TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, January 29
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Welcome, Meet & Greet Reception
If your flight arrives prior to dinner, join us for a drink and light hors d'oeuvres. Meet the experts, connect with your peers from around the country and make new friends before we kick it all off Thursday morning.
Thursday, January 30
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast Buffet
Fuel up and get ready for a jam-packed couple of days.
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Welcome and Introductions
Maura Gast, Irving CVB Executive Director, our official emcee and panel moderator, will introduce our experts, the attendees and guests setting the stage for an incredible experience.
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
Governance & Community Advocacy
Just as the role that DMOs play in our communities has evolved, so has the role of the Boards that govern them. To kick off the Symposium, sector consultant and author Bill Geist will chronicle that evolution and explain how Board Leadership can elevate the impact and underpin the relevance of today’s DMO. Among the topics to be covered:
The importance of Purpose, Vision, Mission, Values, Stewardship, Advocacy
Strategic Organizational and Destinational Analysis and Action
Board Role vs. CEO Role vs. Staff responsibility; whose job is it?
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Destinations International Update and Mayoral Panel
Destinations International CEO Don Welsh will update attendees on the new resources being developed by our sector’s trade association…and then host a fast-paced panel discussion with the Mayors of three cities that are finding exceptional success through supporting their Visitor Economies. You’ll hear the strategies and philosophies employed by Mayor Andrew Ginther of Columbus OH, Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. of Little Rock and Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix.
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
Expert-Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
In our first Roundtable Discussions, we’l break out and encourage participants to introduce themselves and then facilitate conversations in the CEO, Board Chair and Board Member Rooms to identify the most powerful concepts shared during the Panel of Mayors.
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch, Law & the Legal Tender
To continue to strengthen and stay competitive in the tourism industry, DMO leaders and Board members need to become knowledgeable in sustainable funding, advocacy, public policy and compliance. John Lambeth will impart vital information on topics such as:
Board Planning for Diversifying and Stabilizing Funding
Strategies for Working with Your Board on Advocacy Issues (including funding advocacy)
Nonprofit Corporation Formation or Modification, including starting a (c)(3) Foundation
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Finance, Accountability and Transparency
Being on a DMO Board is about more than just sales and marketing. CFObyDesign’s Julie Hart will help you to learn how to fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities while also learning about the unique financial intricacies of a DMO.
Uses and restrictions on funding streams
Fiduciary responsibilities of board officers/members
Understanding financial statements (what you should be receiving) and the purpose and limitations of audits
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Organizational Culture and Leadership
Leadership matters. Chris Ihrig will share examples of thriving Organizations that have ignited a culture of purpose and performance. A workplace where values are foundational, relationships are key, clarity of success is defined and accountability is alive. It all starts at the top.
The importance of establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and working agreements between the Board and the Team
Disciplines of a healthy and thriving workplace culture
Hiring and managing the performance of your one employee (President, CEO, ED, etc.)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Expert Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
Chairs: Topic > Building a Board Culture and Succession (Chris/Mike)
CEOs: Topic > Leading from Behind (Bill/Maura)
Board Members: Topic > Legal and Financial Transparency (Julie/John)
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Succession Planning and Board Diversity
A well-balanced board equipped with diverse expertise and backgrounds is pivotal in driving CEO retention, fostering growth, and ensuring organizational effectiveness. A solid succession plan ensures seamless leadership transitions, promotes continuity, and cultivates the next generation of visionary leaders. Mike Gamble, President & CEO, and Cambria Jones, Vice President of Marketing of SearchWide Global, the leading Executive Search firm in the DMO space, will share their lessons and insights on:
Board Diversity and Succession Planning
Board Representation in a Multigenerational Workforce
Evaluating and Measuring Your CEO
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Dinner with New Found Friends
Ron Price, CEO of Visit Phoenix, and his staff have provided this list of favorite spots.
Friday, January 31
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Breakfast
More food. More conversation and networking. We’ll kick off with a recap of the day before and preview today’s content.
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM
When the Media Comes Calling
DMO CEOs are typically expected to be able to interface with the media. But, when a microphone appears before a Board member’s face…what now? It only takes one-media misstep for an organization to lose its credibility and value in the eyes of stakeholders and the public. But, with proper preparation, a media ambush can be turned into an opportunity.
In this presentation, veteran journalist Kristy Siefkin shares her insights from 20 years in the media - both as a national corporate spokeswoman, and as an Emmy-recognized journalist. Leveraging real-life stories from the news van and anchor desk, Kristy teaches DMO Board Members practical tactics for responding to unexpected media encounters - from how and when to respond, to what to say, to how to say it. Board Members will leave with a plan for confidently handling even the pushiest of reporters, no matter the topic..
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Expert Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
Chairs: Topic > Building a Board with Influence (Julie/John)
CEOs: Topic > Building and Retaining an All-Star Staff (Chris/Mike)
Board Members: Topic > Preparing to Lead (Bill/Maura)
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
CEO and Board Panel
A favorite of last years attendees…. 3 DMO CEOs and their Board Chairs discussing how they’ve developed relationships that power their organizations forward in service to their communities.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch…and the Big Wrap Up
All this conversation only makes for more questions. We’ll welcome our experts back on stage for a wide-ranging give-and-take, Q&A session to riff on any questions still unresolved after a day and a half of incredible content.
And then, we’ll say farewell until our next event.
“It was a great symposium, I appreciate having board members involved. It was eye opening for them.”
- Donna Price, Visit Geary County
“My board members have talked about how it was very helpful in illustrating the broader DMO landscape and the highly competitive environment we operate in. They also noted that it was helpful for them to better understand the universal challenges DMOs face.”
- Tania Armenta, Visit Albuquerque