compared to prices available two to three weeks prior had the event been planned further in advance. Some of this is also driven by the market demand challenges with venue availability and staffing for third-party vendors such as ground transportation and hotel staff.
By implementing a few proactive strategies, sponsors can mitigate potential challenges to ensure a more successful investigator meeting.
Lead Time Leads to Success
One key factor for guaranteeing a successful investigator meeting is lead time. A 16-week planning lead time for an investigator meeting will significantly improve the success of the meeting. An adequate planning timeline allows the study team to clearly define the agenda to achieve their goals and objectives, work through venue sourcing/selection/contracting, launch invitations to provide adequate notification to the HCPs, and execute all other detailed logistics planning including attendee travel bookings, content finalization, etc.
Miller Tanner Associates’ research has shown a direct correlation and significant increase in investigator meeting attendance as a result of more advanced lead times. For example, a recent high-performing event with a 90-day advance launch of invitation ahead of an investigator meeting resulted in 97% attendance ratio (actual attendees as a percentage of projected). Comparatively, a low-performing event with 31 days from invitation launch to event start date resulted in only 58% attendance. The extra 60-day lead time on invitation launch resulted in a significant increase in attendance ratio leading to the large majority of sites receiving consistent, high-quality training.
We also conducted an in-depth analysis of life science events throughout 2023 and looked at reasons for decline in attendance. The data indicated that 85% of declines were due to the timing/lead time of the event for HCPs. Lead time is truly the greatest opportunity for improving conversion rate and increasing attendance ratio.
Driving Audience Engagement
Longer lead time also allows for a more focused, intentional agenda that can be structured to accommodate various learning styles and designed strategically, whether that be with more targeted presentations, collaborative breakouts, and networking opportunities for peer engagement. Content engagement can be strengthened by incorporating polling, Q&A sessions, and gamification into the agenda. The agenda can be optimized to not only address the meeting goals, but also engage the audience for overall maximum learning outcomes.
To increase audience engagement, consider a more creative approach. For more complex training material such as complicated lab sample collections or the use of a unique device, have the vendor do a hands-on training during breaks. Again, incorporating polling and gamification into key sessions that are critical for learning outcomes result in higher learning outcome achievement. At MTA, we’ve implemented a variety of creative strategies at investigator meetings to great effect. One investigator meeting utilized recording Google glasses to instruct and observe remote sonographer trainees, while another featured interactive learning through headphone-equipped exhibit halls. With unlimited ways to engage attendees, the possibilities are endless – it all depends on your goals for the meeting.
Production is Worth the Investment
Production is critical for a successful investigator meeting. Having intentionality behind your event’s production leads to the best return on your investment. To ensure that the message is conveyed effectively to the audience, a professional production team should be in charge of executing the audio-visual elements, coaching speakers through technical rehearsals and making certain that the event’s agenda runs seamlessly. Additionally, sharing pre-meeting or post-meeting content with those unable to attend, managing simultaneous interpretation, executing a hybrid format, or recording the meeting for future trainings are other reasons to consider investing in an expert production team.
Additionally, hybrid meetings are becoming increasingly popular, and it takes a lot of effort to make the experience seamless. The key is to create a shared experience by leveraging technology to make both the virtual and face-to-face audiences feel like they are part of the same event. Designing a shared experience for both audiences, such as polling and surveying with results shown in real-time for both audiences, can lead to a more interactive and engaging hybrid experience.
Complying with Compliance
Changes to compliance guidelines are frequent and complex. Several recent updates within European countries such as Belgium and France, have made it even more challenging to meet certain requirements for hotel, meal, and travel caps for HCP meeting attendees. More advanced planning and longer lead times are required to ensure that compliance guidelines are followed and timelines are achieved with the appropriate regulatory approvals.
Best Practice for Best Results
Most of the challenges that sponsors face when planning an investigator meeting can be overcome by simply implementing a minimum 16-week planning lead time. By planning earlier, sponsors can better regulate costs, significantly enhance attendance ratios, determine production needs with precision, and allow ample time to integrate an intentional strategy into the agenda and fully develop content with audience engagement in mind. This will result in a more engaging experience for your attendees, leading to better training outcomes and a more successful clinical study.
