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 clients.
Today, we introduce you to MTA’s Product Lead Meredeth Brower. Meredith provides expertise and guidance for training excellence through the use of Miller Tanner Associates’ VALTs- Virtual Assessment, Learning and Training Source.
Continue reading “#MeetMTA: Meredeth Brower, Product Lead”
The Miller Tanner difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that bring our corporate meetings and events to life for our clients.
Today, we want to introduce you to Dan Conroy, Director of Technology Services, residing in the New York Area. Dan is one of the newest members of our team, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce him to you!
You recently joined the Miller Tanner team. When did you start and what did you do prior to coming to Miller Tanner?
I joined the Miller Tanner team in January 2016. For the last eight years, I was a management consultant focused on business technology for small to midsize companies — primarily in tri-state (NY metro) area.
Tell us about your current role – What do you do as ‘Director of Technology Services’?
It’s a dynamic role. I am responsible for the both the developmental and operational technology sides of the business. I love that MTA has real products under development and has real scale. We may not be a Global Fortune 500 Company (yet) but we face many of the same challenges. Those challenges and opportunities are what keeps the work fun and interesting.
Why is technology so important to Miller Tanner and our clients? In other words, how does technology play an integral role in the meetings and events we provide?
Technology is important to Miller Tanner and our clients for several reasons.
First and foremost, the technology is what enables Miller Tanner to have employees seamlessly linked around the globe servicing the needs of our clients; we have 65 full time staff on six continents. Next, the technology we currently have, and are continuing to enhance, enables our clients to see who has been invited to their meetings, their invitation status, as well as provide ad hoc reporting so our clients are empowered to keep their management informed. Additionally, our technology allows us to host Virtual Meetings on our proprietary system with very insightful reporting overlays.
Our Virtual Meetings can be combined with our Face-to-Face Meetings by linking them through our Hybrid Meeting option providing flexible solutions if a client has a scheduling conflict and needs to be two places at the same time.
Finally, our On-Demand Trainer, Learning Management System, allows our clients to capture their meeting content and re-purpose that content and provide it securely as needed to anyone around the globe.
What is the biggest technological challenge of conducting meetings across the globe every day?
In short, one of the biggest challenges, or variables, to conducting virtual meetings is the Internet connection. As ubiquitous as the Internet might be, it’s far from consistent. Virginia will present a different set of challenges than say, Venice. Another component that adds to the fun is working across global time zones. Since our days are very dynamic, the ability to pivot and think on your feet is paramount to keeping up with the challenges and being successful.
Is this your first time working for a virtual company? And if so, what is that like?
This is not my first time working for a virtual company. Virtual companies can be a bit more challenging when you start because it can be harder to connect with your team. However, good technology helps overcome that barrier.
How does technology play a role in making Miller Tanner work well as a virtual company?
Technology is the glue that links us as one organization. This company has been virtual since Inception, which in 1997 was on the cutting edge. The virtual part of the company enables us to hire the best talent regardless of where they sit in the world, and it’s my team’s job to support their connection needs.
What is your favorite piece of technology that you couldn’t live without?
I try not to get too attached to any one piece of technology or service — things change too quickly. I suppose if I had to pick one it would be my laptop. Or maybe Netflix.
What do you enjoy most about working at Miller Tanner?
The flexibility Miller Tanner provides for me is one of my favorite aspects. As a former business consultant, I sometimes missed the comradery of a team environment – teammates to discuss various ideas with, that sort of thing. I prefer smaller companies because you are empowered to do things that make an impact within the organization.
How does Miller Tanner create exceptional client experience through the use of technology? In other words, how does technology play a role in the client experience?
Our people really create the exceptional experiences and our technology supports them; Our business is about top level of service through connectedness.
To ensure that your next virtual meeting is a successful one, the Virtual Events Team at Miller Tanner has compiled some useful best practices.
