Miller Tanner Associates Team, Author at Miller Tanner Associates

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MTA HONORED AS GOLD AND BRONZE STEVIE® AWARD WINNER IN 2026 AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS®

Miller Tanner Associates (MTA) was awarded both Gold and Bronze Stevie® Awards in the Events category for Medical Congress and Partnership Engagement in the 24th Annual American Business Awards®. This is MTA’s third consecutive year to receive awards, winning a Bronze and two Silver Stevie® Awards in 2024 and Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie® Awards in 2025.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. 

More than 3,700 nominations from individuals and organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Over 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. Miller Tanner Associates was nominated in two categories: Events – Medical Congress and Partnership Engagement. Awards included:

Gold Stevie® Award for Medical Congress

A Gold Stevie® Award for adept execution of highly complex congress management with rapid on‑site solutions, resulting in an exceptional attendee experience and comprehensive, high-quality event support across multiple congress symposia, internal meetings, and KOL activities. Read more about MTA’s congress management at ERS here.

MTA Founder and CEO Marnie Miller Battistini said, “We’re honored to receive the highest recognition for MTA’s medical congress event management. For three years in a row, our Global Experience Team has delivered exceptional results through dedication, grit, creativity, and teamwork.”

Gold Stevie® Award for Congress Management

Bronze Stevie® Award For Partnership Engagement with EliQue Events

A Bronze Stevie® Award in partnership with EliQue Events for outstanding achievement in executing a high-touch Global Leadership Program. By fostering a focused partnership and demonstrating collective adaptability, these two expert event planning companies developed a scalable playbook for partnership excellence. Read more about this award-winning event here.

Bronze Stevie® Award for Partnership Event

“It’s a privilege to be recognized alongside EliQue Events,” Battistini added. “Our partnership amplifies the strengths of both teams and, through shared grit and collaboration, enables us to create more meaningful experiences for our customers and attendees.”

“EliQue Events is pleased to be recognized for our partnership with MTA, which highlights our complementary strengths – creative excellence, operational expertise, and a shared drive for continuous improvement – ensuring event experiences that are strategic, impactful, and flawlessly executed,” shared Emma Zlotnik, Co-Owner of EliQue Events.

“Organizations across the United States continue to set a high standard for innovation and performance,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. “The breadth and quality of nominations submitted to The 2026 American Business Awards reflect a dynamic and competitive business environment, where organizations are finding new ways to drive growth, deliver value, and make an impact. We congratulate all of this year’s Stevie Award winners and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at our June 9 awards ceremony in New York.”

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2026 Stevie winners are available at https://aba.stevieawards.com/Awards/stevie-award-winners/.

About Miller Tanner Associates (MTA)

MTA is a WBENC-certified, full-service corporate event planning company in business since 1997. We deliver exceptional experiences for face-to-face, virtual, and hybrid meetings that exceed expectations through a combination of personalized expertise & tailored solutions. www.millertanner.com

About EliQue Events

EliQue Events is a strategic partner in creating immersive event experiences. With more than 25 years of industry expertise, the agency blends creative storytelling, innovative design, and high‑impact video and content production with flawless execution. Specializing in corporate meetings, incentive programs, and branded events, EliQue Events delivers tailored solutions that bring each client’s vision to life with precision and personality that resonate long after the lights go down. www.elique-events.com

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes, as well as the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding workplace performance worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Supporting sponsors of The 2026 American Business Awards include Golden Hour Veterinary Telemedicine, Melissa Sones Consulting, Persistent, and SoftPro.

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Meredith Shottes Named Chief Operations Officer of MTA, Bringing 20+ Years of Global Scale and Crisis-Tested Leadership to the Role

Nashville, TN — [May, 19, 2026] — Miller Tanner Associates (MTA), a global leader in life sciences and corporate events, today announced the appointment of Meredith Shottes as Chief Operations Officer. Shottes brings more than two decades of operational leadership to the role, including guiding the company through the collapse and subsequent rebuilding of the live events industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been the architect of MTA’s expansion into more than 55 countries across six continents.

In her role as Chief Operations Officer, Shottes leads Global Operations and technology-enabled customer experiences across MTA’s global organization. She oversees three core operational pillars – Global Experiences (events’ experiences and production), Product Innovation (software development), and Product Management, ensuring seamless integration between service delivery, technology, and long-term customer value.

Since joining MTA, Shottes has built and scaled the operational infrastructure that now underpins the company’s global delivery model, designing the systems, teams, and technology frameworks that enable MTA to execute complex, high-stakes events for pharmaceutical, biotech, and corporate clients in markets across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. In her previous role as Chief Experience Officer, she led the creation of MTA’s Global Experiences division, overseeing the full lifecycle of client engagement across every event type and market the company serves and establishing the operational standards that have defined MTA’s reputation for precision and consistency at a global scale.