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to our Global Experience Specialist Krystsina Kvetsinskaya, our Luxembourg-based associate. Krystsina works alongside our Global Experiences Team to tailor each event to the specific needs and preferences of our life sciences customers.
Meet Krystsina Kvetsinskaya, Global Experience Specialist
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Adaptability, Positivity, Relator, Responsibility, Restorative
Languages spoken: Russian, Polish, English
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
As a global experience specialist, I assist with the administrative side of investigator meeting implementation while helping the Global Experience Team to organize the meetings. I also often go on-site and work alongside the Global Experience Team to help ensure that meetings go smoothly.
What did you do before joining MTA?
I was working in the HR department of a few large corporations. I had a chance to work in various positions from HR operations to organizing international transfers of employees.
What’s the best part of your job?
Seeing the on-site results of the work done for the customer behind the scenes is one of the best parts of my job. I also like to catch up in person with Global Experiences and Production Teams with whom we work on many projects together.
What’s been your favorite event destination as an event planning professional?
I’d say Barcelona. It’s a very beautiful city and I had quite a few memorable on-site visits there. The weather is a big plus also.
What’s been your most memorable event to date and why?
Most recently it was an investigator meeting in Barcelona. The customer, MTA staff, and hotel were on the same page and the meeting went smoothly.
What makes Miller Tanner stand out as a meeting planning company? What’s your favorite aspect of MTA?
MTA has its values and follows them. Everyone I worked with gives their best to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
The time spent together helps give context to the person and it’s easier to build working relationships after knowing some small things about people once meeting in person.
What do you do for fun? Hugs with my dog and personal travel.
You are originally from? You currently reside in? Any favorite spots that you would recommend to tourists?
I’m originally from Belarus, but for more than 12 years, I’ve lived in Poland. I recently moved to Luxembourg. If traveling to Poland, I recommend visiting Gdansk (sea) and Tatry (mountains) if you like nature.
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to our Technical Operations Manager Martin Woodard. With a knack for tech and problem-solving, Martin supports our team with any technical issues that might arise.
Meet Martin Woodard, Technical Operations Manager
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Intellection, Ideation, Responsibility, Maximizer, Analytical
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
I’m a technical operations manager. I run our support team, either answering tickets or supporting the techs, managing the board to solve issues as they arise. In 2023, most of my time was spent building and shipping all new laptops and equipment, as well as introducing folks to MTA on their first day.
What did you do before joining MTA?
I worked for a midsized MSP in Durham, North Carolina. MSP or “Managed Service Providers” are outsourced IT, so I had an opportunity to configure and troubleshoot hundreds of environments ranging from schools to churches to multi-national pharma companies.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy being presented with complicated problems that I’ve not yet encountered, and reasoning them out to the end.
Where do you live and what do you love most about your state/city? Any must-see tourist spots?
I live right next to Raleigh, North Carolina. I love that it’s a lot closer to family than San Diego, where I lived last. Must-see tourist spots would be the NC State farmers market; being just around the corner from our outstanding art museum makes for an incredible weekend day trip, especially in spring when local florists are brought in to reinterpret famous paintings and sculptures.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company particularly regarding our technology/products?
The lack of a physical office has pushed MTA to dive head-first into cloud-based solutions, and it shows – we have an incredible array of tools not tethered to any physical servers, letting our people operate independently across the globe.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
For someone not on our Global Experiences Team, it’s an opportunity to see what we actually DO as a company. It’s great to go from just fixing computers to taking a bit of “pride-by-association” in what is a truly incredible final product.
What do you do for fun?
For fun, I enjoy video games, board games, 3d printing, and building arcade machines. if it’s nerdy, I’ve probably wasted a weekend on it.
What are some of your favorite tech trends?
I can show ChatGPT some of my programming code and it’ll point out where I left out a semicolon. I could swear I detect an air of sarcasm when the error is particularly egregious, though…
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to our Ireland-based associate, Customer Success Specialist Aaron Wilson. In his role, through customer onboarding, Aaron leads new customers through key decisions paving the way for a successful customer journey.
Meet Aaron Wilson, Customer Success Specialist
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Input, Intellection, Strategic, Achiever, Arranger
Tell us about your current role with MTA. What are your primary responsibilities?