Implementing these tips and best practices into your next virtual meeting can greatly improve its effectiveness and enhance the overall experience for you as a speaker or as an attendee. Miller Tanner Associates can help assist you through these virtual meeting best practices and more to ensure an exceptional meeting from start to finish.
We asked the team of event pros at Miller Tanner Associates why internal meetings matter. Our team members share their perspectives on how internal meetings over in-office meetings can be beneficial to the overall health of an organization.
There is no better money spent than meeting face-to-face when it comes to being part of a team, whether leading or supporting a company, department, or team. That’s why team meetings are of the utmost importance.
In most companies, the cost is an issue when bringing people together so you have to make the most of the limited time. However, it pays dividends for building team morale, allowing everyone to enjoy celebrating successes together, nurturing a virtual work environment, and driving comradery. The team walks away feeling appreciated, heard, valued, and supported to name a few positive outcomes.
Since we are a 100% virtual company, the entire group doesn’t always get the chance to engage with each other. Even when we do have a few moments between meetings and working on projects, it’s not enough time to really connect with another team member. The workshop gives us that opportunity. We disconnect from our computers and phones and focus on each other. We get to have conversations about our personal lives, laugh, do activities that bring us closer and just hang out. I think that’s incredibly beneficial for our company. – Meredeth Brower, Product Lead
Face-to-face meetings provide a perspective for the team at large as to what the company’s mission and goals are and it serves as an opportunity to share new company information and allow interaction. It’s a great time for employees to have facetime with the executives and to feel valued and celebrated.
These types of meetings also provide opportunities for employees to intermingle among departments or regions and it can help the morale and culture when a company puts their money back into their employees. It creates a great sense of purpose.
It might be out of style to invest in company culture or its team, outside of salaries and benefits, but at Miller Tanner Associates (MTA) I believe that creating a strong company culture yields a strong, successful company. Company cultures are built on creating positive, memorable company experiences. After creating 25 annual events for the MTA team, I’ve seen the investment in the MTA team really pay off. – Marnie Miller Battistini, CEO
Miller Tanner sells the idea that gathering and shared experiences equals community and growth. What does it say to our customers if we didn’t practice what we preach? The fact that MTA is a global company and we don’t always have the opportunity to see each other throughout the year is even more reason that we should come together and BE together. Being together, sharing a meal together, or just sitting next to someone while they train you on the newest software is so valuable. It connects us, creates empathy in our roles and makes us a better team to do what we are brought to Miller Tanner to do. There is more to each of us than just the job we do. When we are together, those qualities shine and we can bring them back into our every day work. – Jenny Decker, CMP, Global Experience Manager
The face-to-face experience offers tangible and intangible experiences. Tangibles are generally captured by industry standards such as training ROI metrics, attendance ratios or other measurements. Intangibles are captured by client cultures or the audience value system.
Values are subjective and harder to measure but are just as valid an outcome as it goes toward addressing the human quotient of any business.
First, the more you know about someone the better you can react to their thoughts, ideas, and moods. It is easy to interact with someone when you have familiarity. Internal meetings help provide that bridge.
Additionally, sage advice says, the more you have in common with someone the easier it is to interact based on that common ground. Shared experiences provide that opportunity to transcend the present moment and bond for the future or laugh over the past.
To me, the MTA Workshop is an invaluable experience that allows our teams and departments to connect, grow and unite as we look towards the future of MTA. It is at the heart and soul of what we do at MTA – provide dynamic experiences. As a Global Company who primarily communicates virtually, the time shared together through experiences or collective conversations (or in this case, on a glacier) is what I most look forward to at the MTA workshop. I love learned about what other departments are working through or celebrating in addition to personally getting to spend time with new team members. – Janina Marsh, Global Experience Designer
Internal meetings are critical to establish roles and responsibilities, outline company goals and objectives, identify and build a strategy for a path forward to success, streamline processes, and ensure the right stakeholders are involved in decision-making.
