Symbolically, the Fall season represents a time of “plenty, ripening, harvest, and abundance.” At the same time the season can symbolize, “decay and decline.” That seems paradoxical but if you look at that symbolism through the lens of the business events industry, I can see the time to “harvest” all the hard work you have put in throughout the year, reinventing yourself, reinventing your events, and dealing with the myriad challenges the year 2022 has thrown in front you such as inflation and labor shortages. With another eye, though, it’s also time to take in all that you’ve done this year, put it on a shelf, and ready yourself for another year that’s sure to bring different challenges. We’re long past the days where you can re-use what you’ve done for years and call it a day. We’re now reinventing ourselves every year, if not every few months. This is both a breathtaking and invigorating challenge.
Autumn also represents the start of the final leg of our “road trip” this year. As we get ready for this final leg of our trip, you will want to make a pit stop for our Sparkler Program, “The New Age of Event Marketing,” October 26, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Capital One Center in Tysons. Many of the traditional decision-making factors attendees weigh when deciding whether to attend an event have changed. Please join us for this critical program to keep your marketing toolbox up to date.
At events and at our Board Meetings, I often say, “we cannot thank our volunteers enough.” This includes our committee chairs and co-chairs, event champions, committee members and the Board of Directors. The Fall season is also one of thanks so from the bottom of my heart, thank you to our tireless volunteers. You may not realize right now the impact you are making in the industry or in your own career but rest assured, you are.
Well, it’s been a one-of-a kind road trip so far. Buckle up though. We’re stopping for our final pit stops and we’ll be going strong down the final stretch of 2022. I hope to see many of you at our final Sparkler Education program in October as well as at our end of the year Celebrate event in November where we will gather to celebrate our incredible volunteers. Stay tuned for more information on Celebrate.
Marcus Eng, CMP, DES | 2022 PCMA Capital Chapter President
