We live in a world where the term influencers have come to mean “people who can shape the minds of decision-makers,” in almost any field. Professional Speaking is one of those fields.

On June 12, NSA-DC is giving its members and guests a unique opportunity to hear from a panel of some of the meeting industry’s most influential leaders. They will give us their insiders,’ “I do this for a living,” forecasts of what the immediate future holds for meetings, conferences, training, and other speaker-centric events.

You will leave with a better understand the challenges meeting planners and their partners (suppliers, venues, sales representatives, a/v providers, etc.) are facing as meetings of all kinds evolve into the post-covid world. Their insight will help you determine what you can do as a speaker to interact more effectively with meeting planners; become an additional resource for them to stage the best meeting experiences for their clients; and how to identify what you can do to get them to help you get booked in 2021 and beyond.

Our panelists will include:

Shelli Vasser Gilliam, CMP

Shelli Vasser Gilliam, CMP, SEPC is the Principal of Vasser Gilliam LLC, a boutique consulting firm that collaborates with philanthropic organizations and companies to raise awareness for their work, develop corporate support, and bridge the gap between the resources they currently have and what they need to fully execute on their mission. As an industry influencer, Shelli’s impact can be felt at a grassroots level and beyond as she is an active member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and currently serves as the Potomac Chapter’s President-Elect. She is an inclusive leader, mentor, and enjoys storytelling and speaking to groups on topics that range from the impact and importance of volunteer service to ethics.

Joan Eisenstodt
Founder, Eisenstodt Associates 

Joan was recently named one of four influencers as an “Industry Legend” by NorthStar Publications. She is a regular contributor to Meetings Today where she writes the Friday with Joan newsletter among other articles and is a regular webinar presenter.

Joan works with corporations, government-affiliated groups, associations, foundations, universities, hotel and conference center companies and convention and visitors’ bureaus. She conducts meetings department performance audits, and facilitates the design process for meetings, conventions and conferences. She currently is active on social media in hospitality, facilitation, education, association, meetings and travel communities.

Among her many honors is induction into the Events Industry Council (formerly the Convention Industry Council) Hall of Leaders; Lifetime Achievement as an Educator by the Professional Conference Management Association (PCMA) Foundation, MPI’s Planner of the Year; and for her contributions to industry education, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Institute (HSMAI) Pacesetter Award.

Kathy Harris

Kathy Harris is the Director of the SHRM Speakers Bureau. The Speakers Bureau offers top tier professional voices who are on the front lines of the most pressing workplace issues of the day.

She is responsible for leading and managing speaking engagements for C-suite executives, subject matter experts for SHRM Chapter and Affiliate meetings and elevating SHRM’s position as a thought leader nationally and internationally in all things work.

To learn more and to register, visit https://www.nsadc.org/event-4308321.