Senior leaders and department heads should value input from their stakeholders and trusted employees, and want to learn from the team too – this is a step in the right direction.
It’s an investment in a company and also a reboot to get everyone back on the same page and same goal. Time with executives is important for employees to feel seen and understand their value to the company.
If there are big changes, restructures, new missions, new goals – it is a great time to roll that out, in person, to allow questions and interaction.
Internal meetings are an opportunity to actualize the messaging and value system of a company. For example, at the annual MTA Workshop, one of my agenda items is to show the team my thanks for their hard work and commitment to the MTA brand. It’s where I try to energize everyone for the year to come while recognizing past achievements. Face-to-face meetings address the “humanity” of our workforce and move toward maintaining a strong team. – Marnie Miller Battistini, CEO
Do you need assistance with planning your next internal meeting? The Miller Tanner Team can help you create a more engaging, productive meeting for your internal teams. Contact us today
In effort to help readers to summarize the information found within this post, we’ve recapitulated the article in question and answer form.
When it comes to being a member of a team, whether leading or assisting a business, department, or coaching, there is no better money spent than meeting face-to-face. That is why team meetings are so crucial. When getting people together in most businesses, money is always a factor, so you have to make the most of the time you have.
Face-to-face meetings provide everyone on the team a better understanding of the business’s purpose and objectives, as well as a chance to exchange fresh corporate information and better communicate. It’s a wonderful opportunity for workers to meet with leaders and feel appreciated and recognized.
Positive, memorable workplace experiences are the foundation of corporate cultures. A strong corporate culture leads to a strong, successful business.
Face-to-face interactions provide both concrete and intangible benefits. Industry standards such as training ROI measures, attendance rates, and other measurements are often used to collect tangibles. Client cultures or the audience value system help to capture intangibles.
Internal meetings are essential for establishing roles and duties, defining corporate goals and objectives, identifying and developing a plan for success, streamlining procedures, and ensuring that the appropriate stakeholders are engaged in decision-making are all key.
We are jazzed to be celebrating 23 incredible years in the global meeting and event industry! Your partnerships have played an instrumental role in our success. Thank you for the opportunity to create memorable virtual and face-to-face events for you across the world.
We’ve curated a mash-up of some of our best blogs with tips for creating successful virtual events. Now more than ever virtual events are essential. Use these strategies from the Miller Tanner Team to improve and maximize your meeting’s capabilities.
Even when the face-to-face can’t go on, your meeting still can. Businesses can easily switch to virtual options and not miss a beat when they have the right partner in place to guide them through the switch. More here.
Virtual meetings are an ideal option for many companies needing to provide the latest information to attendees without the need to consider travel, hotel, and other logistics. Since the cost is a fraction of a face-to-face meeting, more and more companies are finding this option to be a valuable solution to educate and update attendees, especially within short time frames. Read more here.
A lot goes into planning a meeting and yet even the best-laid plans can be derailed by the unpredictable. That was the case for one of our clients who had to consider canceling their event after the sudden emergence of a public health crisis. Read more here.
Though you could conduct a virtual meeting using in-house resources, oftentimes many companies do not have access to the equipment and expertise required to produce a seamless virtual event. With virtual events, a well-executed deployment is essential; otherwise, you easily run the risk of a virtual event failure, wasting time and valuable resources in the process. Read more here.
Let Miller Tanner Associates set you up for a virtual success. Learn more about our virtual event solutions here.
Virtual Events are the perfect solution when the unexpected happens.
Planning in advance and for the unexpected is a given for us at MTA. Even during the unexpected, you can still expect that your meeting’s message will be heard.
How? Short answer – through our virtual event services and VALTs™ (Virtual Assessment Learning and Training Source).
MTA has the expertise to produce interactive, engaging, laser-focused virtual events, that can be easily replicated to achieve your virtual event messaging goals.