My current role is as a customer success specialist on the Commercial Team. I align with customers through a highly engaging onboarding process as they transition from prospects to active users of MTA’s services. With a focus on bridging the gap between sales and operational delivery, my role is to provide added value for both customers and internal stakeholders.
I’m responsible for onboarding new customers, acting as the primary liaison between key account managers and Global Experience Team members. I focus on initial interactions with customers to shepherd them through key decisions such as confirmation of services and key event details to bridge the gap between award and execution.
What did you do before joining MTA?
Before joining MTA, my background was primarily in sales; I shifted focus last year to working directly with customers to ensure their success, which has led me to my work at MTA.
What do you feel are the most fulfilling aspects of your job?
Knowing that what we do makes a difference, and genuinely contributes to exceptional event success; the feedback from our customers upon successful execution of an event; and the ability to actively help our customers in real-time, collaborating across multiple time zones to achieve excellence are the most fulfilling aspects of my role at MTA.
What are some key strategies for launching a successful meeting?
A key strategy for a successful meeting is ensuring invites are sent out as soon as possible. Our data has shown that the longer the lead time between invitations being sent to potential attendees and the date of the event itself secures a stronger attendance percentage, which only decreases the closer to the event we approach without invitations sent. Allowing attendees time to plan and make decisions related to the event is crucial.
What is the one must-have for every event? The MTA Team itself!
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company?
MTA goes the extra step to accommodate every customer and their needs. Everything we do internally is to the benefit of the customer, and always have them in mind as we make crucial decisions. This is doubly true for the Customer Success Team, as our job is to ensure the success of our customers’ events and take responsibility for delivering on these key actions. On top of this, we do it all with a smile.
You currently reside where? What do you enjoy most about living there? Any favorite spots that you would recommend to tourists?
I’m from Dublin, Ireland. I’ve lived in a few places around the country, but I’ve settled back in Dublin for now. Of course, there are always plans to change and try a few other locations out! What I love most about it are the people and their passion. It’s easy to get invested in our culture when people are so passionate about maintaining or educating each other with stories and music.
There’s so much to do in Ireland, but what I would recommend is for everyone to get out of Dublin and see more of what the rest of the country has to offer if you were to ever take a trip over here. The cliff walks and scenery, especially in the west of the country, are beautiful.
What do you do for fun?
I’ve recently taken up hiking. It’s a perfect excuse to see all the sights of Ireland.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
Though I have yet to attend an MTA Workshop, we’re bringing it to my own home of Ireland this year. Considering how I live so far away from my team, with who I collaborate daily, the MTA Workshop is an opportunity for the company to come together, and actively participate in each other’s lives for a moment, building stronger connections and foundations from within.
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to Senior Director – Customer Experiences, Conor Barry, our Ireland-based associate. Conor focuses on designing and driving innovative experiences that are impactful for our customers’ successes.
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Individualization, Achiever, Relator, Strategic, Communication
Tell us about your current role with MTA. What are your primary responsibilities?
I am excited to be a part of the leadership team in the Global Experiences (GX) department at MTA. My role as senior director, customer experiences, positions me perfectly to be able to design strategy for our internal team as well as drive innovation in the experiences we design for our customers. I am focused on bringing meaningful change to the experiences we create for our customers and assessing where MTA needs to evolve our products or services to be able to continue to deliver exceptional experiences that disrupt the status quo in the marketplace.
How long have you been with MTA?
I joined MTA in September 2023, enjoying every moment so far as I start to build strong internal and external relationships.
What did you do before joining MTA?
I am based in Dublin, Ireland where I have built a career that spans 12 years working in the event and experiential marketing industry primarily focused on the EMEA market. I’ve had the pleasure of working in roles in the agency world, as well as moving in-house, building event teams from the ground up. Before joining MTA, I spent the previous 7 years working in big tech designing and executing event programs focused on amplifying these brands in the EMEA market as part of the talent attraction department. This was an incredible time to work in this space as these companies went through a hypergrowth phase, giving me the opportunity to design industry-leading event experiences all over the world. Some of the big industry moments I had the pleasure of working on include – Cannes Lions, Mobile World Congress, DMEXCO, Web Summit, and Online Marketing Rockstars.
What’s the best part of your job?
I get to work with incredibly smart people daily at MTA. It challenges me to bring my best and I am energized by the opportunity to collaborate and build processes and operational excellence to elevate the Global Experiences team.