“Meredith’s promotion to Chief Operations Officer recognizes the rare combination of strategic insight, customer focus, and executional excellence she brings to MTA,” said Marnie Miller Battistini, Founder and CEO of Miller Tanner Associates. “She is known as a ‘Meaningful Disrupter,’ someone who sees what’s needed, isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, and does so while staying deeply committed to MTA values and MTA’s DEI direction. She leads with curiosity and pragmatism, championing smarter use of technology, simplifying complex processes, and centering every decision on the customer experience. Her leadership has strengthened MTA and sets us up to scale sustainably as we enter the next phase of growth.”

Known for her thoughtful, technology-driven approach and deep commitment to people, Shottes builds high-performing teams that pair precision execution with meaningful human connection. Her work centers on translating ambitious vision into reliable, repeatable systems that strengthen customer partnership, enable scalable growth, and position MTA for its next chapter of innovation and expansion.

“The work that excites me most is the work that hasn’t been done yet,” said Shottes. “We are at an inflection point in our industry, and in how organizations everywhere think about the intersection of technology, human experience, and operational scale. I am here to help MTA lead that conversation, and I intend to bring everything I’ve built over the last two decades to bear on what comes next.”

Shottes is a recognized leader in global operations, customer experience strategy, and technology-enabled growth. She has led through periods of rapid scale, industry disruption, and transition, and is sought for her expertise in building high-performing, cross-cultural teams – integrating AI and digital infrastructure into operational models. She is based in New York, New York.

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Executing Complex Congress Management, Rapid On‑Site Solutions, and Exceptional Attendee Experience

Event

MTA supported a pharmaceutical client across multiple congress symposia, internal meetings, KOL events, and off-site dinners spanning several therapeutic areas. Our end-to-end services covered event logistics, on-site staffing, AV and signage, digital check-in, room turns, ad hoc requests, and stakeholder liaison, enabling consistently high attendance and positive attendee experiences under tight timelines.

Goals

Deliver seamless, high-quality symposia and meetings at congress venues and off-site locations.
Maximize attendee experience and operational efficiency during peak congress activity.
Provide rapid on-site problem-solving and bilingual support for KOL engagement.

Events delivered

The MTA planning team navigated highly complex logistics — from pop-up activations and VIP dinners to housing block coordination — and managed every detail to deliver seamless congress events. Events delivered included:

8 congress symposia (3,000+ combined attendees)
Internal meetings and receptions (~500 attendees)
5 KOL events and scientific exchanges (including kickoff and roundtable)
4 off-site dinners, including kick-off meetings and workshops (150+ attendees)
Total: 35 ancillary meetings, 730 hotel nights, 414 delegates, 20 faculty, 3,130 symposium attendees

Solutions

MTA applied proactive planning, centralized operations, and rapid response to last-minute changes. Key actions included:

Digital check-in to streamline flow and reduce queues.
Centralized booking of internal meeting spaces for smooth transitions and quick ad hoc accommodations.
Strong on-site escalation process in partnership with congress organizers.
Rapid fulfillment of 500 high-quality reports supporting four major meetings.
On-site enhancements: signage, iPad stations, tailored décor (including a themed off-site dinner), and full AV management.
Bilingual team member to eliminate language barriers and improve stakeholder communication.
Efficient room management with quick turnarounds and proactive sourcing of larger spaces when needed.

Outcomes

3,130 Total symposium attendees: strong overall attendance across programs.
High attendee satisfaction: Positive stakeholder feedback for session delivery and venue set-up.
Operational efficiency: Check-in and queue management significantly reduced congestion; quick room turnarounds allowed multiple events to run smoothly in sequence.
Problem resolution: MTA effectively escalated and resolved last-minute catering and logistics issues, maintaining session continuity.
KOL engagement: Delivered a high attendance rate and facilitated effective KOL focus during networking through proactive service.
Local engagement: Native-language support improved interactions at specialist events and dinners.

Conclusion

MTA delivered comprehensive, high-quality event support to our customer and their attendees across multiple congress symposia, internal meetings, and KOL activities. Through proactive planning, centralized venue management, bilingual staffing, and rapid problem-solving, MTA ensured high attendance, smooth operations, and positive stakeholder feedback despite tight timelines and any shortfalls.