Add in VALTs™ our proprietary tool that can replicate your message or provide training that is budget-friendly while simultaneously creating an audit-ready, permission-based training record that can be accessed in real-time.
Combined together, a virtual event with our customized VALTS™ product is a dynamic dual alternative solution for your meeting needs.
Bring these popular ideas to your next corporate event experience for an unforgettable experience.
Tap into the emotional intelligence of your audience by bringing a more altruistic midset to your event. This is an important piece of everyday life for individuals so why not showcase at your event to inspire your attendees.
Some ways to do this:
With so much easy access to information 24-7, it’s vital that your event content is engaging in a way that isn’t just added white noise among the barrage of information.
“Keeping your audience engaged means more than simply entertaining them. To engage an audience isn’t just to hold their attention, but to hold their attention for a thoughtful purpose…stimulating the five senses can do wonders, as long as it serves to keep the audience focused on a thematic message,” reports Event Manager Blog.
How will you know that your content was engaging? Simply, by listening to your audience through their feedback. Post-event surveys allow you to evaluate the return on the experience (ROE) so that you can continue to improve your participants’ experiences at future events.
By adding an element of surprise to your event, you keep your audience more engaged. This can also create a more memorable experience while adding to the WOW factor.
Some ways to do this:
We can learn a lot about attendee behavior from emerging neuroscience data. What creates better social opportunities? How can we improve attendee knowledge retention? How can we boost engagement? These are all questions that neuroscience can provide clues for answering.
Let the Miller Tanner Associates team guide you through the complicated task of planning an event experience that will yield measurable success.
Resource: Event Manager Blog
The Miller Tanner difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that bring our corporate meetings and events to life for our clients. Today, we introduce you to Melanie Riddick, Director of Accounting Operations. With a knack for details and her sharp interpersonal skills, Melanie brings her extensive knowledge in data management and customer relations to the MTA team.
Tell us about your current role with MTA. What are your primary responsibilities?
As Director of Accounting Operations, I manage the financial compliance of transparency reporting in adherence to state and federal legislation (Sunshine Act), global requirements (GDPR), and client contractual terms, conditions, and deadlines. This requires analyzing lots of data and details! Our team also conducts a rigorous quality control cross-check on completed transparency reports to ensure we provide our clients with accurate data. Additionally, I oversee our team members who audit and process payments for event attendee reimbursement requests. This also involves managing our internal guidelines and processes to ensure they remain up-to-date and efficient. Finally, my role supports the full finance team with project management and system/process improvements to better serve both internal and external stakeholders.
What did you do before joining MTA?
I spent the last 10 years before coming to MTA working in the Nashville nonprofit community. Most of those roles involved donor development, data management, fundraising, and planning special events. Prior to that, I worked for a small custom cabinetry business for several years handling purchasing and inventory, fulfilling customer orders, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and bank reconciliations.
What do you feel are the most fulfilling aspects of your job?
By nature, I am detail-oriented and relationship-driven, so I thrive in roles that combine managing data and serving others. This job does exactly that! I am motivated by providing our clients with a high level of excellence, and I enjoy spending the time needed to dig into the financial data and compile it into comprehensive and easy-to-understand deliverables. I also enjoy the opportunities I have to interact with our vendors and event attendees. Most of all, I end each day grateful to be a part of MTA. Our team is composed of so many knowledgeable, talented, and personable individuals who are truly a joy to work with together!
What do you do for fun?
My husband, Adam, and I LOVE to travel, and we get restless if we don’t have a trip to look forward to on the calendar. We’ve visited Italy, England, Czech Republic, Iceland, Jamaica, Aruba, Mexico, Greece, and many states in the U.S. together. I’m also a fan of theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios. We can’t travel all the time, so I love spending most of the time together as a family with our son, Connor. Sometimes that means a quiet night cooking dinner at home and watching a movie, and other times it means going out to a concert, sporting event or other fun activity. When I have time for just me, I love to run, hike, read fiction books, and go to brunch with friends.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company?