What are some ways that MTA goes above and beyond to ensure a seamless customer experience?
MTA is laser-focused on bringing operational excellence to every customer interaction. This is where the team shines, driving innovation to set the customer up for success. Internally our team is reviewing the entire customer journey with MTA and assessing where we can improve the experience at every single touchpoint.
MTA is laser-focused on bringing operational excellence to every customer interaction.
What’s the one must-have for every event?
Kindness – I believe this is a non-negotiable when onsite for any event. An event is a high-pressure environment with lots of potential problems. Often speakers or delegates can be under pressure or in stressful situations and the event team is often the glue that keeps the entire experience together. I think that any event team on site needs to lead by example with kindness and with a smile as this is a very powerful tool to ensure every event is a great experience.
There is something really special about the energy created onsite at every event; I think it is important to work together to protect this magic and ensure that the experience is exceptional for every guest on site.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company? What’s your favorite aspect of MTA?
I think MTA is committed to being a strategic partner for our customers versus reacting to customer needs. Our team invests deeply in understanding our customers’ internal processes, organizational structure, and long-term objectives as a strategic extension of their teams. This helps MTA to be perfectly positioned to build experiences that are aligned with our customers’ vision. Our team invests heavily in researching future technologies to stay one step ahead in terms of delivering best-in-class event experiences.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
This Workshop helps our global team to connect on a human level. These connections are the foundations on which we build high-performing professional partnerships. The Workshop also drives cross-departmental connection, which helps the company move at speed on special projects that impact the entire company.
Dublin, Ireland
You currently reside where? What do you enjoy most about living there? Any favorite spots that you would recommend to tourists?
I was born and raised in Limerick which is the third largest city in Ireland. I have been living in Dublin, Ireland for the previous 12 years where I have built my professional career. Dublin for me offers great balance as you can be by the sea in 15 minutes, in the mountains in 30 minutes, or grab a plane to any major European city in approximately 2 hours. I also like that Dublin is relatively small in size so it doesn’t feel too hectic to navigate in my free time.
What do you do for fun?
Travel is my power source to recharge my batteries. I love the process of researching new destinations and searching for unique Airbnb listings, Off-grid restaurants, and natural wonders. The famous quote – “Travel is the only thing you can buy, but makes you richer” is something that resonates with me.
There is so much to see in the world and I find it so inspiring to see new cultures, architecture, languages, and culinary delights on my travels.
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to Proposal Specialist Lauren Witt. Lauren’s extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry allows her to approach her role in the Commercial Team with a unique perspective and a deep understanding of customer needs.
Meet Lauren Witt, Proposal Specialist
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Empathy, Arranger, Consistency, Relator, Analytical
Tell us about your current role with MTA. What are your primary responsibilities?
I work within the Commercial Team as a proposals specialist. The Proposals Team works with the key account managers to create budgets for our customers’ meetings based on the type of meeting, how many attendees, ideal locations, etc. We also tweak and update proposals based on any changes that might be needed before our customers’ meetings.
How long have you been with MTA? I started in February 2023.
What did you do before joining MTA?
I worked in hotels as a catering and conference service manager (CSM). I’ve worked in hotels my entire career before starting at MTA.
What do you feel are the most fulfilling aspects of your job?
I love to see a meeting that we worked on move to contract. The Proposals Team rarely works with the customer directly, but we learn a lot about their meetings and get invested in the events while working on the budgets, so it’s always great to know someone from our MTA team will be helping to see the meeting through to completion.
One of the things we learn about the investigators’ meetings is the impact our customers’ research will have on real people, so it’s nice to know we have a contribution to that.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company?
After working with many different event planning companies as a CSM while working in hotels, I could quickly see how our MTA team works to create a seamless experience for our customers. From the beginning, we start collaborating with the customers so we ensure the planning starts on the right foot with the best venue, best dates, ensuring all regulations are met, etc. I’ve had the chance to chat with many of our Global Experience Team members and it’s obvious they truly care about the events they are working with. Knowing there is a whole team of people with so much knowledge and the desire to create the best possible event allows clients to focus on the purpose of their event.
Where are you from and where do you currently reside? What do you enjoy most about the area? Any recommended tourist spots?