Feedback

“From start to finish, you went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly and were so detailed oriented. You were not only professional and organized but also genuinely kind and patient throughout the entire process, making a busy event feel much more manageable……Overall, your dedication, attentiveness, and warm personality made a huge difference in the success of the various meetings and events. We are incredibly grateful for your hard work and couldn’t have asked for better support!” – Global Marketing HCP Lead

“Thank YOU again for all of your help onsite and in preparation for the event. It was truly a pleasure working with you!” – Director

“You’re so amazing! Thank you for everything!” – Global Market Development Lead

“Thanks for your amazing help with the meeting – you are a SUPERSTAR!” – Global Lead

“Thank you very much for great organization of our participation at ERS and supporting us onsite. We really didn’t miss anything.” – Global Medical Director

“Thank you so much for your help with the booth staff. Great job! I look forward to working together next year.” – Commercial Excellence Manager

“Thanks so much for all your hard work and coordination in making the program a success.” – Global Engagement Lead

“Thank you for all your help every time. You’re the best!” – Senior Manager

“Thank you for a fantastic conference and all you and your team’s incredible work!!” – Global Marketing

“MTA Team, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!” – International Congress Strategy and Operations Lead

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Beyond the Ballroom & Unique Corporate Retreat Themes for 2026

Why the “Standard” Retreat is No Longer Enough

Your retreat is a high-cost, high-value investment, and a unique theme can help you get more bang for your buck. You want a space where your employees can spark a connection and enjoy being part of a team. For hybrid teams this retreat is their chance to meet up in person.

The current trend in corporate retreats is purpose-driven engagement with activities designed to teach you something or build relationships in new ways. These activities thrive in a deep focus environment. Miller Tanner Associates (MTA) is a creative resource that can transform your meeting into a cohesive, themed, brand experience.

5 Bold Corporate Retreat Themes to Redefine Your Culture

Your corporate retreat theme is only limited by your imagination. When you work with MTA, our creative design services help in bringing these themes to life. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. The “Innovation Incubator”

This is a great theme for a tech or startup company. It’s a high-energy “hackathon” style retreat. Utilize “Shark Tank” style pitches and real-time digital whiteboarding to present solutions to current hurdles within the company.

2. “The Expedition”

Designed for leadership and resilience building, the Expedition takes your team off the grid where your team can unplug. The activities should center around “navigating the unknown.” For example, a group breakout session can utilize skills to map out a few years of the company’s uncharted territory.

3. “Digital Detox & Deep Work”

It’s time to go old school with this wellness and focus retreat. You want to find a minimalist and serene environment for the retreat. Throughout the sessions, you want to have a strict “no device” policy, so no one is tempted to check email or the news. During the sessions, your team members should focus on monotasking. You can also work on strategic alignment without Slack or email vying for attention.

4. “The Global Heritage”

Use this theme to focus on diversity and inclusion within your company. This should be a celebration of the global workforce and the diverse backgrounds within your company and customer base. You can use storytelling workshops and immersive environmental design to explore cultures around the world in an intensive way.

5. “Future-Proofing”

This strategy and AI integration retreat is your chance to try something new. You start with futuristic and high-tech aesthetics and add interactive AR/VR elements. Use the retreat as an opportunity to demystify new technologies and align the team on the future of their industry.

Turning a Theme into a Cohesive Brand Experience

The theme of your retreat is more than a logo. It should integrate into every area of the retreat. It’s at the registration site, in the graphics, and is a part of the surprising and awe-inspiring moments throughout your retreat. Commit to your theme. MTA uses a strategic approach to ensure the theme supports the actual business objectives, not just aesthetics. We help you see new ways to include your theme in your events and more.

The Logistics of Creativity: Why Execution Matters

It’s easy to see how you want to weave your theme throughout your retreat, but harder to pull off in practice. You need flawless execution to ensure the theme doesn’t fail. While the theme for your retreat starts at the highest levels, MTA is ready to handle the heavy lifting to ensure the theme is executed with intentionality and precision.

Ready to Design Your Most Memorable Retreat Yet?

You don’t have to go with last year’s theme for this year’s retreat. Contact Miller Tanner Associates to start brainstorming your 2026 event strategy.

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Modern AV & Engagement & A Tech Blueprint for Interactive Global Town Halls

Highlights:

Not all video platforms are capable of providing the experience your global town hall attendees expect
Choosing the best AV equipment is an important step in minimizing technical difficulties
Working with a production partner like Miller Tanner Associates can help your organization create engaging virtual meetings

Virtual meetings may be far more popular than they were a decade ago, but that does not mean that all video software has caught up with the high demands of corporate communication. Many standard platforms simply do not have the technological capabilities or interactive features to make sure that every meeting runs smoothly and is engaging enough to support your goals. Here are some of the most important things to know about why being intentional about creating engaging global town halls is such an important step in keeping attendees interested and how partnering with Miller Tanner Associates can help.

Beyond the Webcam: The Evolution of the Global Town Hall Meeting

Standard video calls were once the gold standard for nearly any type of virtual meeting, but these programs often have several disadvantages. Average video platforms frequently experience latency, audio drops, connectivity problems and other issues that preclude some participants or make running the meeting difficult for the host. They also have a limited ability to make virtual attendees feel they are actively participating in the meeting instead of simply watching a recording online.