What stands out is the ways we do what we do more efficiently and uniquely from our competitors. MTA is focused first and foremost on people – the clients we serve, the meeting attendees, and our fellow team members. Everyone at MTA is focused on listening to and meeting the needs of these groups of people. By combining this passion for people with the talents, skills, and resources available through the MTA team, we are able to provide our clients with a high level of excellent customer service and help them achieve their goals for each meeting.
One of the other things I value about MTA is our culture of generosity and hospitality and how it is reflected in the opportunities we have to give back to our communities. Employees are provided time to spend volunteering, and we participate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities together at our annual workshop. We also assist our clients with implementing their own CSRs at their events to provide their meeting attendees with an opportunity to serve others.
Where do you live and what do you love most about your state/city?
While I love to travel and explore new places, I’m always happy to come home to Nashville, Tennessee! A lot of people have moved here over the last 10 years, and for good reason! We have several sports teams that are fun to see, and there is no shortage of terrific live music on any given day. Our restaurant scene has exploded, so I love checking out new spots and trying different kinds of food. I always tell visitors to spend time at the “honky-tonks” on Broadway to get a glimpse into the Nashville tourist scene. Even as natives, we enjoy it, and it’s family-friendly during the day! We also have a lot of great state parks and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee – I love spending time hiking and seeing so many unique landscapes within driving distance of home.
What’s one of your favorite destinations in the world and why?
Adam and I spent several days in Positano on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and it is hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. I loved being able to wander the quaint little streets and shops, hang out on the beach, and spend evenings having dinner overlooking the sea. The top priority on my travel bucket list is to plan a trip to travel throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria – I would love to explore the culture in those areas and know that the scenery will be absolutely stunning to see!
It’s February and love is in the air – even for events! Do you want to create an event experience that your attendees will love? Give your face-to-face meetings and events more TLC with these 20 tips from Miller Tanner Associates. Click on each tip for more information.
Our client, a pharmaceutical company, needed to host a one-day, face-to-face advisory board meeting for 17 attendees in the region of Bogota, Columbia.
Leading up to the event, protests began to break out in the city, near where the meeting was to be held.
These types of event risk management challenges are not new to Miller Tanner Associates as we have planned many events in emerging markets and, at times, this has meant working in high-security risk areas where safety preparedness is paramount.
Miller Tanner Associates has developed several intercountry partnerships allowing us to create a seamless risk management solution for monitoring and managing events where a security risk could arise.
As part of our solution for this specific meeting in Bogota, Columbia, Miller Tanner Associates took our usual proactive approach.
We worked diligently with Bogota local partners, who provided a travel brief which included an in-depth analysis of the areas in which our team and meeting attendees were to be located throughout the duration of the meeting. We also sourced hotels that were recommended, thoroughly vetted, and deemed safe properties for the attendees who would be traveling to the site.
Additionally, our partners in Bogota tracked any potential security risks and provided real-time updates in and around the areas that the meeting and activities were taking place. We knew the safest routes to and from all event activities at all times.
Miller Tanner Associates typically hires security staff to be on site unless our client already has hired as was the case in this situation.
To ensure the additional safety of our attendees upon arrival, we compiled a list of travel recommendations in both the confirmation email and welcome packet so that those traveling to the meeting site were fully prepared in advance of the event.
At every event, and for this event specifically, we implement a comprehensive Crisis Action Plan; our on-site staff is well prepared to oversee the well-being of all attendees in case of any emergency situations. Our team was ready to move into action if security measures were necessary during this event.
The event had no security issues despite the nearby protests. Our client and attendees’ reviews were favorable as all felt there was never a cause for concern given Miller Tanner Associates’ thorough safety protocols.
Leave your event’s security in the hands of the event professionals who have a plan of action in place to ensure that all bases are covered. Contact the Miller Tanner Team to discuss your event’s security needs.