I currently live in Alexandria, VA. I grew up in northern Virginia about 45 minutes outside of D.C., so I’ve been here my whole life. It’s great being so close to D.C. and being able to go into the city for museums, plays, restaurants, etc. but Alexandria has Old Town which is so cute with fun events throughout the year like outdoor art installations or the Boat Parade around Christmas!
What do you do for fun?
I like to cook and try new recipes I see on Pinterest or the Food Network channel. I also like to travel… and eat while traveling. 😊
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers.
Today we introduce you to Software Engineer Patrick O’Brien. As a member of our Technology Services Team, Patrick focuses on enhancements of our software products and creates user-friendly tools that deliver a more efficient, hassle-free experience for our customers and their attendees.
Meet Patrick O’Brien, Software Engineer
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Restorative, Intellection, Connectedness, Analytical, Responsibility
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
I’m a software engineer here at MTA. I work primarily on enhancing our existing software assets as well as creating new tools for our internal team and customers, such as our new Attend mobile app. I’m known as the iOS guy on the team and I love that. Working on bringing this app to iPhones, iPads, and desktops has been a fun experience. Don’t worry if you’re an Android user, our team has that covered too.
How long have you been with MTA? Since 2023
What did you do before joining MTA?
I worked in a few healthcare-related startups here in San Diego – that’s right, actual brick-and-mortar offices. One of the places I worked was focusing on chiropractic software so that was interesting talking to chiropractors about their office management needs and translating that into a software deliverable. Another startup I work with specialized in pet health. As an animal lover and pet parent myself, the work we did there was very rewarding for me.
Languages spoken, if applicable.
Outside of programming languages, I currently only speak English. But I’ve been working hard on French Duolingo lessons so hopefully soon I’ll be able to say “Je parle français et anglais,” but not quite yet.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The team. Hands down this is the best team I’ve ever been lucky enough to work with. Everyone is humble, collaborative, knowledgeable, and willing to learn. There are no egos. All that matters is the work we are doing and making sure it is done right. Plus, everyone is so friendly. It’s really fun working with this team.
Where do you live and what do you love most about your state/city? Any must-see tourist spots?
I live in San Diego, California so pretty much everywhere is a must-see tourist spot. But I really love the culture of this city. We’re laid back but driven. People still smile and say hello here when you pass by them. I also love the convenience of living in a city. There is always something happening here, be it a farmer’s market, some kind of entertainment event, or something else, it’s never boring here.
What do you do for fun?
I’m a big football (soccer) fan. I follow three leagues and just absolutely love the sport. In the English Premier League, I’m a Manchester United supporter; with Major League Soccer here in the U.S., I support LAFC (let’s go 3252!); and in the German Bundesliga, I follow Bayern Munich. It’s great to see the sport growing so much support here in the States. I also love running. I find that going for a run can clear my mind and help me find the calm I need when starting my day or during really stressful times.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company?
MTA is people-focused, meaning that the work we do across all departments is focused not just on the event or the company we are supporting but also on the people who will be attending the event(s) and the experience they have. Speaking specifically from a technical aspect, I can tell you the new Attend mobile/desktop app has been created with a user-friendly approach; we’re constantly asking ourselves does this make sense to the user and is this experience one that is intuitive and automatic for a new user.
What are some of your favorite tech trends?
My most favorite tech trend is the adoption of passkeys. I always forget my passwords and even when I use password managers like Apple’s keychain I end up with multiple passwords for each website or service I am trying to log into. It can get confusing, so I think passkeys will help with that.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
Meeting my coworkers face-to-face is incredibly helpful for a new employee. I was able to put faces to names and have work-related conversations that are difficult to reproduce online. It was also great to have some downtime with the team to just chat about non-work-related things and get to know them. Leaving the Workshop, I felt a part of something and I continue to feel that today. The workshop helped instill a sense of purpose about what we do and how my department contributes to that purpose.
The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers. Today we introduce you to Global Experience Designer – Production Anna Vincze, MTA’s Hungary-based associate. Anna is a seasoned expert in event production, project management, and event planning. She utilizes her expertise to bring to our customers fully integrated, exceptional event experiences through seamless production.