The best virtual meetings are those that feel local to all attendees, regardless of time zones or proximity to the physical location of the host. Miller Tanner Associates offers high-end technology that effectively bridges the gap between technical complexity and seamless execution to create the best possible virtual meeting experience for all attendees.

The Technical Pillars of Multi-Hub Connectivity

Your virtual attendees use myriad devices and an array of internet connections. Your host’s technology should not favor some participants’ experience over others’. Many factors can significantly contribute to latency, which can leave some participants several seconds behind. While this may not sound like a lot, any type of ongoing audio issues can quickly lead to frustration and a disengaged audience. Our technology focuses heavily on redundancy protocols to make it difficult for a single point of failure to take down your entire meeting.

The MTA Tech Stack: Powering Interactive Experiences

MTA’s EPIC – Event Planning In Control and ALEX – A Learning Experience features play key roles in creating more engaging meetings for everyone. EPIC centralizes data to ensure more efficient event management, while ALEX is a specialized learning management tool that ensures complete training with assessments and audit-ready tracking.

Bridging the Divide Between Virtual and In-Person Offering

A virtual experience that mirrors a face-to-face one is essential for seamlessly connecting your virtual and in-person attendees. Using quality audio-visual production equipment, such as large LED displays and the most accurate camera tracking available, can help to create a virtual experience that more closely recreates the feeling of being in the room.

Data-Driven Engagement: Measuring the “Ripple Effect”

Running engaging virtual town halls that foster engagement should be the primary goal rather than simply boosting viewership. Our technology closely tracks engagement peaks and dips throughout your virtual meetings to help your leaders identify specific parts of each meeting that captured or failed to capture attendees’ attention. Meeting hosts can then use these actionable insights to make more beneficial decisions in future meetings.

Partner With Miller Tanner Associates for Global Excellence

At Miller Tanner Associates, we are here to help your organization leverage the most innovative AV technology available to support your high-stakes town hall meetings. Choosing a production partner like MTA ensures you always have someone to consult when you want to improve your virtual meetings and get even more out of your investment. Explore our audio-visual production services to create high-quality global broadcasts that are always ready to incorporate the latest technology.

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Hiring for High Stakes & Questions to Ask a Finance or Life Sciences Event Planner

Hiring for High Stakes: Questions to Ask a Specialized Event Planner for Regulated Industries

Highlights:

Regulated industries, like finance or life sciences, have strict laws around data privacy, advertising, and participant safety. Generalist planners may lack expertise in navigating rules, which can lead to fines or legal issues.
Events in regulated sectors often involve sensitive data, proprietary research, or high-stakes networking. Generalist planners might not anticipate industry-specific risks.
Many regulated industries require that vendors, venues, and technologies meet compliance standards. A generalist planner may not know how to vet suppliers for certifications, secure contract clauses, or the record-keeping practices required by regulators.

Hiring for High Stakes: Questions to Ask a Finance or Life Sciences Event Planner

When it comes to planning events in highly regulated industries such as finance and life sciences, there is no room for mistakes. These sectors demand precision, compliance, and an acute understanding of their audiences, whether it’s a boardroom investor summit, a scientific conference, or an exclusive networking gala.

Why a Generalist Event Planner Isn’t Enough for Regulated Industries

Generalist event planning often falls short for regulated industries because these sectors operate under strict legal and compliance requirements. While a standard planner may excel at logistics, vendor coordination, and creative programming, they may not fully understand regulations like HIPAA, VAT, or GDPR guidelines. This can lead to costly compliance violations, data privacy breaches or even reputational damage. Planning events in these industries requires specialized knowledge of documentation, reporting, and risk mitigation to ensure that every aspect of an event meets regulatory standards while still ensuring a perfect experience. It is essential to understand the risk factor; in industries, like finance and life sciences, selecting the right event planner isn’t just about logistics – it’s about compliance, entrusting someone with your brand’s reputation, stakeholder relationships, and the success of the most high-impact moments.

Knowing that “checking the boxes” isn’t enough—you need a partner, like Miller Tanner Associates (MTA), who understands the legal and regulatory framework of your specific industry. That’s the MTA advantage.

Let’s discuss 15 critical questions to vet your specialized event planner to ensure compliance and regulatory standards are met at every event.

15 Critical Questions to Vet Your Specialized Event Planner

Compliance & Regulatory Expertise (Life Sciences Focus)

1. Meal-Cap Management: How do you track and manage meal-cap compliance for Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) across different jurisdictions?

2. Reporting Standards: What is your process for Open Payments/Sunshine Act reporting?

3. Transfer of Value: How do you ensure every dollar spent on an attendee is accurately captured and categorized?

4. Transfer of Value Documentation: Can you provide TOV data for our compliance team?

5. Audit Readiness: How do you organize event documentation to ensure we are audit-ready at a moment’s notice?

Data Security & Confidentiality (Finance & Tech Focus)

6. Encryption Standards: What are your data encryption standards for sensitive information shared during financial roadshows or product launches?

7. Platform Security: For virtual or hybrid events, is your proprietary software SOC 2 compliant?

8. Privacy Regulations: How do you handle attendee data in accordance with GDPR or CCPA?

9. On-Site Security: What protocols do you have for managing physical security and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for high-stakes internal meetings?

10. Information Siloing: How do you ensure information from one customer remains strictly confidential from others?

Operational Excellence & Global Logistics

11. Global Reach: How do you manage local tax regulations (like VAT) when planning international meetings?

12. Vendor Vetting: What is your process for vetting third-party vendors to ensure they meet our corporate CSR and ethics guidelines?

13. Risk Mitigation: What is your specific “Plan B” protocol for speaker cancellations or technical failures during a live broadcast?

14. Budget Transparency: Do you offer a transparent, line-item budget that accounts for all final event costs?

15. Proven Experience: Can you provide a case study where you successfully navigated a complex regulatory hurdle for a customer?

Don’t Leave Your Compliance to Chance

The Cost of Failure

Hiring an inexperienced planner can incur legal and financial risk. Mistakes in contracts, regulatory compliance or tax filings can result in fines, penalties, or even lawsuits. Also, mishandling sensitive client or company data can cause data breaches, bringing about costly legal actions, regulatory scrutiny, and reputational damage. Poor financial planning decisions may also cause budget overruns, cash flow issues, or missed investment opportunities, increasing the economic impact of hiring an inexperienced planner.

Partnering for Success

The right partner acts as an extension of your compliance and security teams by providing specialized expertise, advanced tools, and proactive monitoring. This allows you to focus on core business objectives with greater confidence and peace of mind.

Experience the Miller Tanner Associates Difference

For nearly 30 years, Miller Tanner Associates has developed specialized expertise in both life sciences and finance, combining industry knowledge with advanced analytical capabilities. Contact MTA to start planning your event.

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The Ultimate 2026 Corporate Event RFP Template (& How to Evaluate Proposals)

Planning a high-stakes corporate event in 2026 requires more than just a date and a venue. You need a partner who understands the evolving landscape of global logistics and technology — and who can, therefore, provide you with the tools you need to plan your event effectively. Unfortunately, many RFPs are outdated. They focus on surface-level costs rather than long-term value and security—and that means you may miss out on opportunities to make connections and make your business more effective.

Enter the 2026 Corporate Event RFP Template. This tool can streamline the vendor search and ensure no detail is overlooked, ultimately creating events that better serve the long-term needs of your company and your event.

Essential Components of a Modern Corporate Event RFP

Your RFP needs to contain essential information that will shape the course of your event. It’s not just about your budget, though that is certainly an important element; your RFP should offer the detailed data you need to make vital decisions about your event.

1. A Detailed Scope of Work

Your scope of work should move beyond the basics like “we need a stage.” Instead, use your scope of work to define the attendee experience and corporate expertise. This detailed scope of work makes it easier to make decisions about everything from the right venue to the ideal materials.

2. Budget Clarity

Transparency from the early stages of planning helps you avoid hidden fees later. Make sure you know what each potential vendor will charge for their services, including any attached fees—and plan ahead for the ones you expect.

3. Technology Requirements

Often, technology plays a key role in those high-powered corporate events. You don’t just want to know that the venue has it available; you want to make sure that it is reserved for your event. From hybrid streaming capabilities to AI-driven networking tools, lay out those needs and make them part of your contract.

The MTA Advantage: What Other Templates Miss

Many RFPs include detailed summaries. However, MTA offers a number of strengths that can streamline your event preparation. A vendor can book a room, but a partner manages your risk—and we strive to provide that high-level partnership for all our users.

Data Security

Increasingly, data security is an essential part of every area of your business. You need to ask about vital regulations and the vendor’s compliance with them, including GDPR and SOC2. Compliance not only makes sure that your attendee data is protected in an increasingly digital world, it ensures that your company and brand are free from potential repercussions.

Transparency Reporting

Move beyond “flat fees” to see the real data behind spend and ROI. Our format helps you break down all the costs, not only to help with your current event plan, but to review that content in the future.

Global Compliance

Planning across borders can be incredibly complex. You have to vet vendors to make sure they comply with local laws and ensure that they participate in ethical sourcing. Our templates ensure that you can check compliance requirements with ease.