Meet Anna Vincze, Global Experience Designer – Production
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Harmony, Intellection, Input, Consistency, Developer
Languages spoken, if applicable. Hungarian, English, and French
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
I am a global experience production manager. Currently, I am focusing mostly on virtual events, as my role is to guide the customers throughout the virtual event experience, identify their needs, and offer suitable technical solutions. I also help the speakers prepare and familiarize themselves with the platform. I provide support during the event and perform behind-the-scenes tasks.
How long have you been with MTA? I started working for MTA in 2021 and I joined the team full-time in June 2023.
Is your background in media production? What did you do before MTA?
I spent the first 8 years of my career in the hotel industry where I worked in 5-star hotels in Budapest as an event specialist, organizing conferences, corporate events, and weddings. During that time, I worked in close cooperation with audio-visual production companies, and I was always amazed by their work and how much impact they have on events. So, I decided to try something new and started to work as a project manager at an AV production company which allowed me to explore new aspects of event management. Then the pandemic happened and I shifted my focus to virtual events which was a bit of an unknown terrain at that time, but it was very exciting to explore the possibilities and learn new things every day.
What do you enjoy most/favorite aspect of your job?
I love the entire process of event planning – the fact that we start from scratch, the customers come with a broad plan, we work out the details and then make the whole thing happen. AV is usually not the primary interest of the customers, but I love to show them how much you can achieve with a little effort. You can completely transform the ambiance of a venue by simply changing the lighting or elevating the attendee experience by adding some interactive tools; you can even leave an impression by selecting the right music for a specific moment. When it comes to virtual events, most people are not big fans and some even find it scary because they feel like they are not in control. It makes me really happy when I can make that process stress-free and help them achieve an engaging and successful meeting – even if it is completely virtual.
AV is usually not the primary interest of the customers, but I love to show them how much you can achieve with a little effort…It makes me really happy when I can make that process stress-free and help them achieve an engaging and successful meeting – even if it is completely virtual.
What’s been your most favorite location for a meeting and why?
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Edinburgh working on a conference. I instantly fell in love with the city, the historical buildings, the pubs, and the whole atmosphere. The highlight of the program was the gala dinner at the National Museum of Scotland where a band called Red Hot Chili Pipers played hit songs on bagpipes. It was an incredible experience!
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company, in your opinion?
The whole team is passionate about their jobs and dedicated to exceeding expectations. As an employee, I appreciate the level of trust that we have at MTA. You have the space to manage your work at your discretion but, at the same time, if you need support, you can 100% rely on your colleagues.
What’s your best advice that you would give to a customer when it comes to planning their media needs?
My suggestion would be to rely more on your event manager and production manager. You are working with professionals for a reason, and you can trust that any recommendation or guidance provided by MTA serves the best interest of your event.
Any trends in media production that you are noticing?
Virtual and hybrid events are definitely here to stay, especially as people get more and more used to the convenience and accessibility that these solutions offer. Also, attendees are increasingly using smartphones and mobile devices during events so you can share a lot more information or plan engaging activities through applications. This trend is also beneficial from a sustainability aspect as there is no need to print so many materials.
Since you travel a lot for your position, tell us some of your best travel tips.
I always keep a 24-hour survival kit in my carry-on bag as you never know when you will see your luggage again. I also love travel-size products, I know they are not very economical, but you can save a lot of space in your suitcase, and they look cute. 🙂
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
It is so great to spend some time with the team in person! I find it very useful and refreshing that we can share our experiences with each other and be able to spend some time together outside of the daily work. Not to mention the amazing locations!
You are currently based in what city? How long have you lived there? What are some of your favorite things to do or sites to see there? What do you enjoy most about where you live?
I currently live in Budapest. I was born in the southern part of Hungary, and I moved here for my studies when I was 18. Budapest is an incredibly beautiful city. Whenever I cross one of the bridges over the Danube, I always stop for a minute to enjoy the view, you can never get enough of that. The architecture is amazing, even if you are just walking down a random street you can always find some hidden gems. I live very close to the City Park which has a lot to offer including a small castle, a lake, and a lot of cool places where you can hang out when the weather is nice.
What interests do you have outside of your professional pursuits?
Budapest has an insane food scene; I love exploring new places in my free time. Apart from the traditional Hungarian food, the options are endless, you can find amazing places whether you like Italian, Mexican, Lebanese, or Asian food. I also love to try new recipes at home, and then enjoy a nice book or movie with a full belly.