How to Evaluate the Proposals You Receive

When you receive proposals, don’t just look at the bottom line! Break down your evaluation into categories that reflect your deeper-level needs. That includes:

Experience & Reliability (30%)
Innovation and Creative Vision (30%)
Security & Compliance (25%)
Cost Efficiency (15%)

With this strategy in place, you can focus on the elements that actually matter most to your brand. Don’t forget the “Red Flag” check: Identify vendors who provide vague answers regarding data or global logistics. In many cases, that means that they do not have the bandwidth to handle events at that level—and that can leave you struggling to ensure that everything falls into place.

Start Your 2026 Planning on the Right Foot

A great event starts with a great RFP. By using the MTA template, you’re setting a higher standard for your brand, from ensuring better overall transparency to using the right data to calculate your vendor choices. Get started today and see the difference our high standards make in your event planning.

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MTA EXPANDS DEDICATED SUSTAINABLE EVENT SERVICES TO MINIMIZE CARBON FOOTPRINT

Miller Tanner Associates (MTA), a certified woman-owned business delivering seamless, high-impact corporate events, has launched a new dedicated, expanded service offering focused on sustainable event management. This initiative underscores MTA’s ongoing commitment to both its own and its customers’ environmental stewardship and aims to contribute to minimizing the ecological impact of corporate gatherings.

As part of its broadened sustainability efforts, MTA has partnered with leading global decarbonization and sustainability solutions company, ClimeCo, as an EcoCommitted™ Partner. This distinction is reserved for businesses looking to offset the environmental impact of their event emissions by purchasing carbon credits from a group of active, fully vetted and validated projects from around the world.

This partnership enables MTA to integrate environmentally responsible practices across the entire event lifecycle, adding carbon footprint tracking and carbon offsetting to MTA’s current multi-faceted approach. MTA has expanded its sustainability services to now include:

ESG (Environmental Social Governance) data collection and tracking
Standardized vendor ESG survey
On-site recycling and donation partnerships
Digital sign-in & paperless processes
Vendor scorecard and selection
Attend: MTA’s attendee experience app
Promotion of low-carbon travel
Targeted carbon footprint tracking and carbon offsetting

“As a leader in corporate event management, we are deeply committed to advancing global sustainability efforts,” said Kristin Puryear, Global Experiences Director, Head of Vendor Partnerships. “Our expanded sustainable event services reflect this commitment, enabling customers to host impactful events that align with their environmental values. We believe exceptional events can — and should — be delivered with a minimal ecological footprint.”

One of the many benefits of collaborating with ClimeCo is its global reach; with projects spanning multiple regions, MTA customers with international operations can offset emissions across borders through a single, reliable platform. MTA customers will also receive a specialized EcoCommitted™ Program Badge recognizing their events’ sustainability efforts in partnership with ClimeCo.

“Miller Tanner Associates is setting a powerful example for the events industry by turning ambition into action,” shared Linda Kelly, Senior VP of Certification Programs, ClimeCo. “We are thrilled to work with Miller Tanner Associates on their proactive approach to offsetting event emissions at a global scale. By embedding sustainability into select events, they are helping shape a more sustainable and resilient future for events worldwide.”

MTA’s partnership with ClimeCo offers a practical and impactful measure to address climate change while addressing an increasing customer need. “It’s a valuable resource, whether our customers are just starting their sustainability efforts or aiming for a greater environmental impact,” added Puryear.

For more information about MTA and its sustainable event management initiatives, visit https://www.millertanner.com/csr/ .

For more information on the EcoCommitted program, please visit: https://shop.climeco.com/offset/ecocommitted-partner-program/.

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Success Story: Transforming an Imminent Program Challenge into Event Alchemy

Event Overview

This success story explores how a routine pre-event communication escalated into a complex logistical challenge and ultimately showcased the power of leadership, collaboration, and execution under pressure.

Challenge

The initial notification appeared trivial—live music was scheduled in an adjacent space. The expectation was minimal disruption. However, over several days, it was revealed that this was not just background music but a marching band performance, complete with speakers, cheerleaders, and an early morning setup. This event was scheduled next to an important business meeting being recorded live, and the hotel was fully booked, leaving limited relocation options.

The airwalls were inadequate for soundproofing, setup noise would commence hours before lunch, and the adjacent program would run with amplified energy from 10:00 a.m. to early afternoon. MTA’s event planning team faced shifting timelines, incomplete information, and growing concerns. Each proposed solution introduced new constraints.

Results

The MTA team devised a revised, well-orchestrated plan that included:

Relinquishing the welcome dinner space for early setup.
Moving breakfast into the General Session to minimize transitions.
Re-engineering lunch and break flows to avoid noise crossover.
Creating a new show flow in a breakout room for a virtual presenter.
Coordinating a rapid 15-minute AV equipment move and setup.
Assigning leadership onsite for real-time noise compliance monitoring.
Prioritizing overnight setup to reduce morning disruption.
Adding experiential break activations to enhance attendee movement.

Execution
On the day of execution, seamless transitions were achieved before any music began. Staff were strategically positioned to manage noise efficiently. The presence of leadership ensured controlled coordination even with the high-energy arrival of the marching band and cheerleaders. Inside the meeting room, the program proceeded flawlessly, and the alternate space with natural light unexpectedly elevated the attendee experience.

Outcome

The MTA team’s efforts resulted in a smooth, uninterrupted program execution. The customer praised the meeting planners, describing MTA as “alchemists” for transforming the situation positively. The group returned to the General Session, continuing their business without disruption after the adjacent event concluded.

This success story demonstrates that excellence is not defined by the absence of challenges but by the response to those challenges. Through alignment, accountability, and visible leadership, complex obstacles become opportunities to demonstrate high-level partnership. In the end, both the band and the meeting played on.

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Case Study: MTA’s ALEX Learning Management Platform for Global Clinical Study Training

Summary

A global clinical study launched role-based training and reference content within ALEX, MTA’s learning management platform, to support clinical site staff across North America (NA), Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) on multiple protocols. The deployment supported both in-person and remote learners to ensure high-quality consistency of training, delivered role-specific modules and catalogs, and provided detailed reporting for 1,104 learners.

Objectives

The objectives were to deliver role-based training and provide reference materials to clinical site teams across multiple regions and countries on multiple protocols, with some sites only participating in one, while others participating in all. Additionally, the objective was to offer flexible completion options that accommodated both in-person and remote learners and ensure regulatory acknowledgements were captured where required. The study team needed to monitor uptake and measure the effectiveness of reference materials and training content.

Solution

MTA offered a comprehensive solution – ALEX (A Learning Experience), MTA’s purpose-built learning management platform designed for life sciences professionals to navigate the demands of clinical research training. ALEX is focused on compliance and measurable outcomes that give study managers visibility into learner progress, completion rates, and performance. ALEX keeps content organized and audit-ready. Built for life sciences professionals, ALEX simplifies complex workflows so teams can stay compliant, confident, and productive across every study, protocol, and role – making it a robust solution for customers’ complex global clinical study needs.

MTA’s ALEX learning management platform was launched in June 2025 for this customer’s complex global program and served 1,104 total learners. The platform included EMEA and North America content, with role‑based modules and catalogs assigned according to each user’s study protocol/s participation, role, and country. Reference materials and external links were available with access controls configured at the site, country, and role levels. The most recent protocol version had been posted to both the NA and EMEA sites.

For in-person learners, MTA recorded attendance using the platform’s in-person feature, so site staff who attended live sessions at the regional Investigator Meeting were seamlessly tracked. Those learners saw the catalog marked as completed, but still had access to the content for their reference at any time. For learners who participated remotely or were not able to attend in person, MTA assigned training through the system and required a mandatory “read and acknowledge” flow for modules and catalogs to be marked complete and certificates to be issued. These modules will also be available for new clinical site staff throughout the life of the study, relieving site burden and resulting in stronger training compliance.

On the reporting side, reporting was enabled so the study team could pull usage reports by site to view which materials were most used and helpful. The most recent protocol was posted to NA and EMEA — EMEA reached 55% completion within three months of posting, and NA reached 65% completion in the same period.

Outcomes

Successful global roll-out on schedule with 1,104 learners onboarded.
Flexible completion workflows accommodated both in-person and remote learners on multiple protocols.
Early protocol adoption metrics indicate majority engagement in NA (65%) and substantial uptake in EMEA (55%) within three months.
Reporting on usage gave the study team actionable insight into content support and site performance.

Feedback Summary from the Project Manager

Most importantly, MTA’s customer provided feedback regarding the ALEX experience:

The Project Manager (PM) noted that the planning and implementation of ALEX were smooth and well-coordinated, with prompt setup and responsive support following approval. The PM found the platform intuitive and user-friendly, with documents clearly organized within catalogs for straightforward navigation; the reporting tools were easy to use and offered valuable insights, including tracking which documented users’ downloads and the option to restrict access to Reference Files and External Links by country.

Additionally, the PM documented that ALEX added clear operational value to the study by centralizing oversight of site staff training compliance and simplifying document distribution to many users. Key benefits cited included:

Centralized monitoring of training completion and compliance
Convenient sharing and local storage/printing of reference materials
Hosting system links in a single location to reduce URL searching
Generating certificates that list completed training items to ensure audit-readiness

Conclusion

The ALEX deployment was successful at delivering training for multiple protocols to 1,104 learners across NA and EMEA, supporting both in‑person and remote completion, and strong early adoption with 65% completion in North America and 55% in EMEA. The platform was praised by the project manager for its intuitive design, responsive implementation support, centralized compliance oversight, and practical features.

For more information regarding ALEX (A Learning Experience), click here.

Blog

Success Story: A Virtual Event Strategy Focused on Audience Engagement and Connection

Event

A face-to-face global event required an urgent pivot to a virtual format.

Challenge

MTA originally planned a global face-to-face event in Washington, D.C., but had to pivot quickly to a virtual format. With only three months to prepare, the team faced significant challenges in reimagining the entire experience while maintaining engagement and quality.

Results

Planning and Execution

Timeline: 3 months of intensive planning and coordination.
Event Format: Fully virtual, spanning 3 days.
Time Zones: Accommodated attendees across 13 different time zones, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.
Sessions: Managed 40 sessions covering diverse topics, accommodating various time zones.

Preparation

The MTA Production Team conducted thorough rehearsals for all presentations, organizing a total of 19 separate rehearsal sessions to ensure every detail was carefully reviewed and perfected.

The MTA Production Team ensured smooth transitions between speakers by meticulously planning the show flow and timing during the live sessions. This preparation helped maintain audience engagement throughout the event. Additionally, the team proactively addressed and minimized technical issues by having contingency plans ready to handle unexpected challenges during the presentations.

Attendee Experience

To create an engaging and personalized experience despite the remote setting:

Pre-event Engagement

Pre-event videos were professionally recorded and shared through the virtual platform in advance of the event. These videos served as an engaging introduction, providing essential information, setting expectations, and helping participants prepare effectively for the upcoming sessions.

MTA coordinated the delivery of 87 personalized snack boxes, thoughtfully curated and sent directly to attendees’ homes or offices across 10 countries. Attendees were able to customize their selections, ensuring each box reflected their preferences. The result was a collection of high-quality snacks designed to enrich the event experience while accommodating a wide range of tastes and dietary needs.

Through careful orchestration and meticulous planning, MTA ensured all snack boxes arrived prior to the event, generating excitement and allowing attendees to enjoy the curated selections together, which fostered a shared experience during the virtual sessions.

Real-Time Event Engagement

The virtual event featured 21 engaging elective sessions, each led by the company’s internal Subject Matter Experts. These sessions covered a wide range of topics designed to appeal to diverse interests and professional development needs. Highlights included “Mastering the Art of Adaptability,” which focused on building resilience and flexibility in the workplace; “Chart Your Course in Tableau,” offering hands-on guidance for data visualization skills; and “Event Sustainability in Action,” which explored practical ways to implement eco-friendly practices within corporate events.

Each day, participants attended general sessions for keynotes and updates. Sessions included an award spotlight to highlight the achievements of select employees. In addition, there were 16 departmental breakout sessions tailored specifically to different teams within the organization.

These sessions incorporated multimedia presentations such as videos and slideshows, live music to energize attendees, interactive chat features allowing real-time questions and discussions, and other dynamic elements designed to foster collaboration and deeper engagement among team members.

To make the virtual experience more immersive and enjoyable for all participants, several interactive features were integrated throughout the event.

Live polling enabled attendees to share their opinions instantly and see collective results in real-time.
The chat function encouraged ongoing conversations between speakers and audience members as well as peer-to-peer interaction.
Breakout sessions allowed smaller groups to collaborate closely, promoting active participation.
An “Immersive View” feature was utilized to simulate an “on-stage” feel of a live event throughout the awards sessions.

Together, these tools helped create a lively atmosphere that kept energy levels high while strengthening connections across the company despite being remote.

Post-Event Engagement

As a post-event face-to-face CSR challenge, team members formed regional groups to select various CSR activities. These opportunities strengthened team connections as teams invested volunteer time in their local communities, providing in-person opportunity to connect and engage with one another.

Outcome

The event was highly successful, demonstrating MTA’s ability to adapt quickly under pressure. The combination of thoughtful planning, personalized touches, and rigorous preparation contributed to high attendee satisfaction and seamless execution across multiple time zones.

This success story highlights how strategic planning and attention to detail can turn potential setbacks into opportunities for innovation in event management.

Feedback from Surveys

“I want to thank you for investing time, energy, and resources in creating this space for us to continue strengthening bonds and connecting with each other—ultimately helping us grow both as individuals and as a company.”

“Thank you for putting on the Virtual Workshop!! There were so many laughs, deep conversations, insightful suggestions, and much more!”

“The workshop was put together with a lot of behind-the-scenes work, thought, and creativity, and it showed by being seamless and innovative.”

“I appreciated the use of interactive elements such as polls and breakout rooms, which encouraged us to collaborate and share ideas…Overall, a lot of valuable information, engaging sessions, and electives! Thank you to everyone who made this happen!”

“Just a huge thank you… You’ve made it possible for the connection and impact to be truly incredible once again this year.”

“Thank you all for creating such a thoughtful and inspiring experience!”